[Rq-rules] Re: Background Experience

[alan richards]

>
> From: Lev Lafayette <lev_lafayette at yahoo.com.au
>
>
> I've never been entirely happy with the background
> experience system in RQ III. This is simply because
> the percentages are static (30 percentiles per annum)
> regardless of capacity and ability to learn, and the
> gains are likewise static (30 percentiles to skills
> rating 05% or 60%).
>
> The following is a simple modification I've added that
> seems to be working without much trouble.
>
> For every year of the chararacter's life over 15 they
> receive INT*2+POW skill points (average 30).
>
> They also receive the equivalent of 3 years worth for
> the period prior to 15 (I don't have automatic
> percentages for cultural skills - these two have to
> purchased).
>
> Skills may be purchased at a 1:1 basis to 50%, 1:2
> basis to 75%, 1:3 basis to 90% and 1:4 basis from then
> on.
>
> It's pretty quick 'n' easy and seems to work.
>
> Any thoughts?
>


1. I am a big fan of starting background experience at age 10 not 15. And
likewise not inflating cultural skills. (Query: In canon RQIII I think that
only Weapon Skills have a cultural base all others are common to all members
of a species?) I usually insist that the 5 Years between 10 and 15 are spent
in a randomly rolled background and the 'standard' 2d6* years may be spent
in a background (or backgrounds) of the player's choice.

*actually 2d6-2 as I roll human age as 2d6+13. There is no compelling reason
for this the spread is just more pleasing to my eye.


2. (Int+Int+Pow) points per year instead of 30.
It doesn't float my boat.
For a start 'average human' Int in RQIII is 13 so your 'average' human
character would have 36 points per year not 30. So only use this if you want
to inflate the number of skill points received (which is not necessarily a
bad thing).
Secondly it seems clunky to me.

I suppose I'd prefer (Int x3) points per year. But that is even worse in
terms of inflating skill points(!)

Inspired by the old RQIV:AiG (Adventures in Abbreviations) I like being able
to start characters off at different levels of experience and power. And do
this by varying how many skill points a character has per year over 10 (or
15 if you prefer)

Untrained         0  (they're like untrained dude)
Novice             15
Trained            30
Skilled             45
Expert             60
Master             75


3. 1:1 basis to 50%, 1:2 basis to 75%, 1:3 basis to 90% and 1:4 basis from
then on.
Blurgh, Yuck. I hate it. I must be missing something here coz a rule like
this seems to find its way into most people's House Rules for RQIII. I
really cannot be bothered with double-entry book keeping. That being said
your version seems to be as good as any other.



Al
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.thinbits.net/pipermail/rq-rules/attachments/20070114/8a7a0422/attachment-0001.html