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    9121-Attriutes That Do More

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    Dan Smith
    1) The document proposes houserules for the Basic Roleplaying (BRP) system to make attributes more meaningful. It suggests each attribute provides a gameplay value and modifier for attribute checks. 2) A number of subsystems are adapted from other games, including reaction rolls determined by attributes, contacts limited by Charisma, and skills categorized as natural or learned with defaults based on attributes. 3) An encumbrance system is outlined where the number of items carried is limited by Strength and exceeding the limit reduces skills and movement.

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    9121-Attriutes That Do More

    Uploaded by

    Dan Smith
    21 views4 pages
    1) The document proposes houserules for the Basic Roleplaying (BRP) system to make attributes more meaningful. It suggests each attribute provides a gameplay value and modifier for attribute checks. 2) A number of subsystems are adapted from other games, including reaction rolls determined by attributes, contacts limited by Charisma, and skills categorized as natural or learned with defaults based on attributes. 3) An encumbrance system is outlined where the number of items carried is limited by Strength and exceeding the limit reduces skills and movement.

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    1) The document proposes houserules for the Basic Roleplaying (BRP) system to make attributes more meaningful. It suggests each attribute provides a gameplay value and modifier for attribute checks. 2) A number of subsystems are adapted from other games, including reaction rolls determined by attributes, contacts limited by Charisma, and skills categorized as natural or learned with defaults based on attributes. 3) An encumbrance system is outlined where the number of items carried is limited by Strength and exceeding the limit reduces skills and movement.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    21 views4 pages

    9121-Attriutes That Do More

    Uploaded by

    Dan Smith
    1) The document proposes houserules for the Basic Roleplaying (BRP) system to make attributes more meaningful. It suggests each attribute provides a gameplay value and modifier for attribute checks. 2) A number of subsystems are adapted from other games, including reaction rolls determined by attributes, contacts limited by Charisma, and skills categorized as natural or learned with defaults based on attributes. 3) An encumbrance system is outlined where the number of items carried is limited by Strength and exceeding the limit reduces skills and movement.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    MAKING ATTRIBUTES DO MORE Tomb of Tedankhamen

    Rolling attributes in BRP is basically an exercise in futility, as they are only ever used in the rare
    attribute check. Herein I’d like to outline how I would houserule BRP to make attributes worth the
    work of rolling dice and writing them down. This would entail stealing a few subsystems from other
    games, but these are so intuitive and useful for roleplaying inspiration I think it worth the effort.

    ATTRIBUTE BASICS
    Each attribute should affect two things:
    1) A Value useful in gameplay. For example, Con also determines Hit Points.
    2) A Modifier to a roll determining something affecting the gameworld. For example, Str and Siz are
    added to get a physical damage modifier.

    STRENGTH
    Value: Equals the number of Items that can be carried (see Encumbrance below for details of what
    constitutes an Item).
    Modifier: Modifies physical damage as usual.
    CONSTITUTION
    Value: Hit Points
    Modifier: Modifies damage from Poisons, Acid or Disease. Weaker folk take more damage, stronger
    less…
    DEXTERITY
    Value: Base defense score (i.e. starting score for Dodge, Parry, etc)
    Modifier: Modifies Initiative roll.
    INTELLIGENCE
    Value: Multiplied by 10 for Personal Interest Skills, as per usual.
    Modifier: Added to SAN loss for studying spells. The smarter you are, the more you understand how
    horrible things are…
    POWER
    Value: Sanity as per usual.
    Modifier: Modifies damage from purely magic or psychic/mental attacks. Weaker folk take more
    damage, stronger less…
    CHARISMA
    Value: The number of Contacts a character can have. See Contacts below.
    Modifier: Modifies Reaction Roll in informal or unofficial situations. See Reaction Roll below.
    SIZ
    Value: Determines size of armor wearable (must be within 1 SIZ greater or lower than original

    1
    specifications to wear).
    Modifier: Added to damage as usual, also (with GM’s approval) to Reaction Roll if trying to
    intimidate.
    EDUCATION
    Value: Multiplied by 20 for Occupational Skills, as usual.
    Modifier: Modifies Reaction Roll in formal or official situations. See Reaction Roll below.

