Quick and Dirty Tri-Stat dX 2.0. rd
This conversion guide for Tri-Stat dX from a roll-low to roll-high system requires the BESM 3 Edition rulebook and to some extent the assumption that you have downloaded the free copy of Tri-Stat dX. rd
For those unfamiliar unfamiliar with with the dX system, system, X represents the die the game relies upon. BESM 3 Edition Edition represents represents the d6 incarnation incarnation with an emphasis on anime style gaming. Essentially Essentially,, the rules are the same; however, however, there are minor adjustments adjustments between the two, chiefly the ability to scale the die mechanic.
Power Level (dX) and Character Points Sub-Human (d4) 50-149 Points Human (d4/d6) 150-249 Points Heroic (d6) 250-499 Points Post-Human (d8) 500-699 Points Superpowered (d10) 700-999 Points Inhuman (d12) 1,000-1,999 Points Godlike (d20) 2,000+ Points
Stats may equal 2X. Above this limit, limit, they cost 20 points each, if GM allows the purchase. The attribute progression table for Time must be changed at Rank 16 and above so that powers can continue to increase increase by a factor of 10. For all intents and purposes, purposes, however, however, these values are indistinguishable for characters in most campaigns. All attributes equal X with the following exceptions: Attributes with the Variable or Special level descriptor are unaffected along with Insubstantial. Attributes whose level can ca n be equal to twice X without GM approval a pproval : Combat Technique Energy Bonus Features Force Field Sixth Sense Spaceflight Weapon Attributes whose level can ca n be equal to four times X without GM approval: ap proval: Armour Special Defence
Skills may equal X without GM approval.
Missing Attributes from Tri-Stat dX updated to BESM 3
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Edition
Unless otherwise noted, Attributes can only be taken up to Level X. Adaptation* Cost: 2 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Body Progression: Linear; +1 environment each Level
The character is capable of surviving a number of environments that are otherwise hostile to the average person equal to the number of levels he or she possesses in Adaptation. Examples include: acidic/basic liquids, extra-dimensional, extreme pressure, intense cold/heat, noxious gasses, radiation, underwater (includes breathing). For non-human characters, none of these restrictions apply for conditions that are deemed their natural habitat. Such an individual would have to take Adaptation (Earth Atmosphere) if it would otherwise be toxic to his race. This attribute does not allow survival in extreme conditions, such as low- to no-oxygen environment, such protections require levels in Special Defence. The Attribute also provides 1 point of Armour against environmental conditions or attacks that are similar to the adapted environment. To illustrate this, Adaption (Heat) provides Armour when exposed to desert heat or fiery attacks; similarly, Adaption (Pressure) has Armour when deep-sea diving or crushing attacks. In most natural Earth-like environments, the Armour essentially functions as protection from the elements. Note that a character with Adaptation is not immune to the effects of the chosen environment; he or she is able to tolerate it. Attacks that use the Adapted environment still cause damage as they are more concentrated (therefore lethal) forms of the condition. Characters that are partially or fully immune to such conditions should take levels in Special Defence instead. Animal Friendship Cost: 2 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Soul Progression: Special
A character with this Attribute has an unusual, instinctive empathy towards animals. On a successful Soul Stat check, the character can befriend an otherwise hostile or even ferocious animal. For example, this would allow a character to get past a police dog or guard dog. Utilizing this ability requires behaving in a calm and friendly manner; a friendship cannot be made if the character or his or her friends have already attacked the animal. An “animal” is defined as a natural creature with Intelligence of 1-2 that lacks the ability to communicate via a structured language (that is, it cannot speak).
