This tool is quite helpful for calculating the odds of various dice rolls for comparison of how traits can be used to change the odds under different dice mechanics.
To determine how well a dice mechanic works, it helps to compare it to set of desired outcomes. For a standard task the character is capable of forming, we are currently targeting:
In this approach the number of dice you roll is equal to your trait value (some skills might start with one die). These are all rolled to achieve at least one die with a given value. We'll call these changes to succeed "easy," "normal," and "hard." In addition you could change the probabilities by requiring more than one success roll out of the pool...this starts to get complicated. But it’s undoubtedly fun to roll a fistful of dice.
| 4-6 (Easy) | 5-6 (Normal) | 6 (Hard) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1d6 | 50% | 33% | 17% |
| 2d6 | 75% | 56% | 31% |
| 3d6 | 87% | 71% | 42% |
| 4d6 | 94% | 80% | 52% |
| 5d6 | 97% | 87% | 60% |
| 6d6 | 99% | 91% | 66% |
In this approach you roll 2d6 and add the trait, trying to reach a target number. There is not a lot of wiggle room in the spread of numbers, so negative and positive adjustments are significant.
Increasing difficulty is the same as removing trait points, and vice versa, so there is flexibility with this system: you can determine a higher challenge level is lower for a skilled player, or you can keep the challenge level and let the player add their trait score to their roll. It may sometimes be a little of both.
| 6+ | 7+ | 8+ | 9+ | 10+ | 11+ | 12+ | |
| 0 | 72% | 58% | 42% | 28% | 17% | 8% | 3% |
| +1 | 83% | 72% | 58% | 42% | 28% | 17% | 8% |
| +2 | 92% | 83% | 72% | 58% | 42% | 28% | 17% |
| +3 | 97% | 92% | 83% | 72% | 58% | 42% | 28% |
| +4 | 100% | 97% | 92% | 83% | 72% | 58% | 42% |
| +5 | 100% | 100% | 97% | 92% | 83% | 72% | 58% |
| +6 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 97% | 92% | 83% | 72% |
Aligning to the dice pool mechanic above, you would choose 8+ for easy, 9+ for normal, and 11+ for hard, but notice that this is much more difficult than the targets as described below. Unlike the dice pool case, with a target number approach, you have two more options for targets (above easy).
Names for these challenge levels:
| Numenera | AF | |
|---|---|---|
| 6+ | simple | trivial (but still under duress) |
| 7+ | standard | straightforward |
| 8+ | demanding | hard |
| 9+ | difficult | very hard |
| 10+ | challenging | formidable |
| 11+ | intimidating | ridiculous |
| 12+ | formidable | “impossible” |
In this mechanic you roll 2d6 against a target number. However, if you have advantage or disadvantage, your roll a third d6 and take the sum of either the lowest or highest two rolls (for disadvantage or advantage). The target number can remain stable, or it can be shifted. This system introduces the ability to handle disadvantages, while being quite simple. Traits would not need numbers. On the downside, the increase of traits is an easy way to indicate character growth.
| 6+ | 7+ | 8+ | 9+ | 10+ | 11+ | 12+ | |
| Advantage | 89% | 80% | 68% | 52% | 36% | 20% | 8% |
| Normal | 72% | 58% | 42% | 28% | 17% | 9% | 3% |
| Disadvantage | 48% | 32% | 19% | 11% | 5% | 2% | 1% |
This aligns with Easy (6+), Normal (7+), and hard (9+).