Revising the expanded CharGen System
- Thread starter Golan2072
- Start date
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I've been thinking about this for my game. There are a few skills available in Books 4+ that weren't available in basic chargen.
What I'm thinking is this--
Setting up a "Special Duty" table. When a basic chargen character succeeds on the Special Duty roll (imported from MT), it opens up a new table for him.
He'll have the Personal Development, Service Skills, Education, and Advanced Education tables. Then, if he succeeds on the Special Duty roll, there will be a new table of skills called (surprise) the Special Duty table.
On this table, we can list things like the other skills from Book 4+ (like Battle Dress, or something like Communications from Book 5), and the GM could list some skills that he thinks a character should have access to but aren't listed in the basic chargen tables (this would be good for custom/unique skills, GM created, in a campaign ... or skills you don't see that often in CT, like Swimming.)
I'm thinking that the GM can play around with this table rather than have a specific table to use each an every time (specific to each career).
For example, an Army character stationed at Patinir (maybe part of the garrison guarding the Ancient site there) should have access to Vacc Suit skill since Patinir is an asteroid belt.
Creating an Army character from Patinir would be a great excuse for the GM to list Vacc Suit (maybe more than once) on the Special Duty table.
Z-G Environment, Z-G Weapons, Snub pistol, Accelerator rifle would all be good choices for this character's Special Duty table.
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I've been thinking about this for my game. There are a few skills available in Books 4+ that weren't available in basic chargen.
What I'm thinking is this--
Setting up a "Special Duty" table. When a basic chargen character succeeds on the Special Duty roll (imported from MT), it opens up a new table for him.
He'll have the Personal Development, Service Skills, Education, and Advanced Education tables. Then, if he succeeds on the Special Duty roll, there will be a new table of skills called (surprise) the Special Duty table.
On this table, we can list things like the other skills from Book 4+ (like Battle Dress, or something like Communications from Book 5), and the GM could list some skills that he thinks a character should have access to but aren't listed in the basic chargen tables (this would be good for custom/unique skills, GM created, in a campaign ... or skills you don't see that often in CT, like Swimming.)
I'm thinking that the GM can play around with this table rather than have a specific table to use each an every time (specific to each career).
For example, an Army character stationed at Patinir (maybe part of the garrison guarding the Ancient site there) should have access to Vacc Suit skill since Patinir is an asteroid belt.
Creating an Army character from Patinir would be a great excuse for the GM to list Vacc Suit (maybe more than once) on the Special Duty table.
Z-G Environment, Z-G Weapons, Snub pistol, Accelerator rifle would all be good choices for this character's Special Duty table.
I am dropping my research into per-year duty rolls that modify the global promotion/special duty/survival rolls for the term, for the time being. The purpose here was to open up the availability of spending a year getting a special duty such as officer school, commando school, etc.
Instead, I am going to look at converting the Commission roll into a Special Duty roll (and rename the Special Duty to Extra Training or something). Success on this roll allows the player to roll on the special duty chart similiar to Employee's 6th post in this thread. The target this roll will be more difficult than the simple commission roll, but the player may attempt this 4 times per term (!) at their discretion. Each successful roll will give a cumulative penalty DM to decoration/promotion roll and a cumulative bonus DM to the survival roll for the term.
Instead, I am going to look at converting the Commission roll into a Special Duty roll (and rename the Special Duty to Extra Training or something). Success on this roll allows the player to roll on the special duty chart similiar to Employee's 6th post in this thread. The target this roll will be more difficult than the simple commission roll, but the player may attempt this 4 times per term (!) at their discretion. Each successful roll will give a cumulative penalty DM to decoration/promotion roll and a cumulative bonus DM to the survival roll for the term.
I am dropping my research into per-year duty rolls that modify the global promotion/special duty/survival rolls for the term, for the time being. The purpose here was to open up the availability of spending a year getting a special duty such as officer school, commando school, etc.
Instead, I am going to look at converting the Commission roll into a Special Duty roll (and rename the Special Duty to Extra Training or something). Success on this roll allows the player to roll on the special duty chart similiar to Employee's 6th post in this thread. The target this roll will be more difficult than the simple commission roll, but the player may attempt this 4 times per term (!) at their discretion. Each successful roll will give a cumulative penalty DM to decoration/promotion roll and a cumulative bonus DM to the survival roll for the term.
