Linear Warriors, Quadratic Wizards: Difference between revisions

* ''[[The Dresden Files (game)|The Dresden Files]]'' RPG runs into this with mortal characters because of how the attack and damage values are laid out for spells. A "starter" wizard will likely be able to throw around 3 and 4 shift attacks, rolling from 3 or 4, which gives them about as much kick as a cop with a shotgun might have. But while most character types will increase their effectiveness primarily through increasing skill rolls (same shotgun, better at aiming it), wizards increase both damage ''and'' skill rolls—so not only is he throwing around a more intense fireball, he's more likely to hit you with it. Within a few milestones, while that cop is shooting his Weapon:3 shotgun rolling from 5,<ref>Meaning that an average roll against someone rolling a 3 on defense works out to a 5 shift hit, enough to kill a normal human, but barely</ref> a wizard using his favored element might be firing off a Weapon:7 attack, also rolling from 7.<ref>Meaning an average roll against a 3 on defense works out to an '''''11''''' shift hit</ref> The main thing keeping them in check is that a blown spell roll does damage to the wizard, and the Laws of Magic, which state that a wizard isn't allowed to kill a mortal with magic (which doesn't stop bad guys, obviously).<br />That said, there ''are'' abilities outside of spellcasting that can make a character hit just as hard, and be tougher to kill, but they're still magical abilities.