Meta Dice

Meta Dice Chart Base Die Minimum Value Range Dice Notation Avg. Result d4 1 1/2/3/4 md4 2.50 d6 2 2/2/3/4/5/6 md6 3.66 d8 3 3/3/3/4/5/6/7/8 md8 4.87 d10 4 4/4/4/4/5/6/7/8/9/10 md10 6.10 d12 5 5/5/5/5/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12 md12 7.33 Unofficial d20 10 10/10/11/11/12/12/13/13/14/14/15/ 15/16/16/17/17/18/18/19/19/20/20 md20 16.50 Meta Dice Meta Dice refer to the special forms of the d6, d8, d10 and d12 dice used in Metaforce. Unlike normal dice which have the full range of numbers (d6 having 1/2/3/4/5/6), they have a minimum number as decided by the value of a character's Attribute or their Metaphor value. The numbers in bold highlight the modified sides of each die. d4s do not have a modified side, but may be considered a Meta-die for the purposes of preventing exploding dice. The odds of rolling any value above the minimum remains the same as a normal die, but the player can't roll below the minimum, ensuring better averages overall. While the d20 die is not typically used in Metaforce, a Meta-d20 is specified here on the chance a game-master may want to use it. It is much more powerful than regular dice so use it responsibly. Beyond d12 / +5 Minimum Value Range Dice Notation +5 5 to 12 md12 +6 6 to 13 md12+1 +7 7 to 14 md12+2 +8 8 to 15 md12+3 +9 9 to 16 md12+4 +10 10 to 17 md12+5 +11 11 to 18 md12+6 +12 12 to 19 md12+7 Beyond d12 Since Attributes and Metaphors can exceed a +5 value, and there isn't a die incrementally larger than d12 used in Metaforce (normally), values above 5 are simply a fixed bonus on top of the roll to slightly improve odds. When an Attribute or Metaphor reaches +6, they use the d12 Meta-Die as normal, then add +1. Regardless of the limits set by the Game-Master (To 10, to 12 or beyond), Meta-Dice can continue to grow for as long as the Player invests in that particular aspect of their character. Usage Attribute/Improvised Checks Meta Dice are used in a character's Attributes whenever they have a modifier that is non-zero. When it is in the positives, they may gain access to the appropriate Meta die when applicable. However, depending on the Game-Master, negative values in an Attribute may apply a base value penalty instead. When a player character has no appropriate Metaphor for the task or check at hand, an Improvised check, or Straight-'Attribute check is called instead. The character adds their Attribute base value, or their Attribute-die instead (when directed). A character with the Auto-Die quality to their Attribute may roll their attribute die unconditionally. And a character that has the Level Boost quality may add their character level to specified attribute check. A player may spend 1 Meta-Point to use their Attribute die on an Improvised check, and if they roll the minimum value, add +1 to that result. Metaphor Sub-Abilities Meta Dice feature most prominently as part of a character's Metaphor Sub-Abilities. Particularly as part of a Skill, but other forms of Metaphor can also work provided the bonus can allow for random values each time it is called upon. The cost to acquire Dice-based Bonuses is double that of base values. As such a md4 costs 2 XP, md6 costs 4XP, md8 costs 6XP and so on. Meta-dice do not explode when rolling their maximum values. The effect each Dice can contribute to can be of any single type, such as a Skill bonus for Skill checks, ToHit for attack rolls or to inflict more damage, or a Status Magnitude on hit. Meta-Point Ability: Create a Meta-Die Using Meta-Points, a player can create a d12 Meta-Die for use in a check or interaction to help their odds of success or survival. The user rolls an md12 and view its result, they may use that number to modify any value of the interaction for an amount of MP equal to the result. So if one rolls a 10, they can pay 10MP to add or subtract 10 from any value of the interaction, be it Skill/ToHit of any creature, or even the damage/magnitude that would be caused by an interaction. If the user chooses not to pay, the result is lost and they can't create a Meta-die again until the next interaction. If the user has less than 12MP remaining, the highest appropriate dice they can afford is used instead. So if a character has 7MP, an md6 die can be used instead. This ability can't be used if the character has 3 or less Meta-points.