Instead, I am going to look at converting the Commission roll into a Special Duty roll (and rename the Special Duty to Extra Training or something). Success on this roll allows the player to roll on the special duty chart similiar to Employee's 6th post in this thread. The target this roll will be more difficult than the simple commission roll, but the player may attempt this 4 times per term (!) at their discretion. Each successful roll will give a cumulative penalty DM to decoration/promotion roll and a cumulative bonus DM to the survival roll for the term.
Exactly. After doing some math I discovered that the avg chance of a promotion for per-year resolution, with 9-10 ranks, vs the standard per-term promotion chances w/ 6 ranks, works out to be roughly similiar progression. The odds for the remaining rolls are pretty good too, vs the averages possible rolls for per-year rolls. My calculations were based on the weighted average probability of making or failing a roll based on the frequency of the different rolls by the duty table.Originally posted by Employee 2-4601:
So, you mean to combine LBB1-style 4-year-term chargen with an LBB4-style Special Duty table (and LBB4-style OCS)? I like that
Special Duty rolls serve a good purpose for that extra skill; chances of getting 2 skills are generally fairly high, so assume one skill (the automatic skill) and set the difficulty of the second skill at the overall probability of rolling 2 skills if rolled for on a per-year basis.
Part of the per-year resolution gives the opportunity to get the special assignments/etc which is what I missed most, and part of THAT is the commission. So drop commission and give a chance (1 in 3 perhaps) of getting a special assignment.
4-year chargen is fast and efficient compared to per-year chargen; while per year gives more 'depth' if you want to know character details, but requires a lot more rolling and hasn't really felt like it was worthwhile in the end.
T20 did a different cross between per-term and per-year resolution - it actually had a duty roll for the term which determined the target survival/promotion/etc numbers for that term. For example, a Scout may roll Mission for their duty assignment for the term, which has a DC of 6 (on d20) for survival, modified by Constitution, and a DC of 6 on an XP bonus (no modifier) Special Mission has same XP bonus DC, but a survival DC of 8. They also use a survival mishap chart. The results here can include stat loss, no xp gained, honorable discharges, dishonorable discharges, medical discharges, all sometimes combined with stat loss as well.
Exactly. After doing some math I discovered that the avg chance of a promotion for per-year resolution, with 9-10 ranks, vs the standard per-term promotion chances w/ 6 ranks, works out to be roughly similiar progression. The odds for the remaining rolls are pretty good too, vs the averages possible rolls for per-year rolls. My calculations were based on the weighted average probability of making or failing a roll based on the frequency of the different rolls by the duty table.Originally posted by Employee 2-4601:
So, you mean to combine LBB1-style 4-year-term chargen with an LBB4-style Special Duty table (and LBB4-style OCS)? I like that
Special Duty rolls serve a good purpose for that extra skill; chances of getting 2 skills are generally fairly high, so assume one skill (the automatic skill) and set the difficulty of the second skill at the overall probability of rolling 2 skills if rolled for on a per-year basis.
Part of the per-year resolution gives the opportunity to get the special assignments/etc which is what I missed most, and part of THAT is the commission. So drop commission and give a chance (1 in 3 perhaps) of getting a special assignment.
4-year chargen is fast and efficient compared to per-year chargen; while per year gives more 'depth' if you want to know character details, but requires a lot more rolling and hasn't really felt like it was worthwhile in the end.
T20 did a different cross between per-term and per-year resolution - it actually had a duty roll for the term which determined the target survival/promotion/etc numbers for that term. For example, a Scout may roll Mission for their duty assignment for the term, which has a DC of 6 (on d20) for survival, modified by Constitution, and a DC of 6 on an XP bonus (no modifier) Special Mission has same XP bonus DC, but a survival DC of 8. They also use a survival mishap chart. The results here can include stat loss, no xp gained, honorable discharges, dishonorable discharges, medical discharges, all sometimes combined with stat loss as well.
Hmmm...
The reason I've been inclined to retry working with a (streamlined) Expanded (1-year) system was a very good experience I had when generating a Solomani (AM6) Navy character for a PBEM game a few months ago; togather with the Referee, I've made a very interesting background from it. But when I think of it again, I recall that sometimes he've referred to each year seperately, and sometimes to a group of years as one block.
