Fortitude Fortified: A Comprehensive Guide to Harnessing Hardness in Savage Worlds

In the realm of Savage Worlds, hardness stands as a cornerstone of survival and success. This attribute represents the toughness and resilience of individuals and objects, enabling them to endure the onslaught of combat and environmental hazards. Understanding and effectively utilizing hardness is paramount to excelling in this action-packed roleplaying game.

The Nature of Hardness

Hardness measures the amount of damage a character or item can sustain before being rendered unconscious, broken, or otherwise incapacitated. It is determined by fatigue points, which are essentially hit points in Savage Worlds. Each point of hardness grants one level of protection against damage.

For characters, hardness is directly tied to their Stamina attribute. For items, it is based on their Durability rating.

Benefits of High Hardness

1. Increased Survivability: A high hardness value makes characters and objects less vulnerable to damage, increasing their chances of survival in dangerous encounters.

2. Reduced Wound Penalties: As characters lose fatigue points, they incur wound penalties that impair their combat abilities. High hardness minimizes these penalties, allowing characters to remain effective even while wounded.

3. Increased Armor Effectiveness: Items with high hardness provide better protection against physical attacks. This is particularly valuable for characters who rely on armor to mitigate damage.

4. Improved Object Durability: Durable items can withstand more abuse before breaking or becoming unusable. This is especially important for weapons, tools, and equipment that are frequently subjected to harsh conditions or combat.

How to Increase Hardness

1. Level Up: Characters automatically gain increased stamina and thus hardness as they level up.

2. Edges and Perks: Certain character edges and perks can boost hardness, such as Hard to Kill and Tough as Nails.

3. Armor and Equipment: Items with high durability ratings can increase the hardness of the characters who use them.

4. Power Cards: Power cards can grant temporary bonuses to hardness, providing an edge in critical situations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Neglecting Stamina: Some players may prioritize other attributes over Stamina, but doing so reduces overall hardness. Stamina is essential for character survival and should be invested in whenever possible.

2. Underestimating Item Durability: The durability of items is often overlooked, but it plays a crucial role in determining their effectiveness and lifespan. Consider the durability ratings of equipment and choose items that can withstand the rigors of adventuring.

3. Overestimating Healing: While healing can restore fatigue points, it should not be relied upon as the sole means of maintaining hardness. High hardness reduces the reliance on healing, allowing characters to stay in the fight longer.

Why Hardness Matters

1. Combat Survivability: In Savage Worlds, combat is a dangerous affair. High hardness gives characters a better chance of surviving encounters and emerging victorious.

2. Exploration Efficiency: Characters with high hardness can explore dangerous environments with greater confidence, spending less time resting and recovering from wounds.

3. Resource Conservation: By reducing the need for healing and item repairs, high hardness can conserve valuable resources, allowing characters to focus on their primary objectives.

Benefits of High Hardness

4. Tactical Advantage: The ability to absorb more damage grants characters and objects a tactical advantage in combat. They can engage in riskier maneuvers, hold their ground against tougher opponents, or simply survive long enough to turn the tide of battle.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between hardness and Toughness?

Toughness represents the ability to resist critical hits and wounding effects, while hardness measures the overall damage threshold. Both attributes are important for character survivability, but they serve different purposes.

2. How does armor affect hardness?

Armor items provide armor bonus, which is added to the character's hardness when they are wearing it. Armor with high durability ratings will provide greater protection and thus increase overall hardness.

3. Can hardness be increased permanently?

Yes, some edges and perks grant permanent bonuses to hardness. Additionally, certain rituals and magical items can also enhance durability and thus hardness.

4. What are some examples of high hardness items?

High hardness items include heavy plate armor, adamantium weapons, and reinforced shields. These items provide excellent protection against physical attacks and can significantly increase the hardness of their users.

5. What are some strategies for maximizing hardness?

Invest heavily in Stamina, choose items with high durability, utilize edges and perks that boost hardness, and consider using power cards to enhance it temporarily.

6. What is a good hardness value for a character?

A good hardness value for a character depends on the campaign setting and the character's role. However, a hardness of 6-8 is generally considered a solid starting point for most characters.

7. How does hardness affect character creation?

Hardness is an important consideration during character creation. Characters with high hardness are better suited for frontline combat and roles that require durability, while those with lower hardness may excel in stealth, ranged combat, or other areas where damage resistance is less critical.

8. Can hardness be reduced?

Yes, certain afflictions, environmental hazards, and magical effects can reduce hardness. It is important to be aware of these potential threats and take precautions to minimize their impact on hardness.

Tables

Table 1: Hardness and Stamina

Table 2: Armor Hardness Bonus

Table 3: Common Hardness Boosts