Tabletop role-playing game system SWADE, or Savage Worlds Adventure Edition, is well-known for its adaptability and easy-to-understand rules. The SWADE RPG hardness chart is a vital tool for both players and game masters (GMs) when it comes to improving gameplay. Learn more about the difficulty chart, its purpose, significance and how to use it well in gameplay in this comprehensive tutorial.
How does SWADE’s RPG’s Hardness Chart work?
You may find a reference table outlining the durability and resistance of different materials and items in the SWADE RPG hardness chart. Structures, vehicles and ambient factors may inflict harm as well, and not only to individuals. This can greatly impact the storyline. One consistent method for gauging these materials’ resilience to impact is the hardness chart.
The resilience of a substance or item is measured by its hardness. Whether it’s the armor plating of a vehicle or the reinforced walls of a castle, each material has a precise hardness value that governs how much damage it can sustain before being compromised.
Key Elements of the Hardness Chart
The hardness chart normally includes:
The following is a catalog of the many material types that players may meet in-game: wood, stone, steel, reinforced concrete and many more.
- Hardness Values: Numerical values allocated to each substance to show its resistance to harm.
- Damage Reduction: Guidelines for how much incoming damage is reduced or negated depending on the material’s hardness.
- Special Rules: Additional modifiers or circumstances that may apply, such as vulnerabilities or resistances to certain forms of harm (e.g., fire, explosives).
Why is the Hardness Chart Important?
The hardness chart plays a significant part in providing balance and realism inside the game. Here’s why it matters:
- Enhanced reality: By giving particular hardness values to materials, the game offers a layer of reality that makes the story more realistic. Players can’t readily shatter a steel door with a simple weapon, for instance.
- Strategic Depth: Knowing the hardness of materials enables players to consider strategically. For example, they could prepare alternate routes to circumvent strongly protected sites or utilize explosives to overcome high-hardness obstacles.
- Dynamic Storytelling: GMs may utilize the chart to build more compelling situations, such as vehicle chases, sieges or environmental obstacles where the durability of things plays a key part.
Using the Hardness Chart During Gameplay
For Players:
- Understanding Weapons vs. Objects: Before trying to destroy or interact with an item, compare the weapon’s damage potential against the material’s hardness rating.
- Planning Tactics: If your group lacks the firepower to shatter a high-hardness item, explore alternate methods such as purchasing specialist equipment or locating vulnerabilities in the material.
For GMs:
- Setting Challenges: Use the difficulty table to construct realistic impediments, such as locked vaults, barricades or armored vehicles.
- Adapting to Circumstances: Be flexible in reading the chart. For example, if a player utilizes an uncommon means to circumvent an impediment, such as leveraging acid on a metal lock, change the hardness rating appropriately.
Examples of Hardness Values in SWADE RPG
While the exact numbers may vary depending on the specific SWADE rules or house rules, here’s an example of typical hardness values:
| Material | Hardness Value |
| Wood | 5 |
| Stone | 10 |
| Steel | 15 |
| Reinforced Concrete | 20 |
| Titanium Alloy | 25 |
These values represent the baseline resistance of materials to physical damage. GMs can modify these values based on context, such as the thickness or quality of the material.
FAQs About the Hardness Chart in SWADE RPG
Q1: Can players enhance the toughness of their equipment or vehicles?
A1: Yes, players may typically improve equipment or vehicles with changes that boost their toughness. For example, putting strengthened armor to a vehicle enhances its durability, making it tougher to harm during battle.
Q2: How do explosives interact with the hardness chart?
A2: Explosives generally provide area-of-effect damage that ignores or lessens the toughness of particular materials. The SWADE rulebook typically offers precise recommendations on how explosives interact with items.
Q3: Are there exceptions to the difficulty chart?
A3: Some magical or supernatural effects may circumvent or disregard hardness values. For example, a spell meant to dissolve items may disregard the hardness of the target material altogether.
Q4: How does the hardness chart manage environmental damage?
A4: Environmental damage, such as fire or acid, normally has its own laws but may interact with the hardness table. For instance, extended exposure to heat could degrade a material, thus diminishing its hardness over time.
Q5: Can GMs alter the toughness chart?
A5: Absolutely! GMs are invited to alter the chart to meet their campaign’s particular demands. Custom materials, sci-fi components or fantasy settings may need extra entries or alterations to current values.
In conclusion, the hardness chart in SWADE RPG is a critical tool that improves gameplay by adding realistic mechanisms for material durability. Both players and GMs may exploit this resource to build immersive, strategic and balanced situations that enrich the overall role-playing experience.