Monsterhearts 2: No roll bonus cap?
I know that in Monsterhearts 2 there is no more the singleton rule (p. 43, 1st edition), but in the first edition there also was another rule:
“No matter what, the highest bonus you can have on any given roll (counting both stat and forward) is 5” (p. 19.)
In Monsterhearts 2 I couldn’t find it, even if it seemed very important to me for the game system. Do you think it was left behind intentionally?
I don’t remember that from either edition…
It was in the first one: on that I’m sure. 😉
I don’t think it’s explicit in MH2, because bonuses are limited (forward doesn’t stack, if I’m not mistaken). That said, I do cap ALL PbtA games at +5 because you’re guaranteed a hit at that point.
I just went to check on page 31, and there is no reference to the fact that forward bonuses don’t stack:
– – –
Some moves will tell you to take 1 Forward. This means that you add +1 to your next die roll. A few will be more specific, perhaps telling you to take 1 Forward toward a certain type of action. In those cases, you’ll save the +1 until you find yourself in the specified situation.
When you take 1 Forward, the bonus is always used on just one roll, and then it gets erased or crossed off.
– – –
Alright, so having more than a +5 is definitely possible then. I’d cap it. Again, +5 is literally “no way this doesn’t work”. 5 in 6 chance of a 10+. Anything past that feels unnecessary.
Well, logically you are right, but when I see a rule dropped from the first to the second edition of a game, generally, I don’t think it’s coincidental: I think it’s a game design choice.
That’s why I wanted to ask.
I honestly couldn’t say. MH2 got trimmed down significantly, to the point where it’s sorta missing stuff (like rules on how NPCs interact with PC conditions). In the end, it’s your game. I don’t think allowing a +6 is game breaking, just unnecessary. Like I said, I always cap it. shrug