Splitting Your Dice Pool

[BadAdam]

One thing that was alwayse hazy to me, so i was reluctant to do it was "Split my dice pool."

I don't understand the way that it works, for instance, say i have 3 dex and 4 brawl and i want to punch someone with my left hand and punch someone else with my right hand. Two actions would mean i have to split my dice pool. Would that mean that one action gets 3 dice and the other gets 4.

This is just an example of what i dont understand. If someone can please explain just how this works on a K.I.S.S. level, i would appreciate it. I'm sure others would too.

Thanks!

[Alexander Faulkner]

^^ This is correct.

[BadAdam]

Whats about if i wanted to do two actions that required separate dice pools? like one that used dex+brawl and one that used dex+firearms?

[benime]

*buzzer sound*

Misconception #1: Dice pools are split by subtracting the same number of dice from every action.

Truth: Dice pools are split by subtracting a number of dice from each action equal to the number of actions one wants to take in a round, and then an additional, cumulative -1 die penalty for each action after the first. Therefore:

1 action: No penalty.
2 actions: -2 to first action, -3 to second action.
3 actions: -3 to first action, -4 to second action, -5 to third action.
4 actions: -4 to first action, -5 to second action, -6 to third action, -7 to fourth action.
5 actions: -5 to first action, -6 to second action, -7 to third action, -8 to fourth action, -9 to fifth action.
Having six or more actions in a round would require both your Wits and your Dexterity to be six or higher, which, while possible in this game, is extremely rare.

Misconception #2: One can split their dice pool as many times as they like.

Truth: Dice pools can only be split as many times as one has Wits or Dexterity, whichever is lower.

House Rule on #2: You may split your dice pool up to that limit as much as you wish in addition to spending Rage for extra actions, but the sum total of actions you take in a round must be equal to or less than your Wits or Dexterity, whichever is lower. The only exception is if a character spends Rage above that limit without splitting their initial dice pool. For example: Wally Wendigo, an Ahroun (Dex 4, Wits 3) can split his dice pool 3 times, normally, or split his dice pool twice and spend one Rage for an extra action. However, if he chooses not to split his regular action, he may spend 3 of his 5 Rage points (half of his Rage score) to end up with more actions than he normally can have (4 total actions).

Misconception #3: Any character may use multiple split actions for the same offensive maneuver.

Truth: Only one of each offensive maneuver may be normally attempted by splitting one's initial dice pool. Defensive maneuvers, such as dodge or parry actions, may be done multiple times in succession with no limit. For example: Wally Wendigo (Dex 4, Wits 3) may use only one punch, kick, grapple, bite, etc, through splitting their dice pool. He cannot punch someone two or more times in that action, but he can punch multiple times by spending Rage. If he wished, he could split his dice pool three times to punch one person and dodge two other attacks (at a -3, -4, and -5 dice pool penalty, respectively).

Misconception #4: A character can only dodge or parry as many times as they are willing to split their dice pool, limited by their Wits or Dexterity (whichever is lower), or by however many Rage points they're willing to spend on an action.

Truth: If a character chooses to do anything but defend themselves (defending someone else does not count as defending oneself), they are limited as above. However, by declaring a full defensive action, they may parry or block as many attacks as they have dice, by suffering a cumulative -1 penalty to each parry or block maneuver they attempt in the round. For example: Wally Wendigo is being attacked by 7 Black Spiral Dancers, who each decide to claw at him once. By declaring a full defensive action at the beginning of the round and refusing to take any offensive action, he may block or parry as many attacks as he can afford with his Dice Pool (normal dice pool for the first, then -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, etc...).

Misconception #5: Characters who have spent Rage for extra actions in the turn must wait until all main combat actions are resolved before accessing their Rage actions.

Truth: Rage actions may be accessed at any time before the end of the Main Combat action, but only for defensive actions, and only to restore a split dice pool to its full potential or gain an additional dodge (not parry) action against an incoming attack that was not originally being defended against. For example, if Wally Wendigo (Dex 4, Wits 3) split his initial dice pool twice and spent a Rage point for an extra action this turn, he would be able to use that Rage action to restore a dodge or parry maneuver's dice pool to its maximum potential (as if he had not split the pool), but only if he already declared a dodge or parry against someone to begin with. If he was to find himself in a situation where someone he did not initially declare a dodge or parry action against chose to attack him, he could spend the Rage action early to dodge (not parry) that person's attack.