The GM can apply difficulty penalties or bonuses to the Soul Stat check based on the character’s actions and the situation. For example, the dice roll modifier could be -4 if the animal is especially fierce or very loyal to its current owner, or +4 if the characters just saved the animal from some nasty fate. When befriending a pack of animals, a dice roll penalty of -2 is assigned for two animals, -4 for 3-4 animals, -6 for 5-8 animals, -8 for 9-16 animals, and higher penalties for larger packs. If the attempt fails, the animal(s) may attack, threaten the character, or slink away, depending on its nature. A second attempt is usually not possible within a short period of time. If an animal is befriended, it will let the character and companions approach it, and will not attack or act aggressively unless it or the members of its pack or family are threatened. At the GM’s option, it may be affectionate enough to want to follow behind the character or somehow assist him or her. An animal that has been befriended simply likes the character. Actual training of the animal takes time and requires the application of Animal Training Skill. The character’s Rank in this Attribute (round up) is added to his or her Handle Animal Skill. Rank 1 +1
to the Animal Training Skill. Rank 2 An additional +1 modifier is applied to the Soul Stat check. +2 to the Animal Training Skill. Rank 3 An additional +2 modifier is applied to the Soul Stat check. +3 to the Animal Training Skill. Rank 4 An additional +3 modifier is applied to the Soul Stat check. +4 to the Animal Training Skill. Rank 5 An additional +4 modifier is applied to the Soul Stat check. +5 to the Animal Training Skill. Rank 6 An additional +5 modifier is applied to the Soul Stat check. +6 to the Animal Training Skill. Astral Projection Cost: 5 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Mind or Soul Progression: Fast
The character can leave his or her real body behind, in a trance or asleep, and travel in the form of a second, ghostly, astral body. According to some psychic theories, everyone has an astral body, but only certain individuals can detach this body from its physical form. In anime, powerful sorcerers or psychics often possess Astral Projection. The astral body is normally invisible and can only be seen by other astral travellers or individuals with special senses (see Sixth Sense). The astral body is intangible, and can pass through walls or other solid objects, walk on air or water, or perform similar ghostly feats. A character’s astral body cannot affect the material world in any tangible way such as making a physical attack. An astral character can interact normally with another astral character, however. Most attacks will pass through an astral body without harming it. An astral character is vulnerable to nonphysical attacks such as Exorcism, Mind Control, Telepathy, or Weapon with
the Multidimensional or Psychic Variables. He or she may also use these attacks on solid individuals, but each such attack costs 5 Energy Points in addition to any Energy Point cost the attack normally has. Any damage or other injury that is somehow inflicted upon an astral body will apply to the original body as well. An astral body moves at the character’s normal speed, although it can also levitate or move through water or space. If the character has other movement related Attributes (such as Land Speed, Flight, Spaceflight, or Superspeed) that grant faster than normal speed, his or her astral body can also utilize them. A character with high levels of Astral Projection can make his or her astral body travel faster than his or her normal speed. This also applies to other forms of movement. When an astral body is moving at a multiple of the character’s normal speed, the “normal” world blurs and he or she cannot clearly perceive objects or entities that are not astral. For example, in game terms, this means a character travelling at 10 times normal speed could rapidly move from place to place through the astral plane, but would have to slow down in order to explore a particular area. A character can always choose to use Astral Projection at a lower level (moving slower than the maximum speed), if desired. At the GM’s option, an astral body may be able to cross inter-dimensional barriers that would otherwise be impassable such as oneway Dimensional Portals. A character’s astral body may not carry anything “real” with it, but, if desired, may appear clothed. It may also have a consistent but different appearance than the character’s normal body. This may be because the astral body is a reflection of a true, future, or idealized form. If the character wishes to awaken from his or her astral-travelling trance, the astral form reunites instantly with his or her material body. Addition / Clarification:
A character using Astral Projection while in a trance may still be aware of their original body. In order to speak, understand the speech of others, or assess the situation without losing concentration, the character may attempt a difficult (Mind or Soul) + Astral Projection check. Sleeping characters using Astral Projection do not gain this option. Instead, make a normal (Mind or Soul) + Astral Projection check. If successful, using Astral Projection does not disrupt rest, otherwise time spent using Astral Projection does not also count as restful sleep. In both of the above cases, while using Astral Projection a character's physical body counts as defenseless. Art of Distraction Cost: 3 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Soul Progression: Linear; +1 bonus each level to Soul Stat rolls
Art of Distraction may represent oratorical ability, innate charisma, or even a beautiful or resonant voice. This Attribute allows a character to distract a number of people or animals at a critical moment, provided he or she has some method of communicating with them (for example, talking, dancing, television broadcast, illusionary image, written word, etc.) If the character is
trying to directly distract a potentially hostile group, such as an angry mob or a group of security guards, his or her Level dictates how many people are distracted. If the character has an audience that is already prepared to listen, the Level determines the percentage (5% per Level) that is distracted or moved enough to take action, whether that involves buying the character’s next CD, donating money to a charity, or voting for the character in an election. A character may use Art of Distraction a number of times per game session equal to its Attribute Level. If multiple people with this Attribute work as a team, the total number of people distracted is added together. Art of Distraction has the following Default Variable Ranks: Area 3, Duration 1, Targets 0. Combat Technique
New Technique: ACV Knockback This technique is only available in campaigns that use Knockback rules. The character is proficient at maximizing the distance that he or she knocks opponents back after a successful hit. The character adds his Attack Combat Value, in meters, to the knockback distances inflicted upon the target of a successful hit. Combination Attack Cost: 4 Points/Level Relevant Stat: None Progression Linear; the character can combine attacks with +2 other characters each Level
Through training, characters can learn to combine their attacks (usually through the Weapon Attribute) into a frightening display of power. The characters involved must possess both Combination Attack Attribute and the Weapon Attribute for this to work. The number of characters that can combine their attacks is dependent on the lowest Level of Combination Attack possessed by a character; he or she can combine with up to 2 other characters for each Level. For campaigns that use Energy Points, there is an Energy Point cost associated with the Combination Attack: 2 Energy Points per person involved in the attack. Each character pays this cost separately. The attack takes place on the Initiative of the character with the lowest Initiative. The character with the lowest Attack Combat Value makes the attack roll for the entire group (combat Skills are not applied). The target has a defence penalty of -1 per character involved in the attack. If the attack succeeds and the defender fails or does not attempt a defence, the damage dealt by each character is doubled. Contamination Cost: 4 or 8 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Body or Soul Progression: Time reversed, starting at 1 month at Level 1 (1 month, 1 week, 1 day, 12 hours, 4 hours, 1 hour, etc.)
