Focus

[tomBitonti]

Hi,

Are there any systems out there that have a mechanic for maintaing focus? I don't mean Psionic Focus (from D20 Psionics). What I mean is a rule that provides a bonus to your actions when you focus on a single activity or opponent, while providing a penalty to other actions of opponents.

There are some fragments of this in D20, for example, loosing DEX when climbing or balancing, and the attack bonus when flanking. However, that mechanic seems to only indirectly provide a focus mechanic.

Most simply, you could make a rule that you get a bonus on the second and subsequent attacks that you make against the same opponent. You could also rule that if attacked by a second opponent, you must either drop your focus or make a concentration type check.

I ask as a result of thinking about the psychology of attention and on the general matter of how well a person can attend to multiple activities.

Thx!

TomB

 

[Nellisir]

Hi,

Are there any systems out there that have a mechanic for maintaing focus? I don't mean Psionic Focus (from D20 Psionics). What I mean is a rule that provides a bonus to your actions when you focus on a single activity or opponent, while providing a penalty to other actions of opponents.

I seem to recall some discussion around this topic, or at least around expanding the psionic focus use to other classes. Maybe the later or last print issues of Dragon?

 

[kitsune9]

Hi,

Are there any systems out there that have a mechanic for maintaing focus? I don't mean Psionic Focus (from D20 Psionics). What I mean is a rule that provides a bonus to your actions when you focus on a single activity or opponent, while providing a penalty to other actions of opponents.

There are some fragments of this in D20, for example, loosing DEX when climbing or balancing, and the attack bonus when flanking. However, that mechanic seems to only indirectly provide a focus mechanic.

Most simply, you could make a rule that you get a bonus on the second and subsequent attacks that you make against the same opponent. You could also rule that if attacked by a second opponent, you must either drop your focus or make a concentration type check.

I ask as a result of thinking about the psychology of attention and on the general matter of how well a person can attend to multiple activities.

Thx!

TomB

Not in d20 that I've come across or read about, but there's a couple of other game systems that have something like this. In GURPS 3rd edition in one of the companions, it discusses maintaining your cool under fire so that is a type of focus mechanic. In Rolemaster, you have a primary attribute of Self Discipline which is built toward skills. Obviously if you have a low SD, then certain skills suffer while a good SD helps them. I'm sure there's lots of other games systems out there, but these are two that I can think of off the top of my head.