I have been goofing around with character creation, professions and stuff. BRP 0 has a list of skills for each profession and the player chooses from them. This is pretty easy to write up, but I do not know if it is the best way to go. Would it be better to add something like backgrounds and professions a-la MRQ. I was never particularly satisfied with RQ III. (I personally liked the old traveler method both as a player and a GM. It was alway the most fun and seemed to make great characters
. I may do this as an option later). I would be happy for suggestions from more experienced gamers.
I have been fooling around with a MRQ-type skill set for the Nifarite:
Background:
Nefarite:
Climb +20%, Listen +10%, Harness +15%, Spot +10%, Stealth +10% .
Pick any two +10%
Spear, Axe, Bow, Sword, Staff, Shield, Dagger, Dodge.
Any two of the following +10%
Knowledge(Green Lore, Plant Lore, or Animal lore), Literacy (Nefarite)
Any one +15%
Craft (Woodworking, Leather, Resin)
Professions:
Trader:
Many Nifara take to trading up and down the bough roads with various inhabitants of the forests and rivers. Nifara usually trade animal and tree products in return for metal implements tools and weapons.
Appraise+20%, Bargain+20%, Knowledge (Animal or Plant) +10, Language(Other) +20%, Lore(Green)+10%, Literacy (Nifarite) +10%, , Spot +10%, Staff +10%.
Pick one:
Fast Talk, Insight, or Persuade +20%.
Hunter:
Climb+10%, Jump+10%, Knowledge(Animal)+20%, Devise (Trap/ Harness) +20%.
Pick Two 2 +15%
Listen, Spot, Tracking, Knowledge (Green).
Pick one
Hide+20%, Stealth+20%.
Bow+10%, Spear+10%.
Speaker/Healer/Craft worker:
Primary Skill:
First Aid +30%, Craft (Wood, Leather or Potion) +30%, or Language(Other) +30%.
Pick any Three that are not Primary Skills +20%:
Appraise, First Aid, Knowledge (Plant, Animal, Green), Language (other), Literacy.
Staff +10%.
Pick any Three +10%
Listen, Animal Handling, Insight, Persuade, Craft (Wood, Leather or Potion) Spellcasting.
Foragers/Gleaners/Gatherers:
These Nifarites travel the the boughs and foragings. They often visit certain far flung groves to sap and search for valuable plant and tree products
Axe+15%, Climb+15%, Harness +15%, Lore(Plant)+25%.
Pick one:
Bow or Dagger +10%
Pick Four +10%
First Aid, Lore(Green), Hide, Jump, Spot, Appraise, Language (other).
Languages and literacy always seem to pose a particular problem in RQ based games for me. I like the idea of character's knowing more that one language, especially in worlds were many cultures are converging and among more learned classes like spell casters or merchants. Knowing more than one language, and especially literacy, always seems like a point sink though and eats up other skill possibilities.