tgcb

July 22, 2013

Maybe my mind is just so severely damaged from the long years of playing games, but I have little problem working with a numerical range of 3-18, where 10 represents an average human, 3 being an exeptionally below average human and 18 being the opposite.

Again, I'm trying to get these games into new hands, not just us old-timer hands. Yes, we've all seen this stuff a million times so don't put much thought into it...but what about someone who is reading a RPG for the first time?

And one may ask why are we having you generate numbers when we can't even tell you what the numbers mean.

In any case, believe it or not, I'm trying to be helpful. Sounds like I'll have to come up with charts myself and see how it goes.

July 22, 2013

(Note that I didn't create the table-that-does-not-exist, and I used to work for lawyers so I can appreciate how "PC" a business needs to be).

Now that we all agree that the table-that-shall-not-be-named was "offensive" and "inappropriate"...can we get back to how we get this type of information into a book?

I know you're going to say "we don't care about Characteristics, we care about skills"....but try coming it at from a new player. You do want new players don't you? Right?

If someone just picks up the book, get to the Characteristics section and gets a 14 POW, they may want to know what that means relatively speaking. Almost all games have players making Characteristics at near the beginning of character creation yet don't give a reference of what the numbers mean. Why is STR 18 the maximum? Well, lets show them a chart explaining approximately what the STR numbers mean. Oh, STR can lift about about 400 pounds...I cans see why that's the human maximum. So why is CON 18 the max? I have a 13 CHA what does that "mean"? Etc. etc.

Anyway, I think it would help but what do I know?

July 22, 2013

We've got to get that chart into the new hardcover!

July 21, 2013

I guess I was thinking in "game terms" rather than "reality terms" as most every thing else is calculated so it struck me "odd" that movement wasn't.

Again, more of a curiosity than a controversy.

July 21, 2013

As mentioned already, SIZ is not height, it is actually more closely related to mass. Also, DEX is not speed, but rather, it represents balance, agility, and reflexes. Absolute speed would be a combination of STR and DEX.

Also, as Loz mentions, re-read the Athletics section, especially the part where it says "For every full 25% a character has in Athletics, he can add an extra metre to his base Movement when sprinting, or half that when running over longer distances." No roll necessary (and Athletics is based on STR+DEX).

Ian

I want to read the Skill chapter today (all the way through instead of skipping around). Hopefully I "get it" when I'm done. Don't give up hope on me yet!

July 21, 2013

It is certainly possible to increase the granularity of the game's mechanics, and it
would certainly make the game a better simulation of the real world. Unfortunate-
ly the increased realism would require an increased complexity of the rules, and as
rules get more complex they tend to reduce a game's playability. It is a matter of
personal preference where one sees the best compromise between realism / rules
complexity and playability, I always liked the d100 family games because they are
comparatively rules light compared to games like GURPS or Rolemaster.

Got a copy of HARP (which is "Rolemaster-light") and skimmed through it - nice enough at first glance but looks like too much math. And of course, Rolemaster is even "worse" from what I've read (haven't seen a copy since mid-80's). So, personally I'd stick with Runequest, which in some places is a little "too light" versus games which are definitely "too heavy". May use some the HARP charts though! (I love charts for some reason).

July 20, 2013

Read the description of the Athletics skill, page 58.

My point is that a 6'5 guy with DEX 18 should have a base rate faster than a 5'1 guy with DEX 10. I shouldn't have to roll great on my Athletics/Running to gain an extra metre on him...I already have an extra metre on him based on my Characteristics. But as Pete Nash said today on my other post, you guys want to emphasize Skills and de-emphasize Characteristics.

July 20, 2013

OK, here's a better example:

You are the pinnacle of health (CON 18) and you happen to break your leg. A jerk you hate, who is no where near as healthy as you (a mere CON 13), also breaks his leg.

Instead of you getting out of the hospital several days before he does, since you both have the same Healing Rate, you both get out of the hospital at the same time.

Now how do you feel about it?

PS- I do realize that in skills the 18 is going to be superior to the 13...just wondering why in these other areas it can't also be superior, since obviously it is superior.

July 20, 2013

Yes.

Great! I'll try to read faster!!

July 20, 2013

Sorry, what is this 28% thing? You've lost me.

13 (the low end of the range) is 72.22% of 18 (the high end of the range). 13 is 5 less than 18, making 13 approximately 27.77% (or 28%) less than 18.

In other words, the low end of the range is 28% less than the high end of the range. So basically someone who is almost 1/3rd worse in a stat than you is getting the same benefit as you are. Say you take a test and you get 90% and the stoner in the back row gets a 65%. But the teacher gives you both an "A". How would you feel?

July 20, 2013

Why do all humans get a Movement Rate of 6M? (I do understand why'd you'd want a bunch of mooks/monsters to be the same rate for ease of play).

If I'm taller than you and my DEX is way better than yours....you can bet I'm moving these long legs farther than you are moving your slow stumpy legs.