    UNIVERSAL MODIFIERS
    Here is my table for modifiers for all attributes:
    Below 3 Inferior Below Average Above Superior 18 Superhuman
    3 4-5 Average 9-12 Average 16-17
    6-8 13-15
    - 4 to 0 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 + 4 / 5 points

    REACTION ROLL
    Although for most situations the GM will have an idea how NPCs will react, for when characters
    talk to minor NPCs, when the GM has run out of ideas, or just to add spice to a game, roll 3d6 to
    determine an NPC's reaction. In formal or official situations such as at scholarly meetings, talking to
    police or officials, use Edu modifier. In informal or unofficial situations such as at a speakeasy (bar),
    talking to townsfolk or rogues, use Cha modifier.
    Below 3 Violent. NPC attacks character offhand. Roll for initiative!
    3 Threatening. Unless the character backs off, there will be blood.
    4-5 Unhelpful, dismissive. Not worth talking to this one.
    6-8 Uninterested or busy. Might need a bribe or some flattery.
    9-12 Neutral, polite. Will answer rudimentary questions, but not go out of his way to
    help.
    13-15 Interested. Will give information they have, might need a bribe or flattery to go out
    of their way.
    16-17 Helpful. Will give information, introduce to the right person, or show characters the
    way.
    18 Friendly. Will go out of their way to help. Character may make a Contact with a gift
    or some other reciprocal token.
    Above 19 Instant bond. NPC wants to become a Contact, will provide support to the best of
    her ability.

    2
    CONTACTS
    The Charisma score itself equals the maximum number of Contacts a PC can have. Contacts are
    NPCs that are favourably inclined to the PC in question, who can call upon one Contact for
    assistance once a session. Contacts can also be used by the DM as recurring characters and
    convenient mouthpieces. Players should define the role of each Contact as they are made, which will
    determine how they can assist the PC. Example roles can include Informant, Brother (or Sister) at
    Arms, Lover, Drinking Buddy, Investor, Moneychanger, Fence (as in buyer of stolen goods),
    Wholesaler, Healer, Priest, Fortuneteller, Trainer, Teacher, Gossip, etcetera. Conversely, Charisma
    can also be used as the number of Enemies a PC can make, as charismatic people also have a habit
    of causing jealousy or disdain in others. The inclusion of Contacts in a game gives a great literary
    feel, and adds depth and emotional investment to any setting if kept up over time.

    Characters can make a new Contact in three ways. First, a maximum roll on the Reaction table
    should allow them the choice to make the NPC a Contact if so desired. Next, good roleplaying
    should naturally present situations where an Ally can be obtained. Conversely, Contacts can be lost if
    their trust is betrayed or they are misused or abused. Contacts are not slaves, and will abandon or
    even attack a PC if misused or abused, which could include a PC stealing or not repaying an Contact
    money, putting a Contact in danger, or attacking them. In extreme cases, they may become
    Archenemies bent on destroying the PC.

    SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES


    To make attributes more relevant to skills and make skill default percentages themselves less
    arbitrary, skills are categorized as either Natural or Learned.
    Natural Skills – These skills come naturally to the character based on their character concept and
    setting. The default percentage is equal to the most relevant attribute, which means a character has a
    base chance equal to the relevant attribute, and any Skill Points distributed to the Natural Skill are
    added on top of the attribute to get the final percentage. Occupational Skills are automatically
    considered Natural Skills.
    Learned Skills – These skills are impossible to succeed at without training as indicated by character
    concept and setting. Default is zero, but if Skill Points are distributed they add on top of the relevant
    attribute for the final percentage. If Skill Points are distributed as Personal Interest, they are added to
    0.

    Note that the difference between Natural and Learned skills will also vary depending on the setting,
    and the character’s place in it. For example, in the 1930’s Drive Car would be a Natural skill for
    people from industrially or technologically developed countries (USA, UK, etc), but it would be

    3
    Learned for characters from regions with less industrial development. Conversely, Climb would be
    Natural for people from a mountainous region but not for a scholarly city dweller. GMs and Players
    should discuss which skills are Natural and Learned for characters during character creation.

    ENCUMBERANCE
    Whew, almost done! Encumberance is measured in Items, as indicated on the chart below. A
    character can carry a number of ready to use Items equal to their Strength score. For every Item over
    the Strength score, reduce the character’s Move by 1 and Dexterity based skills (i.e. Dodge, Kick,
    Punch etc) by 5%.

    Description Light Medium Heavy Light Heavy


    1 handed 1 handed 1 handed 2 handed 2 handed
    Ancient Knife, brass Short sword, Sword, club Staff, Polearm
    weapon knuckles machete, greatsword
    stick
    Damage or D4 D6 D8 or 2D4 D10 D12 or 2D6
    damage
    reduction
    Modern Derringer Pistol Submachinegun Rifle Rocket
    weapon launcher
    Clothing & Hat, baseball Shirt or Greatcoat or suit Diving suit or Suit of
    object shoes, of clothes, toolbox animal armor,
    example hardcover costume, TV concrete
    block
    Encumbrance 1 Item 2 Items 3 Items 4 Items 5 Items

    Packing - If Items are packed away (i.e. not ready to use but requiring a minute to ready), they count
    as half for. Item size is determined as follows.
    Coins & Bullets – For tiny objects such as old coins or bullets, a number of objects equal to the
    character’s Strength equals one Item.
    Containers – If a character has no containers (i.e. backpack, sheath, pouches, etcetera) then an
    Item’s encumbrance is doubled.

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