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Design Diary 5: Skill/Stat Compression (Patreon)

Published:
2020-05-30 15:11:16
Imported:
2026-06
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PDM rambles about ability score and skill compression and what it means in an RPG.

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Comments

Stefan Podell

Careful with that right edge crop, Professor. That’s not a nickname you’d want!

Ryan Szesny

Cool. Everyone loves a gm horror story; looking forward to that, just do not get too self deprivating.

Jay

PDM – A Few of my thoughts about level advancement with stats and skills. ABILITY SCORES - Not a fan of automatically adding static numbers to specific ability scores just based solely on level progression. Also, if your fighter is a swashbuckler and uses finesse weapons it does not make sense to pigeonhole a modifier into strength rather than agility. MY SOLUTION – When advancing a level, give players a choice if to increase any ability score 1 point or gain a new skill, spell, or special ability. Alternatively, a player could choose to improve an already acquired skill, spell, or special ability. SKILLS - Not everyone progresses in everything they can do based on advancement in position or rank. Furthermore, it makes far more logical sense to increase to the possibility of doing more damage than automatically adding a certain number of points to damage. Adding a static number would negate any possibility of only nicking a foe for 1 or 2 points if the minimum damage is 3. MY SOLUTION – When advancing a level, give players a choice if to increase any ability score 1 point or gain a new skill, spell, or special ability. Alternatively, a player could choose to improve an already acquired skill, spell, or special ability. EXAMPLE - Fighters could choose a new weapon skill or improve a specific weapon and pick either “advantage to hit” or “advantage to damage”. Advantage to damage - 1d8 sword with advantage roll 2d8 take the higher number rolled. Mages could improve spells by gaining advantage to spell casting or spell damage. Alternatively, they could increase spell duration, area of affect, etc. I believe these level perks will give the players greater choices in customization and control over their own characters in addition to keeping progression simple. Not sure if this helps but just my two cents.

Grendel
>>37795833

Lol OMG! It took me a while to figure out what you were talking about!

Jay
>>37801856

STRENGTH BONUS TO DAMAGE – Damage Bonus from STRENGTH +1 and +2 could just increase the damage die up by one. +3 and +4 increase by two die type. Max damage die type of 1D12. Then add static numbers if necessary but unlikely. EXAMPLE – 1D8 Sword now a 1D10 Sword for compression purposes. Reference – Pen & Teller type Misdirection. A 1D8 +2 is the same as 1D10 eliminating a minimum damage of 3 and eliminated the need to add numbers for younger players.