RPG attributes (and AGA)

On the old site, I ran an RP I called A Grand Adventure. It was supposed to add game aspects to an other-wise normal RP story, making it more fun and interesting. I let that fall apart since the old site started having issues, and I regret and apologize for this. Part of the reason I had given up on it was related to all the work I had to put into managing player statistics and ability scores and rolling and... it was a lot of mental work.

So, I have been thinking about it and I have thought about using a system of measuring a pony's ability based almost entirely on Fallout's SPECIAL. For those who don't know, SPECIAL stands for Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck. These seven attributes should represent a character's natural and trained ability. In creating a character, a player would assign points to the seven attributes, where 5 in any given score is average, 1 is close to nothing, and 10 is almost perfect. Players get 40 points to spend in total, each of the attributes can go no higher than 10 and cannot go lower than 1.

SPECIAL should describe how skilled a pony is in those general areas. They are not a true reflection of a pony's personality or individual specialties. Similar to D&D, these would be taken into account when the dice start rolling, to make a character more likely to succeed at overcoming an obstacle that they would find easier because of their abilities. This is pretty much it. They change randomness in a way that is quantifiable and focused in specific areas.

In relating back to A Grand Adventure. If players created their own SPECIAL representation of their character, it would simplify a lot of the game, keeping the randomness in the game, and giving players more control over what defines their character.


What do people think? I feel like there's something missing, but I don't quite know what.

Spoiler: Mane 6 test/examples 

Twilight Sparkle
S . P . E . C . I . A . L
3 . 6 . 6 . 5 . 9 . 5 . 6

Rarity
S . P . E . C . I . A . L
4 . 9 . 4 . 8 . 5 . 4 . 6

Pinkie Pie
S . P . E . C . I . A . L
5 . 5 . 5 . 6 . 5 . 5 . 9

Rainbow Dash
S . P . E . C . I . A . L
7 . 6 . 5 . 4 . 3 . 9 . 6

Fluttershy
S . P . E . C . I . A . L
4 . 7 . 6 . 7 . 6 . 6 . 4

Applejack
S . P . E . C . I . A . L
9 . 4 . 7 . 4 . 4 . 6 . 6

Template
S . P . E . C . I . A . L
5 . 5 . 5 . 5 . 5 . 5 . 5 . 5

Hmmm, perhaps we should tag the other old members in here so they know where they should offer their two cents.

Sounds interesting, but...
Are you saying this would also use dice?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Epona

Sounds interesting, but...
Are you saying this would also use dice?

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Not real dice. Random number generators or something along those lines.

It's supposed to add an element of randomness, while basing it on an individual character's skill, and hopefully making the game fun.

(also: tagging @Fluttershy and @ToxicEquestrian)

even if you don't actually use these it's probably a good thing to figure out to gain more understanding of your character

So this will be operating as you being the "DM" for lack of better word, and you would be doing all the random generating?

I could definitely do my own dice rolling (I also actually own DnD dice sets. Six of them. And dnd character attribute sheets and know somewhat how they are filled.) And can do other attribute work for my own character.

I actually think that the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system works a bit better, in terms of allowing people unfamiliar with DnD to take part. I have to admit that I was extremely confused and overwhelmed by the DnD character sheets for AGA. I feel like S.P.E.C.I.A.L. would be a bit more user-friendly, so to speak.

Keeping the dice-roll mechanic is a definite must, though. As stated above, it'd allow for an element of randomness, and the element of failure, which always makes for good RP events. I approve of this, and would definitely like to see AGA or something similar come to be on this forum.

I miss Ruby Sharpshot. :squee:

I would love to get back into the RP too. Unfortunately I have no way of contacting the other member of the group, EquestrianScholar. He doesn't seem to visit the old site anymore, and it doesn't look like he's signed up here yet. I think we will have to run another recruiting run, open it up again, find another player. But I look forward to getting started again.

Before we can continue with the RP, I think we would have to discuss and decide on a small set of guidelines or rules for rolling. I've been thinking of a few different rolling systems, each have their own pros and cons and I can't decide what would be best... So I'll just list them here and maybe you guys can provide some input..


In this system, you subtract 5 from your luck and add a random number between -2 and +2 (the range could be broadened depending on how based on rolling people want it, but ultimately it means that a luck of 5 makes an average roll of 0). You then add this to your relevant skill * 2 and that is your result (you multiply by 2 to prevent a luck of 10 being as powerful as having a 10 on the relevant skill). This system is good because it makes the numbers clean, and it's not too hard to understand, and it means that the average roll for an average character would be 10.


The other primary system I was considering had you roll a random number between 1 and your luck score, adding your relevant skill to that result (and not multiplying it by 2 this time). This one is a little trickier to work with but I like it's use of luck...


The luck skill really makes things hard, doesn't it? Maybe we should just remove it entirely?

Hmmm, lets of word but I think I get the jist of it. Well, what would the main factor of luck be in the rp? (besides adding it into dice rolls) I can only really think of crits, but I don't really know if those would be that important in a pony adventure rp.

Also will this be a continuation of wherever y'all left off of at RiM, or will it be a re-boot?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stix

I would love to get back into the RP too. Unfortunately I have no way of contacting the other member of the group, EquestrianScholar. He doesn't seem to visit the old site anymore, and it doesn't look like he's signed up here yet. I think we will have to run another recruiting run, open it up again, find another player. But I look forward to getting started again.

