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[nickmagus]

Hey,
So I have been running this system with some friends at college and were running into trouble with open rolls in combat. Namely whenever an open roll happens in combat everything just dies. For example a level 2 wizard mentalist attacked by a level 3 created creature using its special attack (base damage 100) the creature open rolls suddenly wizard mentalist takes around three times his base LP in damage rendering him dead. I think we must be doing something wrong here because this seems inherently flawed. thanks for your help.

[vytzka]

Nope, I am pretty sure that's a feature.

Base damage 100 is a little on the high side for low level enemies though.

[Lizbeth]

Well, I suppose that Damage 100 creature on Lv 3 is not very right move.

And yes, open rolls are harsh. You can fix it with a house rules though.

[vytzka]

Remember also that a gnosis 0 creature (like a mundane animal or some dork off the street) will only open roll on a 100. Which should honestly the majority of enemies PCs should fight at this point.


(if you're like me then you should now take the time to reflect on the times people illegally rolled open rolls in your last session, or who perhaps got a retroactive upgrade in cosmic significance)

[Cathar the Great]

Or roll critical rolls like that behind your screen and fudge a point or so off them. That's also not my preferred method, but sometimes necessary.

[Spirit_Crusher]

What you're describing smells of combat optimized monster against non-combat-optimized character, paticularily from a class that tends to suck in combat.
The Wizzard Menthalist is one of the most difficult classes to tune, it can reach obscene levels of power in some incarnations, but it is usually underpowered, mainly because he hasn't great attack\defense.
If the characte hasn't maxed out the projection he uses to attack\defend, he's as good as dead against anything that ain't a mook. Though, if he has done so, he should have around 100 at second level. A maxed out combat monster should be around 125 attack at third level. If the W-M rolls an average 55 and the monster rolls 150, the attack is 120 over the W-M's defense, so it should be enough to one shot him, not enough to do triple his LP in damage. For a scenario like the one you described, one or more of the following should have occurred:
-The monster rolled a high open(180-190) and coincidentally the W-M rolled a crappy defense (10-20).
-The WM has a crappy base defense not having invested in Projection
-The W-M hasn't any defense booster, like Free Psi Points if he uses psi projection, or defensive erudition if he uses magic projection. Nor he has overall buffs like Increased desxterity, Bless or something the like.
-The W-M has no great armor.
-The W-M has low life points and hasn't anything to make up for it (vitality, total increase etc.).
-You went all out on him with the monster, like spending 5 fatigue to boost the attack roll, giving + 50 to his special attack via the monster power in the monster book, etc.

If your player wants to play an 2utilty powers user" and not be good at combat, but you plan to throw them into murderously difficult encounters, try this simple fix:
Immortality free access spell, Regeneration boost from either magic or psi powers, and Eternal Blood advantage from dominus exxet book. Now your character is virtually immortal, but going to negative LP will still put him out of a fight, so it isn't abusable. Well, THAT abusable.
The importance of open rolls is a feature and not a bug of the system. I for one like it very much.

[The Dread Polack]

Yeah, it's a feature. It makes for more interesting games, but also more lethal. Don't get too attached to your character. I think games like that should have a sort of mechanic for saving your bacon should you get an unlucky roll (or an enemy scores a lucky roll against you). In my games, I usually have a house rule that says characters never *have* to die. Either we come up with a dramatically appropriate way to save your character, after which you can live with a long-term disadvantage of some kind, or you can make a new character.

If you want to eliminate open rolls, then just make sure you check the numbers to make sure you aren't putting them up against challenges they *can't* make without open-rolling, which you generally shouldn't be doing anyway.

[Lizbeth]

I think games like that should have a sort of mechanic for saving your bacon should you get an unlucky roll

I house ruled Destiny Points to this end. Because as for now they suck.

[Spirit_Crusher]

I think games like that should have a sort of mechanic for saving your bacon should you get an unlucky roll

I house ruled Destiny Points to this end. Because as for now they suck.

I do the same and I agree.