"Let’s Get Granular!" - who uses which optional r

[kevperrine]

Hey folks,

I thought it would be interesting to know who uses WHICH optional rules and why?

BASH! UE is a neat (and deceptively granular) system out of the box, but there are several Rule Options in the Core Book appendix and (now/new) in Issue #5 of BAM!... And there are of course many House Rules out there.

Here's a list of the rules I've seen that are "optional" for play. Which ones do you use, and why?
Let us know WHY because that might help others see the utility of the rule and give it a try. (ie. sell us on the optional rule!).

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[from BASH! core rules appendix]

Weakness (p.4)

Dice Alternatives (p.123) - Playing Cards
Dice Alternatives (p.123) - D12 Dice Pool System
Dice Alternatives (p.123) - D10 Dice Pool System
Dice Alternatives (p.123) - D6 Dice Pool Success Count
Dice Alternatives (p.123) - Fudge Dice

Buying Advantages (p.124)
Static Soak &/or Defense Values (p.125)
Fame (p.125-128)
Experience Points (p.128)

TROPES: Pulp - Grittier Combat Rules (p.75)

TROPES: Silver Age - Self-Narration (p.81)

TROPES: Anti-Heroes - Killing (p.86)
TROPES: Anti-Heroes - Stun vs. Lethal damage & Medical Aid (p.86)
TROPES: Anti-Heroes - Advantage Lethal Weapons (p.86)
TROPES: Anti-Heroes - Disadvantage Addict (p.86)

TROPES: Fantasy - Powers Limitation: Casting (p.90)
TROPES: Fantasy - Advantage Grimoire (p.90)
TROPES: Fantasy - Advantage Royalty (p.90)
TROPES: Fantasy - Disadvantage Cursed (p.90)
TROPES: Fantasy - Disadvantage Honor Bound (p.90)
TROPES: Fantasy - Disadvantage Illiterate (p.90)

TROPES: Cosmic (p.92-101)

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[from BAN! Issue #5]

Let’s Get Granular! Option I: New Power: Heightened (p.8)
Let’s Get Granular! Option II: The Whole Half Stat (p.11)
Let’s Get Granular! Option III: Using a New Stat System (p.11)

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House Rules
And of course o if you use your own House Rule options - feel free to explain them!


Okay then.
I'm interested to see who uses what!
thanks
-kev-

PS. can you tell I have my Marketing MBA?

[BASHMAN]

I haven't used any yet, but I would most likely use Heightened.

[kevperrine]

I haven't used any yet, but I would most likely use Heightened.

Completely agree on that.
I am printing (and binding) a color version of the PDF for myself (even though I have a B/W bound copy already), and I'm adding in the Errata and added powers, etc.. to my print/bind in the back for myself.

I looked at those three options to adjust stats and immediately chose that the Heightened power fits the system best (in my humble opinion) has the least "change" on anything - all you do is buy it like another power. And generally it just seems more elegant and unique to BASH! than the other two. The "Half-Stat" is my second favorite - but not by a long-shot...

Since you like it too, I'd suggest if you (BASHMAN) ever create an updated version that you incorporate Heightened as a core power.
Then again - I have NOT play tested it. Has anyone else play tested Heightened or any of these other optional rules?

-kev-

[BASHMAN]

I think Heightened will actually be in Awesome Powers as a new power.

[BeardedDork]

BASH UE already has the exact level of granularity I want. (If anything I would probably do away with 4 it seems to be a largely unused stat)

[BASHMAN]

I make characters with 4s all the time!

[BeardedDork]

As do I, but I think I see the fewest 4s, with the definite exception of 0s, few seems willing to put a zero in anything.

[BASHMAN]

0s are really meant mostly for NPCs. As a Narrator, I'd only allow a character to have one if they had a good reason for it, character development wise.

[Lindharin]

I use the optional rule for buying extra advantages at 1 pt each, and we use the Weaknesses (plus one or two custom ones I house-ruled).

I haven't used Heightened yet, but I'd allow it if anyone wanted it for their PC. For NPCs, I probably won't bother with it for most purposes. The one exception where I might use it for NPCs would be in a Pulp or Street Level game where most characters should probably have stats between 1 and 3 instead of the more four-color 1-to-5 scale.

I am seriously considering the Fame rules for my current campaign, but haven't started using them yet.

I can see myself using the Experience rules for specific campaigns (like Teen campaigns, etc.) where character growth/practice is relevant, but not for my average established supers game.

I would use pretty much any of the tropes when appropriate to the campaign or the character. So far, however, the only ones that have shown up in my group are the Casting and Grimoire from Fantasy, plus a few things from Cosmic (Space enhancement, Omnipotence for Green Lantern-like characters, etc.)