Forum > Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion
Mary, Mary, quite contrary How does your character grow?
GeekyBugle:
For a long time I've been battling between adding (or not) skills to my games a la AD&D2e
I've even made some reduced skill lists.
But I don't want the characters to grow just because, and "buying" the skill (training) is always something done off screen so why bother?
Well, I think I have come up with a "Skill System" that allows the characters to get better at stuff not on their class but it's always on screen:
Attributes go from 3-18 and never change.
Attribute modifiers go from -3 to +3 and never change... Unless...
To attempt to pick a lock you roll 1d20 against your saving throw + whatever attribute modifier the GM thinks pertinent, if you succeed you did it, after a number of successes you gain one level of training (You start as Untrained):
UNTRAINED
ROOKIE
NOVICE
VERSED
EXPERT
MASTER
LEGEND
Lets say the number is 10 successful attempts.
Every 3 levels of training give you a +1 for your next attempt.
Every failure between levels cancels a succes, because you haven't really learned and it was luck that you did it the last time.
From Rookie onwards every natural 20 counts as two attempts, so if you manage 5 attempts and get a natural 20 in each then you get the next level in training.
What do you guys think?
Edited to add:
The +1 for your next try only applies to that particular task:
Lets say you're trying to pick a lock, well you start getting better at it but your DEX and it's modifier remain the same for anything else related.
Jaeger:
--- Quote from: GeekyBugle on November 30, 2021, 07:46:12 PM ---For a long time I've been battling between adding (or not) skills to my games a la AD&D2e
I've even made some reduced skill lists.
...
--- End quote ---
Another option is to get rid of skill lists entirely: I really like the backgrounds/occupations used as skills like in Barbarians of Lemuria.
My house rule variant that I will be shortly trying out is this:
Kraven the Thief has the following Backgrounds :
Thief: 3
Smuggler: 2
Hunter: 1
Urchin: 2
For proficiencies; I would have them name/label the specific thing that they want to be good at, and you get to roll with advantage when your proficiency applies.
Your former 'skill' list is now the proficiency list.
So Kravens player wants to sneak across the courtyard. Well Kraven has a Thief 3 that would certainly apply. Kraven also has proficiency in 'Silent move' which would certainly apply in this case.
So Kravens player Rolls a d20, + dex bonus + Thief 3, with advantage because of his proficiency.
Kraven is now across the courtyard to a wall. Luckily Kraven also has a proficiency 'Scale Sheer Surface'...
Notice that a characters "backgrounds/occupations" skills are not tied to any given stat.
So if Kraven now wants to open a locked box the GM may give him options: he can pick the Lock rolling with his thief + dex bonus, but that will take a few rounds and he can hear guards coming. Or the GM says you think you can force the lock as well; roll Strength bonus + Thief to get it done quick.
Kraven does not have a "Pick Lock' proficiency, so he does not roll with advantage.
When playing Honor + Intrigue for the first time it took my players a session or so to wrap their heads around the 'backgrounds as skills' concept because they were so broad.
But those sessions convinced me that when I run an D&D/d20 based game in the future, house-ruling in the system I have above is worth a try.
GeekyBugle:
--- Quote from: Jaeger on November 30, 2021, 08:16:24 PM ---
--- Quote from: GeekyBugle on November 30, 2021, 07:46:12 PM ---For a long time I've been battling between adding (or not) skills to my games a la AD&D2e
I've even made some reduced skill lists.
...
--- End quote ---
Another option is to get rid of skill lists entirely: I really like the backgrounds/occupations used as skills like in Barbarians of Lemuria.
My house rule variant that I will be shortly trying out is this:
Kraven the Thief has the following Backgrounds :
Thief: 3
Smuggler: 2
Hunter: 1
Urchin: 2
For proficiencies; I would have them name/label the specific thing that they want to be good at, and you get to roll with advantage when your proficiency applies.
Your former 'skill' list is now the proficiency list.
So Kravens player wants to sneak across the courtyard. Well Kraven has a Thief 3 that would certainly apply. Kraven also has proficiency in 'Silent move' which would certainly apply in this case.
So Kravens player Rolls a d20, + dex bonus + Thief 3, with advantage because of his proficiency.
Kraven is now across the courtyard to a wall. Luckily Kraven also has a proficiency 'Scale Sheer Surface'...
Notice that a characters "backgrounds/occupations" skills are not tied to any given stat.
So if Kraven now wants to open a locked box the GM may give him options: he can pick the Lock rolling with his thief + dex bonus, but that will take a few rounds and he can hear guards coming. Or the GM says you think you can force the lock as well; roll Strength bonus + Thief to get it done quick.
Kraven does not have a "Pick Lock' proficiency, so he does not roll with advantage.
When playing Honor + Intrigue for the first time it took my players a session or so to wrap their heads around the 'backgrounds as skills' concept because they were so broad.
But those sessions convinced me that when I run an D&D/d20 based game in the future, house-ruling in the system I have above is worth a try.
--- End quote ---
Maybe I didn't explain myself, the system is to avoid ANY type of skill lists, not even the BoL backgrounds are needed.
You can attempt anything and doing it enough times means you learn how to do it. Since it is in-game you HAVE to either role play it and roll or just roll depending on the task and GM.
HappyDaze:
--- Quote from: GeekyBugle on November 30, 2021, 08:23:35 PM ---
--- Quote from: Jaeger on November 30, 2021, 08:16:24 PM ---
--- Quote from: GeekyBugle on November 30, 2021, 07:46:12 PM ---For a long time I've been battling between adding (or not) skills to my games a la AD&D2e
I've even made some reduced skill lists.
