Quote from: Caesar SlaadPerhaps I'm repeating myself, but to me, the necessity additional attribute/TN comparisons don't seem too "elegant" to me.

I understand where you're coming from.  Paul's system didn't slow down our play at all in practice (as a matter of fact everyone marvelled at how easy it was compared to just about every other game we'd played).  I guess I like having a difficulty indicator in there somewhere.

Why not use something akin to combat, then?  2d6 + skill, try to roll 8+.  Season to taste with a difficulty modifier if necessary.  If you need to use stat modifiers, give them hard modifiers (maybe +1 for 8-10, +2 for 11-12; -1 for 4-6, -2 for 2-3) and mark those on the character sheet so you don't have to re-figure every time.

OK, this is what I'm thinking of:

Skill roll is attr. mod. + skill + 2d6, beat an 8+.  All the standard DMs and such apply when necessary.

Attribute mods would be as follows:

2-3: -2
4-5: -1
6-7: 0
8-9: +1
10-11: +2
12: +3

Quote from: beeberi liked seeing the simple mock-ups of the covers in the signs & portents article.  

Could you post images of those mock-ups in this thread here ?

- Ed C.

Quote from: J ArcaneOK, this is what I'm thinking of:

Skill roll is attr. mod. + skill + 2d6, beat an 8+.  All the standard DMs and such apply when necessary.

Attribute mods would be as follows:

2-3: -2
4-5: -1
6-7: 0
8-9: +1
10-11: +2
12: +3

It's like we posted at the same time, only 5 hours apart...!  

Quote from: KenHRIt's like we posted at the same time, only 5 hours apart...!  

Except I'm not using variable TNs.  And our modifiers are different.  And mine has a neat table.  

Really, while I'm generally comfortable with the fiatastic nature of the CT skill system, I think the multi-vector difficulty elements do not serve well in an attempt at a more unified system (mind, it does work for D&D I guess), but generally, if the goal is to simplify and streamline, then picking one or the other seems like a better idea to me.

And this way, we get to keep that big bold "8+" in the first page of the Combat chapter.  

Quote from: KoltarCould you post images of those mock-ups in this thread here ?

- Ed C.

i'll try.  no registration required to get to it, tho  the article is here:

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/pdf/sp48rpg.pdf

mock-ups on pg. 13, IIRC.

Quote from: J ArcaneExcept I'm not using variable TNs.  And our modifiers are different.  And mine has a neat table.  

Really, while I'm generally comfortable with the fiatastic nature of the CT skill system, I think the multi-vector difficulty elements do not serve well in an attempt at a more unified system (mind, it does work for D&D I guess), but generally, if the goal is to simplify and streamline, then picking one or the other seems like a better idea to me.

And this way, we get to keep that big bold "8+" in the first page of the Combat chapter.  

You didn't see my follow-up post.

But you did have the nice table.

btw, I like your cooking blog.

nope, sorry, no can do.  my computer-0 doesn't cover it.  if i can't img bracket & copy image location, i'm stumped.

Quote from: KenHRYou didn't see my follow-up post.

But you did have the nice table.

btw, I like your cooking blog.

You're right, I did miss it.  

And thanks.  I need to get a camera of my own so I can start posting pictures of this stuff, though my presentation skills are pretty poor.

Quote from: beebernope, sorry, no can do.  my computer-0 doesn't cover it.  if i can't img bracket & copy image location, i'm stumped.

That'll be because PDF files aren't web pages. You need to hit "print screen", paste the screenshot into Paint or something, and edit from there.

Here's the mocked-up covers:

Quote from: J ArcaneSkill roll is attr. mod. + skill + 2d6, beat an 8+.  All the standard DMs and such apply when necessary.

Attribute mods would be as follows:

2-3: -2
4-5: -1
6-7: 0
8-9: +1
10-11: +2
12: +3

Taking a look at the last page of LBB Book 1: Characters and Combat, I realise that this has been done already, after a fashion, for combat.  There are the Required Strength and Required Dexterity DMs (negative, if you don't have it, and ranging from -1 to -3) and the Advantageous Strength and Dexterity DMs (positive, and either +1 or +2).  So, there's a precendent for this sort of table dating back to the earliest edition of the game.

One thing I noticed about your table is that you don't allow a provision for characteristics in excess of 12, or less than 1 for that matter.  The full range for human stats is from 1 to 15, though the average remains 7.  Taking this into account, and trying to fit a bit of a curve in, I might adjust your table to:

   1-3: -3
4-5: -2
5-6: -1
7-8: 0
9-10: +1
11-12: +2
13-14: +3
15: +4

According to this chart, the average person simply doesn't derive much of an advantage for deviating from a score of 7 by a point or two.  But move off the hump of the curve and the mods begin to take real effect.  Most importantly, only extreme characteristic scores are going to trump skills.

How does that grab you?

!i!

I was only really thinking about the basic attribute rolls I guess.

I dunno.  I don't really care for there being too much on the penalty side of things, so I like the zero center being at 6-7, as it gives a smaller low end, and a bigger high end.  I'd probably just add on to the beginning and end, to allow for the increased stat range.

so it would look like this I think:  

1:  -3
2-3: -2
4-5: -1
6-7: 0
8-9: +1
10-11: +2
12-13: +3
14-15: +4

We're closer on this issue that it may appear.  Here's the first iteration of the table that I posted before making some edits:

   1-2: -3
3-4: -2
5: -1
6-8: 0
9: +1
10-11: +2
12-13: +3
14-15: +4

As far as I'm concerned, one point above or below dead-center average should render no effect, and one point beyond that in either direction should render little effect.  The reason that I changed the table above to what I had posted earlier was to reflect the apparent trend in the original Traveller rules to penalise below average scores more readily than to award above average scores.  So I sort of shifted the curve a little toward 8 as an average.  It also allowed a score of 15 to be truly differentiated from 14.

!i!

if RTT ends up blowing chunks, i'll likely steal you guys' stat table & stuff -- if i can convince my group to ditch MT :keke:

I just KNOW I'm going to regret this question but: Why the FUCK is it named "riki-tiki" Traveller?

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