I'm a little underwhelmed how any effect which causes the loss of Stress or Fatigue is simply converted to Wounds against an NPC. Has anyone toyed with an idea like this:

Each point of Fatigue "damage" against an NPC reduces its Aggression. If Aggression is 0, then cause wounds. Stress works the same way, but against Cunning.

I know lots of monsters don't have a ton of A/C/E, but this at least seems to give Stress and Fatigue damage a slightly different effect in-game than merely converting it to Wounds.

Does anyone see any major drawbacks to this sort of house rule? I haven't tested in play yet, but I'm considering it.

I kinda like this idea since it still means that inflicting stress or fatigue will hamper the monster so abilities that focus on stress or fatigue won't be rendered useless.

I like this idea a lot. Perhaps Fatigue could suck Aggression, and Stress could suck Cunning?

Specifically I like that it makes stress & fatigue have meaning distinct from wounds, without requiring we track yet another stat on bad guys. (Not that WFRP puts a lot of stats on each baddie, but I like that this house-rule doesn't complicate them.)

Any idea how you'd deal with NPC actions and rolls that eliminate stress or fatigue? For NPCs that use PC action cards, or for NPCs that roll 2 Boons. Haven't contemplated the math enough to see if that will break down if you just give them A/C/E for it. Could be a problem if the GM does what's tactically sound instead of what's thematically in-character. If Orks start using "Assess the Situation" then we've probably broken something.

Another potential problem that springs to mind is that it might be the nail in the coffin on Dramatic Flourish . I'm not too worried though because I suspect the contested roll portion of that card already did it in.

I'm thinking the single largest problem is that if the PCs have a lot of fatigue-causing actions, it could make the NPCs even more cookie-cutter-ish. The A/C/E that distinguishes them would fade away quickly. Not a huge deal, but annoying.

This logically does with the optional rule in GM Toolkit that allows spending from Aggression for additional maneouvres (as if it was fatigue).

This is really good idea. As GM, I also have felt the "stress & fatigue as wounds" -rule seemed a bit unpolished. There's several Action cards that cause fatigue and stress to the opponent - what would be the point if they are converted into wounds 99% of the time?

Reducing a monster's dice pool is probably as important as inflicting wounds IMO, since the dice can do so many things for NPCs. I don't have a problem with it, although I agree it should be limited to Aggression for fatigue and cunning for Stress.

Of course, the problem becomes for the GM whether to use the dice for dice, or save them for fatigue/stress. lol, as if I don't already have too few A/C/E dice for my monsters!

Similarly, I have let NPCs exchange expertise die to absorb wounds ... this was just for emergencies.

What you suggest is how I run my game since a loooong time and I can assure you it is VERY effective and interesting. My players now consider action cards which gives fatigue/stress to opponents otherwise because they weaken enemies before any wounds, and that effect ignore soak and Toughness.

• Fatigue vs aggression dices, Agression dice for additionnal manoeuvre
• Stress vs cunning dices,
• Expertise for additionnal challenge dice in defense.

Its not a house rule. It is an optional rule that was published in the GM toolkit and the Creature Vault.

Cyber-Dave said:

Some of us actually used those rules before they were released in the toolkit