...
--- End quote ---
Another option is to get rid of skill lists entirely: I really like the backgrounds/occupations used as skills like in Barbarians of Lemuria.
My house rule variant that I will be shortly trying out is this:
Kraven the Thief has the following Backgrounds :
Thief: 3
Smuggler: 2
Hunter: 1
Urchin: 2
For proficiencies; I would have them name/label the specific thing that they want to be good at, and you get to roll with advantage when your proficiency applies.
Your former 'skill' list is now the proficiency list.
So Kravens player wants to sneak across the courtyard. Well Kraven has a Thief 3 that would certainly apply. Kraven also has proficiency in 'Silent move' which would certainly apply in this case.
So Kravens player Rolls a d20, + dex bonus + Thief 3, with advantage because of his proficiency.
Kraven is now across the courtyard to a wall. Luckily Kraven also has a proficiency 'Scale Sheer Surface'...
Notice that a characters "backgrounds/occupations" skills are not tied to any given stat.
So if Kraven now wants to open a locked box the GM may give him options: he can pick the Lock rolling with his thief + dex bonus, but that will take a few rounds and he can hear guards coming. Or the GM says you think you can force the lock as well; roll Strength bonus + Thief to get it done quick.
Kraven does not have a "Pick Lock' proficiency, so he does not roll with advantage.
When playing Honor + Intrigue for the first time it took my players a session or so to wrap their heads around the 'backgrounds as skills' concept because they were so broad.
But those sessions convinced me that when I run an D&D/d20 based game in the future, house-ruling in the system I have above is worth a try.
--- End quote ---
Maybe I didn't explain myself, the system is to avoid ANY type of skill lists, not even the BoL backgrounds are needed.
You can attempt anything and doing it enough times means you learn how to do it. Since it is in-game you HAVE to either role play it and roll or just roll depending on the task and GM.
--- End quote ---
So everyone starts completely untrained in everything? That's going a bit too far into the zero-to-heo line for me. That's much like playing D&D and starting with no proficiencoes (in armor, weapons, skills, or anything) nor spells. Your idea isn't bad, but starting from absolute zero isn't a great idea. Raise the floor a bit so characters have some variety at the start.
GeekyBugle:
--- Quote from: HappyDaze on November 30, 2021, 08:39:27 PM ---
--- Quote from: GeekyBugle on November 30, 2021, 08:23:35 PM ---
--- Quote from: Jaeger on November 30, 2021, 08:16:24 PM ---
--- Quote from: GeekyBugle on November 30, 2021, 07:46:12 PM ---For a long time I've been battling between adding (or not) skills to my games a la AD&D2e
I've even made some reduced skill lists.
...
--- End quote ---
Another option is to get rid of skill lists entirely: I really like the backgrounds/occupations used as skills like in Barbarians of Lemuria.
My house rule variant that I will be shortly trying out is this:
Kraven the Thief has the following Backgrounds :
Thief: 3
Smuggler: 2
Hunter: 1
Urchin: 2
For proficiencies; I would have them name/label the specific thing that they want to be good at, and you get to roll with advantage when your proficiency applies.
Your former 'skill' list is now the proficiency list.
So Kravens player wants to sneak across the courtyard. Well Kraven has a Thief 3 that would certainly apply. Kraven also has proficiency in 'Silent move' which would certainly apply in this case.
So Kravens player Rolls a d20, + dex bonus + Thief 3, with advantage because of his proficiency.
Kraven is now across the courtyard to a wall. Luckily Kraven also has a proficiency 'Scale Sheer Surface'...
Notice that a characters "backgrounds/occupations" skills are not tied to any given stat.
So if Kraven now wants to open a locked box the GM may give him options: he can pick the Lock rolling with his thief + dex bonus, but that will take a few rounds and he can hear guards coming. Or the GM says you think you can force the lock as well; roll Strength bonus + Thief to get it done quick.
Kraven does not have a "Pick Lock' proficiency, so he does not roll with advantage.
When playing Honor + Intrigue for the first time it took my players a session or so to wrap their heads around the 'backgrounds as skills' concept because they were so broad.
But those sessions convinced me that when I run an D&D/d20 based game in the future, house-ruling in the system I have above is worth a try.
--- End quote ---
Maybe I didn't explain myself, the system is to avoid ANY type of skill lists, not even the BoL backgrounds are needed.
You can attempt anything and doing it enough times means you learn how to do it. Since it is in-game you HAVE to either role play it and roll or just roll depending on the task and GM.
--- End quote ---
So everyone starts completely untrained in everything? That's going a bit too far into the zero-to-heo line for me. That's much like playing D&D and starting with no proficiencoes (in armor, weapons, skills, or anything) nor spells. Your idea isn't bad, but starting from absolute zero isn't a great idea. Raise the floor a bit so characters have some variety at the start.
--- End quote ---
Nope, everybody starts trained at the stuff their class does, The warrior his weapons/armor/etc. The Wizard his magic, etc. The Thief his thievery etc.
But your Warrior CAN learn to pick locks and get better at it given enough tries. And your Wizard can become proficient with a crossbow given enoug tries.
What I want to do is to allow your character to grow in-game and not off screen.
So you want to learn to play the lire? Fine, role play it for me and then if you do it well you get to roll and I might even give you a bonus for your roleplaying.
It doesn't matter you're a warrior, it matters that you invest the time in-game to learn it.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page