Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[K.G. Carlson]

Last game session I put the players in my Savage Fantasy game up against a troll, and I don't know if I handled the encounter correctly. I've only been running Savage Worlds for about 8 months, and my decades of experience in another fantasy rpg may be coloring my perceptions.

The troll was really tough for the player characters to put down because of its fast regeneration. When they finally tried using fire, the damage rolls were not so hot. Even being vulnerable to fire, the damage still has to overcome the troll's toughness, right?

In my previous experience, once the fire was brought into play, a single troll was much less of a threat. But this is the first troll fighting I've encountered outside a hit-point system.

And thats not a knock on wound systems. ALL my favorite rpgs are all hit-pointless: Star Wars d6, Mutants & Masterminds, Hollow Earth Expedition and Savage Worlds.

The troll fight just felt wrong to me, but I don't know if its because it is a different game mechanic than I'm used to or I was not doing something correctly.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Zadmar]

Fire/flame damage is calculated the same as any other type of damage, but if it causes a wound then the troll can't regenerate it.

If you don't have flaming weapons, you could also incapacitate the troll with a regular weapon and then kill it with a Finishing Move (using a lit torch or whatever).

[ValhallaGH]

It sounds like the party was simply unlucky - based upon the few details you've provided.

Zadmar is correct - once the troll is helpless, a Finishing Move can be used to kill it (skip Incapacitation, go straight to Death). Using normal attacks to Incapacitate it, and then finishing it with fire, is a time-honored tradition of the RPG. Every game from Basic D&D to HERO System has let you do it, and Savage Worlds doesn't alter that trend.
_________________
"Got a problem? I've got the solution: Rocket Launcher."
"Not against a Servitor."
"... We're all gonna die."

[K.G. Carlson]

I think it was a bad call on my part, or maybe I just didn't lean the right way.

The players had thrown some lantern oil on the troll, and I didn't treat it as if the troll were soaked in gasoline as per the rolls for catching on fire (anything but a 1) and so when they were rolling the d6 to see if the fire increased they kept rolling too low for the fire to increase. Because of that, they were stuck in the spot fire damage level, and needed to ace the d10 to meet the troll's Toughness of 10.

Had they gained the cumulative +2 up to +6 that would have increased the likelihood of greater damage to the troll.

Would you rule that oil splashed on in combat count as soaked, or merely very flammable (catch fire on 4-6)?

****
In an unrelated note, we wrapped up our Savage Fantasy last night with an epic series of fights. The local tax collecter had been stealing the locals blind with his "personal defense" tax and the players decided to intercede. But rather than kick in the door at his manor house, they waited in the village till he came around for his monthly collection and managed to kill half of his guard force. Then they went to his manor house and found their way into the escape entrance and nailed the coffin shut.

With four mercenary captains, two veteran mercenaries and two "ordinary" mercs, it was a two part slaughter-fest. The players said they had a great time playing, I had a blast running, and next week we are off to Deadlands.

I may be stumbling a bit here and there, but I sure am glad I discovered Savage Worlds, even if I am late to arrive at the party

[ValhallaGH]

[K.G. Carlson]

[ValhallaGH]