This may get totally overhauled (and will likely need some explanation) but this is the core system I am...
This may get totally overhauled (and will likely need some explanation) but this is the core system I am contemplating using for a character-based way of adjudicating the domain stuff. Feedback definitely appreciated.
Domain Skills and Resolution
Each PC can take a Major concentration and a Minor from the following list:
1. Martial (Strategy, Tactics)
2. Sorcery (Magic, Science)
3. Supernatural (Religion, Mythic, Weird)
4. Skullduggery (Intrigue, Diplomacy, Criminal)
5. Steward (Planning, Economic)
6. Ranging (Scouting, Hunting, Expeditions)
Each character gets a score in their major and minor concentration:
x2 level for your Major
x1 level for your Minor
+/- any ability modifiers for INT, WIS and CHA
+/- special circumstances (things like education in a certain skill, upbringing, etc)
Example: Kraggo of the Mountains is a 4th level fighter with a 7 INT, 11 WIS and 17 CHA (totals +2). He takes Martial for his Major which gives him for levels 8 plus two for his ability modifiers for a total of 10. He takes Ranging as his minor for a total of 4.
Ring NPCs
If a domain action is being taken by an NPC on the ring, a single PC can add a third of their skill level (if they have the skill being rolled against).
Current Ring Members:
Okko, Steward 10
Balzas, Martial 8
The Holy Drunk, Supernatural 6
Domain Resolution
If there is a particular situation that I think will call for a roll against an appropriate PC or NPC's relevant skill. The course of action described will be adjudicated secretly from my judgment of what is described.
Near Impossible: 5d6 against relevant Domain Skill
Unlikely: 4d6
Fair to Good: 3d6
Excellent: 2d6
Airtight: 1d6
Domain Skills and Resolution
Each PC can take a Major concentration and a Minor from the following list:
1. Martial (Strategy, Tactics)
2. Sorcery (Magic, Science)
3. Supernatural (Religion, Mythic, Weird)
4. Skullduggery (Intrigue, Diplomacy, Criminal)
5. Steward (Planning, Economic)
6. Ranging (Scouting, Hunting, Expeditions)
Each character gets a score in their major and minor concentration:
x2 level for your Major
x1 level for your Minor
+/- any ability modifiers for INT, WIS and CHA
+/- special circumstances (things like education in a certain skill, upbringing, etc)
Example: Kraggo of the Mountains is a 4th level fighter with a 7 INT, 11 WIS and 17 CHA (totals +2). He takes Martial for his Major which gives him for levels 8 plus two for his ability modifiers for a total of 10. He takes Ranging as his minor for a total of 4.
Ring NPCs
If a domain action is being taken by an NPC on the ring, a single PC can add a third of their skill level (if they have the skill being rolled against).
Current Ring Members:
Okko, Steward 10
Balzas, Martial 8
The Holy Drunk, Supernatural 6
Domain Resolution
If there is a particular situation that I think will call for a roll against an appropriate PC or NPC's relevant skill. The course of action described will be adjudicated secretly from my judgment of what is described.
Near Impossible: 5d6 against relevant Domain Skill
Unlikely: 4d6
Fair to Good: 3d6
Excellent: 2d6
Airtight: 1d6
Have you taken a look at the factions system in Stars Without Number? Some elements of this remind me of it, a bit. At least what I recall of it.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Willie Nelson on the council, or is he the holy drunk? Also, my wife's religious leader and (soon) Yolo.
ReplyDeleteThis looks good at first glance, although I think some sort of back-end benefits should be gained (mechanically) from resources secured (mines, farms, etc). That may be happening invisibly, but it would be nice to see benefits from our hard-earned resources (such as that mine which should have delivered a couple payouts by now).
Yep when Vilem is on the Shore he can be part of your ring, Supernatural 28!
ReplyDeleteOh, and Skulduggery as Major, Steward as Minor. INT 16 / CHA 16, so +4 (does that apply to the Minor specialty? You didn't add the attribute bonus to the example above). So, Skulduggery 20 and Steward 8/12, plus any bonuses for being a Mountebank.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't take up permanent residence in the massive shrine that we built to the old Pahr gods?
ReplyDeleteFather Jack: Supernatural 13, Skullduggery 6
ReplyDeleteBa Chim: Martial 12, Sorcery 6, plus any bonuses applied for landsknecht background and/or elven origin.
ReplyDeleteIf K can join the ring, I guess he would have Ranging 7.
