Target Numbers in the running game

whazbumm
New Member

Posts: 2

Target Numbers in the running game Jun 18, 2020 6:40:27 GMT

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Post by whazbumm on Jun 18, 2020 6:40:27 GMT

Hi there everybody.
I am happy to have found an official board for BluePlanet

I came across the Primer and I love the world and setting of BluePlanet - this was my first contact with it.
I love the rules, they seem free and very open for an imagininative gameplay.

But there is one thing in the rules I have the feeling it might slow the Game down (given past experiences with players): the TN.
Maybe you can help me with this anxiety of mine and maybe you can tell me, this is no big problem or none at all - or maybe you can tell me, yes you had trouble there too...
or maybe you can tell me I didn't understand the TN as it is supposed to be.

What is my anxiety and why?
As I understand it, the TN will be discussed and generated with every single skill roll, for every single player individually.

- First the GM sets a task,
- then the players think about which of their skillsets and atttributes could be sensibly used for that task
- following maybe a discussion or at least explanation of the player to the GM and group of this is ok,
- then the GM says ok (ideally, or we are back at Square one),
- Then the GM sets individual (or even some general appicable) modifications (e.g. it is dark: everyone TN-2, for player skillsetset TN-2 extra, because...)
- roll and result...

I have the feeling this will take forever in a gaming round.
Does it? Maybe it does get faster over time?
Especially in fights or action scenes, I have big fears this will slow down the game immensely.

I would be happy into your insights, especially from those that have played a few rounds and have real experience.

Last Edit: Jun 18, 2020 6:41:41 GMT by whazbumm

michaelsd
Senior Member

Posts: 100

Target Numbers in the running game Jun 18, 2020 9:01:58 GMT via mobile

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Post by michaelsd on Jun 18, 2020 9:01:58 GMT

It is fast. You seem to add some steps I am not sure why.

1. Tom wants to disarm a bomb.
2. GM decides it is slightly more difficult than average, so there is a -1 penalty.
3. Tom has a demolition skill of 6, and Dexterity of +1
4. So the TN is -1+1+6=6. Tom has 60% chance of disarming the bomb. Of course he may use bomb disposal equipment to get more bonuses...

whazbumm
New Member

Posts: 2

Target Numbers in the running game Jun 18, 2020 12:18:48 GMT

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Post by whazbumm on Jun 18, 2020 12:18:48 GMT

Jun 18, 2020 9:01:58 GMT michaelsd said:

It is fast. You seem to add some steps I am not sure why....

Thanks for your reply.

I "add" a few steps to cover all situations, e.g. also combat situation,or when all characters want to sneak in somewhere, in short: where not only one Character rolls.
If only one person does a single task I do not see any difficulties for speed, so I am not concerned with this case. (which is your example)

My concern for speed is especially in combat (my fault, have not specified that):
you have a few actionrounds, where every character is doing something, maybe even different things.
But Even if they are doing the same thing, no two characters have the same skill set (usually at least)
so for every one the difficulty for TN might be different too.
-> to cover that I "add" a few steps, which are how they are described in the primer..

Sure, with time the "i attack" skill will probably the same for one character, and s/he will maybe have a second skill set plausible (closecombat, shooting...), but in actionrounds you do not only attack,
you can use one of the maneuvers, you can do something completely different (hack a drone, drive,...).

So as GM I have to decide for every round for every action for every player an individual difficulty.. (worst case)
and every player has to re-calculate his TN again.. (again worst case)

Maybe from only reading the rules, it seems more complicated than it will be in real-life-gaming.
But I sense a possible (major) slowing down for combat situations.

Last Edit: Jun 18, 2020 12:20:48 GMT by whazbumm

michaelsd
Senior Member

Posts: 100

Target Numbers in the running game Jun 18, 2020 20:03:35 GMT

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Post by michaelsd on Jun 18, 2020 20:03:35 GMT

Now I see what you mean. Thank you for clarifying.

I assume you mean by “Primer” the V3 Blue Planet. I use the v2 (with slight modification), but the different versions are very similar. Here are some tips:

- the bad guys rarely need different stats, your Gendiver Black Op soldier all can have a skill of 7 and Dexterity of +1 to shot, use the NPC quick reference rules in v3
- in v3 you have the “Rule of 2”, which says that all penalties and bonuses are in increments of 2. But even in v2 there are not many modifiers, even in combat, so I know most of them by heart by now.
- in v2 avoid automatic fire

- if you have access to the V2 BP, it has a nice rundown of the combat modifier. I am not sure how true it is for v3, but here you go: range, size, cover, aim, recoil, automatic fire and other (situational ones).

Again, I think it is not that complicated. Most of them can be calculated by the players. But again, it is not designed to simulate larger unti combat.

Attached are the modifiers in an HTML file for v2.

I hope it helps.

Attachments:

BP.html (3.78 KB)

Last Edit: May 11, 2021 21:44:34 GMT by michaelsd

Post by whazbumm on Jun 18, 2020 6:40:27 GMT

Post by michaelsd on Jun 18, 2020 9:01:58 GMT

Post by whazbumm on Jun 18, 2020 12:18:48 GMT

Post by michaelsd on Jun 18, 2020 20:03:35 GMT

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