achtung, baby: "attribute", in the context of this post, is not meant to refer
only to physical/mental attributes of a PC. It can refer to a skill, for
example.
Note that i'm not 100% a fan of any one skill system, and can't argue strongly
in favor of either attribute-based or non-attribute-based systems. i'm not
writing this just to rile up one the side of the fence.
Here's are some arguments of using a skill-linked-to-CA system:
Each skill which has a prerequisite can have the prereq skill as it's CA. For
example, we have the following spell list:
Raise Dead: CA (prereq): Wake Sleeping
The PC has Wake Sleeping at Good level.
The PC has the skill Raise Dead at Fair. His effective skill is Wake Sleeping
+ Raise Dead.
The long-term effect of this, when using long chains of prerequisites, that it
gets easier to learn more complex skills/spells. For example, we have learned
the following spells:
A at Great
B (prereq=A) at Good
C (prereq=B) at Fair
When casting A, the skill roll is against Great. When casting C, which is
arguably a "specialized effect" of A, we roll take into account the levels of
B and A, and thus roll at:
(C + (B + A)) == (0 + (1 + 2)) == Superb
Some people may argue that it should look like this:
(C + B) == (0 + 1) == Good
[For multi-CA skills, use the lowest of the CAs, or the average if you
prefer.]
This is arguably realistic, as it allows people to build more complex skills
off of one another. As a real-life example, i was able to learn the PHP
programming language in about 2 days, at a Fair competency level, because PHP
is "CA'd" off of other languages like Java, C++ and Perl, all of which i
already knew. i was able to take those prerequisites, add a small number of
skill points, and learn a new sub-skill. A complete beginner, in end effect,
would have had to spend more skill points to get to the same competency
level.
CAs also make a usable base for mixing broad skill groups and specific skills
into a campaign. To take the Gramarye as an example: a mage learns skill in a
College. Individual spells can then be learned relative to that College's
level. The mage will get better in his specific spells as his college levels
improve, but improvement in one spell will not at all affect his other spells
(unless they are CA'd off of that spell).
In our campaign, colleges/realms are skill groups, costing 3x normal, max
level of Good. Optionally, specific spells can be learned if the caster feels
limited by the max of Good (though we're still searching for "the right"
skill system). This gives mages a reason to concentrate in a few colleges,
instead of being do-everything demi-gods. Rather than prerequisites, we give
a difficulty level break on spells learned within Colleges that a mage has
skill in. We also grant a college skill for free when a mage learns 4-5
different spells deemed to be within college. (A mage who can melt metal,
blow up his enemies, call down lightning bolts, create glowing balls of light
and can channel mana between people has probably picked up the basics of the
Energy college.)
For simplicity we don't use a prerequisite spell system, but here's an example
of how one can be created using the notion of Controlling Attribute:
Fred the Mage has:
College Energy (skill group), at Fair
Ignite Fire (CA College: Energy) at Good
Fireball (CA Ignite Fire) at Fair
Lightning (CA Energy) at Good
Now when Energy goes up to Good, Lightning, Ignite Fire and Fireball will also
go up, because those are CA'd (directly or indirectly) off of Energy. When
Fireball goes up, Energy and Ignite Fire are left untouched, since they are
not CA'd off of Fireball.
The same approach could be applied to modern skills. For example:
Basic Math --> Algebra --> Calculus
Having a strong background in other mathmatics will make complex maths simpler
to learn. That is, if you have Algebra Good and Calculus Fair, your effective
Calculus skill is Good. On the other hand, i (with no Algebra skill) must pay
the points to get Calculus at Good before i can be as good in it as you.
(please note: i'm a math idiot, and honestly have no idea what the
relationship is between algebra and calculus. If i'm way off here, please
excuse my ignorance.)
----- stephan@wanderinghorse.net
http://qub.sourceforge.net - http://radioaqtiph.sourceforge.net
http://www.countermoves.net - http://stephan.rootonfire.org
"Attention is narrowed perception." -- Alan W. Watts
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