Choosing a single attribute

[kafka47]

I find when I generate a character, no matter what the dice rolls manifest themselves. One characteristic always comes through in play...I guess because I am not a method actor...which is Intelligence.

What Characteristic do you play most often from the character's UPP or Skill...as I have also encountered quite a few MacGyver (Jack-of-all Trades) around the gaming table in my day.

 

[Supplement Four]

In my (CT) game, I use all them often.

I don't tie a skill to a single attribute. Instead, I pick an appropriate stat to govern a skill check.

For example, DEX governs AutoPistol most of the time. But, if the character were at an open market bazaar on some low-law world, looking at a table of AutoPistols to purchase, I'd use AutoPistol governed by EDU fo the character to pick quality weapons from the trash.

Let's say the particular weapon the player purchased had a well concealed, tiny, secret compartment in the handle. I'd have the character throw an AutoPistol task governed by INT to find it as he cleaned his new pistol. Or, I might have the character throw AutoPistol governed by SOC to recognize that that particular pistol is used exclusively by the local lord's elite guards. Etc.

DEX - Used for firing weapons in Fire Combat.

STR - Used for HTH or Melee weapons in Brawling Combat.

END - Used to determine how many actions a character is allowed every round.

INT - Used in determining initiative and any time the character needs to figure a puzzle type problem...or even if the character notices something that he might not (a perception roll). Also used for "determination" type rolls.

EDU - Used whenever a character's learned knowledge is important--what he knows about a particular subject. EDU is a measure of how well the character can apply his learned knowledge (not correspondent to a particular level of education in the manner of SOC and the character's actual social standing). No skill can be higher than a character's EDU. And, EDU is used for tasks concerning skill improvement.

SOC - Used for all sorts of inter-personal tasks--even NPC reaction throws. Used in character generation for checks. Unlike EDU, SOC is a measure of the level of the character's social standing--each level of SOC corresponds with a level of social standing (whereas a character with high EDU may not have finished high school but is self-taught and has the ability to apply his learned knowledge well).

 

[aramis]

Pretty much the same as WJP, save that I add charisma to the mix. Soc I use before the talking starts, or when throwing one's social weight around. I also use apparent soc for reaction modifiers.

Cha I use for situations of extended interaction.

 

[kafka47]

Oh, yes, perhaps, I was not making my self clear, the chargen does all of its wonderful work in spitting out a character. For a while, you play all skills or characteristics, as you will continue to play them throughout but one characteristic/skill becomes dominant over what the chargen has decided. This is tied more to your psychology and role playing character type. Even if you generate another character, it comes through again.

 

[Plankowner]

As an engineer, I prefer to play Intelligence more than the other traits. I would much rather play a Scout or Naval character rather than a Jarhead or a Groundpounder. I also like the SPACE aspect of the game rather than exploring strange new worlds. I want to explore strange new solar systems...

 

[Fritz_Brown]

I admit we always tended to underplay the INT stat, too. That probably comes from the fact that most things for which you will use the INT stat will get resolved before the task check because the player will subsitute his own INT for his character's - and will roleplay it out. Usually a smart guy plays a smart character. We had one smart guy who managed to play a "dumb" character, though - modeled after Fezig from The Princess Bride. He played it outstandingly well. But, you know, we still very seldom did INT checks for the guy!

He role-played it out without the need for a roll most all the time!

 

[Maladominus]

Originally posted by Fritz88:
I admit we always tended to underplay the INT stat, too. That probably comes from the fact that most things for which you will use the INT stat will get resolved before the task check because the player will subsitute his own INT for his character's - and will roleplay it out. Usually a smart guy plays a smart character.

You are correct. Even if the character had an INT score of 5, the player that plays that character can act very intelligently and make decisions that are stunningly brilliant, often surprising the GM.

 

[Mickazoid]

I like EDU. In a pretty rich, combat-neutral campaign it made a big difference to have a lot of available base skills... so that after the first few adventures the player could expect some real strong task rolls.

 

[JAFARR]

I always found it hard to play a character of much lower INT than my own, because that's what I tend to rely on in RL.

I do remember refereeing a Twilight 2000 game where the PC had something like a PHD equalivalent and a 3 INT. I made him re-roll the INT and he got a high average score that time. Then I assigned him a head wound that caused the appearant low INT. One time he was sent to scout out a village because he was the only one who spoke the language well. I told him that there had been some tanks there 2 weeks ago but that they had left. When he reported his findings to the group, he closed his report with ".. Oh yes, they got tanks.", as if it was an afterthought. I nearly choked trying to keep from laughing and giving away that he hadn't given a real accurate report.