Arneson's Adventure in Fantasy
Folks, I have become interested in understanding how the RPG Adventures in Fantasy works. There are very few articles and posts available on Reddit or throughout the internets concerning this topic.
For the curious; This system was supposedly what Dave Arneson vision for D&D was (after the LBB). The system is a riddle with some equations to calculate To-Hit, Actual Hit Points and Experience points for the warrior class - to name a few.
If you do not have access to the books the next paragraphs will be very out of context.
I'm currently struggling to understand how Warriors gain experience. I have attached the image for the XP equation. I cannot understand the variables 'Losers Experience Level' or 'Victors Experience Level'. For players, it is already established that it means player level. For creatures I'm unsure if it refers to this shady calculation written in the paragraph above the equation ("Figuring the level"). Adding to my puzzlement, If you check the definitions I have pasted below, the "LOSERS EXPERIENCE LEVEL" is said that can be considered '0' unless otherwise known. But if that is the case - unless I'm mistaken' - if you divide into zero and then multiply that zero that would result in ZERO!
Furthermore, I did some example calculations using more obvious numbers - let's say two level 1 warriors, with identical hit chance - fighting each other: the result was 1. From what I understood - the Victor gains 1 level? Which means if he fought a lesser creature he might end up with a 'fraction' of XP point - let's say it resulted in '0,5'. That would mean that 'fraction' XP would result in the warrior leveling up?
I do have other questions, but I'll save them for later. I'm very interested in talking about AiF So if you have any story related, please post them here!!! I'd love to connect to people who played the system.
Here are a few of the definitions from the book:
FIGURING THE LEVEL: Within the BASIC GAME the normal (unmodified) values are taken from the COMBAT MATRIX for the % chance of killing the creature engaged. This is modified by multiplying the % chance by the number of hit dice the creature has. These two numbers are compared and the smaller is divided into the larger and then divided by 2 to determine EXP increase."
"LOSERS HIT CHANCE-The % chance of hitting the opponent as used in their melee. ln this case the losers chances of striking the winner.
VICTORS HIT CHANCE-Same as above but reflecting the winner's basic chance of striking the loser.
LOSERS HIT DICE-The number of HiT DICE that the creature which was defeated, normally has.
VICTORS HIT DICE-Same as above but based on the number of HIT DICE the VICTOR normally has.
LOSERS EXPERIENCE LEVEL-The actual level of EXPERIENCE that the defeated creature had. This is considered to be 0 unless otherwise known.
VICTORS EXPERIENCE LEVEL-As above but for the VICTORIOUS creature.
VICTORS EXPERIENCE LEVEL INCREASE-This number represents the VICTORIOUS creature's addition to it's EXPERIENCE level at the start of the combat just completed. "
