Saker wrote: On the other hand, I didn't have the understanding that everyone starts with 1 hero die regardless of character point total. .
Several things to consider.
Unfortunately some of the very important bits of rules are a little *hidden* in the text of BASH! UE. It would be excellent to have a "one sheet" of these type rule-bits spelled out concisely as an appendix of the BASH! book for folks that haven't read line-to-line.
Though for the Hero Point/Dice & Setback Pts / Villain Dice... You may want to consider:
For Example - you may want to have a "recap" section somewhere for when a PC-Hero finishes an adventure with one Narrator, they note down if they gained any Hero Pts. or Setback Pts. (or Fame - Acclaim/Infamy if you're using those rules), so that when they come into another Narrator's game Issue, they either get to KEEP those carry-over, or they convert or they KNOW they'll go away (because then I'd spend them ALL in the issue for sure!).
I've always played that:
- Personal Hero Pts. & Setback Pts. refresh each issue as RAW.
- any HPs & SPs gained in the Issue carry-over issue-to-issue.
- I tell my game group the "general" Campaign Scale of the campaign and let them build ANY power level of PC-Hero they like, knowing they'll get HPs or SPs each issue.
- I rate EACH Issue with an "Issue Scale" based on the adventure and villains and threats for the night's Issue. Then I announce it at beginning of the game, to which each PC-Hero tells me if their Character Point build is above/below that value. Then they get HPs or I get extra SPs for their cost vs. the Issue. Because, to me, that helps balance each Issue and gives PC-Heroes more HPs to play with on the average - unless it's a tiny "milk-run" Issue on patrol or something meant to be a day in the life, fun and easy Issue leading up to something next Issue.
Here are some important lines in the text for you to read, that may be important to pay attention to as you're considering the plan for your Living Campaign...
"Hero Dice can really turn the tide in a desperate situation. All characters begin with one Hero Die each issue." [--BASH! p.20]
"When a Hero is created, any “left over” Character Points become Hero Points that refresh every issue. Narrators can also award Hero Points to players for good play." [--BASH! p.2]
"Each issue, these Personal Hero Points (gained at Character Creation) are refreshed." [--BASH! p.14]
"Personal Setbacks (those gained at Character Creation) can only be spent against the Hero who incurred the Setbacks. So the Narrator cannot use a 40 point character’s Setbacks against the 20 point Hero! The Narrator also begins with a pool of Setbacks that can be used against the entire group, and Heroes can also earn Setbacks for bad behavior." [--BASH! p.14]
"The Narrator begins with a pool of 2 Setbacks per Hero each issue. Additionally, some Villains have their own pool of Setbacks." [--BASH! p.20]
"Hero Points and Setbacks cannot be used to cancel each other. Once a Hero Point has been spent on an action, the Narrator cannot spend a Setback to cancel it, and vice-versa (bidding wars waste points and are in general not fun). ... However, even if a Hero Point or Setback was spent on an action, either side may still elect to spend a Hero or Villain die." [--BASH! p.19]
"In BASH!, the Narrator should tell the players what the enemy’s defense roll was, or how high the difficulty is to defuse the bomb. This is important because it will affect the player’s decision to spend Hero Points, Hero dice, or Push themselves." [--BASH! p.15]
Hope that helps.
I've dug for many different days/hours to figure out some of that fun. It really makes a difference to know the little things in the details of the rules.
-kev-
