Converting SW 2e R&E for Fantasy setting?

[NutUrFatha]

I there,

I'm trying to use the 2e R&E rule set for a medieval-style fantasy setting.

I know that there is OpenD6 and D6 Fantasy, and so on, out there, but I don't want to go into that. I figured, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to convert Star Wars D6 to Fantasy D6.

I was wondering what some of the thoughts, warnings, ideas of you veterans out there would be concerning some of the dos and don'ts of my idea.

Here are some of my thoughts:

Melee combat will play a much bigger role than ranged combat.
Ranged weapons, such as bows and crossbows, and pole arms, such as spears and halberds, should convert easily when you simply take the stats from vibro blades and vibro pikes, Ewok bows, and so on.

Bonuses of a particular weapon pitched against another class of weapon can easily be governed by the advantages modifiers (+5, +10, and so on); for example: using a pole arm, such as a halberd, against a swordsman, should probably give the halberdier a bonus of +5 to +10 on dodge because he can keep the swordsman at a distance.

Ranged weapons, such as longbows and crossbows can be governed like blasters; with modified range and damage of course.
For example: Wikipedia says that a bow can have a range of 150 meters on average (English longbows more, weaker bows less).
A stat for an average bow could look like this:
Range: 0-50 / 100 / 150
Damage: 3D+2 / 3D+1 / 3D
Certain types of arrow heads could add bonuses to certain types of contexts, for example, an armour-piercing bodkin arrow head shot at a chainmail could add +1D to the damage total.

My only problem with this is that I don't know how to figure out the dice codes and pips. I mean, of course, there's always "trial and error", but I would like to hear some ideas on that.
For example:

Let's say, for the moment, that a knight (K) announces two actions in a combat round:
1) trying to hit a random part of the opponent's body with his sword
2) blocking a possible strike of the opponent with his shield

The opponent (OP), carrying a spear, announces two actions, as well:
1) dodging a strike
2) trying to hit a random part of K's body

K is rolling 3D-2 (4D DEX + 1D melee combat: swordsmanship - 1D for carrying a large shield - 2 for wearing chainmail - 1D multi-action penalty) for a total of 11.
The base difficulty for a sword is easy, so he doesn't injure himself.

OP is rolling 2D+6 (3D+2 DEX + 2 dodge +2 for using a polearm to dodge against a sword - 1D multi-action penalty) for a total of 13.

Thus, K is not hitting OP.

2nd actions:
K is rolling 3D+1 (4D DEX + 1D+1 shield - 1D for carrying a large shield - 1D multi-action penalty) for blocking with his shield, for a total of 14 +2D for 1/2 cover by shield, for a total of 22.

OP is rolling 4D+2 (3D+2 DEX + 2D polearms - 1D multi-action penalty) for trying to attack a random part of K's body with his spear, for a total of 21.

Thus, OP is hitting K's shield with his spear.

The large shield has a body strength of 4D.

[Zarn]

You're trying to reinvent the wheel as a roundish, rolling type object.

At the very least, instead of dismissing d6 Fantasy (which is, after all, free as part of Open d6), do read it in order to as a minimum raid the equipment lists and to look at the skill lists.

Ranged weapons would likely include stuff like thrown javelins and other thrown projectiles, atlatls (which is completely distinct from AT-ATs), and so on. Then, there's siege weaponry which you need to figure out - perhaps steam cannon, but at least ballistae, arbalests, scorpios, trebuchets, and so on. Maybe primitive rocketry, like the hwacha. Maybe primitive gunpowder weaponry. Maybe magical siege weaponry.

You would need to suss out what technology level you would like to start at, and whether there's 'magic' in the setting. On the 'magic' side, you need to come up with some world-based thaumababble in order to build some game mechanics around it. Open d6 uses 'metaphysics'. Star Wars uses Control, Sense, Alter. I once used a system based on the 5 elements common in Chinese Taoism. You might decide to use the system presented in the Death Gate Cycle for all I know. Maybe there's a division between technology and magic levels as it pertains to your civilizations, and / or races. Maybe your elves are Bronze Age, but have the most refined magic.

It doesn't matter which system you use. Or whether you come up with your own or crib from someone. What does matter, at least to my mind, is that you decide at the beginning how you would like to do this, so that you can build it up as an integral part of the setting rather than tack it on later.

[NutUrFatha]

[NutUrFatha]

The following list is by no means complete. But it will suffice for the beginner adventure I am planning. Weapons die codes are estimates and are supposed to represent averages. Of course, there are stronger bows, or sharper swords than the ones presented in the list, but I am aiming at averages here. A player may ask for a stronger bow, for example, with a longer range - and if it makes sense for the hero to have one, it will be granted. The strongest bows, for example, with a top range of 370 meters may require a minimum of STRENGTH 3D+ to operate, but deal damage close or equal to a heavy crossbow. Common bows are less strong.

If not mentioned otherwise, all weapons have a difficulty of easy to use.
Damage total is, as usual, STRENGTH (ST) plus the damage die code.