I'm not sure I understand the example; how does Kraggo have a +2 in attributes? -1 from Int, +2 from Cha totalling +1 bonus overall, yes?
This would interface really well with a random event system (skill challenges? ;p ), apart from resolving more proactive situations. For solo play, or just a more abstract play experience (like for "domain turns" or whatever), or whathaveyou.
ReplyDeleteLazzaro probably Sorcery major, Supernatural minor. Could see an argument for Steward minor I suppose, but then I actively try to avoid involvement with King's Ten management most of the time. Gonna try and train my corgimen up as stewards instead.
On that note, what would the process be like for NPCs becoming proficient enough to warrant a skill rating, and/or what are the rates for hiring skilled NPCs (or is that an "only NPCs found in-session" situation?)
Gotta think on the numbers more before have an actual opinion. Manzafrain already beats the average roll for "Near Impossible" (17.5, trending further towards the middle the more dice added) in Skullduggery, and in one more level Lazzaro will for Sorcery as well. Perhaps that is as it should be - name level being where the near impossible becomes routine for the average character. But probably need to see examples of what the different difficulty levels mean to judge for sure (though my gut would be to split fair & good and bump the top two difficulties up d6).
On ring NPCs, what about the priestess of Marzana? I consider her on pretty much exactly the same level as the holy drunk importance- & influence-wise.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Picaro - average 6d6 is 21, so yeah I agree that would probably be just right for Near-Impossible.
ReplyDeleteYeah the resolution rate is too high. Hmm, I think the more elegant fix would be to halve the levels, so your level serves as the base for major and half your level for minor. In that case Manzy would have a Skullduggery of 12. I am going to have to think about the challenge ratings.
ReplyDeleteStill trying to work my head around what success and failure entails.
Yeah the Priestess of Marzana should be in there. She would be Supernatural 6 under the downgraded level.
ReplyDeleteI do like lowering the baseline overall since it indirectly encourages off-spec attempts. Similarly increases the importance of ability scores though, but I don't believe most are opposed to that in the way that I am (with my OD&D-sans-Greyhawk leanings).
ReplyDeleteInt, Wis, and Cha all applying equally to all six specialties seems odd to me.
ReplyDeleteI hemmed and hawed about the ability score modifiers and have never really been a fan of the "intellectual" character abilities in general. But I wanted something that would take into account natural political talents. What about character uses the highest modifier? It would bring Manzy down to 10 (and then it puts me in the range of dropping a die for challenges or increasing the range.)
ReplyDeleteMy instinct would be to go situational, but highest works for me fine.
ReplyDeleteI assume part of the idea is to increase the value of mental stats, since they're somewhat underutilized at present and which all mentioned approaches do nicely.
Humza K at first I thought about mapping them all to the six ability scores but it seemed gamey and odd to tie something like say DEX to Skullduggery. But tying INT, WIS or CHA to each might work. Hmm
ReplyDeleteAnthony Picaro yes especially CHA which should get a lot more truck in a high-level domain situation as it has an impact on most everything.
ReplyDeleteJust thinking Robert Parker that a Mountebank should get a special bonus. I mean it's an easy sell if you think about our own political system.
Assuming average ability scores, that would make the base level for the resolution table a 10th/11th level character, in relation to their major (that's where the peak of the bell curve would match up).
ReplyDeleteAs far as the ability scores, I think using the highest of Int/Wis/Cha is a great way to model the character using their personal strengths to achieve their goals. It makes perfect sense to me. Their physical stats are going to make no difference in a protracted domain situation.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite possible to utilise any of the 3 non-physical abilities when trying to win a debate, for example. Does your high int allow you to construct a tighter argument or help you find holes in your foe's reasoning? Does your high wis allow you to bring more evidence to bear, or help you apply it to the situation, or give you the will to be more determined than your opponent? Does your high cha simply make you more convincing? I think all those work.
WHILE WE'RE HERE we should decide how to deal with the profits from the mine anyway. Would probably be easiest to just feed that into a separate "town fund" (or directly into the group fund) for use on Feral Shore projects. If it's high enough it could even replace the current group funding out of the takes.
ReplyDeleteHas the D-K said anything about a cut that he's going to be exacting?
ReplyDeleteAnthony Picaro - I agree about the proceeds from the mine. I also kind of assumed it would be like getting a mine in Warcraft, where it allows you to build metal-reinforced buildings and improve weapons and armour. But I guess it's actually a silver mine though, right?
ReplyDeleteYes it's straight money. I will compute cash extracted from the mine and the last harvest this week.
ReplyDelete