[Rq-rules] Speaking of revival

[Jhell'Bek]

Frank Filz wrote:
[snip]
> Has anyone worked up a good point buy system? Preferably I'd like to 
> have balanced attributes so they can all cost the same.

for my BRP-derivative, the point-buy system is called 
'Potential'.  the break-out is really simple:

1 point of Potential = 1d6 points of any attribute
1 point of Potential = 3 for any attribute
(cunningly, this is works out to the low average roll for 1d6)
1 point of Potential = +20% to a skill

so, if you wanted a 12 STR, it costs 4 Potential (4*3=12).  or, 
if you wanted to roll a little, you could spend those same 4 
Potential to roll 2d6+6 for STR (average of 13 - if you rolled 
okay).  (2d6 = 2 Potential + 6 = 2 Potential).

also, players always demand more granularity with their 
attributes.  so, a house rule of mine says you can spend up to 2 
Potential on attribute points and place those attribute points 
anywhere.  for example, Kevin decides he wants to drop 1 
Potential for 3 attribute points.  he puts 2 on his CON and 1 on 
his INT...

Potential may also be 'spent' on skill percentages.  for example, 
a character has a base Listen roll of 13% (base + modifiers). 
for 2 Potential, she can have a 13% + 40% = 53% Listen roll.

the same house rule applies for breaking up skill percentages. 
up to 2 Potential can be spent for skill percentages and the 
percentiles may be placed in any combination; not just in 20% 
chunks.  for example, Kevin spends 2 Potential to put +10% on his 
Listen, +15% on his Hide, and +15% on his Oratory.  (2 Potential 
= 40%.  15+15+10 = 40).

limits to 'splitting' Potential are exclusive; if you spend 2 to 
get attribute points, you can still spend 2 to get percentiles.

interestingly, this system came out of some math to figure out a 
d20-equivallent Challenge Rating system (so i would know if my 
characters are out of their depth or not with a given encounter). 
  Once the numbers fell into place, i started using them to work 
backwards to design opponents and challenges for the group which 
would be engaging...

working through the RQ3 creatures book, it's pretty easy to take 
any race and determine it's Potential, subtract the value of an 
average human, and get the initial cost to play an average member 
of that race.  my BRP system assumes humans are the normal - 
anything that a normal human can't do, like magic or racial 
abilities, costs Potential (ie, humans are 'free').

i have started a group with X number of attribute points and 30 
Potential.  they allocate their lot of attribute points, then use 
the Potential to tweak and tune their characters to their liking. 
  Potential also plays a big role in my careers/callings/life 
path/build-your-character-a-year-at-a-time system...

i'd love to see anyone else's work on this!  does anyone else 
have a point-buy system they like?

regards -

-- 
Gerall Kahla / jhellbek / JaenChronicler
remember:  all waves collapse.