| From: | Justin Pinnow <vanyel@*******.NET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Skill Levels |
| Date: | Thu, 24 Jul 1997 12:07:45 -0400 |
> Date: Thursday, July 24, 1997 11:41 AM
> Ok I have recently seen a number of people in state in various
> topics that a skill level of 6 is exceptionaly high and makes one an
> expert on the subject/in the activity. This is somewhat backed up by
> the Contacts listed in the books, where most people have skills of 3
> to 4.
> I have one problem with this concept. There is no maximum skill level
> a character can achieve as there is with atributes. Acording to one
> breakdown I have seen posted a skill of 1-2 means you have some
> training/experience in that area, 3-4 you are competant and have
> studied it or practised it, 5-6 you are an expert and have the
> equivilant of a college degree on the subject, 7-8 you are a master
> and this field is your life's study or you have an advanced graduate
> degree in the field, 9 and up you are godlike in this field.
<Snip>
I understand what you mean, but this isn't a problem very often. See, if
you make it so the opponents to the party have variety and attack in
various ways, set various traps, etc., you will find that the players need
to diversify their skills more. Thus, they will be less tempted to up one
skill to butt-high levels. Also, with the new Companion rules for skill
and attribute increases, it becomes harder to justify upping a skill too
many times...and it takes a long time to do so. This is also discouraging
to some charcters...why take several months to up that skill of 7 to an 8,
when (in a couple weeks) you could up that skill froma 2 to a 3? They
sometimes get impatient and don't want to wait that long to see results...
I tend to view a skill of 4-6 as professional. Just out of college, you
tend to have a 4. People who are experienced in their field for a few
years can have a 6 or so. I see a skill of 7-8 as a master in their field.
Above that, I see the being as truly dedicated and gifted, with little
else developed skill wise in their lifetime....
Something else to keep in mind: In order to improve a skill beyond a
certain point, you may as a GM require that the player ALWAYS have an
instructor. You can only self teach yourself so much. You may be able to
learn some things on your own, but an instructor would keep the time down
to something reasonable. You could multiply the base time by like 3 or 4
at a certain point if the PC doesn't have an instructor. This could be the
stopping point for that skill. After all, there are only so many people
out there with Unarmed Combat skills of 9 or 10! Thus, they will be
expensive and in high demand by life long Martial Artists and shadowrunners
alike. Make them expensive and hard to come by, but necessary to improve
skills beyond a certain point without taking years to improve...
Justin :)
