This is fairly generic and could be used with any six Ability Score, 3d6-based RPG:
Alternate Point-Buy Ability Score Method-
1). The player has 45 points to distribute amongst the six Abilities, with no less than 03 points placed into each, and no more than 11 points into any one Ability.
2). Roll 6d6. Each Ability Score can only receive one whole die, as rolled.
3). Choose the character's Elemental Blood and apply the listed modifiers.
4). Choose Ethnicity and write down listed special features (Vrun, for example, receive +03 to all Ability Scores), and determine the character's appearance based upon the guidelines described.
4 [the second]). Roll 5d6. Choose three (3) of the rolled 5d6 to be totalled and multiplied by the sum of the remaining 2d6 (6-216 with the average being 111). This is the character's Starting Funds in generic 'Count'. All starting gear, armour and arms must come from this total (or pooled with others in the party).
5). Name your character and then inform the Referee that you are ready.
Interesting. Seems like a bit of math--which frightens some casual players--but not as much as some systems force upon folks. Have you considered setting up some 'templates' of the sorts of configurations that you'd suggest/prefer? That could speed-up the Char-Gen process and it gets newbies playing more quickly, so you don't lose them to something simpler (like at Cons, etc.)
ReplyDeleteHave you considered converting Part 4 into a table to simplify the math down into something quick and more accessible? You can bury the clunky-seeming math operations into a table and players will never know the difference, other than it was fast and painless...
NW: I like the idea of the Templates in conjunction with the 45 Points. I agree it would be much speedier. Thanks for the suggestion. :D
ReplyDeleteSigh.
--Okay. Multiplication is that rough these days? ;D
---I'll get to work on both of those great suggestions. Thank you very much. I appreciate the input.
Math is hard...or at least that is still the sentiment that I've observed at various local Cons and other venues. Don't even get me started on people playing a S&S game without having read any of the most basic books...
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is tackling math as it is taught in High School in Minneapolis...and frankly, it's not getting taught very well at all. Again, not a topic to get into at the moment.
Math isn't a problem for me, and it isn't something to be avoided in a set of RPG rules, but I have watched it be a real deal-killer at Cons and in some groups--the more barriers to entry people percieve, the lower their tolerance gets...and it's often better to get people playing than doing math. If you can bury the math in quick and easy charts, tables, etc., then it's painless, people get playing sooner, and you have a better chance to actually get them to see the cool stuff, not just the math.
Ever hear the complaint that C&S (first edition) was too complicated? It wasn't. But the (false) impression lingered. Kind of like how some folks still propagate the myth that Tekumel is too complex to run, etc. It's not. But that's for another place/time.
Take a look at the old Marvel Superheroes game that TSR did way back, if you get a chance, or the ZEFRS RPG (http://www.midcoast.com/~ricekrwc/zefrs/index.html) which also uses a master resolution chart to bury the math (and color-code it too). It might give you some ideas. Like medicine, if you sugar-coat it, it'll go down much easier, and get people playing that much sooner, giving you a shot at corrupting the young, etc.
Good luck!
NW: Thanks for the additional information re: Cons, etc.
ReplyDeleteAs regards a Universal Chart, UWoM has one, but I haven't incorporated a 'script' yet for the Funds and other fiddly bits, but that is an excellent suggestion --so long as it can be kept as a formula that can be accessed by folks who hate charts, because they are out there, too. :D
--However, I really do appreciate your input, and it is still early enough in the final draft to incorporate them or some-such.
Please keep up the great work on your various blogs. I am very interested in your comics studies, as well as your Riskail posts.
--Will I get to meet you if I come up to Jeff Berry's place for New Years? Or am I confusing your location?
Glad my two cents were helpful. Thanks for the kind words regarding the blogs/Riskail. You're not confusing the location, but I'm not going to be in town on New Years, as things stand right now. Maybe another time. You'll enjoy your time in Mr. Berry's company, I am sure. Boy, does he have stories to tell...
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your calendrical New Year activities.
ReplyDelete--Please stay safe, then.
In the meanwhile, I look forward to more of your blogging. :)