Having done a lot of digital GMing recently, I had the sudden realization that a physical calculator with buttons has sped up my play immensely.
One can grab an inexpensive calculator if it’s a matter of being able to do it at all, I suppose. Or use a phone calculator app. But…even with a calculator, there are just going to be some limitations on how many modifiers one can reasonably have and how they can interact. Like, if you have, say, four or five inputs for a check that all have percentile modifiers from various equipment or spells or statuses or whatever, it just starts to become a pain to deal with. A computer won’t notice that, and there, it’s fine. But for TTRPGs, one doesn’t want to turn a play session into a bunch of people just playing Sim Spreadsheet. Kinda bogs down the game, kills the flavor.
I bet that there are some people who won’t even play D&D in its present form because of the math.
I have a friend of mine who’s very interested in playing DND, and TTRPGs in general. However, he’s admitted to me, and I have genuine proof, that he struggles with even the simplest concepts of math (such as addition or subtraction). Does any other DMs or players (or, hell, anyone really) have any advice to lessen the amount of math that needs to be done, or even make it a no-math sort of deal? Much appreciated!
https://old.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/1jphv4b/favorite_calculator_for_the_table/
One can grab an inexpensive calculator if it’s a matter of being able to do it at all, I suppose. Or use a phone calculator app. But…even with a calculator, there are just going to be some limitations on how many modifiers one can reasonably have and how they can interact. Like, if you have, say, four or five inputs for a check that all have percentile modifiers from various equipment or spells or statuses or whatever, it just starts to become a pain to deal with. A computer won’t notice that, and there, it’s fine. But for TTRPGs, one doesn’t want to turn a play session into a bunch of people just playing Sim Spreadsheet. Kinda bogs down the game, kills the flavor.
I bet that there are some people who won’t even play D&D in its present form because of the math.
searches
https://old.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/177rybf/have_a_friend_who_struggles_at_math_what_can_i_do/