This Attribute represents the character’s ability to transform other people (or animals, or objects) into entities like him or herself. Frequently, this victim can then contaminate even more people. The method should be specified when the character is created. It might be similar to myths behind the vampire legend — the character’s blood carries a “plague” that, when ingested, mutates the person over a matter of hours or days. Alternatively, the character might lay an egg or seed (real or metaphorical) in the body of his or her prey, which will later hatch within the victim, killing him or her as a new monster is born. The character might even need to perform some special ritual that alters the victim. Whatever the case, the conditions under which the victim can become “contaminated” must be specified. Contamination - Difficult costs 4 Points/Level. The victim must be willing, unconscious, or restrained for deliberate contagion to occur, or the target must perform an unusual activity (such as eating a morsel of the character’s flesh). This could also represent a situation where the victim must be tricked into doing something, such as signing a pact with a demon. Contamination - Easy costs 8 Points/Level. The contagion might be similar to a traditional werewolf attack, where a scratch or bite results in a victim becoming a werewolf. The GM can add special conditions, limitations, or effects to ensure that becoming a monster is a curse and not a blessing. Contamination should also be specified as based on Body or Soul. Body-based contamination can be reversed (before it runs it course) by the Healing Attribute. Soul-based contamination can be reversed (before it runs its course) by the Exorcism Attribute. The higher the Level of Contamination, the faster the transformation occurs. There should always be some means of curing or delaying the eventual mutation, however. Possible cures include the death of the creature that inflicted the contaminant, radical surgery, blood transfusion, or a successful mystical healing/exorcism. The GM will decide whether a player character who is turned into a monster remains in the player’s control or is reclassified as an NPC. Any retention (dreams, memories, etc.) of the victim’s former existence depends on the nature of the contamination and whether the victim has been “transformed,” “devoured,” or “reborn” in the process. A person who has been successfully contaminated will usually gain a certain number of Attributes “paid for” by assigning new character Defects (often including Cursed, Ism, Marked, and Owned — the last one representing servitude to his or her new master). Usually the mutation will result in a monstrous form similar to that of the character responsible. Thus, a spider alien that laid an egg in its victim may produce another spider alien, the victim of a vampire will grow fangs, etc. The GM should be wary of potentially undesirable possibilities such as a werewolf character infecting the entire group of characters, thereby creating an entire group of werewolves. The Contamination Attribute usually allows the creator or mother some measure of control over the newly transformed character. In these instances, the Level of Contamination is added as a favourable modifier to any Mind Control attempts performed against the subject. A variation to Contamination inflicts the target with some sort of curse or disease, rather than transforming him
or her into a different type of creature. Examples of these afflictions include rapid ageing, debilitating diseases, sensitivity to specific elements, etc. This Attribute only has 10 Levels. It has the Default Variable Rank of 0 for Area, Duration and Targets. Force Field
New Custom Restriction: Full Impact This Restriction is only available in campaigns that use Knockback rules. Whenever the character is hit with an impacting physical attack, he or she can feel the force of the attack though he or she may not receive any damage. Consequently, the character is affected by the attack’s full Knockback value, before the damage is reduced by the Force Field. Gadgeteer Cost: 5 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Mind Progression: Slow Progression Chart, starting at 2 times normal building rate
The character has an innate knack for creating, modifying, and working with machines. This Attribute does not merely represent someone well versed in mechanical skill, but someone who has a natural talent for mechanisms, no matter how complex. Such a person could flip through a technical manual for a newly developed device and gain an understanding of it in about 30 seconds to a minute. Such characters often have high Levels in Electronics and Mechanical Skills as well. Characters possessing this Attribute can also build and modify new Items at unbelievable rates, so long as they have the parts and workspace to do so (even if the Item is not owned by them). For game play, this translates into an ability to take any technological Item and exchange Attributes and Defects so long as the point value of the object is unchanged. The character can also build Items, but must still allot the appropriate number of Character Points to do so. This Attribute can also describe “Magical Gadgeteers,” characters who can modify magical Items rather than technological ones. Immovable* Cost: 2 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Body Progression: Linear; +10 meter Knockback reduction each Level
This Attribute is only available in campaigns that use Knockback rules. Characters with this Attribute absorb physical impacts better than the average person, reducing the distance by which they are knocked back from impact attacks and forceful blows. If a Weapon or melee attack’s Knockback distance is reduced to zero or below, the target has successfully absorbed the impact of the entire attack (but the attack still inflicts damage).
