Q&A's with the new BRP author version 2.0

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Nightshade

Also, did your last answer mean that the default is that skills are _not_ effected by attributes?

By default, they aren't (other than those that are a multiple of a characteristic).

However, I expect almost everyone on this board will be using the optional skill group bonus system.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

What sort of characters/setting does the rulebook cover? Are the backgrounds for a medieval setting, modern day, futurstic, a max, or generic (scholar, soldier, etc.).

What can we write up for characters with just the core book?

The professions presented are generic enough to apply to many, many settings and periods. Plus there are guidelines on how to modify them to fit other settings.

The settings chapter includes an overview of around two dozen common (or less so) periods and setting types, with suggested professions to be found in each (as well as optional rules, technology, suitable powers, inspirations, adventure types, etc.).

I like that chapter a lot.

[Kloster]

Thanks Jason,

I like the idea for the skill points.

And I think (like you guessed) that we will surely use the categories. I will.


Runequestement votre,

Kloster

[fmitchell]

First, I'd like to thank Jason for answering questions.

Now on to mine:

- You mentioned EDU as an optional characteristic. Are there any other optional characteristics or attributes in the book? Are there any guidelines for adding new characteristics, or perhaps taking them away a la Pendragon?

- A friend of mine who GM'ed Beyond the Mountains of Madness reported that, as the campaign wore on, all the characters had developed really high Listen and Spot Hidden skills. Assuming he wasn't handing out improvement rolls like candy, does the BRP book include a way to slow or cap the progression of skills? Has that even proved necessary in long-term play-testing?

Sorry if these questions are a little off the wall, but I'm a compulsive game tinkerer, and everyone else asked the good ones.

Thanks in advance.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by fmitchell

You mentioned EDU as an optional characteristic. Are there any other optional characteristics or attributes in the book? Are there any guidelines for adding new characteristics, or perhaps taking them away a la Pendragon?

There isn't support for removing characteristics, but assuming you wanted to add another characteristic, like for example, a split between APP and CHA, or even DEX and Agility, you could easily do that. The real question would be how much you felt like integrating a change like that into the rules.

Originally Posted by fmitchell

Assuming he wasn't handing out improvement rolls like candy, does the BRP book include a way to slow or cap the progression of skills? Has that even proved necessary in long-term play-testing?

The default experience reward is 1D6 per experience check.

A GM wanting to slow down progression can do one of three things (off the top of my head):

1. Reduce the frequency of experience checks, such as only between significant breaks between adventures.

2. Lower the experience reward to 1D4, 1D3, 1D2, or even making it a single point.

3. Only allow an experience check for a critical or special success.

If I remember correctly, these are discussed as options.

[Atgxtg]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

However, I expect almost everyone on this board will be using the optional skill group bonus system.

I'll bite. What is the optional skill group bonus system. It is a revision of the RQ2/RQ3/SB1 category modifiers? Or something simplier- such as all Agility skills add DEX%, Knowledge skills add add INT%, or some such?

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Atgxtg

It is a revision of the RQ2/RQ3/SB1 category modifiers?

Yes it is.

[tal]

Did the chart from Cthulhu dark ages that correlates hit points of damage (as a percentage of a person's overall total) taken to the effects of the blow or wound make it or is there something similiar?

[Atgxtg]

Hey Jason,
You posted earlier that the Characteristic rolls (Ideal, Luck, Charisma) would play a bigger part in BRP, with roll for all stats included. Can you give some examples ?

In the past, the rolls were there, but tended to get dropped or replaced by skills. For instance the DEX roll got replaced by things like Balance, Idea roll was usually replaced by various Lore skills, etc. The Luck roll was a good idea, but almost never got used in RQ.

Are there some specific things that the Characteristic rolls are used for, or are they a default roll for when there is nothing else that applies, as in the past?

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by tal

Did the chart from Cthulhu dark ages that correlates hit points of damage (as a percentage of a person's overall total) taken to the effects of the blow or wound make it or is there something similiar?

The Elric!/Stormbringer major wound table, consulted when you take 1/2 your HP in one blow, is in the default system.