Your words fall on very fertile ground. as you know, I've been leaning lately (especially due to gaming and conversation with my girlfriend) towards a more rule-light, flavor-first approach for CT; so I might go in your direction.
I propose a compromise.
We'll make an upgraded basic CharGen system, with 4 skill-tables per term plus one Special Duty roll per specific year, allowing you to roll on a table of special duties (including OCS). We'll make a joint skill list, a joint overall CharGen procedure, and then split the Careers between the two of us and do this as a joint venture. We'll also combine this with my Pre-Enlistment and Homeworld skills systems.
What do you say?
Hmmm...
The reason I've been inclined to retry working with a (streamlined) Expanded (1-year) system was a very good experience I had when generating a Solomani (AM6) Navy character for a PBEM game a few months ago; togather with the Referee, I've made a very interesting background from it. But when I think of it again, I recall that sometimes he've referred to each year seperately, and sometimes to a group of years as one block.
Your words fall on very fertile ground. as you know, I've been leaning lately (especially due to gaming and conversation with my girlfriend) towards a more rule-light, flavor-first approach for CT; so I might go in your direction.
I propose a compromise.
We'll make an upgraded basic CharGen system, with 4 skill-tables per term plus one Special Duty roll per specific year, allowing you to roll on a table of special duties (including OCS). We'll make a joint skill list, a joint overall CharGen procedure, and then split the Careers between the two of us and do this as a joint venture. We'll also combine this with my Pre-Enlistment and Homeworld skills systems.
What do you say?
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I think you're going to end up with too many skills per character for CT.
The best compromise I've seen, between Basic 4-Year CharGen and Advanced 1-Year CharGen has already been developed, with a masterful stroke, in MT.
If using Basic 4-Year CharGen, then simply add the Special Duty roll from MT.
1) Characters get one skill per term.
2) They get skills if they roll Commission or Promotion.
3) They get a skill if they pass the Special Duty Roll.
4) And, they get another skill if they pass the Commission, Promotion, or Special Duty throw by 4+.
That's all you need to do. Basic CharGen characters will be able to hold their own against Advanced CharGen characters.
I only re-write official rules when there's a perceived need. In this case, I don't see what the perceived need is.
Why re-write CT CharGen when the MT additive isn't broken?
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I think you're going to end up with too many skills per character for CT.
The best compromise I've seen, between Basic 4-Year CharGen and Advanced 1-Year CharGen has already been developed, with a masterful stroke, in MT.
If using Basic 4-Year CharGen, then simply add the Special Duty roll from MT.
1) Characters get one skill per term.
2) They get skills if they roll Commission or Promotion.
3) They get a skill if they pass the Special Duty Roll.
4) And, they get another skill if they pass the Commission, Promotion, or Special Duty throw by 4+.
That's all you need to do. Basic CharGen characters will be able to hold their own against Advanced CharGen characters.
I only re-write official rules when there's a perceived need. In this case, I don't see what the perceived need is.
Why re-write CT CharGen when the MT additive isn't broken?
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
One more thought about CharGen.
I'm pretty much of the opinion that I'm going to customize CharGen to a specific campaign (just as I did in the "Expanding & Integrating CharGen" article in my sig) when I get one rolling.
No more "generic" characters (unless I'm using a program to roll up NPC's quickly).
If I add a PC to mix, down the road, in my current campaign, I'll select his homeworld, decide what Background Skills are available, decide what Homeworld Skills should be on the Fifth Tables, pick which careers are available on the world from Book 1 and Supplement 7, and maybe (maybe not) design a Special Duty table for the world for specific careers (so that Battle Dress, or some other skill not on the main chargen tables, be available to the character).
It's really not that much work. You have to design a few tables (simply pick what you think is appropriate from the list of CT skills). And, the dividends are fantastic. Players already have a "feel" for the world their character is from.
I know that the chargen stuff I've used at the beginning of this current campaign has been a huge success. Players are actually talking about the chargen session as if it had been a game session.
It was fun. It was a type of short-hand gaming.
If I need to bring in other characters later into the campaign, me spending a couple of hours designing a couple of tables is well worth the impact it's had on my game.
That's what I'm going to do. From now on, any chargen will be customized to the campaign universe.
I'm pretty much of the opinion that I'm going to customize CharGen to a specific campaign (just as I did in the "Expanding & Integrating CharGen" article in my sig) when I get one rolling.
