I have found that the variant below (which is based on an idea by Gareth Martin) is faster and easier to use than the Extended Contest Table in the Hero Wars rulebook.

The table in the rulebook gives 16 possible outcomes. Add to this two special cases for a total of 18 possible combinations. My variant not only reduces the number of possible outcomes that I have to keep in my tiny little head to measly 10 (including four special cases), but also allows me to transfer a lot of number-crunching to the players. Now I can concentrate on coming up with funky descriptions.

If you use the optional rule (which I don't) the outcome is identical to the one in the rulebook. Without the optional rule, Fumbling is somewhat nastier than in the original rules.

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This is how it works

1. Action Point bid.

The actor makes her bid as usual.

2. Determine winner and loser.

Dice are rolled. The character with the highest degree of success is the winner. If both contestants roll a Success, the lowest roll is the winner.

3. Determine AP loss.

First, any Edges or Handicaps are added to the bid.

Then, the winner modifies her bid according to the Winner Table. The result is then halved, unchanged, or doubled by the loser, depending on her degree of loss.

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Winner Table

Critical -- double bid, loss is transferred
Success -- double bid
Failure -- full bid

Loser Table

Success -- loss is halved
Failure -- take full loss
Fumble -- take double loss

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Special Cases

Both roll Failure -- both lose full bid, unless both have masteries, in which case this is treated as if both rolled a Success

Both roll Fumble -- both lose double bid

Failure vs Fumble -- winner loses full bid, loser loses double bid

Tie -- outcome is determinned by the narrator, based on the participants statement of intent

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Optional Rule

No loss or transfer can be greater than three times the modified bid.

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Examples

Both Erik and Jonas rolls a Critical Success. This is a tie, so the narrator determines the result based on the participants statement of intent.

Erik bets 10 AP and wins with a Success (his bid is doubled: 10x2=20). Jonas rolls a higher Success and loses (the loss is halved: 20/2=10). Jonas loses 10 AP.

Erik bets 10 AP and loses with a Fumble. Jonas wins with a Success (Erik's bid is doubled: 10x2=20). Erik's Fumble doubles the loss (20x2=40). Erik loses 40 AP. If the narrator had used the optional rules, Erik's loss would have been only 30 AP.

Erik bets 10 AP and wins with a Critical (his bid is doubled: 10x2=20). Jonas loses with a Failure (takes full loss). Since Erik rolled a Critical, it is a transfer. Jonas loses 20 AP. Erik gains 20 AP.

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Contact me at [email protected].

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