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Any of these strike anyone as more or less readable? Preferable to you for any other reason?

I like 3x because it is more like universal mathematic notation.
But "three times your weight" would be more formal, and thus, better.
So my heart (and vote) is with 3x, but my mind is with "three times".

Anything with the digit is best IMO. The 3 jumps out when I skim.

Edit: Also, if you use the x, the proper mathematical notation jumps out even more: 3×

None of the above. I would express it as follows...

"You can lift up to your Strength score x 3 [unit of weight here]."

There does need to be some sort of unit of weight in there.

Quote from: yosemitemike on February 01, 2024, 11:50:12 AM
There does need to be some sort of unit of weight in there.

My assumption is that strength score would give a clue, or every item has a weight class value that would add towards the weight limit. Whatever it is, i assumed the context will explain but wen didn't need that info right now, since his question is about wording.

Whether to include a unit of measure in the sentence is also about wording.

Max Lift =Str (3) [units of weight]

I have issues with the common use of the term You in RPG writing these days. To me You means the reader, not the character. Also if it did apply to the character it also should apply to NPC so you is imprecise. The usage does avoid some odd sentences at times so I'm not super-strong in my opinion but it does come off as odd to me.

Quote from: Ruprecht on February 01, 2024, 01:28:07 PM
I have issues with the common use of the term You in RPG writing these days. To me You means the reader, not the character. Also if it did apply to the character it also should apply to NPC so you is imprecise. The usage does avoid some odd sentences at times so I'm not super-strong in my opinion but it does come off as odd to me.

I can see YOU to mean the character when it's a programmed adventure.

Quote from: Ruprecht on February 01, 2024, 01:28:07 PM
I have issues with the common use of the term You in RPG writing these days. To me You means the reader, not the character. Also if it did apply to the character it also should apply to NPC so you is imprecise. The usage does avoid some odd sentences at times so I'm not super-strong in my opinion but it does come off as odd to me.

I find that using the 2nd person makes it much easier to present clear and concise rules. The decision to speak to the reader as if they were both player and character is intentional, and designed to create immersion. The key here is that the entire book is written with that in mind, to prevent confusion -- the rule above is specifically player-facing, while the Judge's material is 3rd person. The players don't need to care that these rules apply to anyone else besides themselves.

So far, my readers love it, but yeah, it's not to everyone's taste for sure.

Quote from: yosemitemike on February 01, 2024, 11:50:12 AM
There does need to be some sort of unit of weight in there.

I can understand this perception, given the lack of context -- and the example is lazily inexact, mea culpa. The real example is "You can lift up to 3x your Load Limit", where "Load Limit" already implies a unit ("Load" is the unit).

Quote from: Cathode Ray on February 01, 2024, 09:36:05 AM
I like 3x because it is more like universal mathematic notation.
But "three times your weight" would be more formal, and thus, better.
So my heart (and vote) is with 3x, but my mind is with "three times".

Man, tough choice .. cue Hemispheres!

Quote from: rytrasmi on February 01, 2024, 09:51:53 AM
Anything with the digit is best IMO. The 3 jumps out when I skim.

Edit: Also, if you use the x, the proper mathematical notation jumps out even more: 3×

Thank you!

u cn lyft 3 tms yr strngf n £

Quote from: Grognard GM on February 01, 2024, 06:27:21 PM
u cn lyft 3 tms yr strngf n £

I knew GenZ would chime in eventually!

"Three" is correct grammar, but "3" is easier to find when you're looking through the rules for it.  I voted for the latter.

Quote from: Mishihari on February 01, 2024, 08:06:11 PM
"Three" is correct grammar, but "3" is easier to find when you're looking through the rules for it.  I voted for the latter.

Same vote, same reason.  Technical writing should be willing to violate the normal rules of grammar when it makes the material easier to digest for its main purpose.  Same as ignoring the rules for period placement in a quote when writing some computer references.

I'd say: "Your strength, multiplied by three, is your maximum lifting weight" just because 'multiplied' is a bit more concise than times. That said, I think 3x works, especially if you put in in a quick reference section.

"3 times" is the one that is incorrect in formal grammar. "Three times" is accepted, and "3x" could be taken as quoting a formula. That said, formally correct is not always the way to go, especially in technical matters. I've written legal affadavits and game books that have departed from formal grammar, in both cases, for clarity. What's important in a game book is that the same presentation is clear and always means the same thing.

One reason I might not go with "3 times" is that if ever start a sentence with one of those expression, you'll have to write "Three times," anyway.

A character can lift STR x3 units.

If going with the mathematical formula wording, please, don't use a simple letter "x". Use the actual multiplication sign "×".

Quote from: zer0th on February 02, 2024, 09:48:54 PM
If going with the mathematical formula wording, please, don't use a simple letter "x". Use the actual multiplication sign "×".

Good tip, I didn't realize this was a thing.

Quote from: Zalman on February 05, 2024, 04:54:41 AM

Quote from: zer0th on February 02, 2024, 09:48:54 PM
If going with the mathematical formula wording, please, don't use a simple letter "x". Use the actual multiplication sign "×".

Good tip, I didn't realize this was a thing.

If it doesn't imply using Latex it's a good advice.

If you HAVE TO use latex then just make the letter X smaller and have it float around the vertical center of the line. This way you just need to copy it to use elsewhere.