Codifiy Base Damage...

[imported_Rasyr]

the one thing that I haven't done so far is codifying Base Damage, and how that is determined. And I have been talking to some folks recently who are very interested in my doing just that.

These folks are also insterested the idea of putting adding a character's Str bonus to the Base Damage.

In an earlier version of Novus, we had Str Damage as a separate add to the overall damage.

What this proposed change would do is to change the weapon table on page 38, so that "Base Damage" is renamed "Damage Rating", and then

Base Damage = Damage Rating + Str Bonus

The main reason for this, is for handling creatures that are larger than normal.

And then damage would basically be decided upon by Attack Size (with some minor modifiers). And this would include a rule that a negative Strength Modifier could never lower damage below 1 point.

Attack Size (Damage Rating)
Trivial (1)
Miniscule (2)
Tiny (4)
Small (6)
Medium (

[imported_Rasyr]

another suggestion was to make :

Base Damage == Damage Rating + Stat Bonus Combat Skill used in making the attack

Note: brawling would be 0+Str as base Damage, and no Base Damage can ever go below zero points...

[mattiyaho]

Just last night I was thinking about adding strength to damage. I just looked the weapon skill table over and I think that
Base Damage = Damage Rating + Stat Bonus Combat Skill used in making the attack would be the best
In martial arts speed is just as important and maby more so than strength in breaking bords. Wisdom likewise for amiming the bow at just the right spot to cause maximum damage.

[Fidoric]

I think that most weapons should have strength added to their base damage, like it was earlier versions of Novus. After all, the weapon skill stats does already add to the scaled damages.
Tying damages to size is a good idea IMO.

[imported_Rasyr]

Yes, I have decided to tie damages to sizes.....

As for adding stat bonus, I am going to go with "Damage Rating + Stat Bonus of associated skill".

If I used only Str, that gave Str based Combat skills a double bonus, but not the other combat skills (i.e. str bonus to both Base Damage and Scaled Damage....

It also would not be appropriate to use Str for ranged attacks....

While it is true that stat bonuses MAY affect Scaled Damage, this is an iffy thing at best. By having the stat bonus affect Base Damage as well, that means that we KNOW it has a specific effect overall, even if the total roll does not exceed DEF...

Also, by using the associated stat, that also makes it simpler across the board....

[Fidoric]

Do you consider any alteration of armor ratings to make up for that ?
At first I was thinking that it was a slight damage boost but for a gifted character, it can give +3 base damage, that is more than a 33% increase for a medium attack.

[imported_Rasyr]

Yup, I have...

[Fidoric]

Just to be my annoiyng self 

[imported_Rasyr]

Actually, I decided to leave the spell damages as they are. They are, essentially, the equivalent of a "magic dagger" type of attack, but unlike physical weapons, those spell all have the capability to be scaled up in power at the discretion of the caster. (Besides, increasing the damage would also mean refiguring the costs (CTN, SP, and CP) across the board for them).

I am hoping that I can get through the rest of the typos corrections today, to get final version released later today (or more likely tomorrow), I than figure a 2 week typo correction period with absolutely NO other changes!!!), and then getting it into print (POD on RPGNow, and to Chronicle City for print and distribution).

[Fidoric]

with absolutely NO other changes!!!),

Hard to believe...