LMAO. Duly noted. I appreciate the gesture...

Some of us have enough background that we could start playing now. :)  Then worry about stats later.

The stats aren't the hang up just now, Rebecca. I am still putting the pieces of our town together. I'm having issues finding a map maker for one. The ones I used to use don't seem to exist any more. Does anyone know of any online gaming map makers I might use?

In reply to Clementine McQueen (msg # 42):ine

I'm sorry Clementine, I shoulda mentioned that. Yes, I played in Q&D... I was/am Judson Fletcher... My recent summary post is a work in progress.... I will work out the kinks by the first of the week. I have plans this weekend that will keep me away from RPOL so what I don't get done tonight and tomaro will have to wait till then. That being said I am ready to go ( Like Miss O'Dell is ) character sheet withstanding. :)

Hello Taron. I think I have an idea for a small background tie-in if you're interested.

Thanks Cyrus, for the map making sites. I found a couple of very useful ones. We'll have our basic design by tonight thanks to you.  :)

Glad I could help!  ;)

Ok folks, here we go....

First I want to re-post Cyrus' link to The Window.....http://www.mimgames.com/window/

Don't feel you have to read it all but even if you do it's a very simple system that won't take long to read. Only took me about ten minutes but I know gaming systems so it breezed for me. The system is very character and freeform roleplaying heavy so it suits our needs while giving the structure we will need for conflict in a very simple way. Again I have to thank Cyrus like with the map making tools for pointing this out to me......

Please give some thought to your characters abilities and not just their stories for this.

We will use the trait and skill set as outlined in The Window, but with a point buy system I am about to post so we don't get idiots deciding they are Epic at everything. Epic would be the "Incredible" rating from The Window. Actually maybe Legendary would be better than Epic. LOL. I dunno. But we will be using a competency scale as The Window describes. You will have the same amount of points to "buy" your beginning competencies in traits and skills. The younger characters and I will determine a "LUCK" factor to even things with the older characters who will be using the "Experience" trait to explain the knowledge learned thru age.

So here we go.... the traits we will be using.....

Strength

This is the raw physical power which the character possesses, and it is tested in those situations where the character must lift, move, push, pull, or throw something which is unusually large or heavy. It also includes the character's ability to crush or break sturdy objects, hold down an enemy in combat, or other such trials of might.

Agility

People who are highly agile are good at jumping over pits, swinging from ropes or vines, escaping from bonds, and picking pockets. It has to do with balance, manual dexterity, hand-to-eye coordination, and limberness, and it can be tested quite often in action oriented Anthologies.

Speed

Speed simply measures a persons base quickness of hand or foot, not their actual athleticism as Agility does

Health

Not only is this how good the character is at resisting disease, but also how good they are at running long distances, dealing with poison, holding their breath, etc.. Health rolls are very important should the character be wounded to determine how well they resist shock, pain, unconsciousness, and even death.

Knowledge

This is a general measure of how much the character has experienced and how much education they have received. Older, smarter, or more traveled characters usually are more knowledgeable, and this ability is tested when a character needs to see if they know important information on government organizations, how a steam engine works, or similar feats of experience and wisdom.

Perception

Often called "powers of perception," the Storyteller will call for tests of this ability when the troupe has a chance to notice something in a scene that isn't readily apparent. This includes seeing hidden or obscure clues, hearing distant noises, or smelling that telltale whiff of poison...We've called it Alertness as well in past games.

Luck

Luck represents that unexplainable tendency for good things to happen to certain people without their effort or awareness. Older characters will have a lower luck score because they have been using their luck up over the years and will rely more on experience while younger characters will rely on luck for what they have not yet learned.......I hope that made sense.

Experience

Pretty much exactly as described in The Window. Older characters will have a higher experience score than a luck score whereas younger will have a higher luck score. Please keep this in mind when creating your character.

Wealth

I don't want to keep track of everyone's pennies so We are simply going to use a wealth level to see if a character has the cash on hand to make purchases. Pretty much exactly as the window has described. Really not an issue unless you decide you can by a Gatlin Gun, or Heavy Explosives, or things of that nature. I trust you all to roleplay within the means of the character you created.

And all that posted......The next step would be the skills.....

Skills. Hmmmmm......Just like in Q&D, any skill you can think of is available. I really see no reason to list skills. If you can keep it time period appropriate and in character for the character you will be playing, we will work it in. The first 17 year old character that is an explosives expert I see will be booted. LOL

This is a sample list provided by Edward Jennings to give you some idea where to start.....

Sample Skill List
Academics
Administration
Animal Training
Artistic Ability
Blacksmith
Boating
Cartography
Carousing
Construction
Cooking
Crafts
Dance
Fast Talk
Foraging(Used for hunting/fishing)
First Aid
Folk Lore
Gambling
Herbal Lore
Larceny
Leadership
Additional Language (Choose language)
Medicine
Music
Prospecting
Riding
Sharp Shooting
Singing
Soldiering
Tanning
Teaching
Weapon (a specific weapon skill such as knife, rifle, or pistol)
Wilderness
Wrangling Lore: Law
Quick Draw
Lore: Religion
Lore: People(Group Name Here)
Lore: Politics

Now the competency ratings.....

Legendary (D4)
This is the highest rung of competency, and it is generally reserved for those characters who are absolutely unique or singularly masterful at what they are doing. It is extremely rare to find a person with any ability at this rung. Skills of this magnitude could be described as unbelievable, grandmaster, superhuman, supernatural, or even godlike.

