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Now, hear me out on this.

On a D6, the average result is 3,5. The number can vary between 1 and 6, with each result equally likely.

On a D3+2, the average result is 3. The number can vary between 3 and 5, with each result equally likely.

It is my belief that one current problem with 40K is not necessarily that there is too much random, but the random varies so much.

Take the Big Mek Stompa in the Apocalypse book. It begins the battle with D6 power fields, each equivalent to a Void Shield in protection (But without regeneration)

As it is, the difference in resilience between a BMS with 1 power field and BMS with 6 power fields is dramatic and too great to be decided by a single dice roll with no way to influence or compensate for the roll.

In this case, I believe giving the BMS D3+2 power fields would be better. Sure, you get 0,5 fields less on average, but the worst case scenario is that you get 3 fields, not 1. This makes the BMS much more reliable when you are thinking tactically in advance.

Another example is the Zzap Gun. The Ork equivalent of a Lascannon, the Zzap Gun is immensely unreliable, capable of getting S10 and blowing up the crew or firing at a measly S2. Here, replacing the 2D6 roll with D3+2, doubling the result, nets you a far more reliable gun in every way. Still random- who knows if it will be S6 or S10?- but I believe it would be more fun to use tactically, even if we would have to slap on 5 pts extra or so due to increased reliability and average damage output.

So, to sum it up: I believe the D6 is too random in certain situations, and better replaced by a D3+2.

But if we used D3+2, what would happen to all the d6 random charts?

I am not saying to use it everywhere, mind you.

Only where D6 is random enough to be problematic.

There are not that many random events that require you to roll toooooo many dice right?

Why not change it up into a D4-8 or some other more exotic dice.

 Desubot wrote:
There are not that many random events that require you to roll toooooo many dice right?

Why not change it up into a D4-8 or some other more exotic dice.

?

Sorry i had to re read that.
Ignore most of the above.
I think d3+2 might be interesting but would consistency really be a good thing for something like ork?

 Desubot wrote:
Sorry i had to re read that.
Ignore most of the above.
I think d3+2 might be interesting but would consistency really be a good thing for something like ork?

D3+2 is still random, unlike other races' equivalents. That alone makes it sufficient I believe.

I think anything that makes Ork technology more reliable is a bad thing. The biggest thing about Ork stuff is that it might work... or it might blow up in their faces.

If we were going to change anything, I'd say a roll of 1 on that chart means the Stompa blows up.

As an Ork player, I can honestly say, no, we don't want random charts that can just feth our gak any more than the rest of you.

Theres Orky random and then theres GW random

There's a difference between 'Random' and 'So unpredictable it's worthless/unplayable.' There's a reason nobody took Weirdboys: Almost half the time you wouldn't roll something helpful. If you need to teleport, getting +1 attack or a first turn WAAAGH never helped. If you were about to charge, teleporting would kill you. 1/6th of the time was a literal self-destruct button.
Let's compare to the more useable 'Random' option, the Shokk Attack Gun: It had variable strength and occasional wonkiness, but no matter what you rolled it always performed the same function: Killing elite infantry. Randomness influenced how effective it would be, but it never made the gun worthless. (Except blowing up or assaulting from across the board...) All results were useable.

Compare to the ork's Void Shields: You can get anywhere from ridiculously good defense that will weather a full turn of fire before you're even starting to feel it... Or you can roll absolutely worthless results. That's not random, that's deciding the game outcome in one roll.

Besides, the Shokk Attack Gun is simply random in a fun way. Having your guy teleport into melee with the target, instantly wiping them out, missing his mark and hitting an enemy out of sight etc. is entertaining.

Simply getting a 'Sorry mate, no shields for you' result is not fun.

So in some cases it would be better for sure...this brings to mind the Chaos Daemons Warp Storm Table....a double 1 on that table can decide a game....is this to random and needs to be changed to D3+2 doubled? Or am I misjudging the damage this can do to an army?

No, that would just rule out most results on that table.

Honestly, that entire table needs to be removed or overhauled.