Opposed Rolls

• I'm not a fan of opposed rolls.
• Especially opposed dice pool rolls!
• The worst example has to be Exalted, where after countless rolls the result is that nothing happens.
• To give White Wolf their due, they did fix this in NWoD/Chronicles of Darkness, making all modifiers apply to the pool before rolling.
• Things have bogged down when I played Fate due to opposed Attack / Defense rolls too.
• Conversely, I love the fact that in DCC there is a fixed DC for the Thief's Sneak Silently skill based on conditions, not an opposed perception roll.
• I think there are two basic problems with opposed rolls:
• Increasing the number of times dice need to be rolled.
• The rule of averages meaning as a net result nothing happens.

Dice Pools

• I really dislike dice pool mechanics!
• Results seem weirdly unpredictable.
• Things are made worse if target number is high (e.g. 6 on d6 in Coriolis).
• And better if low (e.g. often 4+ on d6 in Hero Kids).
• Overall I prefer d20 or 3d6 (The Fantasy Trip, GURPS).
• Maybe because the probabilities are easier to intuit.

Mörk Borg Review

• Initially I felt it was pretentiously arty.
• In the end I love it - it does a great job of syncing presentation, content and setting.
• Loads of random tables which back up the feel of the setting.
• Mechanic for bringing on the end of the world.
• Rules-wise it's a very slimmed down d20 system with metagame 'omens'.
• Players (almost) always roll.
• DC 12 is standard, only modified in the case of especially strong/weak opponents.
• Simple and deadly crit and fumble mechanics.
• Omens allow rerolls, damage reduction, max damage etc.
• Options to play classless or with very flavourful classes (Fanged Deserter, Heretical Priest).
• The included adventure Rotblack Sludge is a fascinating compact starter dungeon.
• The website has loads of free content, including a character generator.
• Pretty good sheets on Roll20.

Hero Kids Review

• Brilliant premise - kids solve troubles closer to home whilst parents off adventuring.
• Generally I like "setting as a reason to do stuff".
• My nine year olds hooked from outset.
• Very well supported with adventures, which  all have maps and paper standee miniatures.
• Colouring them can be an additional parent child activity.
• Uses dice pools and opposed rolls, which I am generally against, but seems to work OK here.
• Maybe as target numbers are low, and ties broken in favour of attacker / child.
• No official levelling rules, though I've been doing it ad hoc.

About

• My thoughts about tabletop RPGs as they come to me.
• Only the main ideas.
• Open to everything (from OSR to story games, D&D from 0e to 5e).
• All opinions are my own on the day.
• My opinions can and will change.
• What are your opinions right now?