Characteristics increase and dice rolls

A friend of mine raised a question.

How exactly do I have to read this sentence?:

“If a characteristic is at its
maximum, take the other option or roll again if you
can only increase one characteristic. If both are
already at their racial maximum, you may increase any
other (that is not already at its racial maximum) by +1
instead. Note that this is the only way to gain the
maximum Movement for some races. Remember that
Henchmen can only add +1 to any characteristic.”


We always let the player, in case of this scenario, to chose any characteristic (within racial limits).
The example currently states you can increase M.

Since Army builder datafile do not allow to do this, the question is, can you increase W also?


cheers

theruler wrote:

How exactly do I have to read this sentence?:

“If a characteristic is at its
maximum, take the other option or roll again if you
can only increase one characteristic.

If the stat you rolled is maxed, you can either take the other stat associated with your 2d6 roll, or re-roll 2d6 to get a different set of stats/a skill.

Quote :

If both are
already at their racial maximum, you may increase any
other (that is not already at its racial maximum) by +1
instead. Note that this is the only way to gain the
maximum Movement for some races. Remember that
Henchmen can only add +1 to any characteristic.”

If both of the associated stats of the 2d6 roll are maxed, you can just pick a different stat and add +1.

theruler wrote:

Since Army builder datafile do not allow to do this, the question is, can you increase W also?

For Heroes, of course. For Henchmen? Technically, yes. It's fairly rare though.

I agree with Dyrnwyn. For Heroes it allows you to increase any characteristic not already at a maximum (including Movement which cannot be rolled normally).

Many people believe that this is technically not allowed for henchmen groups. This is because of the slightly conflicting rules from the "Henchmen" heading on the same page as quoted below. However, we do allow it in my gaming group so that if both WS & BS are both at a maximum (this is the only dice roll for henchemen that has two characteristics) then it is OK to increase the M, T or W characteristic for the henchmen group. I agree with Dyrnwyn that it is extremely rare (I don't know whether it has ever occurred in our gaming group even though we allow it).

Quote :

Henchmen never add more than +1 point to any of their initial characteristics. If the dice roll indicates an increase in a characteristic which has already been increased (or is at its racial maximum), roll again until an unincreased charateristic is rolled. All warriors in the group gain the same advance.

RationalLemming wrote:

However, we do allow it in my gaming group so that if both WS & BS are both at a maximum (this is the only dice roll for henchemen that has two characteristics) then it is OK to increase the M, T or W characteristic for the henchmen group.

Is it? Interesting. With us, you'd have to roll till you rolled either T,W,Ld or I (or Lad). Since there are just so many advances a henchman can have, choosing is not possible, as there will always be a characteristic not at its max.

Thanks for replying, guys.
Since a friend from a new group pointed it out (and noticed the "bug" in AB datafiles) the doubt arose.

I did not specify, but the question was for henchmen.
In our campaigns we had very few henchmen with 2W, but we actually had. A 3W Beastman is a very bad encounter indeed!
The only chance to gain M,W or T on characteristic increase would be to roll 6-7 for three time (out of four).
Not so uncommon I'd say.

Quote :

2-4 Advance. +1 Initiative.
5 Advance. +1 Strength.
6-7 Advance. Choose either +1 BS or +1WS.
8 Advance. +1 Attack.
9 Advance. +1 Leadership.
10-12 The lad’s got talent.

Quote :

Henchmen never add more than +1 point to any of their initial characteristics. If the dice roll indicates an increase in a characteristic which has already been increased (or is at its racial maximum), roll again until an unincreased charateristic is rolled. All warriors in the group gain the same advance.

These are 6 different stats and LGT as last option. I think the rules state clearly that henchmen couldn't get +W, +T etc. without houseruling it.
The rules say explicit you roll again until you get another result. Its different from the normal "second roll stands"-policy.

I think

"Henchmen never add more than +1 point to any of their initial characteristics. If the dice roll indicates an increase in a characteristic which has already been increased (or is at its racial maximum), roll again until an unincreased charateristic is rolled. All warriors in the group gain the same advance"

says it all.

"roll again until an unincreased characteristic is rolled". There's no room for doubt there imo.

You cannot get T, W or M for henchmen. You can houserule it ofc.

If both characteristics are already at their racial maximum, you may increase any other by +1instead.

It actually says you are eligible to chose only if the racial maximum is reached for that characteristic. And it would be possible only if an henchman had WS5 and BS5 as base profile.

I am starting to think thesoundofmusica is right.

The rule state, that you have to roll again, if the characteristic is already at max, so you never get the change to use the other rule, which allows you to choose a characteristic if you have to increase a characteristic that is already at max.

Yes it is a house rule. I had written that but it must have been removed when I adjusted what I was saying. Officially it is not possible to change W, T or M for henchmen.