Before we can continue with the RP, I think we would have to discuss and decide on a small set of guidelines or rules for rolling. I've been thinking of a few different rolling systems, each have their own pros and cons and I can't decide what would be best... So I'll just list them here and maybe you guys can provide some input..


In this system, you subtract 5 from your luck and add a random number between -2 and +2 (the range could be broadened depending on how based on rolling people want it, but ultimately it means that a luck of 5 makes an average roll of 0). You then add this to your relevant skill * 2 and that is your result (you multiply by 2 to prevent a luck of 10 being as powerful as having a 10 on the relevant skill). This system is good because it makes the numbers clean, and it's not too hard to understand, and it means that the average roll for an average character would be 10.


The other primary system I was considering had you roll a random number between 1 and your luck score, adding your relevant skill to that result (and not multiplying it by 2 this time). This one is a little trickier to work with but I like it's use of luck...


The luck skill really makes things hard, doesn't it? Maybe we should just remove it entirely?

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I actually have EquestrianScholar's deviantart contact(They have me commissioned to draw Mythos.), I can try that,

I also like the luck skill, some characters are obviously luckier than others in fiction and real life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fluttershy

I actually think that the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system works a bit better, in terms of allowing people unfamiliar with DnD to take part. I have to admit that I was extremely confused and overwhelmed by the DnD character sheets for AGA. I feel like S.P.E.C.I.A.L. would be a bit more user-friendly, so to speak.

Keeping the dice-roll mechanic is a definite must, though. As stated above, it'd allow for an element of randomness, and the element of failure, which always makes for good RP events. I approve of this, and would definitely like to see AGA or something similar come to be on this forum.

I miss Ruby Sharpshot. :squee:

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I am certainly for the SPECIAL layout because I would have an easier time wrapping myself around it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stix

In this system, you subtract 5 from your luck and add a random number between -2 and +2 (the range could be broadened depending on how based on rolling people want it, but ultimately it means that a luck of 5 makes an average roll of 0). You then add this to your relevant skill * 2 and that is your result (you multiply by 2 to prevent a luck of 10 being as powerful as having a 10 on the relevant skill). This system is good because it makes the numbers clean, and it's not too hard to understand, and it means that the average roll for an average character would be 10.

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This mechanic really sounds a lot like the one implemented in the board game Arkham Horror... >.> I approve! :thumbsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Epona

Hmmm, lets of word but I think I get the jist of it. Well, what would the main factor of luck be in the rp? (besides adding it into dice rolls) I can only really think of crits, but I don't really know if those would be that important in a pony adventure rp.

Also will this be a continuation of wherever y'all left off of at RiM, or will it be a re-boot?

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I say a continuation. Last time I checked we all just arrived to the first town and were just getting to know each other.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ToxicEquestrian

I actually have EquestrianScholar's deviantart contact(They have me commissioned to draw Mythos.), I can try that,

I also like the luck skill, some characters are obviously luckier than others in fiction and real life.

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Yes to both. Try to get in contact with Scholar and let's keep luck.

Okay, people seem to like the luck skill, so it's worth keeping in there then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Epona

Hmmm, lets of word but I think I get the jist of it. Well, what would the main factor of luck be in the rp? (besides adding it into dice rolls) I can only really think of crits, but I don't really know if those would be that important in a pony adventure rp.

Also will this be a continuation of wherever y'all left off of at RiM, or will it be a re-boot?

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I would like to continue from where we left off. Though there still is a little room for extra characters if anyone wants to join.

I certainly look forward to AGA's revival. It was a great RP to be a part of, and I miss playing as Ruby. :squee:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stix

I would love to get back into the RP too. Unfortunately I have no way of contacting the other member of the group, EquestrianScholar. He doesn't seem to visit the old site anymore, and it doesn't look like he's signed up here yet. I think we will have to run another recruiting run, open it up again, find another player. But I look forward to getting started again.

Before we can continue with the RP, I think we would have to discuss and decide on a small set of guidelines or rules for rolling. I've been thinking of a few different rolling systems, each have their own pros and cons and I can't decide what would be best... So I'll just list them here and maybe you guys can provide some input..


In this system, you subtract 5 from your luck and add a random number between -2 and +2 (the range could be broadened depending on how based on rolling people want it, but ultimately it means that a luck of 5 makes an average roll of 0). You then add this to your relevant skill * 2 and that is your result (you multiply by 2 to prevent a luck of 10 being as powerful as having a 10 on the relevant skill). This system is good because it makes the numbers clean, and it's not too hard to understand, and it means that the average roll for an average character would be 10.


The other primary system I was considering had you roll a random number between 1 and your luck score, adding your relevant skill to that result (and not multiplying it by 2 this time). This one is a little trickier to work with but I like it's use of luck...


The luck skill really makes things hard, doesn't it? Maybe we should just remove it entirely?

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Hey Stix, I can set you up a spreadsheet to calculate any random number generation you need for any situation you need. That way you don't have to keep rolling dice, just one simple button press should do the trick. :shrug: Had to do something like that for school and work and my couple shots at playing D&D, so I can do it here, if you like?