It seems like every RPG uses dice or some other form of randomness to resolve actions. In D&D, for instance, there's a random factor in almost everything from combat to saves to reading (ffs). I'm not sure what the point of the d20 is other than to reinforce the idea that I'm playing a game, and possibly increase the addictiveness like in gambling.
I realize the rules are an abstraction of raelity and not a 1:1 correlation, but if I was making rules for a game with no prior notions I would say:
1. To hit an opponent: compare your hitting ability (and possibly speed, knowledge of tactics, etc.) to your opponent's dodging ability (and possibly parrying ability, knowledge of tactics, etc.)
2. To swim across a lake: compare your swimming ability (minus carrying weight or whatever) to the difficulty (water speed, depth, etc.)
There's no randomness involved in combat. Either you are a better fighter than your opponent or vice versa. If you both have the same ability then I would expect there to be a standoff and the conflict would need to be resolved some other way (or maybe special abilities would come into play (power attack once per day, uncanny dodge, etc.)). The only randomness might be a sudden gust of wind or something, but it still depends on ability because a good fighter can compensate for things like that.
There's no randomness in swimming either. Maybe the randomness represents the chance you get attacked by an alligator, but that's not really random. In that case it would just change the swim difficulty or have some other effect (you make it across but you are missing a leg, or you have to wrestle the alligator).
Would this be less fun than a game with dice? Are there any RPGs that don't have randomness?
I realize the rules are an abstraction of raelity and not a 1:1 correlation, but if I was making rules for a game with no prior notions I would say:
1. To hit an opponent: compare your hitting ability (and possibly speed, knowledge of tactics, etc.) to your opponent's dodging ability (and possibly parrying ability, knowledge of tactics, etc.)
2. To swim across a lake: compare your swimming ability (minus carrying weight or whatever) to the difficulty (water speed, depth, etc.)
There's no randomness involved in combat. Either you are a better fighter than your opponent or vice versa. If you both have the same ability then I would expect there to be a standoff and the conflict would need to be resolved some other way (or maybe special abilities would come into play (power attack once per day, uncanny dodge, etc.)). The only randomness might be a sudden gust of wind or something, but it still depends on ability because a good fighter can compensate for things like that.
There's no randomness in swimming either. Maybe the randomness represents the chance you get attacked by an alligator, but that's not really random. In that case it would just change the swim difficulty or have some other effect (you make it across but you are missing a leg, or you have to wrestle the alligator).
Would this be less fun than a game with dice? Are there any RPGs that don't have randomness?