Immunity Cost: 10 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Body Progression: Descriptive
With this attribute, the character is completely immune to damage and adverse effects that stem from a particular weapon, element, application, or event. For example, a character with Level 2 Immunity to Silver cannot be hurt by silver weapons and may not even feel pain if clubbed with a sack of silver dollars. Similarly, a character with Level 8 Immunity to fire/heat could walk into the most intensive firestorm possible and emerge unscathed. This Attribute only has 12 Levels. Level 1: The Immunity plays a minor role in the game. Level 2: The Immunity plays a small role in the game. Typical examples include: weapons made from rare substances, attacks from a specific opponent, or under specific conditions. Level 3: The Immunity plays a marginal role in the game. Level 4: The Immunity plays a moderate role in the game. Typical examples include: weapons made from an uncommon substance, attacks from a broad opponent group, or under broad conditions. Level 5: The Immunity plays a consistent role in the game. Level 6: The Immunity plays a major role in the game. Typical examples include: electricity, cold, or a specific weapon type. Level 7: The Immunity plays a huge role in the game. Level 8: The Immunity plays a major role in the game. Typical examples include: fire/heat, a broad weapon type. Level 9: The Immunity plays a critical role in the game. Level 10: The Immunity plays an extreme role in the game. Typical examples include: gunfire, bladed weapons, or unarmed attacks. Level 11: The Immunity plays monstrous role in the game. Level 12: The Immunity plays a primal role in the game. Typical examples include: weapons, energy; blunt trauma.
Insubstantial
In games where Knockback rules are used, characters who are successfully hit while using the Insubstantial Attribute have their Knockback distance multiplied by twice the Level in use. This is due into the reduction of their mass as outlined in the table below.
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mass Multiplier 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64 1/128 1/256 1/512 1/1024
Knockback Multiplier 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Mass Increase Cost: 16 Points/Level Relevant Stat: Body Progression: Variable
This Attribute reflects the ability to increase mass – and thus density – of the character. In addition to increased mass, the character gains a corresponding Level of Armor, Immovable, and Superstrength Attributes. The table below indicates two columns of substances (realistic and perceived) that have a similar density to a character with increased mass. The realistic column matches the character’s density (also known as specific gravity) with a close counterpart in the natural world. The perceived column matches the character’s density with a substance that is commonly believed in fiction to have a corresponding strength. Note that although this table only shows 10 Levels in this Attribute, the numeric values still increment in a linear fashion (+2 to the Mass Multiplier per level, +1 to Armor, Immovable and Superstrength).
Attribute Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mass Multiplier 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Realistic Density Brick/Rock Gemstones Iron Steel Copper Lead Mercury Uranium Gold Platinum
Perceived Density Hardwood Aluminum Concrete Granite Lead Iron Steel Titanium Diamond Adamantine
Armor, Immovable & Superstrength Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Weapon
New Custom Variable: Knockback This Custom Variable is only available in campaigns that use Knockback rules. The attack impacts the target forcefully, knocking him or her back one meter for every point of damage delivered. Armor is ignored when determining Knockback distance; Force Fields with the Full Impact Restriction do reduce Knockback, however. This Variable is for attacks that impact the character, and may not be appropriate for slashing or piercing attacks. The Knockback distance is doubled for each rank of Knockback. Combat Value (for characters with the ACV Knockback Combat Technique); Massive Damage, Superstrength, and critical hit multipliers may be added to the attack damage when determining final Knockback distance; apply these after any doubling for multiple Knockback assignments. * The Attribute may be taken up to twice X without GM approval. † The Attribute may be taken up to four times X without GM approval.
