Are traditional "roll-under" mechanics outdated? Should natural 100s and 01s have lasting consequences? Let’s dive into a system where heroes truly earn their growth—and their scars.
1. Setting the Stage
We’re building The Hero Within, an RPG breaking traditional mechanics.
The goal: A system that makes every dice roll feel impactful and meaningful.
2. The Core Problem with Traditional Rolling
Most d100 systems use "rolling under" mechanics—why does this feel counterintuitive?
The weird feeling when rolling a 100 is bad, and a 01 is good.
The Hero Within flips this by making higher rolls always better.
3. The New Rolling System: High Rolls, High Stakes
Rolling d100 above a GM-set Target Number (TN) rather than under a skill.
GM dynamically adjusts TN based on difficulty and character skill.
A natural 100 = permanent attribute gain (it’s a miracle!).
A natural 01 = permanent attribute loss (injury, trauma, scars).
02-03 = severe consequences, but no stat loss.
Rolling well = long-term benefits, rolling poorly = lasting consequences.
4. Impact on Character Progression
Unlike standard XP-based leveling, character growth comes from gameplay itself.
Natural 100s = the only way to surpass attribute caps.
Natural 01s = a constant risk, making every roll meaningful.
5. Community Engagement – What Do You Think?
Would you prefer rolling over instead of rolling under in RPGs?
How do you feel about permanent consequences for extreme rolls?
Should character progression be XP-based or roll-based?
Join the Conversation!
Come to Life Of Fiction and drop your thoughts in the comments! Here’s Tuesday’s article that we’re discussing right now…
NEXT TIME: How do we fit multiple fantasy races into a high-tech gnome-run city?
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If you love storytelling, role-playing games, or just being part of a creative movement, now is your chance.
Come play with me.
Remember: You are MORE than you THINK you are!
...see you next time. 🚀
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