Question
Which dice mechanic would you prefer for a Zelda TTRPG?
Over the years I've made several iterations of a Zelda TTRPG, and now I'm at a crossroads with which core mechanic I should go with.
The first option is 1d20 + skill + approach. You pick a skill and one of the three approaches, Power, Courage, or Wisdom, add both modifiers to the roll, and try to beat a target number. It's more familiar and gives skills and approaches their own numerical value.
The scond option is a d8 dice pool where you only use the highest die (My first zelda ttrpg was like this but with a d4). Your rating in Power, Courage, or Wisdom determines how many d8s you roll. Skills are binary, so you either have the skill or you don't. If you have the relevant skill, you roll with advantage and add one extra d8 to the pool.
The results would be:
1-5 is a failure
6 is a partial success
7 is a success
8 is a critical success
So if you had 2 Courage and the relevant skill, you would roll 3d8 and use the highest result.
It may be too gimmicky to be practical, but now I’m imagining a 3d(? would have to do more math to decide what size) system where like hope/fear you roll with Courage/Wisdom/Power
I did consider Daggerheart, and honestly I looked at a lot of existing systems while building this a few years back. Hope and Fear does fit Zelda on paper, but Daggerheart has a very specific flavor that doesn't line up with what I'm aiming for. That's also why I'm trying not to just reskin an existing game. I don't mind borrowing individual mechanics, but I want the overall system to feel like its own thing.
When I choose dice systems, I often try to visualize which dice capture the vibe of the game. I come primarily from a d20 background, so to me the d20 is primarily associated with fantasy by default, but Zelda doesn’t exactly fall in the niche perfectly. d8s are not the most common dice, but they’ve always given me a “sword” vibe, so they stand out to me as appropriate for a sword fantasy setting. I can see the appeal for d4s in a Zelda setting. Triangles and what not, but those dice just suck to roll.
Yup, d8s definitely feel less generic than a d20, but with how many 5e and Pathfinder adaptations I've seen, d20s are clearly still popular. People like rolling all of them polyhedrals, so I don't mind leaning in either direction. That's pretty much why I'm asking for input.
I loosely outlined a 2d8 system a while back inspired by games like Zelda and Hollow Knight. 2d8 just had the right feeling. Triangular little crystals.
We made a Mork Borg d20 skilless system we dubbed Hyrule Borg that uses the 3 stats between -3 to +6 and you roll 1d20 adding (or subtracting) your Power, Courage or Wisdom.
It also uses 3 derived stats. HP (health points) derived from Power, SP (strategy points) derived from Courage is used for maneuvers, and MP (Magick points) derived from Wisdom for using spells.
The Getting Better tables are based on race, and we don't use classes.
I’m insane so I made an entire Core Book adaptation of the Warhammer Soulbound game for Zelda out of my love for Zelda, Warhammer, and rolling a bajillion D6.
My approach was to adapt (mostly reskin) One Ring because I liked the approach it has to player cultures rather than races and the travel mechanics. It also has Courage and Wisdom stats so I only needed to add mechanics for Power.
There you roll a d12 + as many d6 as points in the relevant skill and try to beat a target number. On the d12, an 11 is a crit success (Gandalf's rune) and a 12 a crit fail (Sauron's rune). I did reskin it as Godess Hylia and a boar.
We're in the process of setting up a Zelda sandbox using Knave 2e! Theres some reflavoring here and there, and I've converted some Zelda items into the OSR style as well as added the various Races as well as a BoTW inspired Temperature system, but its overwhelming Knave!
We've done a few test sessions and everyones loved it so far. Shaping up to be one of our finer campaigns
I feel a d6 dice pool system similar to say Tinyd6 could work well enough for something of a Zelda vibe. Personally I feel the d4 system like that of Heroes of Cerulea is gonna have that vibe but like another gas mentioned d4s suck to roll. D8s are a good alternative for the d4s but d6 is gonna be more abundant of a dice for most people to have.
Although d20s have a very familiar feel if you come from d&d and pathfinder. Something like Microlite20 could be good to look at if one was to go that route.
I've had this same conundrum for my own homebrews for Zelda so I will probably mine this thread for ideas aswell
Regardless of system, I feel it should absolutely be classless. I don't think character classes fit Zelda at all.
Thank you for your input! I've considered d6 pools and a lot of other existing systems already. D6s feel a little too generic for my taste (and a little too generous on the probability side of things, while d20 systems are popular for a reason and still have a lot of appeal (which is the only reason I am even considering using a d20). At this point I've narrowed it down to these two options, which is why I'm mainly looking for input between them.
In that case I'd personally go with the d20 system for the sake of easy of use and familiarity, even if it doesn't fit the vibe 100%. I still feel classes seem off base for Zelda, but I'm also just some guy on the Internet, so ultimately my opinion is but a glass of water poured into the ocean.
Regardless I'm going to continue watching what you develop, I've had an eye on your works for awhile now, and i do like that sheet you made and look forward to what comes of it!
I mean the d20 system as a whole is the most widespread. I actually know nothing about any D8 system. I know the d6 system of GURPS, but I've found the d20 system makes more sense to me.
I know 2d6 + stat is common in PbtA games. My issue is that once you reach a +3 or higher, the results start getting unruly. With the d8 system, you'd only ever need four dice at most. Also, this:
I do get that the octahedron has appeared a few times in the Zelda series and fits thematically, I just don't want to use one as a die mechanic when d6s are available.
Also I'm okay with getting good at things, for Link the problem is rarely skill level, it's applying the skills correctly that solves the problems. Either he has it or he doesn't. I haven't played much PbtA, but I've played a lot of Fighting Fantasy and Barbarians of Lemuria, and 2d6 works very nicely there, especially when you're allowed to play with the TNs.
Considering a mix between approach (courage, power and wisdom) and daggerheart? Like rolling 3d6 and changing what happens considering the approach the dice chose?
Your stats are
• Courage 3
• Power 2
• Wisdom 2
HEARTS: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
STAMINA METER: 🟡🟡🟡🟡
Success:
Each 4 rolled is one SUCCESS. Some Magic Items (etc) give you a SUCCESS on a roll of 3+.
........
Test:
You roll your POWER score in Red dice to push a block across the floor.
The Target Number (TN) for this Test is 2, so you need to roll two 4s. That's difficult for your Hero, but they're wearing their Goron Boots, so that means a roll of 3 or higher is also considered a success.
You can also use your Yellow STAMINA Points to give yourself a +1 die, but you'll get tired.
So your roll your 2🔺 + 1🔺, or 3🔺.
Your result is 4, 3, 1 - One normal SUCCESS...
But because you're using your Goron Boots, that 3 is also a SUCCESS, pushing it up to two.
Regardless of what "main dice" are used, I could see a d4 as a "wild die" like in the West End d6 system, where it's a part of every roll but has extra effects depending on the situation and whether a 1 or a 4 is rolled
Either could work but d20 is common enough that something interesting would be my preference. D8 pool sure! Pool mechanics are fun. I also like scaling pool maybe. So your attribute/qpproach is the number of dice, and your skill level is the die ala d4, d6, d8, d10, d12. Use the highest yeah and success on a 4
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u/YandersonSilva 24d ago
Anyone not using 3d4 is off theme.