Hi. I'm writing an RPG for fun, and I want to include in the design a stat which represents a character's 'importance' to the plot. For example, a a minor NPC would have a much lower level of this stat than a sidekick, who'd have a lower level than a PC. The stat would determine the size of the dicepool which characters use to power their abilities and skills, and it would also determine hit points.

The stat can also be adjusted from session to session. To use an example from television, an episode which focusses on particular PC would see that character's 'importance stat' raised to the level of a 'lead role', while an episode in which that same PC was a 'guest star' or secondary player would give the character a correspindingly lower 'importance'.

I thought about just calling this statistic 'Importance', but that seems kinda bland to me. Anybody have any other suggestions? Thanks for any and all replies.

Signature.
Threat Value.
Stature.

Significance?
Weight?
Consequence?

'Presence'?

Well, shit.

My new problem is that I like all of these suggestions.

"Spotlight?"

My vote would go to Significance, which I think intuitively captures the point of the stat.

Failing that, Consequence isn't bad, but Significance is better.

Mojo?

Frequency of Focus?

 On a DVD commentary I heard a scritpwriter talk about a recurring character that way.

- E.W.C.

Sex Appeal?

Star Value?

Studliness?

Teh Hawt?

Level?

Quote from: BalbinusMy vote would go to Significance, which I think intuitively captures the point of the stat.

Failing that, Consequence isn't bad, but Significance is better.

I think 'Consequence' is counter-intuitive, but 'Significance' sounds grand.

Who wouldn't want their character to have a high SIG?

- Q

Quote from: KrakaJakLevel?

    I think that one's taken.

Quote from: laffingboy   I think that one's taken.

It may not be unique, but it's pretty much what it translates into in level based games. The characters importace and power over the environment is is usually governed by his level.

It's intuitive and people already understand it.

However, that's just going off the vague description you gave before. I would also suggest that the their should be no stat (at least for PC's). They should all always be considered important to the plotline.

However, some stat names with a bit more pretense.

"Destiny"
"Edge"
"Screen"

Maybe a bit more info, as in how the stat actually works and whatnot?

Quote from: KrakaJakIt's intuitive and people already understand it.

Yeah, that's the problem. People already have an idea of 'level' as something that starts out low and improves with experience. I'm looking for something that describes a more variable condition, a character's 'screen presence', as it were.