Hit location dice

[Firedrake]

Some of us still take a while to read the hit location table. Especially when you're rolling for an LB20-X.

So here's an idea for a different set of dice, which I think should be quicker to read while maintaining the same odds as normal.

Take two six-siders. One of them is marked "CT" on one face, has a red spot on another face, and has the other four blank. The other is marked "LL/H", "LA", "LT", "RA", "RT", "RL/CTC".

Roll both dice as normal. If CT comes up, that's the location; otherwise read the location off the other die, using the red location (H or CTC) if it's available and the red spot's come up. (The second die conveniently does double duty on the punch table - read LL/H as H, RL/CTC as CT.)

Does anyone have some blank dice kicking around, and would you be willing to try this to see if it plays any faster than the usual system?

(Sadly, there won't be such a neat and simple option for the side tables - the 7/36 chances of a facing-leg or facing-arm hit mean I can't fit things into neat rows.)

[House Davie Merc]

I don't think this will correctly match the hit probabilities that you
get with 2 six sided dice .

[Firedrake]

Where did I err?

H: 1/36
RA: 5/36 (2+3)
RL: 4/36
RT: 5/36
CT: 1/6 (6/36)
LT: 5/36
LL: 4/36
LA: 5/36 (2+3)
CTC: 1/36

[Weirdo]

If you've gotten the probabilities to match, that'd actually be pretty neat.

As for the side charts, perhaps using different size dice might make it possible?

[Firedrake]

OK, the (left) side table version is a bit messier. This uses a d6 with LL, LA, LT, red, green, blue, and a second d6:

LL/LA/RT
CT/RA/RT x3
CT/RL/LTC
CT/RL/H

You read the second d6 only if the first one comes up with a colour.

How you make this work for colour-blind players is a separate argument. I would guess you'd replace the colours with white-on-black, black-on-white, and underlined or black-on-grey.

[Greywind]

Get a divided plastic case.  Load each section with a pair of dice.  Shake.  Read.  Works great.

[WildDuck]

Or, you could use a "box-o-death" for cluster hits and slog through learning the hit tables.  It's just a plastic box with at least 20 compartments and 2d6 in each.  Think the ones people use to tote miniatures.

[stoicfaux]

No smartphone mass die roller apps that automatically translate the roll to the hit location?

[Greywind]

Cell phones is ebil.

[Sartris]

Or, you could use a "box-o-death" for cluster hits and slog through learning the hit tables.  It's just a plastic box with at least 20 compartments and 2d6 in each.  Think the ones people use to tote miniatures.

I just recently made one that uses a daily pill separator and 5mm dice.  It's 5 inches long and has 14 sets of dice.

[ianargent]

It's the side tables I'd need a game aid for - I somehow managed to memorize the front table but not the side tables. The Box-o-death doesn't help with memorizing the charts.

The math is right, as far as I can tell - the probabilities in the table in #2 match the Front Hit Chart and sum to 36.

(Note to self, memorize the side tables)

[Sartris]

The Box-o-death doesn't help with memorizing the charts.

Like any other rule, playing the game does the trick

[Charlie Tango]

Why memorize them when all you need do is keep a copy of the tables around?

Heck, I'm an Agent and have been playing the game on and off 20+ years and I still have to look at the side table.

[markhall]

Why memorize them when all you need do is keep a copy of the tables around?

And with SSW you can have the tables within eyeline at all times

[ianargent]

Why memorize them when all you need do is keep a copy of the tables around?

Heck, I'm an Agent and have been playing the game on and off 20+ years and I still have to look at the side table.

Because if I don't fill my brain with random bits of trivia, the brain cells might knock together :) And actually now that I looked at the side tables, I should be able to rattle them off pretty soon - they follow a pattern as well.

[RangerRob]

Box O Death...speeds up everything.

[cray]

I like the idea of the hit location dice. It cuts out the trouble of referencing tables, which even the box o' doom doesn't fix.

Like any other rule, playing the game does the trick

I've played the game for 26 years and only have the front/back chart for 'Mechs memorized.

[ianargent]

I like the idea of the hit location dice. It cuts out the trouble of referencing tables, which even the box o' doom doesn't fix.

I've played the game for 26 years and only have the front/back chart for 'Mechs memorized.

I think we all owe you a drink, then, old-timer :)

(And now I don't feel so bad about failing to do the same in 22 years of intermittent playing)

[Charlie Tango]

Box O Death...speeds up everything.

Hey, I want the photo credit on that image...   ;D

[stoicfaux]

Hrm, given that Android phones can do image recognition, roll dice under the 'eye' of the camera phone, app scans the dice and automatically lists the hit location?

/runs_off_to_the_patent_office

[Shijima_3085]

One of the nice things about playing in person: there is usually one or two math-heads who end up being the game reference to help everybody else along.  The same way somebody usually ends up knowing all the skidding rules (always fails piloting rolls!), another the BA rules (always gets swarmed/legged!) and another the weapon ranges (Auggh!  One hex out of range AGAIN!?!?!).

[Precentor Celestia]

I came up with the same dice you did for front/back, but for side hits I just added two more faces to the mostly blank die; making it red, <blank>, facing side (overrides left/right), facing side (limbs only), <blank>, CT. It does need one more rule to make the numbers work, though: on side hits the CT result doesn't override the facing leg.

(And of course the crit result applies to the facing torso.)

[Greywind]

One of the nice things about playing in person: there is usually one or two math-heads who end up being the game reference to help everybody else along.  The same way somebody usually ends up knowing all the skidding rules (always fails piloting rolls!), another the BA rules (always gets swarmed/legged!) and another the weapon ranges (Auggh!  One hex out of range AGAIN!?!?!).

That's all well and good up until you run into someone that doesn't crunch the numbers faster.  Just louder than everyone else, calling out each and every modifier to the die roll.

Had to quit playing with him for his own safety.

[Vortmax]

No smartphone mass die roller apps that automatically translate the roll to the hit location?

I made a small mobile-friendly website to handle hit locations, cluster number, and falls.  Very simplistic but might be helpful:

http://vortmax.us/bt/

Note: I do not have a kick chart because if someone can't figure out 1-3 = right & 4-6 = left, they need help.

[Goose]

I've played the game for 26 years and only have the front/back chart for 'Mechs memorized.

You'n me both.

And … you can have the tables within eyeline at all times

You would not believe the number of people whom couldn't do that to save their own lives …