No more "generic" characters (unless I'm using a program to roll up NPC's quickly).
If I add a PC to mix, down the road, in my current campaign, I'll select his homeworld, decide what Background Skills are available, decide what Homeworld Skills should be on the Fifth Tables, pick which careers are available on the world from Book 1 and Supplement 7, and maybe (maybe not) design a Special Duty table for the world for specific careers (so that Battle Dress, or some other skill not on the main chargen tables, be available to the character).
It's really not that much work. You have to design a few tables (simply pick what you think is appropriate from the list of CT skills). And, the dividends are fantastic. Players already have a "feel" for the world their character is from.
I know that the chargen stuff I've used at the beginning of this current campaign has been a huge success. Players are actually talking about the chargen session as if it had been a game session.
It was fun. It was a type of short-hand gaming.
If I need to bring in other characters later into the campaign, me spending a couple of hours designing a couple of tables is well worth the impact it's had on my game.
That's what I'm going to do. From now on, any chargen will be customized to the campaign universe.
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
One more thought about CharGen.
I'm pretty much of the opinion that I'm going to customize CharGen to a specific campaign (just as I did in the "Expanding & Integrating CharGen" article in my sig) when I get one rolling.
No more "generic" characters (unless I'm using a program to roll up NPC's quickly).
If I add a PC to mix, down the road, in my current campaign, I'll select his homeworld, decide what Background Skills are available, decide what Homeworld Skills should be on the Fifth Tables, pick which careers are available on the world from Book 1 and Supplement 7, and maybe (maybe not) design a Special Duty table for the world for specific careers (so that Battle Dress, or some other skill not on the main chargen tables, be available to the character).
It's really not that much work. You have to design a few tables (simply pick what you think is appropriate from the list of CT skills). And, the dividends are fantastic. Players already have a "feel" for the world their character is from.
I know that the chargen stuff I've used at the beginning of this current campaign has been a huge success. Players are actually talking about the chargen session as if it had been a game session.
It was fun. It was a type of short-hand gaming.
If I need to bring in other characters later into the campaign, me spending a couple of hours designing a couple of tables is well worth the impact it's had on my game.
That's what I'm going to do. From now on, any chargen will be customized to the campaign universe.
I'm pretty much of the opinion that I'm going to customize CharGen to a specific campaign (just as I did in the "Expanding & Integrating CharGen" article in my sig) when I get one rolling.
No more "generic" characters (unless I'm using a program to roll up NPC's quickly).
If I add a PC to mix, down the road, in my current campaign, I'll select his homeworld, decide what Background Skills are available, decide what Homeworld Skills should be on the Fifth Tables, pick which careers are available on the world from Book 1 and Supplement 7, and maybe (maybe not) design a Special Duty table for the world for specific careers (so that Battle Dress, or some other skill not on the main chargen tables, be available to the character).
It's really not that much work. You have to design a few tables (simply pick what you think is appropriate from the list of CT skills). And, the dividends are fantastic. Players already have a "feel" for the world their character is from.
I know that the chargen stuff I've used at the beginning of this current campaign has been a huge success. Players are actually talking about the chargen session as if it had been a game session.
It was fun. It was a type of short-hand gaming.
If I need to bring in other characters later into the campaign, me spending a couple of hours designing a couple of tables is well worth the impact it's had on my game.
That's what I'm going to do. From now on, any chargen will be customized to the campaign universe.
My current system (see my sig) already incorporates the MT-style special duty; what I proposed for the next version of that system was to have this Special Duty skill be rolled on a specific fifth table for each career.
So, one Special Duty roll per 4-year-term, but if it is successful, you roll on a special table.
And you get skills in the following way:
1) Each character has TWO homeworld skills before any career is attempted, see the tables I've posted earlier in this thread.
2) Automatic skills (depend on rank; e.g. all Belters get Prospecting-1 and Vacc Suit-1; all Army enlistees get Gun Combat-1; Army Generals get +1 SOC and so on).
3) One skill per term (careers with ranks) or two (careers without ranks); roll on one of the 4 regular tables (but the fourth requires you to have EDU 8+ as usual).
4) Another skill for a successful Comission; roll on one of the 4 regular tables (but the fourth requires you to have EDU 8+ as usual).