Typical Dagger
Damage (D): 1D+1
Difficulty (Dff): very easy

Typical Sword
D: 3D

Typical Battle-Axe
D: 3D+2
Bonus (B): D+2 vs. helmets*

Typical Mace (not a simple club!)
D: 2D+2
B: D+3 vs. helmets*

Typical Morning Star
D: 2D+1
B: melee combat +5 vs. shields**
Dff: moderate

Spear
D: 1D+2
B: dodge +5 vs. batons; melee parry -5 in narrow spaces

Halberd
D: axe blade 3D+2; spike 1D+2, hook +2
B: dodge +5 vs. batons; melee parry -5 in narrow spaces; D+3 vs. helmets*

Lance
D: dismounted 1D+2; mounted: mount's ST+3D+2
B: dodge +5 vs. batons

Ranged Weapons

Tpyical Bow
Range (R): 50/100/150 meters
D: 2D+2 / 2D+1 / 2D
B: bodkin head: D+5 vs. chainmail
Reload Time (RT): 1 Round (can be sped up with penalties)

Typcial Longbow
R: 50/150/250
D: 3D+1 / 3D+1 / 3D
B: D+2 vs. chainmail; bodkin head: D+5 vs. chainmail, min. ST 3D required

Crossbow
R: 100/200/300
D: 3D+2 / 3D+2 / 3D+1
B: D+5 vs. chainmail
RT: 2 rounds (can be sped up with penalties)

Heavy Crossbow
R: 120/250/350
D: 4D+2 / 4D+1 / 4D
B: D+8 vs. chainmail; min. ST 3D+2 required (unless a cocking aid is used)

Armour & Shields

Leather Jerkin
Strength (S): 2D
Cover (C): Torso

Gambeson
S: 3D
C: Torso; 1/3 limbs

Chainmail, short
S: 3D+2
C: Torso; 1/3 arms
B: DEX-2

Kettenhemd, long
S: 3D+2
C: Torso; arms; 1/3 legs
B: DEX-4

Chainmail Chausses
S: 3D
C: Legs
B: DEX-2

Leather Helmet
S: 2D
C: 1/2 head

Chainmail Hood
S: 3D
C: 1/3 head

Helmet
S: 3D+2
C: 1/2 head

Heaume
S: 4D+1
C: head
B: PER-8

Round Shield
S: 3D+1
C: 1/3

Heater Shield
S: 3D+1
C: 1/2
B: DEX-2

Kite Shield
S: 3D+2
C: 3/4
B: DEX-5

*Reasoning being that axes and maces concentrate their shock power on a small area on the helmet, thus, not necessarily penetrating the helmet, but potentionally causing concussions.

**Reasoning being that morning stars are chain weapons. They enable an attacker to get around shields. Chance to hurt oneself goes up though.

Do you think any die code over- or underpowered? Thoughts?
[/i]

[NutUrFatha]

Example

Click here for image

The knight on the left side (viewer's POV), for example, could have the stats along the following lines:

Strength 3D+1
brawling 3D+2
stamina 3D+2

Dexterity 2D+2
melee combat 3D+2; spears 4D
melee parry 3D+2; kite shield 4D
dodge 3D+1
drawling parry 3D+1
bows 3D
crossbows 3D

Perception 2D+1

Knowledge 2D
intimidation 2D+2

Mechanical 2D
siege weapon operation 2D+1
beast riding 2D+2

Technical 2D
armour repair 2D+1
first aid 2D+1

Magic sensitive: No

Armour
helmet 3D+2
gambeson 3D
chainmail, short 3D+2
kite shield 3D+2

Weaponry
spear ST+1D+2 = 4D+3
sword ST+3D = 6D+1
axe(?) ST+3D+2 = 6D+3





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[Bren]

Swords, spears, and armor are already statted out in D6. I think you really should look at D6 Fantasy. It's free and easily available on Drive Thru and other locations.

[NutUrFatha]

[Bren]

[Zarn]

Why shouldn't you? Though there's a slight advantage to rolling 3D+1 rather than taking a straight +10, the difference is fairly slight.

The expected value of 3D+1 is (3.5 * 3 + 1) = 11.5. The only reason, to my mind, to keep the +10 value would be to limit the number of dice - either as a convenience, or because you don't want to allow more actions.

Consider a Blaster skill of 5D+2. Not that uncommon. Pop a Force point, get 10D+4. The difference numerically between 10D+4 and 11D+1 is negligible - maximum roll for the first is 64, the second is 67, and the average is 39 on the first and 39.5 on the second. However, you have one extra die to drop on multiple actions, which may or may not be significant.

Granted, there's a 12.5% bonus - the range (1 - 10) on 3D+1 comes up about 37.5% of the time, which means it'll be 11+ about 62.5% of the time - so it isn't exactly accurate. The more bonus you change into dice, the more pronounced this effect is, because +3 has 0.5 lower expected value than 1D, and that means while the effect is small on smaller bonuses, it'll dominate on larger bonuses.

Here's an example: Consider +30. That converts into 10D. The expected value of 10D is 35, but they'll roll 31+ about 80% of the time, if my math isn't completely off.

So the bigger the bonus, the more skewed the result of a roll will be as compared to a straight up bonus.

[atgxtg]