| From: | TopCat <topcat@***.NET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: [SR3] Character Generation |
| Date: | Tue, 8 Jul 1997 02:45:33 -0500 |
>TopCat once dared to write,
>>I don't think we'll find ourselves in a "fight" here, this subject isn't
>>really given to those sorts of reactions. There will simply be the
"whys"
>>and "hows" of each opinion. I highly prefer the point-based system for
the
>>reasons I stated earlier and merely wonder why your preferences lie where
>>they do.
>"Suave, you're so fucking suave!"
"Rico... Suave..." heh
[countless snippings]
Anyway, your point is (correct me if I'm wrong) that it's easier to
powergame the point-based system than it is to powergame the priority-based
system and that you can better visualize the character when you place
priorities than you can when you don't have that frame to work from. Right?
Have you personally tried or looked at the point system? I've personally
found it harder to powergame than the priority system and that's saying
something. If there were a Ph.D. awarded for number-crunching point-based
game systems, I'd have received mine before I got out of 7th grade...
Here's the point-based system table (forgive me FASA if I am about to sin,
but I wholeheartedly acknowledge FASA's rights to this material so, like,
don't sue me... please?).
[pg. 20, Shadowrun Companion]
Characters start with 100 character building points (CPBs) or whatever the
GM wants 'em to have...
2 CPBs per Attribute point (GM sets rating limits)
1 CPB per Skill point (GM sets rating limits)
10 CPBs to be a metahuman
15 CPBs to be a magical adept (30 force points)
20 CPBs to be a magician (30 force points)
1 CPB per 2 extra force points (GM sets rating limits)
-5 CPBs for 0 starting nuyen
0 CPBs for 500 starting nuyen
5 CPBs for 5,000 starting nuyen
10 CPBs for 90,000 starting nuyen
15 CPBs for 200,000 starting nuyen
20 CPBs for 400,000 starting nuyen
25 CPBs for 650,000 starting nuyen
30 CPBs for 1,000,000 starting nuyen
Now, in looking at this and in working with it, one comes to find that the
quote from pg. 20 of the Shadowrun Companion is indeed true...
"...this results in characters that are always less powerful at creation
than identical characters created using the priorities system..."
They go into great deal on the subject of the point-based system and it
comes out a winner all around in topics from game balance to character
variety to player control over their character. I could understand
tentative or even disdainful opinions of a point-based system if one hadn't
ever seen or used this one, but it works out really well.
*****
Just FYI, The best powergaming system offered is the sum-to-ten system, it's
pretty brutal in the hands of a trained number-cruncher but necessary if you
use the priority system and the "more metahumans" rule...
Human
No magic
1,000,000 nuyen
24 points of skills
30 points of attributes
Wow.
*****
So there's my attempt to convert the priority-based pagans of the SR world
(heh) to the priority-based system. If you want to read some really good
information on it and see examples of it at work, then buy or borrow the
Shadowrun Companion and check out the Character Creation Options Section.
It's worth the look and the money. IMHO, it's the best book that ever came
out for SR.
--
Bob Ooton
topcat@***.net