5) Another skill for a successful Promotion; roll on one of the 4 regular tables (but the fourth requires you to have EDU 8+ as usual).
6) A successful Special Duty roll results in a roll on a special fifth table (specific to each career).
7) Mustering Out could give you skills if you roll a weapon benefit more than once.
8) After chargen, you get ONE skill, ANY skill you want to "round up" your character, as long as:
A) You could justify it to the Referee (e.g. you'd have some explanining to do if you want a Vacc Suit skill for your Barbarian chasracter from a TL-0 world; but not much explaining for a Vacc Suit skill if you've just graduated from a spacebourn career such as Merchant).
B) You don't already have this skill.
9) After chargen, you ger EDU/2 (round up) zero-level skills to choose as you please, with limitations as above.
My current system (see my sig) already incorporates the MT-style special duty; what I proposed for the next version of that system was to have this Special Duty skill be rolled on a specific fifth table for each career.
So, one Special Duty roll per 4-year-term, but if it is successful, you roll on a special table.
And you get skills in the following way:
1) Each character has TWO homeworld skills before any career is attempted, see the tables I've posted earlier in this thread.
2) Automatic skills (depend on rank; e.g. all Belters get Prospecting-1 and Vacc Suit-1; all Army enlistees get Gun Combat-1; Army Generals get +1 SOC and so on).
3) One skill per term (careers with ranks) or two (careers without ranks); roll on one of the 4 regular tables (but the fourth requires you to have EDU 8+ as usual).
4) Another skill for a successful Comission; roll on one of the 4 regular tables (but the fourth requires you to have EDU 8+ as usual).
5) Another skill for a successful Promotion; roll on one of the 4 regular tables (but the fourth requires you to have EDU 8+ as usual).
6) A successful Special Duty roll results in a roll on a special fifth table (specific to each career).
7) Mustering Out could give you skills if you roll a weapon benefit more than once.
8) After chargen, you get ONE skill, ANY skill you want to "round up" your character, as long as:
A) You could justify it to the Referee (e.g. you'd have some explanining to do if you want a Vacc Suit skill for your Barbarian chasracter from a TL-0 world; but not much explaining for a Vacc Suit skill if you've just graduated from a spacebourn career such as Merchant).
B) You don't already have this skill.
9) After chargen, you ger EDU/2 (round up) zero-level skills to choose as you please, with limitations as above.
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I like it. It's exactly what I was thinking as well (see above).
Why two homeworld skills?
Why not more, or less, or a number based on a roll (like EDU or less on 2D) ... or even a roll on the homeworld table in place of a skill earned the normal way?
Not sure why, but this one isn't sittin' well with me.
Does anybody else feel the same way?
(other stuff looks great, though.)
You might consider what I do: Roll EDU or less on 2D. This is the number of background skills a character gets (pre-18 yrs. old).
These skills start at Level-0, but rolling the same skill a second time gets you to Level-1.
Also, you may consider the "Old Age Experience" roll I have. If/when a character rolls on the Ageing table, the gets to roll again on the aging table for a skill.
For example, a character turns 34 and rolls 8+ for STR, 7+ for DEX, and 8+ for END.
No matter the outcome, that character is aging and with age comes wisdom and experience. The character gets three rolls for skills, and the rolls are twice at 8+ and once at 7+. Success on any of these rolls give a skill.
Supplement Four
SOC-14 5K
I like it. It's exactly what I was thinking as well (see above).
Why two homeworld skills?
Why not more, or less, or a number based on a roll (like EDU or less on 2D) ... or even a roll on the homeworld table in place of a skill earned the normal way?
Not sure why, but this one isn't sittin' well with me.
Does anybody else feel the same way?
(other stuff looks great, though.)
You might consider what I do: Roll EDU or less on 2D. This is the number of background skills a character gets (pre-18 yrs. old).
These skills start at Level-0, but rolling the same skill a second time gets you to Level-1.
Also, you may consider the "Old Age Experience" roll I have. If/when a character rolls on the Ageing table, the gets to roll again on the aging table for a skill.
For example, a character turns 34 and rolls 8+ for STR, 7+ for DEX, and 8+ for END.
No matter the outcome, that character is aging and with age comes wisdom and experience. The character gets three rolls for skills, and the rolls are twice at 8+ and once at 7+. Success on any of these rolls give a skill.
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