Valherjar Rules & Errata

Rules Questions and Errata

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AOR Rules FAQ and Errata

Frequently Asked Questions

     AOR Modifiers
     - How can AOR Modifiers be customized for more dramatic roleplaying?
     - Should Melee Weapons have AOR Modifiers?

     The Effect Die
     - What, exactly, is the Effect Die for?

     Luck
     - Does a point of Luck make your failed Target Roll even to the TN or give you a +1 DoS?

Rules Errata

Character Creation: The Hlin
- The suggested priority points for the Hlin don't work. What should they be?

Weapon Damage for the Barrett M82A1 .50 Caliber
- The .50 caliber doesn't do nearly enough damage as listed. What should the stats be instead?

Frequently Asked Questions

AOR Modifiers

How can AOR Modifiers be customized for more dramatic roleplaying?
After dozens of great conversations with players about AOR Modifiers and how they should be used during games, we decided it was a good idea to give everyone a bit of insight on the intent behind modifiers and a how we suggest they be incorporated. So, by request, we present the short essay: Customizing AOR Modifiers.

     Should Melee Weapons have AOR Modifiers?
     We've received a number of questions on whether or not melee weapons should have AOR Modifiers. The very short version is that, yes, melee weapons can and should have AOR Modifiers at dramatically appropriate times--but that we ultimately didn't feel enough of the weapons warranted them to include permenant stats in the official description.
     But that's the short version. Those looking for more info on the subject should check out our brief essay on the subject: AOR Modifiers for Melee Weapons

The Effect Die

     What, exactly, is the Effect Die for?
     We've found that the Effect Die can be a bit confusing, especially to veteran roleplayers who are accustomed to more traditional multi-phase combat resolutions.
     Its primary, and most common, purpose is to determine the base damage from a successful attack. When you look at a weapon's damage rating you use the Effect Die as the base dice value (the capital D) in the equation. It is treated as either a 2, 3, or 6-sided die and is combined with any modifiers to determine the total damage.
     Thus, if you rolled a 4 on the Effect Die when you scored a 1 Degree of Success hit with a D6,1 weapon, you would do a total of 5 points of damage (4 for the "D6" portion + 1 for the DoS).
     The secondary, and more esoteric, use for the Effect Die is as a general guide for how fruitful a given action ends up being. It indicates that random element of chance that is totally beyond the character's control. Often thought of as "the will of the gods," "blind luck," or "fortune's blessing," the Effect Die shows that ever-important bit of serendipity that's present in almost everything we do--which, when combined with the character's Degree of Success, gives an incredibly detailed picture of an action.
     It tells us (with a high DoS but low Effect Die roll) that, though the gunshot was perfectly on target, the bullet happened to miss any vital organs and so did only superficial damage. Or, conversely (with a low DoS but high Effect Die roll), that the shot only grazed the target's arm but managed to nick an artery and cause excessive bleeding. It could also help determine the how much total knowledge an interrogated NPC has to offer, or whether or not stray bullets hit surrounding bystanders, or if a cache of buried food the players find ends up being edible, or if a map snatched out of a fire is still legible.
     Of course, the Effect Roll is never meant to supercede the skill a character puts into any action (a low Effect Die Roll should never trump a good Degree of Success), but it can determine what the character ends up geting out of their effort. After all, as the old saying goes, "It is better to be good than lucky, but fortune most favors the man who is both."

               Luck

     Does a point of Luck make your failed Target Roll even to the TN or give you a +1 DoS?
     Each point of Luck you spend gives you a net +1 Degree of Success result. That means that if you were going to fail the action otherwise, but decide to spend 1 point of Luck, you automatically jump to +1 DoS. This, of course, also stacks with each additional point of Luck you spend, as well as any normal Degrees of Success from a good Target Roll.

Errata

Character Creation

    The suggested priority points for the Hlin don't work. What should they be?
     Unfortunately, there is an error on the Hlin character creation page (p. 91) that recommends a 3 / 2 / 5 / 2 split for Priority Points when making a Hlin. However, if you actually try to use that spread you will end up with too little Prestige to meet most Magic prerequisites--officially defeating the purpose of a Magic-based character.
     Instead we recommend the following for your Priority Points: Attribute 3 / Skill 1 / Magic 4 / Prestige 4

Weapons and Equipment

     The .50 doesn't do nearly enough damage as listed. What should the stats be instead?
     Clearly, the .50 BMG doesn't do nearly enough damage and the stats listed are a misprint. Instead, the Damage for the M82 (and any other weapons shooting that round) should be D6x3,2. Additionally, it should have a Penetration of 4.
     Typos are embarrassing. Typos that are then replicated three or four times in a book are humiliating.

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