Hero Points

[ThatGuy]

I'm curious.

What are some of the most effective uses people have seen for Hero point usage?

What are some of the most creative and interesting?

I have seen some ineffective usages, and witnessed some "darn, if I had used it the other way it would've worked better!" moments.

I'm curious about others experiences.

Or do a lot of folks just save 'em up and trade 'em for stuff?

 

[Nez]

My players call them "save-ass points". As this suggests, the majority are used to keep them alive in combat. I think due to combat being so deadly, they get little opportunity to use them for much else! 8)

 

[ThatGuy]

Yeah, "save-ass" is always a favorite use!

What I'm getting at is what works best?

For example, I had an awesome character that threw a Javelin at an Orc that was about to put out the last torch and missed. I burned a Hero point...and missed again (despite an 85% skill. All dice hate me.). In retrospect, I felt like it wasn't really the best use of a hero point (always easy to say when it fails).

During another point in the fight my character threw a Javelin at an Orc. The Orc dodged...and won the opposed roll by 1 point (my roll was a 60, his, a 61)- which I knew from previous rolls was about the limit of the Orcs skill. My guy was a brutally efficient fighter and a passable spirit magician, and as a result his Javelins were killing blows. Now, I didn't realize until later that burning a hero point and forcing a re-roll of that roll may have been more effective, since the chances of the Orc dodging out of the way were pretty slim. I realized, burning a hero point in a crucial situation is probably best used on an opposed test- like a trip, or a disarm- that you know you already have an advantage in.

Like the critical roll you make where the GM miraculously rolls a critical that wins the opposed contest- that sort of thing.

Just wondering if others had those types of insights.

Or if I am just crazy and reading into it waaaay to deeply...

 

[PhilHibbs]

I agree, opposed rolls are probably the best uses. Two players between them burned three Hero Points unsuccessfully trying to kill the dragon, before the bowman did it without needing any.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

In games Loz or I run we see Hero Points being used for a variety of things. Most players keep at least one in reserve just in case something bad happens to them, but more often than not they aren't combat exclusive. A popular use is when players re-roll skills during the crux of swaying a debate or have missed what might be an important clue in an investigation and so on.

Sometimes we use them to perform some entertaining deed. As a point of fact I burned a Hero Point a few weeks back to re-roll resisting an exorcism. I'd critically succeeded but I was having so much fun being possessed by a Mostali spirit that I thought it'd be more fun to fail, so that I could continue spouting engineering garbage, upset the local dignitaries and keep the other players laughing.

As a GM I'm always open to letting a player pull off some reasonable action if they are willing to burn a point for it.

 

[soltakss]

My players routinely use them for rerolling dice, which keeps them happy. I also let them reroll Experience gains if they want to - anything to burn them up.

We have a house rule that says if a roll is within 10% (or 1, whichever is larger) of a brek point then they can spend a point to achieve that break point. So, someone with Athletics 80% should Critical on 08, but if he rolls 09 he can spend a point to get a Critical. Similarly, if he rolled 87 he could spend a point to succeed, but if he rolld an 89 he would have to spend a point to reroll.

I prefer it when they use Hero Points to do something spectacular, or to change minor plot points.

So, if a character wanted to run up a wall and somersault back over an opponent, that would take a Hero Point. Picking up a red hot brazier and carrying it for several paces would take a Hero Point. Knowing that eating spotted mushrooms in the Enchanted Forest would cost a Hero Point.

With Plot Points, the classic example would be to spend a Hero Point to ensure that the guard in their prison cell is the chap whose life they saved a couple of weeks ago. Other examples would be to ensure that they can move between two patroling guards through their blind spot or to know what best to bribe a local official with.

 

[Cassius]

I have limited Hero Points to re rolling their own dice rolls and performing a heroic action whilst heavily injured.

Reason being I really wanted the avoid the above situation of players using them as a get out of trouble card (not thats theres anything wrong with that just not my thing)

 

[RosenMcStern]

With Plot Points, the classic example would be to spend a Hero Point to ensure that the guard in their prison cell is the chap whose life they saved a couple of weeks ago. Other examples would be to ensure that they can move between two patroling guards through their blind spot or to know what best to bribe a local official with.

It's a pity this is no longer an "official" option in the rules. There is a great section about how to "Price" plot points in Mythic Russia.

Your variations about "bumping" instead of rerolling when you are within 10% of the result is interesting.