Evilschemer Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I'm creating the cultural write-ups for Swords of Cydoria so I looked around at some of the other BRP games with cultures: Dragon Lines, Chronicles of Future Earth, Stormbringer. Dragon Lines and CoFE list some favored skills for each culture, but offer no real bonus. Stormbringer gives characteristic bonuses/minuses for each culture. What does the zeitgeist prefer? Should I be generic and just list favored skills with no bonus? Should I provide a free bonus to a few skills for each culture? Should I provide a bonus to a few skills that comes out of the character creation skill point budget? Should I just provide characteristic bonuses like in Stormbringer? Quote __________________ Christian Conkle Blogs: Geek Rampage! - Swords of Cydoria - Exiled in Eris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soltakss Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 I'd give each Culture/Background a number of skills and also a points bonus. You could do something like the Bonus Packages and give +20% on certain skills. Quote Simon Phipp - Caldmore Chameleon - Wallowing in my elitism since 1982. Many Systems, One Family. Just a fanboy. www.soltakss.com/index.html Jonstown Compendium author. Find my contributions here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORtrail Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 I like how Warlords of Alexander managed to create some differences among the various types of Greeks. For example: Spartan Hard, uncivilised, brutal and fierce Bonus: +1 CON Dialect of Greek: Doric Starting Skill: Dagger Thessalian Lovers of open spaces and horses Bonus: +1 DEX Dialect of Greek: Aetolian Starting Skill: Ride Characters got a 30% bonus to their starting skill, though you might go with a couple skills at +20% instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greville Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 I prefer listing the skills that will be different, then adjusting the default scores up and down as required. Another option is to restrict certain professions if they do not fit the characters cultural background or personal history. I also like to limit the skill choices, for the personal point spend, to reflect the culture. PERSONAL POINT POOL INT x 10 to create your personal skill point pool, spending them on any skills you like. The total must not exceed the skill limit for game type set above. OPTION: Increased Personal Skill Points (p. 24). Quote The sacred sentence of science: "I might be wrong: let's find out." - David Brin My Blog: http://grevsspace.wordpress.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rust Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 For my settings I usually give each of the cultures two cultural skills with a free bonus of 20 % each, for example the Asor as arctic hunters get 20 % each for either Drive (Dog Sled) or Pilot (Kayak) and for Throw (Harpoon). I try to con- nect the use of such cultural skills to equipment or situations typical for the cul- ture, in order to give the culture some individual "colour". Quote "Mind like parachute, function only when open." (Charlie Chan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickMiddleton Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Should I provide a free bonus to a few skills for each culture? This.Specifically give each culture a list of at least five skills, and let players choose say two or three from the list to add 20% to. Gives a little differentiation to each culture and allows for some variation WITHIN each culture without miring character generation in yet more finickety point allocation. Cheers, Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rust Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Specifically give each culture a list of at least five skills, and let players choose say two or three from the list to add 20% to. Yep, the more complex the culture is, the more choices the player characters should have. By the way, cultural skills can also be used for the various profes- sional specialities, for example a Craftsman of the Asor mentioned above could get a cultural skill bonus of 20 % for Art (Ivory Carving), increasing his income and making the otherwise "fluff" skill more useful for the character. Quote "Mind like parachute, function only when open." (Charlie Chan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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