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Message no. 1
From: "S. Keith Graham" <vapspcx@***.GATECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Alternate character generation system
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 1994 12:05:20 -0400
Well, your suggested samurai with V.2 of the system has basically an A
in stats (a bit less), a C+ pick in stats, and should have on average
3M nuYen. (1D6 + Ch/2) = 5.5 * 5 * 100,000. (Also that 1D6 is resource
generation is really obnoxious, as someone with a 2 cha, that puts a 5
into resources might end up with 1.1M, while that summoning adept
could end up with 900,000 with only a priority 1.)

Also, your system puts skills and stats at the same cost, which doesn't
match the current system. You're also giving away those 7 starting values.
At the least, if you allow "over normal racial maxes", charge them 2 or 3
points.

If you want a slightly different generation system then you could
use the existing table, Let people trade down a pick to raise
any other pick by one level. (For example, you could trade your A
pick to a B, and raise your C pick to a B, and get 3 Bs.) No pick
can be lowered below E.

So you could take 3 "Bs", and a D&E (presumably for a non-meta non-mage.)
Alternately, 2 As, 2 Ds, E (rich mage?) etc.

Its more gross than the existing system, as you can get A / A / C
as a starting non-meta samurai, but that seems to be your goal. (And
it keeps the existing balance between skills and stats and money.)

(And I did run a game where all magic was gained through initiation,
even "Use Sorcery", "Conjuring", "Spell Defense", etc. With
that,
I started people at A = 8, B = 6, C = 4, D = 2, E = 0 in magic rating.
(And even having a 4 magic rating was dangerous to the user's health,
so it wasn't a good idea to start with less than a B rating.) But if that's
more in line with your campaign, then add that to the magic column.)

Keith Graham
vapspcx@***.gatech.edu

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