[CF-Devel] New Skill System (Draft)

[Yann Chachkoff]

>
     
     What follows is what we have been able to agree on minus the
     
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     implementation details. The basic idea is that a character will start
     
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     with no skills (barring a few awarded by race) and buy them w/ an as yet
     
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     undetermined number of 'skill points' during character creation (or pick
     
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     a pre-designed class). As characters progress in level, they will be
     
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     awarded with additional skill points and may buy new skills or advance
     
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     already known skills. A rough estimate here is 1 skill point per level
     
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     attained.
     
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     <snip> 
I don't understand why we should start playing with a point-buying system. It 
sounds more like a walk in the classical AD&D solution than a real 
improvement. It makes the system more complex without having a significant 
impact on the results.

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     Non-improvable (bought at minimum level)
     
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     --
     
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     mountaineer - base cost 2
     
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     meditation - base cost 15
     
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     jumping - base cost 3
     
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     sense magic - base cost 2 /* these give small experience, but do not improve 
     
     */
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     sense curse - base cost 2
     
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     Cannot see why sense magic and sense curse couldn't be improved.

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     base cost 1 (non combat - single purpose)
     
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     --
     
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     hiding
     
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     literacy
     
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     disarm traps
     
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     lockpicking (start at level 2, skill object gives level 1)
     
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     inscription ""              ""                        ""
     
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     singing
     
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     oratory
     
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     find traps
     
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>
     
     base cost 1
     
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     --
     
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     use magic item (will award experience but will not scale)
     
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     Cannot see why using a magical item should reward you any experience at all. 
After all, it is the object that makes the job, not you.

>
     
     base cost 2 (non-combat identification and item creation)
     
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     --
     
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     bowyer
     
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     woodsman
     
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     smithery
     
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     jeweler
     
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     alchemy
     
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     thaumaturgy
     
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     base cost 1 (sissy fighting)
     
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     --
     
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     throwing
     
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     punching
     
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     base cost 2 (weak physical combat)
     
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     --
     
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     karate
     
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     flame touch	/* fireborn start w/ this.. dont let anyone else have it */
     
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     missile weapons
     
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     I find it rather strange that missile weapons is classified under 'weak 
physical combat'.

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     base cost 3 (weaker melee weapons)
     
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     --
     
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     bludgeoning (hammers, maces, quarterstaffs)
     
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     piercing (spears, polearms, daggers(?))
     
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     base cost 4 (most powerful artifacts / common weapons)
     
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     --
     
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     slashing (swords, axes, katanas)
     
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     I've difficulties to understand why slashing weapons skills would cost more 
than bludgeoning and piercing weapons (Clearly, spear is a weapon more 
difficult to master than a sword or an axe). Cannot understand why a bow 
should be considered an 'easier' weapon - I'd tend to say it is a more 
difficult one.

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     Racial Improvements
     
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     -------------------
     
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     Increased max stat - 2 for 1
     
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     Increased resistance - 4 points for +10%, 10 points for +30%
     
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     	(as above regarding limited number of attack types. Only one level of
     
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     	raised resistance may be chosen per attack type)
     
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     When are those supposed to apply ? Only once (when creating the character) or 
each time you gain some improvement points ? 
I have no problem if they apply only at the start. I do have one if they can 
be applied later (How are you supposed to 'racially improve' yourself ?)
 
This sounds very complex and much more AD&D-ish than the current system. And 
if it's to make another AD&D rules variation, there are better alternatives 
available. I think we should try to improve the system we currently have 
instead of re-inventing the wheel.


Y. Chachkoff
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