X-Com: Gray Dawn Opposed Rolls

With the standard CP2020 interlok system, some of the stats were far more important than others, and some were flat-out dump stats. I want almost every stat to have some value, and no single stat to have overwhelming importance. (Reflexes, I'm looking at you!)

One of the primary tweaks I want to introduce is blended base stats. For example, in CP2020, an attack roll (with a gun) is Reflex (REF)+skill level+1d10. I feel that in the high-stress situation of a firefight, the cool stat (CL) should play a much greater role than it does.

Shooting at a paper target is one thing, exchanging gunfire with someone/thing that is shooting back is another. Not only do you have to place a shot dead on target (an act of hand-eye coordination), but you have to be able to duck out from behind cover to do it, or not lose your shit and panic-fire. People who do well at the firing range do not always win the day in actual gunfights if they do not have the nerve to employ their talents. If you neglect your cool stat, you shouldn't be able to fully employ your vaunted reflexes because when shit hits the fan you might tend to crack under pressure.

To this end, ranged attack rolls will be based on an average of REF and CL (rounding up)+skill level+1d10. The target number for any attack is the target's defense roll. This number is the average of the target's REF+MA (rounding up)+skill level+1d10. The attack roll must meet or exceed the defense roll to hit.

Likewise, close combat rolls will be based on an average of REF and MA (rounding down)+BTM+1d10. Any martial art, melee or brawling attack will use this blended stat.

For ease during play, it is suggested to make note of these values for reference somewhere on the character sheet.

Ranged attack roll=(REF+CL)/2 + Weapon Skill + Modifiers + 1d10
Ranged defense roll=(REF+MA)/2 + Cover/Evade Skill + Modifiers + 1d10
Close combat attack/defense roll=(REF+MA)/2 + Skill + Modifiers + 1d10

Also note, most skill/stat checks "explode" both up and down. A critical success roll (a 10 on a d10) allows you to roll again and add the result. If you roll another 10, keep going. So a stat of 7 with skill level 4 would have a base of 11; if you rolled a 10 and a 4, the final skill roll would be 7+4+10+4=25. If you roll a "fumble," (a 1 on a d10), roll again and subtract the result from the base roll. If this roll results in a 10, keep rolling. Using the same base stat/skill levels as above, if you rolled a 1 followed by a 10, you would roll again. If you then rolled a four, your skill roll would be 7+4-10-4= -3. Not only would that result in a pretty universal failure, but something horrible probably happened along the way. Maybe you shot your teammate in the back on accident, or accidentally deleted the hard drive on the computer you were working on...