Now that the thesis is over, I've started looking at various bits and bobs of gaming stuff again. I've been primarily thinking about Hot War (and, in a connected sense, Cold City). Two things in particular–tools and monsters–have come up that I'd like to get some feedback on/have a discussion about. I'm posting about tools just now and will post about monsters in a while, once I've had a chance to summarise my thoughts.

Tools

At the moment, if you bring a situationally appropriate tool into a conflict, you get a flat bonus of two dice. This works very well: either the tool is appropriate and you get the dice, or it isn't and you don't.

However, I was thinking that there could be scope for more powerful/weaker tools, ranging from one to three dice. This is very similar to Dogs in the Vineyard and 'things' being crap, normal, or excellent.

So in HW/CC, you might have:

Rubbish/only mildly appropriate tool: 1d
Normal/appropriate tool: 2d
Powerful/excellent/incredibly appropriate tool: 3d

I'm thinking that 3d tools might need to be tied to the character somehow, for example as a very personal item.

As an example: You have a Bren Gun. If you are trying to mow down a mass infantry attack, then this a very appropriate tool. If you are in a cramped sewer, then it's not really the ideal weapon and might be a rubbish tool.

Thoughts on this?

Cheers
Malcolm