Reputable (D6)

This level is generally the highest that a "normal" human can achieve. At this rung, one may assume that there are only a small population of people with a similar trait. Einstein might have been on this rung of intellect, or perhaps Bobby Fischer would fit in here with his chess talents. An ability adjective at this rung might be termed as a master, astonishing, remarkable, amazing, stupendous, a prodigy, or unequalled.

Expert (D8)

This rung is where a typical "expert" would fit in. It is not uncommon to find a skill or two at this level for those people who are exceptionally practiced at their chosen profession or area of study. A few descriptive terms which work well at this level are expert, highly skilled, very good, highly accomplished, a natural, and elegant.

Above Average (D10)

This is the level of competence where those "good, but not particularly good" skills fall into. The typical person would have perhaps one skill (generally their profession) which would be at this rung. Abilities of this level could be described as professional, impressive, talented, skilled, proficient, or practiced.

Average (D12)

This rung is the "average" level, and it could be considered the norm against which the other rungs are compared. Generally, a person will have several of these skills, mostly in those mediocre abilities which everyone has a chance to pick up as they go through life. A few adjectives which fit well could be average, competent, fair, not bad, pretty good, decent, mediocre, and commonplace.

Below Average (D20)

A person could expect to be at this rung on any skill they have begun to practice but not quite mastered. The normal character would have a few of these, be they hobbies, or things they did a long time ago, or skills they just can't ever get the hang of. Some good descriptions of this rung could include below average, amateur, beginner, hobbyist, struggling, and unreliable.

Low (D30)

This rung is the bottom of the barrel, and usually it is only used for those abilities which are markedly horrible. Please note that everyone has almost every "skill" imaginable at this level of competency. (Even if you've never driven a car before in your life, that doesn't mean you couldn't try!) Skills here could be described as low, unskilled, incompetent, poor, crappy, nonexistent, or bungling.

Now the point buy system......I have to admit I'm having a little trouble with this but this is what I have.....


Legendary: You cannot begin the game as legendary in skill or trait so NO points can be spent here. This can be earned through play only.

Reputable: Only one such skill or trait may be purchased at this level to begin with. Having a reputation will cost you five points.

Expert: Two skills or traits are available at this level. They will cost you three points.

Above Average: No limit on the amount of skills here but the cost is two points.

Average: Again no limit, and the cost is 1 point.

Below Average: 1/2 point each so please pick two if you are going this route with your character....

Low: No points, this is the d30 level, but if you want to post something you are horrible at for Roleplay reasons it would be appreciated. ;)

Does that point buy system seem reasonable to keep game balance? I'm still working on it....

Question: How many total points do we start out with (from which we can buy Traits and Skills)?  Is there a different point total for buying Traits as opposed to buying Skills?

I was about to ask too.  I tried to do it with 5 points, but that means you could only at most have an expert skill and a couple average skills... which seems just a little strong, but I could see it...

As an alternative... you could just set the number of skills people can have at each level.  Period.  And not bother with points.

So you can have:

For Skills:

1 Reputable
2 Expert
4 Above Average
6 Average
9 Below Average
Unlimited Low (basically any skill you didn't assign an above value to).

As for Traits (there appear to be 9 of them):

1 Reputable
1 Expert
2 Above Average
2 Average
2 Below Average
1 Low

And you could allow "trade ins" (or rather "trade downs" at a 1 for 2 rate)... meaning if you don't want to use your 1 Reputable, instead you can have 2 Experts (so in the case of Skills you would have 0 Reputable but 4 Expert or in the case of Traits you would have 0 Reputable but 2 Expert).  Or if you don't want 2 Expert Skills, you could have 1 Expert and 6 Above Average (or 0 Expert and 4 Above Average Traits).


EDIT: These are just rough suggestions for the assigned starting levels and they can be adjusted to fit better if people want.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Fri 19 July 2013.

I might choose a little less than that.  In many ways, all those points describe me now, as an adult.  But when I was in my mid-twenties in RL, I had maybe an expert and some above averages, but no reputables.  Maybe something based on age and experience?

Any special format you are looking for?

For me the limits you have placed on character stats and skills act as the protective screen we were looking for against abuses. By only being allowed so many super traits or skills. That means a new player could choose a skill and have a chance to be competitive. I think that protects us just like a point system
This message was last edited by the player at 01:46, Sat 20 July 2013.

So... how many points do we have?  And is it for each or separate, skills and traits?

Example

1 Reputable Trait
1 Expert Trait
3 Above Average Traits
Any combo of lower choices for remaining Traits

1 Reputable Skill
2 Expert Skills
4 Above Average Skills
Any combo of lower choices for remaining Skills


I am not threaten by characters with a bunch of averages in skill or traits, It is just leaving the top levels open to allow people an opportunity to excel in thier chosen areas

A sample profile sheet for a character we all know would help all this make sense.

  I still haven't read the Window, and I'm not going to get to it before Monday.
Just a heads up I am going to be away till then, prolly won't have internet access. Monday when I get back I'll get more vested in character details. For now I just wanted to tell everyone again how much I am looking forward to gaming with you's again and meeting new peeps as well.

:)

Me too, Taron! Have fun this weekend!

In reply to Clementine McQueen (msg # 72):

You too! Miss Clementine :)