Re: Script immunity

On Apr 27, 10:17 am, Russell Wallace <russell.no.s...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
> Which ones? I've never seen one that does as far as I can recall, but
> while I've seen a lot of game systems, there are undoubtedly also a lot
> that I haven't seeen; maybe I've missed some.

Age of Heroes does this with the built in assumption that it requires
massive overdamage in a vital location to actually kill a PC. NPCs
don't always get the same assumption.

HERO System manages it in the same way, by requiring immense damage
and/or the use of optional rules to make lethal attacks actually
lethal to PC. This can be further enchanced by the construction
methods used including building NPCs less survivable to have different
points on the line for different types of characters.

Deadlands (like many other games) manages it by the use of Fate Chips
which can be spent to overturn a lethal result. NPCs don't get as many
Fate Chips, again making them less survivable.

I forgot the exact game, but I've even read one where the rules
specifically state that a PC can't die (but can be disabled) without
the agreement of the owning player that it is "plot reasonable".

And so on. The list is actually rather endless including original D&D
which had a Pace of Decision low enough (and magic powerful enough)
that in most cases only someone who wanted to die would stick around
long enough to do so.

All those pick a line that defines a place where "balance of
probability" turns into "beyond reasonable doubt". Now they might not
pick the same point on the line that you would, but the concepts are
there and thus can be adjusted to taste (especially in the case of
HERO System which I have extensive experience in).

The very concept of Script immunity as used in this newsgroup is
actually nothing more than a rejection of where the chosen game system
draws that line. Be it a rejection of detail (at what point) or of
concept (i.e. the point doesn't matter, inside the player wants what
the player wants and that desire is inconsistent mechanically)