Pushing the Limits

**Pushing the Limits**

The reason for having limit values is that real human beings are only capable of so much. Of course so are heroes, trolls, Giants Dragons. The problem comes with heroes who are human or close to human. We want the characters to be heroic, but at the same time we want the world to make sense, to seem real. This is a tall Order, and it requires a little bit of complication. If an attribute value is translated directly into a measure of time, distance or weight, we quickly run into problems with characters that can perform ridiculously powerful feats. For example, if a *Strength*attribute of 13 was directly translated into the weight value that character could lift, he would be lifting without even breaking a sweat! So the limit values represent the most that can be done by a character **without significant effort**. Instead of being able to lift , our *Strength*13 character can only lift up to his limit value without strain. For a human, the lifting limit is 9, which is . If our strongman wants to try and lift more than , he’s got to put a little effort into it. To exceed a limit value is an action, called a*push*, with a base difficulty number of 8. When rolling for a push, any bonus number generated that is less than +1 is treated as +1. The acting value depends on the limit being pushed. The limit values and the associated attribute or skill used as the acting value are as follows:

Running: *Dexterity*or *running*skill

Swimming: *Dexterity*or *swimming*skill

Long Jumping: *Dexterity*or *long jumping*skill

Climbing: *Strength*or *climbing*skill

Lifting: *Strength*or *lifting*skill

Hold Breath: Toughness

Flying: *Dexterity*or *flight*skill

Lifting pushes use the Power Push column of the General Results Table. All other limit pushes use the Speed Push column. When a character attempts a push, the result points are read on the appropriate column to get a modifier that is added to the appropriate value. There will also be a number in parentheses. This is the amount of *shock damage*the character takes from overexerting herself. The damage is assessed at the end of the round, so a character can accomplish a superhuman feat, and then collapse. This type of damage, known as *fatigue*, is cumulative with shock damage taken in combat. Shock damage is covered later in this chapter under “Damage”.

**Example:**Terrill is running for his life from a horde of angry, heavily armed Vikings. Alan declares that Terrill is *pushinghis running speed this round. Terrill* does not have the *running*skill so he uses his *Dexterity*of 9 and generates an action value of 12. The difficulty was 8, which means he has four result points. On the Speed column of the General Results Table this is a +1(3) result. The +1 is added to Terrill’s running speed value, which is 9, increasing it to a value of 10. Instead of covering (value 9) that round, Terrill puts on a burst of speed and covers (value 10) that round. However, the table indicates that Terrill takes three points of shock damage from the push; he’s tiring himself out by running at this speed. Nothing serious yet but he’ll need a little while to recover and catch his breath once he gets away from the Vikings. If he keeps pushing himself though he might exhaust himself and eventually collapse. If the character’s attribute or skill value exceeds the limit value, the full value is used to generate result points but the modifier is added to the limit value instead. In other words, attributes in excess of the limit value are still useful, but cannot allow a character to perform godlike feats.

**Limit Values for Characters**

LIMIT VALUES

 Swimming
 Long Jumping
 Climbing
 Lifting
 Hold Breath

The table above lists the limit values for humans involved in the Dark Ages Campaign. Limit values can be determined for other races by adding one to the category's that the character put their enhancement package in. For other creatures if they are not already provided in the creature’s description, use the table below, “Avg.” means the known average attribute for the creature in question; if this is not known, use human numbers or your best guess. In obvious problem circumstances (a sparrow’s *running*ability, for example), use your judgment.

**Limited Activity Limit Value**

Running Avg. Dexterity

Flying Avg. Dexterity

Swimming Avg. Dexterity -2

Long Jumping Avg. Dexterity -5

Climbing Avg. Strength -5

Lifting Avg. Strength +1

Hold Breath Avg. Toughness +2

Add +1 to the limit value of the creature’s *primary* mode of movement *(the ways it travels most often). **Example:**The*gamemaster assumes that a dolphin’s average *Dexterity* *is 10; it therefore has a swimming* limit value of 9 (*Dexterity*10, -2 for swimming, +1 for primary mode.)

'*GENERAL AND PUSH RESULTS TABLE'*