Re: To Dice or Not to Dice...

On Fri, 10 Jan 1997, Mark A. Siefert wrote:

> Hello Everyone:
>	I wanted to bring up a question of game mechanics.  I am working
on my
> own space combat game and I am considering the combat rules mechanics.

> Recently a bunch of wargames and RPGs have come out using a diceless
> format.  I was wondering if there are any advantages/problems to this
> kind of system?
> 
> Later,
> Mark S.
> 
The advantage/disadvantage is tat you can more accurately predict 
results, i.e. cruiser vs. destroyer will generate exactly this result 
this percentage of the time vs a more amorphous prediction with the 
random factor added in.  Diceless systems tend to eliminate long shots 
and I believe that games are more predicable.  Critical ammo explosions 
or mass decapitations become extinct.  I think that randomness adds a 
little more flavor to a game system.  Think of all the games, history, 
that a team/side/ country as "overcome" the odds and won a victory.

--Binhan Lin