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<blockquote data-quote="Crazy Jerome" data-source="post: 5581687" data-attributes="member: 54877">I like the spellcasting options for non-casters, though I think the main thing is that they be able to use low-level items normally requiring casting ability. If a character with those options can use a wand of cure light wounds, it's all good.&nbsp;&nbsp;I agree that you are on the right track, and that Pemerton is directing you down that road.&nbsp; The conversation so far as led me to believe that myth is where you look for these abilities for fighters (and probably for casters as well).&nbsp; Skimirsher is too narrow for what the name suggests, and it violates the principle that it provides abilities that normal people can't do.&nbsp; Anyone can wear amor, and getting a bit of a boost out of leather is not the heart of a real-world skimirsher, much less a mythical one.&nbsp; &nbsp;So I think this ties back into the main system, again.&nbsp; Make default rules that are a little gritty, a little realistic, when it comes to trying to move around in a melee.&nbsp; This will make wizards loathe to get into melee, and thieves avoiding dogpiles.&nbsp; Then a skirmisher gets to violate those rules.&nbsp; And maybe skirmisher is something that thieves can take, too.&nbsp;Likewise, &quot;jumping&quot; is too narrow.&nbsp; &quot;Athletic&quot; is a better fit.&nbsp; Conan would take this.&nbsp; This guy can swim better, jump better, etc.&nbsp; Normal people can't swim in armor.&nbsp; Heroic athletes can.&nbsp; &nbsp;Animal Handling/Riding could be rolled into &quot;Beast Master&quot;, but here I think Pemerton's original has the scale about right.&nbsp; Plus, those two concepts are sufficiently broad and robust to have some mythic resonance all by themselves.&nbsp; Anyone can train a horse or dog.&nbsp; A heroic animal handler trains griffens.&nbsp; Anyone can learn to ride, even in combat.&nbsp; A heroic rider stands on a galloping horse and fights.&nbsp; If a character really needed both, they could take both.&nbsp;The &quot;Leader of Men&quot; idea is perfect, and might be a (later level) option for clerics, too.&nbsp;An opposite of the &quot;Leader of Men&quot; is something in the intimidation sphere.&nbsp; This guy doesn't inspire people to follow exactly, but he does &quot;encourage&quot; them to get out of his way.&nbsp; Many Clint Eastwood characters have this trait.&nbsp; A guy with both makes an interesting twist.&nbsp;&quot;Noble&quot; in the character sense, not just for landed gentry, is another variation.&nbsp; King Arthur is a &quot;Leader of Men&quot; and &quot;Noble&quot;, but Galahad is &quot;Noble&quot; by itself.&nbsp; &nbsp;Rather than &quot;Swift Healing&quot;, I'd maybe look at something like &quot;Berserk&quot; or &quot;Steadfast&quot;.&nbsp; These are characters that just won't go down easy, when they should by all rights.&nbsp; Boromir has something like this (though neither of those labels really fits him--so something is off a bit).&nbsp; If this kind of character doesn't get healing, and swiftly, when they've pushed the ability hard, they may be dead in short order.&nbsp; Just not easily while they go after the immediate goal they have. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

[QUOTE="Crazy Jerome, post: 5581687, member: 54877"] I like the spellcasting options for non-casters, though I think the main thing is that they be able to use low-level items normally requiring casting ability. If a character with those options can use a wand of cure light wounds, it's all good. I agree that you are on the right track, and that Pemerton is directing you down that road. The conversation so far as led me to believe that myth is where you look for these abilities for fighters (and probably for casters as well). Skimirsher is too narrow for what the name suggests, and it violates the principle that it provides abilities that normal people can't do. Anyone can wear amor, and getting a bit of a boost out of leather is not the heart of a real-world skimirsher, much less a mythical one. So I think this ties back into the main system, again. Make default rules that are a little gritty, a little realistic, when it comes to trying to move around in a melee. This will make wizards loathe to get into melee, and thieves avoiding dogpiles. Then a skirmisher gets to violate those rules. And maybe skirmisher is something that thieves can take, too. Likewise, "jumping" is too narrow. "Athletic" is a better fit. Conan would take this. This guy can swim better, jump better, etc. Normal people can't swim in armor. Heroic athletes can. Animal Handling/Riding could be rolled into "Beast Master", but here I think Pemerton's original has the scale about right. Plus, those two concepts are sufficiently broad and robust to have some mythic resonance all by themselves. Anyone can train a horse or dog. A heroic animal handler trains griffens. Anyone can learn to ride, even in combat. A heroic rider stands on a galloping horse and fights. If a character really needed both, they could take both. The "Leader of Men" idea is perfect, and might be a (later level) option for clerics, too. An opposite of the "Leader of Men" is something in the intimidation sphere. This guy doesn't inspire people to follow exactly, but he does "encourage" them to get out of his way. Many Clint Eastwood characters have this trait. A guy with both makes an interesting twist. "Noble" in the character sense, not just for landed gentry, is another variation. King Arthur is a "Leader of Men" and "Noble", but Galahad is "Noble" by itself. Rather than "Swift Healing", I'd maybe look at something like "Berserk" or "Steadfast". These are characters that just won't go down easy, when they should by all rights. Boromir has something like this (though neither of those labels really fits him--so something is off a bit). If this kind of character doesn't get healing, and swiftly, when they've pushed the ability hard, they may be dead in short order. Just not easily while they go after the immediate goal they have. :) [/QUOTE]

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