Hi all,

I am just finishing up FFF12. One thing that I am still not happy with on the sheets is some sort of quick rating system. For FFF10 and 11, I have been using the star quality rating system from HM. Unfortunately, the system breaks down when applied to combat skills. Combat skills tend to be higher because they can have so many penalties applied (darkness, handedness modifiers etc). Craft skills tend to be done in optimum conditions, so a lower skill level is still effective.

So...

I have toyed around with several ideas. The latest is as follows:

First, you get 1-5 icons based on your notoriety/strength/abilities:

1 icon = just getting started
2 icons = one of the best in village/town
3 icons = one of the best in city/shire
4 icons = one of the best in kingdom
5 icons = one of the best on Harn

There are five types of icons:

hearts = influence
diamonds = money
clubs = combat skills
spades = craft skills
lightning = esoteric skills

A character will have 1-5 icons, they can be the same type icons or a mix.

Thus, Kirill of Vetus, a gray mage, would have five icons, one of each. This tells you he is on of the best on Harn (five icons). It also tells you he has influence, money, combat skills, craft skills and esoteric skills. The most dangerous mix possible.

And Mama Chanti, retired tentmaker, would have three icons, one spade and two hearts. She has modest skills but her real focus is influence.

Someone like Eryla Cobb (Jayne), mercenary MF, would have three clubs. Good combat skills but not much else.

Someone like Esharel Ranals (Mal), also a mercenary MF, would also have three icons, but a mix of one heart, one club and one spade. This shows that while he and Jayne are both the best in the shire, Mal has influence and craft skills (sailing) in addition to combat skills.

One of the advantages is that this gets away from the star system associated with quality.

So, what do people think? Is it easy to understand? When you see the icons in the corner of the sheet, will it mean something to you?



or...


Do I even need a rating system for FFF characters? Is a quick skim of page 2 sufficient for most GMs needs?

TTYL

- Kerry

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Well, my days of taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. - Mal, Firefly.

Honestly, I think that's more complication than is needed. The description and skills are plenty to reveal why someone is five stars or only one, and in what direction their "power" is intended. Your three skill groups are already in the stat summary, wealth is noted as well, and influence/rank is in the description.

I think it does add something, because the power level intended may not be what the stats say to the (individual) GM. Some people prefer a low-key campaign and some deal out high skill ranks more freely. So to understand where the NPC ranks in your campaign, you would have to read the decription. A quick glance is easier than that.

That is what the Citybooks did as well (they had no stats at all). Interestingly, the average was well above "Average".

I think that kind of rating system might be useful. There is currently no standard method in HM to rate characters against one another in terms of experience. Such a system might be helpful for scaling encounters.

As mentioned the old City Books by Flying Buffalo were generic, and they rated the NPC's in generic terms;
Combat: Good
Intrigue: Poor.

You then stat them up according to the system you are using.

Allan

The obvious problem is what if someone has comparative money, influence and craft skill, say a reeve of villain status, but is only the best in their village. They have three characteristics but only two icons to display them with.

Personally, if I was to adopt a scheme like this, I'd give a rating bar for each aspect. So said Reeve could have three hearts, two diamonds, one clubs, two spades and zero lightning (he is village leading in terms of money and skill, has influence at shire level, has basic combat skill and no esoteric skill).

You may also need 1.5 icons for someone of average aspect (depending on what you mean by just getting started).

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··<SableFox>··
AKA Jonathan M Davidson

Hi all,

Thanks for your input. After considerable reflection, I have decided to eliminate the rating system from FFF12 and future releases. The existing quality star system was of marginal value and a replacement system could not be made simple and easy enough for intuitive use. I leave it up to the GMs to select the best FFF characters for their own uses.

TTYL

- Kerry

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Well, my days of taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. - Mal, Firefly.

I think what would be most helpful is a succinct descriptive title for the character. Maybe three words
Yeoman, longbow, average
Blacksmith, apprentice, dimwitted
Mage, master, evil

Like describing your military kit
Boots, rubber, gumby

That's too bad. While I thought the proposed new system was too complex, I really like the star system in that it can give a quick glance of power information while flipping through the FFFs.

Fair enough. I also liked the star system, but then again I also reviewed the characters in advance to guage their abilities against the players. Now, if I had a star rating sytem for the players...

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To Christ-God Jesus be the Glory