Attribute Auctions

[RPGPundit]

I see the auction as a good way of simulating the fact that the characters have grown together, knowing each other : they know their respective abilities in the same way that Corwin knows he is almost as skilled as Eric in swordsmanship, that Gerard is known for his force...

Yes, exactly.  That's very much been how its worked out in my current campaign.

RPGPundit

[boulet]

Using cards as an alternate character creation tool is very interesting. I don't think it would work very well by trying to blend it with the usual 100 points creation system though. For instance the angle so far was : the players choose their powers and then use the remaining resource to bid for attributes. It's very different from the "normal" creation pattern where the auction happens first and then players buy powers/items/shadow with what's left. I love this tension of the original game design where auction frenzy could set someone to have to choose between attribute ranks and powers.

I think the character creation system would benefit of a more radical overhaul using cards. For instance I imagine a system where every players starts with say a dozen cards each. Each card color is assigned to an attribute (Spades for Warfare, Hearts for for Strentgh etc..). Players bid on one attribute by displaying as many cards of the adequate color face up on the table. So for instance if player A has used three spades for Warfare and later player B uses four spades then player B is first rank and player A is second rank. And in parallel I would assign each power a cost : Sorcery is worth a pair, Shape Shifting and Trump Artistry are worth three of a kind, Pattern Imprint is worth four of a kind... Each player would have the choice during their turn to bid on one Attribute, buy a power or discard a card and draw a new one (either one that's face up in the discard pile or a new one from the stack). When every players has bought all they could, the remaining "stranded" cards could be the currency to buy Shadows, items of Power or followers.

The thing I like very much with this line of thoughts is the simultaneity of the whole process : "shit ! player A has bought first rank on Warfare, but if I want to beat him to it I would have to loose this three of a kind I was keeping for Shape Shifting" It boosts the tactical aspect of the character creation mini game. The problem is that we loose all benefit of the original design game balance : the subtle differences of costs between the different powers for instance.

[gabriel_ss4u]

I just re-read this post, wow...
If Otha isn't intentionally being an ass... well, we all know he is.
LOL
JK
I 'THINK' that the compliment was paid to the originator of the card draw idea, not you Otha, so the thanks... that was funny.
(correct me if I'm wrong)

I feel if Otha played in a campaign with some of us, perhaps he'd have a different idea of what Amber could be like, or not.
I understand that you have played for a while, but I still feel that you miss the feel of the game, rather than trying to figure out how to get over on a GM or scenario, perhaps you should try to roleplay a bit more, enjoy it a bit more.
or not.

Whatever works, WORKS.
Taylor it for your campaign, and just be thankful you have a novel series & game-book to start with.

[Croaker]

Well, same game, different experiences, different players.

Of he played in games where the powers were the key to success, of course biding would appear stupid and dangerous. This doesn't make him an ass, nor any wronger than any of us. He just talked about his game experience, just as all of us are. In games like these, we'd be fools to bid, too.
In fact, it feels to me almost like he played a Merlin Series, whereas most people here played corwin series.

Note also that, IIRC, his argument about not biding, buying up ranks ladder is one given by eric wujcik himself for the advantages of this tactic

[gabriel_ss4u]

I haer ya croakin' Croaker;
I'm just being silly as I haven't posted in almost 1/2 a yr.
Missed the fun and Otha's comments usually get me goin' but let me state that I do have respect for everyone on here... that's why I put the "JK"

I usually allow my players to advance in XP in different ways according to how the campaign is based.
sometimes by rung (with exact points), sometimes by points (creating new rungs as they go), but they may loose track of placement in the ladder if they are not observant enough.