half dice in Hero System

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by whswhs

In 6/e, the STUN multiplier is 1/2 d6, not 1d6-1. So for 1d6 KA, the average BODY is 3.5 and the average STUN is 7, reduced to 5 by PD. Three successful hits will cause mortal injury (BODY reduced below 0) but not stun or loss of consciousness (cumulative STUN loss 15). On the average, of course. Even the highest rolls would be 6 BODY and 16 STUN for one attack (after PD).

I'm not sure of the intent behind that rules change, but it does seem to make mortal combat less likely to stun foes.

As I understand it, that was the reason - with a 1d6-1 multiplier killing attacks were just too good at stunning and KOing characters.

[Chris Goodwin]

I was part of the group that worked with Steve Long to come up with answers to these questions. 1/2d6 was used specifically because of the "STUN Lotto" effect, and the Hit Location chart remained as-is exactly because the higher STUN values were a lot less likely than the 1-3 range, and in games where hit locations are used, higher "gust" values were seen as a feature rather than a bug.

We workshopped a lot of ideas here. A lot of ideas.

[Chris Goodwin]

Originally Posted by whswhs

I'm not sure of the intent behind that rules change, but it does seem to make mortal combat less likely to stun foes.

It was specifically to make Normal Attacks a better buy for stunning and knocking out enemies, and Killing Attacks less tempting in re: the "STUN Lotto". In the full HERO System 6th edition core rulebooks there's a "toolkitting" section that suggests that the GM can do it however they wish, including going back to 1d6-1 if desired.

[ak_aramis]

@whswhs I've always followed the rulebook...

Originally Posted by HSR4 p159 lc

The half die should be rolled separately or separated by color or size to identify it as the 1/2d6. The face value of the die is multiplied by one half and rounded up to get the number of STUN done. The 1/2d6 does 1 BODY if the roll is a 4, 5, or 6.

In a more tabular form:

d6   S   B
 1   1   0
 2   1   0
 3   2   0
 4   2   1
 5   3   1
 6   3   1

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by ak_aramis

@whswhs I've always followed the rulebook...


In a more tabular form:

d6   S   B
 1   1   0
 2   1   0
 3   2   0
 4   2   1
 5   3   1
 6   3   1

That's clear enough, though I haven't been able to find it in the sixth edition Basic Rulebook. On the other hand, I should prefer to count 1 and 4 as 1, 2 and 5 as 2, and 3 and 6 as 3; it seems more elegant. But either will give the same probability distribution.