Lightaber Combat Variant -Roll and Keep

[atgxtg]

I had a idea for a revision of the Lightsaber Combat power.

What if instead of working the way it does in the RAW, the extra dice added to lightsaber and damage were not kept dice?

For example, let's sat we got a PC Jedi with Lightsaber at 7D, and that his gets to add 3D to it from Sense. The PC would roll 10D, but only get to keep 7D (the wild die plus six others of the players choice). Damage would be similar, with teh Jedi adding in dice for Control, but only keeping 5D. This could give a Jedi an amazing degree of control with his weapon, while being much less powerful than the RAW.

[Crimson_red]

That is certainly an interesting idea... like you say, it would give the jedi great control over his lightsaber, making it easier to gain exactly what he wants, high or low, as desired.

My one concern is will it slow things down, will it make things more complicated in play? In theory the player is counting up all those dice anyway, subtracting a few shouldn't hinder the game too much. I only bring it up because of my limited experience with L5R and the Roll and Keep system. I found I was constantly being slowed down when figuring out my roll totals, but like I said, my experience was limited and all I may have need was to get use to the system.

Overall it might keep the Jedi more reasonably inline without a huge impact on time and flow of an encounter.

It should be noted, I haven't run for a full fledged Jedi since the 90s... I don't remember the effects of having one. . . not well anyway

[atgxtg]

I wouldn't think it would slow things down much, since D6 only has one exploding die. Unlike L5R where all the dice can explode. So in play I would expect most people to grab the highest dice and then count them.

I could also see using this for other things, such as fire control and maneuverability. That way a raw recruit (2D skill) in an A-Wing (Maneuverability 4D), would not be the equal to a skilled pilot.

[Bren]

It would prevent the Jedi from being far better than non-Jedi. So more balanced in that sense.

I think the damage would be a bit of a problem since a Jedi couldn't cut through blast doors and such. Ignoring a six on the wild die the max damage would be 30pts. That is only a kill result (+16 over soak) for soak rolls of 14 or less and 14 is the average roll on 4D. So you can't cut through a blast door nor even cut a Wookiee in two. That feels a little underpowered to me, especially compared to what we see in the movies e.g. cutting off hands, cutting people in two, slicing open doors, and instant kills in a single round.

One could up the base damage to something like 6D or 7D which would still be in the same range as repeating blasters but below thermodetonators. This would also mean that even in non-jedi hands a lightsaber would still be very dangerous.

One could also add +1D or more damage for each additional round. This would allow a scene like Qui Gonn slowly cutting into the giant blast door in TPM. Without some other changes, I would be concerned that the UCT would be too underpowered for what we see and expect from the films and TV shows.

But interesting.

How would using a FP effect the damage?

[Bren]

[Naaman]

Its funny because ive been gaming with the rae for 14years and have never had a balance issue (actually, our version of the rules is somewhat simpler and makes jedi a bit more powerful than raw). The only modification that ive played with and liked involved just rolling lightsaber to swing the weapon and adding control to damage. Again... Balance issues never came up.

I modified that version one step farther by allowing jedi to give up some damage to boost skill. And that is the final result that ive found satisfies my interpretation of what we see on screen.

Nuclear force point notwithstanding, I dont think anyone has either "nailed it" or "blown it" when it comes to house ruling lsc.

My best suggestion for now would be to balance the nuclear force point with dsps. Quick and easy is the path to the darkside. If the jedi is first to fp, then he may get a dsp unless he nerfs his own damage, for example.

[Crimson_red]

[Naaman]

Also, dont forget: the reduce injury power can keep the jedi going even if he receives a killing blow from the bbeg spending a force point, so he doesnt necessarily "need" to preemptively fp just to stay alive.

[Grimace]

[Naaman]

Interestingly, this exact idea for starship combat was discussed a few months ago. Not many folks liked it back then. I think might be an improvement on the raw for vehicle combat, bit need to play test it to confirm.

[garhkal]

[atgxtg]

[atgxtg]

[Bren]

[garhkal]

But if Obi was on a FP his damage would have been
5d base LS
control of 6dx2 = 12d - maps for LS combat, attacking and force jump - 9d
for 14d total...
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