Re: [HOE] Explosions are their own reward, or something.

[LoopyJason@aol.com]

A quick example of how this would work for us, and why John changed the MD rules:

We'll use Loki's scenario, and I'll add more details:

Combine shell lands next to Big Red, who is brawny, and has an infantry battlesuit.  Shrink is 40 yards away, and has a kevlar vest and is scrawny and Sheol is 20 yards away, and is size 6 wearing leather pants and a duster.

GM:  Whoa, Big Red, you just caught a mortar shell.  It looks like you're taking, wow, 5d10 to 5 locations.  You want me to roll that, or will you go gracefully?  Perhaps you guys should have searched that house for Black hat forward observers...

Big Red: I'm a big guy, I can take it.  Besides, I got a load of chips. (4 blue, 3 red, 3 white.)

GM:  Okay, you asked for it. (Rolls 5d20.) It looks like you take 1 to the head, 3 to the guts, and one to your, um (Rolls a die to see which one.) left leg.  Head wound does (rolling 7d6 due to helmet), um, 4 wounds exactly.  Your guts takes, lets see, (5d6 three times.)2 wounds, 4 wounds, and 3 wounds.  Your leg takes (5d10 - 4), wow, 6 wounds. 

Big Red:  Ugh.  Ok, I spend all my chips except 2 reds.  That leaves me with a heavy leg wound.

GM:  Okay, good thing you had all those chips.  However, your battlesuit has a number of large holes in it now.  It's not gonna provide much more protection until you get it fixed.  Take 9 wind, and make a vigor check against a 7 or be stunned.

GM:  Sheol, it's your turn!  You're in the second blast radius, so you'll take hits to (1d6 - 1) 3 locations.  Let's see, (3d20) 1 guts, 1 (left) arm, and your right leg.

Sheol:  Uh-oh, I spent most of my chips on new junker powers.  I've got a red and wo whites, so be gentle with me.

GM:  Yeah, right.  Okay, you'll be taking a base 5d8 damage.  Your guts takes (5d8 - 4 for duster?), 4 wounds.  Your arm takes (5d8-4) 3 wounds, and your leg will take (5d8 - 8 since the duster covers leg, too.) 4 wounds too.

Sheol: Ow.  Um, I'll stop  2 guts, and 2 leg wounds.

GM:  Okay, take 26 wind.  You're bleeding at 2 wind/round.

Sheol:  Thump.

Gm:  Shrink - You'll be taking 5d6 damage to (1d6-2) wow, you lucked out - 0 locations.

Shrink:  Woo-hoo, Shrink rules again!

So, sorry for the long explanation, but that should take  only a couple minutes to resolve, once you're comfortable with the rules.  It is more dice rolling, but the alternative is:

GM:  Big Red, you catch a mortar round!

Big Red: No biggie.  Can I use the explosion to get a plus on my leap towards that house we forgot to clear?

GM:  You'll be taking 5d10 damage. (rolling.) That's 4 wounds.  (rolls 4d20)  2 to the guts, one to the arm, and one to the head.  Your armor cancels the guts and head, and (rolls d6) the blast sneaks past your armor for one wound to the arm.

Big Red:  Here, have a white chip.  There's plenty more where that came from.  Hey guys, I'll stand here while they keep firing at me.  Sheol, can you whip up a quick counter-battery simulator so we can shoot back at them?

Thanks for hanging in on this looooonnnng post!