x = the age a certain race reaches maturity in literal years
y = The relative age per year in comparison to humans (e.g. for every 1 literal year, Half-orcs go up in a relative age of 1.29 years due to them reaching maturity at 14 literal years)
To figure out the y variable, divide 18 by x. Once you have the y variable, the number 18 should be switched out for the relative number of years you want your character to be. We will continue using Half-Orcs as an example.
If we want a Half-Orc to be a relative age of 25, the equation would look like: [ 25/1.29 = x/1 ] with 25 being our relative age, 1.29 being the relative time for our race to age by one year, x being the literal age, and 1 being how long 1 year literally takes to pass.
Do the butterfly method! You should end up with [ 25 = 1.29x ]. Simple algebra, and you'll end up with 19.38. This would mean that for our Half-Orc to be a relative age of 25, they would have to be a literal age of around 19 years old.
We can also find the relative age from the literal age. Using Half-Orcs again, lets say this one is a literal age of 34. The equation would be set up like: [ z/1.29 = 34/1 ] (z is just the variable we're putting in place of the relative age)
Butterfly method, this time only needing one step. [ z = 43.86 ]. So a Half-Orc with the literal age of 34 is a relative age of around 44.
{ Hope this helps, or is at least interesting to read. Have a good day all B] }
Honestly, the OP seems a little over complicated. You can use basic unit conversion for DnD age just like you'd use it for anything else, you just need to pick a reference point where you know the equivalence between the ages of the two species e.g.:
Reference Point: Death - Human years = 120, Elf years = 1000
Convert human years (H) into Elf years (E): E = H*(1000 elf/120 human) - human & human years cancel out giving you the equivalent elf years.
Convert Elf years to Human years: H = E * (120 human / 1000 elf) - elf & elf cancel out giving you the equivalent human years.
except 'age at which a species reaches maturity' isn't declared RAW...'life span' is. It'd be more helpful to have a formula using that...otherwise its just everyone making up their own thing...and in that case, there's no point in a formula.
btw, your formula is " 18/y = x " ...don't go out of your way to add needless characters...imo.
and its backward...x is the value you're assuming everyone knows and you even say you're solving for y (so use a formula solving for y). It's y = 18/x
but overall, i disagree with the concept - you're scaling all races the same...which reduces uniqueness. ...and don't forget, there's a reason we don't have a legit formula to determine dog years.
Honestly, the OP seems a little over complicated. You can use basic unit conversion for DnD age just like you'd use it for anything else, you just need to pick a reference point where you know the equivalence between the ages of the two species e.g.:
Reference Point: Death - Human years = 120, Elf years = 1000
Convert human years (H) into Elf years (E): E = H*(1000 elf/120 human) - human & human years cancel out giving you the equivalent elf years.
Convert Elf years to Human years: H = E * (120 human / 1000 elf) - elf & elf cancel out giving you the equivalent human years.
The problem with this is that a 30 year old elf is equivalent to a 3 year old human child. Likewise, the "dog year" conversion is 7:1 but only take 1 year to become adults.
I do think there is merit in considering the age of maturity, especially with YA/coming of age stories being such a strong trope through pretty much any genre.
Honestly, the OP seems a little over complicated. You can use basic unit conversion for DnD age just like you'd use it for anything else, you just need to pick a reference point where you know the equivalence between the ages of the two species e.g.:
Reference Point: Death - Human years = 120, Elf years = 1000
Convert human years (H) into Elf years (E): E = H*(1000 elf/120 human) - human & human years cancel out giving you the equivalent elf years.
Convert Elf years to Human years: H = E * (120 human / 1000 elf) - elf & elf cancel out giving you the equivalent human years.
The problem with this is that a 30 year old elf is equivalent to a 3 year old human child. Likewise, the "dog year" conversion is 7:1 but only take 1 year to become adults.
I do think there is merit in considering the age of maturity, especially with YA/coming of age stories being such a strong trope through pretty much any genre.
If you want to account for that accurate then you probably need to fit a function like so: E = b*H+aH^2.
But that becomes mathematically complex, but as I said above using the "units" approach you can pick any point in the life span that you believe is equivalent to do the calculation, and use it as rough approximation of the true function for ages roughly around that point.
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[ 18/y = x/1 ]
x = the age a certain race reaches maturity in literal years
y = The relative age per year in comparison to humans (e.g. for every 1 literal year, Half-orcs go up in a relative age of 1.29 years due to them reaching maturity at 14 literal years)
To figure out the y variable, divide 18 by x. Once you have the y variable, the number 18 should be switched out for the relative number of years you want your character to be. We will continue using Half-Orcs as an example.
If we want a Half-Orc to be a relative age of 25, the equation would look like: [ 25/1.29 = x/1 ] with 25 being our relative age, 1.29 being the relative time for our race to age by one year, x being the literal age, and 1 being how long 1 year literally takes to pass.
Do the butterfly method! You should end up with [ 25 = 1.29x ]. Simple algebra, and you'll end up with 19.38. This would mean that for our Half-Orc to be a relative age of 25, they would have to be a literal age of around 19 years old.
We can also find the relative age from the literal age. Using Half-Orcs again, lets say this one is a literal age of 34. The equation would be set up like: [ z/1.29 = 34/1 ] (z is just the variable we're putting in place of the relative age)
Butterfly method, this time only needing one step. [ z = 43.86 ]. So a Half-Orc with the literal age of 34 is a relative age of around 44.
{ Hope this helps, or is at least interesting to read. Have a good day all B] }
I do believe that WAY back in ADD there used to be a system for this. They also had a system and chart adjusting stats by the age of the character.
The more they look ahead the more they look behind.
Honestly, the OP seems a little over complicated. You can use basic unit conversion for DnD age just like you'd use it for anything else, you just need to pick a reference point where you know the equivalence between the ages of the two species e.g.:
Reference Point: Death - Human years = 120, Elf years = 1000
Convert human years (H) into Elf years (E):
E = H*(1000 elf/120 human) - human & human years cancel out giving you the equivalent elf years.
Convert Elf years to Human years:
H = E * (120 human / 1000 elf) - elf & elf cancel out giving you the equivalent human years.
I can't say I personally understand, but if this is easier for people then that's good! Thank you :]
except 'age at which a species reaches maturity' isn't declared RAW...'life span' is. It'd be more helpful to have a formula using that...otherwise its just everyone making up their own thing...and in that case, there's no point in a formula.
btw, your formula is " 18/y = x " ...don't go out of your way to add needless characters...imo.
and its backward...x is the value you're assuming everyone knows and you even say you're solving for y (so use a formula solving for y). It's y = 18/x
but overall, i disagree with the concept - you're scaling all races the same...which reduces uniqueness. ...and don't forget, there's a reason we don't have a legit formula to determine dog years.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
The problem with this is that a 30 year old elf is equivalent to a 3 year old human child. Likewise, the "dog year" conversion is 7:1 but only take 1 year to become adults.
I do think there is merit in considering the age of maturity, especially with YA/coming of age stories being such a strong trope through pretty much any genre.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
If you want to account for that accurate then you probably need to fit a function like so: E = b*H+aH^2.
But that becomes mathematically complex, but as I said above using the "units" approach you can pick any point in the life span that you believe is equivalent to do the calculation, and use it as rough approximation of the true function for ages roughly around that point.