Is it a left-over from miniature combat days? Is this to eliminate another variable that bogs down play?

It almost seems like Movement Rate should be calculated from DEX+SIZ (but then again, maybe it is more math that just gets in the way).

July 20, 2013

To me it seems like a 28% range is way too much. But I also understand sometimes you have to skew things to make other things work.

However, if I'm a new player (especially one coming over from another system), and I get to page 18 and think "the math in this game is wonky"...I may not give the other 440 pages a chance. Also, there are pages later showing how each type of weapon is "unique" and has it's own feel (they don't lump all swords into one category for example). So why does the falchion get different stats than a scimitar? Aren't they "close enough to be the same"? They're not 28% different are they?

July 20, 2013

Made some Runequest 6 characters tonight...and in doing so I noticed something.

(Follow along on Page 18 of the book.)

I have a 18 in CHA. I'm at near the pinnacle in human CHA. I get a +1 Experience Modifier, which is fine.

Fine until I notice that someone with a 13 CHA (slightly better than average CHA) also gets a +1 Experience Modifier.

I have a 18 in CON. I'm at near the pinnacle in human CON. I get a +3 Healing Rate, which is fine.

Again, I'm OK with this until I figure out that someone with only a 13 CON also gets my +3 Healing Rate.

Then to top it off, if I had a 18 POW I would think I was somewhat special. I bank my +3 Luck Points.

But wait....some chump with only 13 POW also gets my +3 Luck Points.

Basically...not sure I'd be happy with someone with 28% less in my Characteristic getting the same bonus I did. What's so special about being the best when mearly "above average" is now equal?

July 20, 2013

Does any version of Runequest or BRP have a chart explaining what the values of characteristics represent? Personally, I think it would be helpful to new players to better grasp what the numbers mean.

What does a 3 DEX mean? Does an 18 INT mean I'm a genius? Does a 15 STR mean I can bench 300 pounds?

Here is a terrible example for DEX:

3

4 Drunk GM

5

6

7 Drunk Player

8

9

10

11 Average human

12

13

14

15 Master Swordsman

16 Professional Gymnast

17

18 Ninja Master

July 20, 2013

The Damage Modifier Table on page 18 does not match the one on 13 (it should say "5 or less" not "6 or less").

PS- is this errata I'm finding going to be in the new hardcover?

July 13, 2013

I dunno. Equal odds of a hand hit as a chest hit? That seems less than likely, somehow.

Those Hit Location dice are great for adding colour to other RPGs which don't already have a system of their own. However they don't add much to games like Harn or BRP/RQ where there is already a Hit Location option available

Evidently succeeding at a "Perceive Joke" roll is harder than I thought!

Or maybe I fumbled my "Try to be Clever" skill attempt???

July 13, 2013

Problem solved

Body Parts Hit Dice - Game Master Dice

July 9, 2013

No, Loz, I didn't figure it would be a TDM product. Perhaps a third party monograph of sorts.

As for putting it into the RQ6 book, that would tie things down too much. Every game setting could be different. Maybe dwarves live to be 200 in one game, but only to 120 in another and are functionally immortal in a third.

Well, every human campaign can be different too. What if I'm a "Numenorian" that can live 400 years? What if I'm in Ancient Greece and I'm lucky to live til 45?

In any case...not asking to turn Runequest into "D&DQuest", just want simple information for the other playable races.

July 9, 2013

Ha!...well, wasn't looking for a book ...just a table or 2 (or just a comment in each section) for the 8 "player character option" races.

I realize space is at a premium, but for those of us that like to make non-human characters, we would really like a "one-stop shopping" book. And let's all remember that this book isn't just for Runequest "old-timers"....I'm trying to get new people into the game as well, and this book is competing against the cool looking, all-color, all-mighty Pathfinder books.

PS- I do know that BRP Classic Fantasy has a such a chart

July 8, 2013

Yeah, different settings have quite different ages types

True, but I feel "dirty" having to go to a D&D/Pathfinder site like this one to the information I want:

Age, Height & Weight

July 8, 2013

No, we haven't given more guidance. Its up to you as GM what you want to allot to different species.

Guess what I'm going to suggest as a "stretch bonus" for the Indiogogo hardcover when you surpass your goal?

July 7, 2013

Page 48 says "Note that this table can be used for non-human characters by simply substituting the actual number of years for longer or shorter lived races."

Is there more guidance elsewhere in the book that I'm not seeing? (Making a Dwarf and not sure what starting age should be). For example, is there a chart similar to the the one below for D20?

Race Middle Age Old Venerable Maximum Age

Human 35 years 53 years 70 years +2d20 years

Dwarf 125 years 188 years 250 years +2d% years

Elf 175 years 263 years 350 years +4d% years

Gnome 100 years 150 years 200 years +3d% years

Half-elf 62 years 93 years 125 years +3d20 years

Half-orc 30 years 45 years 60 years +2d10 years

Halfling 50 years 75 years 100 years +5d20 years