Character Shield as Game mechanic

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:12 am

The Reasoning:

In video games, comics, books, T.V and movies we all see them. The reason why a hero can get shot in the shoulder and still punch out Mike Tyson with that same arm. Why FF characters can survive attacks that level cities in the cutscenes. How Kirk can face the great alien menace and walk away with just a torn shirt. That's right boys and girls, the character shield.

Now lets face it, when you roll up that character alot of the times you aren't thinking to yourself "this will be great, he'll die before even getting to 2nd level, it'll be so realistic and awesome!" Are ya? You wanna be not just a hero, but the hero. So why not just bite the bullet and cop to it. Here we're ditching high HP in favor of a new stat that may or may not work as intended. The Character Shield.

How it works:

The character shields purpose is to reduce damage directed at the hero to a surivivable level. To protect him form any real lasting damage that could hinder his heroing. Character shields are however weakened when in direct opposition to another character shield, the weakening varies according to the strengths of the sheilds in question. Some weapons ignore character sheilds completely. Nuclear weapons always ignore character shields for example. Why? Because they're that fucking scary to the average mind, get it?

As levels exist mainly to tell us just how bad ass a certain character is. We will tie character shields into levels. A tenth level character's sheild should be bigger then a 1st level and so on. NPCs for the most part don't have one, unless they're importent. Most NPCs at least evil ones, exist just to be stabbed in the face by characters however, so there's no point in giving them one.

More to come...

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:29 am

I like Warhammer Fantasy's Fortune Point/Fate Point system of character shielding myself.

Masterharper · Post by **Masterharper** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:55 pm

Races of Destiny has a feat tree thats pretty much dedicated to this, as far as DnD goes.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 1:16 pm

Races Of Destiny + Eberron Action Points do this well. Other options involve Situational DR, if you're using D20.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 1:57 pm

Cynical Cat wrote:I like Warhammer Fantasy's Fortune Point/Fate Point system of character shielding myself.

Ah yes... spend that FatePoint to cover your ass... and the DM adds it to his pile of Dark Fate that he can use against you.

Great Game. :)

Post by **B4UTRUST** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:26 pm

Various humor related RPGs have the GM Fiat armor, the ultimate goal of every PC.

I believe it was BESM that had the supreme bullshit manuever.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:33 pm

LadyTevar wrote:
Cynical Cat wrote:I like Warhammer Fantasy's Fortune Point/Fate Point system of character shielding myself.
Ah yes... spend that FatePoint to cover your ass... and the DM adds it to his pile of Dark Fate that he can use against you.

Great Game. :)

Not quite. Each Fate Point gives you a fortunte point that you can use once a day and they work a lot like action points, allowing rerolls and extra half actions. If you're boned, you can spend a Fate Point to get through it (Like the 9 point critical hit I inflicted last night), but there is no secret horde of suck that gets augmented by losing fate points. Of course, once your out, your character shield is gone until you can earn more.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:41 pm

Cynical Cat wrote:
LadyTevar wrote:
Cynical Cat wrote:I like Warhammer Fantasy's Fortune Point/Fate Point system of character shielding myself.
Ah yes... spend that FatePoint to cover your ass... and the DM adds it to his pile of Dark Fate that he can use against you.

Great Game. :)
Not quite. Each Fate Point gives you a fortunte point that you can use once a day and they work a lot like action points, allowing rerolls and extra half actions. If you're boned, you can spend a Fate Point to get through it (Like the 9 point critical hit I inflicted last night), but there is no secret horde of suck that gets augmented by losing fate points. Of course, once your out, your character shield is gone until you can earn more.

Maybe it was just the DM's house rule, then.

Narsil · Post by **Narsil** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:38 pm

SirNitram wrote:Races Of Destiny + Eberron Action Points do this well. Other options involve Situational DR, if you're using D20.

d20 Modern also uses Action Points. A similar system to the 'character shield' mechanic was also presented in the Unearthed Arcana suppliment in at least two different forms.

I've never encountered Situational DR, however.

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