Anything else?

[Bridget MacClelland]

Thank you, Ben, for the clarifications. A lot of the nuances of dice-splitting (and Rage actions!) often get lost.

Whee!

[zanAspera]

I knew I didn't understand it very far...

So... each action uses it's own dice pool with a negative modifier rather than "splitting" one dice pool for multiple actions.

For Burnt's example, I have a shotgun and two enemies comming at me from two seperate angles. I split my dice pool for two actions.

Action one is to shoot one of the enemies (Dex + Firearms - 2 for splitting)
Action two is to crack the other in the ribs with the buttstock (Dex + ... is it Melee or Brawl - 3 for splitting)

[benime]

aspera said:

For Burnt's example, I have a shotgun and two enemies comming at me from two seperate angles. I split my dice pool for two actions.

Action one is to shoot one of the enemies (Dex + Firearms - 2 for splitting)
Action two is to crack the other in the ribs with the buttstock (Dex + ... is it Melee or Brawl - 3 for splitting)

Correct (it's always melee if you use a weapon, improvised or not).

[BadAdam]

Ok just clarifying 1 more point for firearms.

If i have a gun that is rate 4 and i want to shoot something 4 times. Does shooting multiple times split my dice pool or subtract cumulative dice?

Shot 1 / -4 dice / Diff 6
Shot 2 / -5 dice / Diff 7
Shot 3 / -6 dice / Diff 8
shot 4 / -7 dice / Diff 9

OR

Shot 1 / -0 dice / Diff 6
Shot 2 / -1 dice / Diff 7
Shot 3 / -2 dice / Diff 8
Shot 4 / -3 dice / Diff 9

Also, if you spend a willpower to get an automatic success, does it have to go on your first action, whichever action you want it to or does it apply for every action?

[benime]

burnt said:

Ok just clarifying 1 more point for firearms.

If i have a gun that is rate 4 and i want to shoot something 4 times. Does shooting multiple times split my dice pool or subtract cumulative dice?

Shot 1 / -4 dice / Diff 6
Shot 2 / -5 dice / Diff 7
Shot 3 / -6 dice / Diff 8
shot 4 / -7 dice / Diff 9

OR

Shot 1 / -0 dice / Diff 6
Shot 2 / -1 dice / Diff 7
Shot 3 / -2 dice / Diff 8
Shot 4 / -3 dice / Diff 9

Your rate doesn't do anything special other than tell you what speed at which you can pull the trigger (in effect - the number of shots you can split your dice pool to get). The difficulty doesn't change, all that changes is your dice pool.

Therefore...

Shot 1 / -4 dice / Diff 6
Shot 2 / -5 dice / Diff 6
Shot 3 / -6 dice / Diff 6
Shot 4 / -7 dice / Diff 6

...and of course, this is all assuming you have Dexterity and Wits of at least 4 each.

burnt said:

Also, if you spend a willpower to get an automatic success, does it have to go on your first action, whichever action you want it to or does it apply for every action?

You may spend a willpower point on one action a round, I believe, and it must be spent just before you roll. It only applies to the action that yous spent the point for.

[BadAdam]

wow, i dont like the dex/wits thing applying to that hehe, cause then 1 of two things would have to be true
1. a turn lasts less than 1 1/2 seconds or
2. if a turn is about 3 seconds, i have a dex of 6 and a wits of 6 IRL!

[benime]

burnt said:

wow, i dont like the dex/wits thing applying to that hehe, cause then 1 of two things would have to be true
1. a turn lasts less than 1 1/2 seconds or
2. if a turn is about 3 seconds, i have a dex of 6 and a wits of 6 IRL!

Just because you say you can do it in real life doesn't mean we have rules for it in this game. This is a role playing game, first of all, and balance is more important in a game than anything else.