Target Numbers for dX The table below covers the Target Numbers for games that use dice other than a d6. d4
d8
d10
d12
d20
Difficulty
4 6 8 10 12 16
8 12 16 20 24 32
10 15 20 25 30 40
12 18 24 30 36 48
20 30 40 50 60 80
Very Easy Easy Average Difficult Challenging Improbable
Difficulty Modifiers for dX The table below covers the Difficulty Modifiers for games that use dice other than a d6. d4
d8
d10
d12
d20
Bonus/Penalty Description
+12 +8 +4 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -4 -8 -12
+24 +16 +8 +4 +2 0 -2 -4 -8 -16 -24
+30 +20 +10 +5 +2 0 -2 -5 -10 -20 -30
+36 +24 +12 +6 +3 0 -3 -6 -12 -24 -36
+60 +40 +20 +10 +5 0 -5 -10 -20 -40 -60
Monstrous Bonus (why roll dice?) Outrageous Bonus Extreme Bonus Significant Bonus Slight Bonus No Modifier Slight Penalty Significant Penalty Extreme Penalty Outrageous Penalty Monstrous Penalty
Knockback (Optional Rule) For genres where the ability to make a character to move involuntarily due to the force of the attack, you can implement the rule of Knockback. This effect is often caused by blunt attacks as well as some Weapon Attribute attacks. The effect is that the character is knocked back 1 meter per point of damage delivered. If the character possesses Combat Technique (ACV Knockback), he adds his ACV to the Knockback distance. The knockback distance is reduced by the target’s Body Stat. Further reductions can result from the Immovable Attribute and Force Fields without the Full Impact Disability. Add:
+ Damage delivered. + Attackers Attack Combat Value (if ACV Knockback Combat Technique is possed) Multiply by:
x Critical hit damage multiplier, if the attack delivered a critical hot or Called Shot to Vital Spot. Subtract:
- Target’s Body Stat - Target’s Immovable Attribute x 10 - Target’s Force Field Attribute Level x 10 (only for Force Fields without the Full Impact disability)
Knockback Impact Damage
Characters often tumble along the ground or fly through the air when knocked back. If they strike an object, they receive 1 point of damage per meter of Knockback up to five times its armor rating. Other Knockback Effects
Should a character be knocked high into the air, off the side of a building, or other such situation, he or she may suffer additional damage when hitting the ground. The GM may rule that the Special Movement Attribute and the Acrobatics Skill mitigate this damage. Characters knocked into the air only suffer half of the Knockback distance, but suffers full damage from the fall. Characters that fall as a result of Knockback only suffer damage from the fall, not the Knockback impact damage outlined above. Characters that can fly and are knocked back great distances into the air may be able to recover their senses to take flight before crashing into obstacles. The GM may require a Body or Mind Stat check (possibly with penalties) to accomplish such an action. GMs can alter these rules if necessary to reflect the genre or style of play, as appropriate. Such adjustments may be a mandatory one-tenth of the Knockback in damage being taken by the character, even if there is no impact.
Variable Damage Ranges rd
As BESM 3 Edition has six different options for modifying damage delivered by an attack, the table below uses the same values, but changes the die range based on the die size being used. For comparison sake, the d6 value is included so you can match it to the optional table you prefer. d4 2 3 4-6 7 8
d6 2-3 4-5 6-8 9-10 11-12
d8 2-3 4-6 7-11 12-14 15-16
d10 2-4 5-8 9-13 14-18 19-20
d12 2-4 5-9 10-16 17-21 22-24
d20 2-7 8-15 16-26 27-34 35-40
Combat Modifiers Trick Shots
In some genres, characters attempt difficult shots to take down an opponent. These can range from bouncing a projectile off a wall or two, precise aim that causes a series of objects to chain
react to spring a trap, and other similarly spectacular tricks. The table below represents the penalty associated with these types of shots. Difficulty of The Trick Shot
Penalty to Hit
Penalty to Evade
Fancy Challenging Complex Difficult Fantastic
-1 -3 -6 -12 -18
-1 -3 -6 -12 -18
Clobbering “Mooks” Rule
Many henchmen are expendables that villains throw in front of the heroes in order to confound them and prevent them from capturing the evil-doer. These characters are often of a weaker level than the heroes, as they represent stumbling blocks rather than true obstacles. To reflect this, GMs may want to implement this rule to make dispatching such foes an easy task. For every 200 points difference between an attacker and defender grants the character a bonus of one level (a Slight Bonus for a character with 200 fewer points, a Significant Bonus for one with 400 fewer points, etc.). This represents the ease at which more powerful characters can easily defeat weaker ones.
