How Many Brain Lobes Would You Like?

[Tequila Sunrise]

Do you like your character to have 3-6 different mental stats, as is usual with RPGs, or would it make your rp experience simpler/more fun to take a page from Diablo and roll them all into one stat called Energy?

The idea is that Energy represents your character's best brain lobe, so to speak, depending on his/her class and how you rp him/her. For example if your character is a D&D-esque wizard with a high Energy, it means that he has a good memory and is quick on the uptake. If your character is a con-artist rogue with a high Energy, it means that she's confident, magnetic and knows how to gain others' trust.

The Pros
--No more worries about mental dump stats. Energy would modify magical defense DCs and social/perceptive skill bonuses, so it has value for every character.
--No more arguments over differing interpretations of what each mental stat means. More freedom to rp your character's mental ability how you see fit.

The Cons
--Not good for simulationism. I should note that part of my mission statement for the RPG I'm writing is to "roughly reflect reality." As in, your 20th level character will probably die if he falls off a thousand foot precipice just like anyone else, but he can do heroic things like cut a bloody swath through an army of orcs.

Opinions appreciated,
TS

 

[Staffan]

I like multiple different mental stats, but would like them to play a greater role in things.

For example, in 3.5e, the physical stats have value for every character: Dexterity determines initiative, AC, and Reflex saves; Con determines hp and Fortitude saves; and Strength... well, carrying capacity, and most people have to do melee some of the time. The mental stats are less important: Int gives skill points, Wisdom gives Will saves, and Charisma doesn't do much at all. Sure, one of the mental stats is probably going to be important for a spellcaster, but you're probably going to have at least one of them as a dump stat. You'd see plenty of uncharismatic wizards, but not many clumsy or sickly ones.

I kind of like the stat separation in new WoD, where you have physical, mental, and social stats, and in each category you have one "power" stat, one "precision"/"speed" stat, and one "endurance" stat.

So as long as you can figure out mental stats that will impact things as much as Dex and Con will, go for having muliples.

 

[freyar]

I'd say 3 is a minimum, too.

 

[xechnao]

The idea is that Energy represents your character's best brain lobe, so to speak, depending on his/her class and how you rp him/her.

The Cons
--Not good for simulationism.

Why? Why not good for simulationism? Will it be less functional? Or do you believe that with three stats you can reflect reality better instead of what you are describing here?
I believe this Diablo approach can be more functional and even more simulationist - it depends on the setting/game feel you want to create.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Thanks for the opinions, Staffan and freyar.

Why? Why not good for simulationism? Will it be less functional? Or do you believe that with three stats you can reflect reality better instead of what you are describing here?
I believe this Diablo approach can be more functional and even more simulationist - it depends on the setting/game feel you want to create.

You do have a point. I guess I think of the Energy stat as 'bad for simulationism' because simulationists generally want more mechanical definition, rather than less. Or at least, that's been my experience.

Now with that out of the way, do you have an opinion to contribute to my question?

TS

 

[Roman]

I prefer having at least three mental abilities and preferably more. It is a question of granularity of distinction and enables the character to be described mechanically in more precise terms.

 

[xechnao]

I prefer having at least three mental abilities and preferably more. It is a question of granularity of distinction and enables the character to be described mechanically in more precise terms.

Thanks for the opinions, Staffan and freyar.


You do have a point. I guess I think of the Energy stat as 'bad for simulationism' because simulationists generally want more mechanical definition, rather than less. Or at least, that's been my experience.

Now with that out of the way, do you have an opinion to contribute to my question?

TS

My opinion is no mental stats at all. Just fields of skills (ie academics, communication, nature, etch) and rules how these could combine. This approach I believe tends to be the most simulationist because you get to define all the practical differences you want without the need to define some abstract mental abilities.
If one has/knows something special that differentiates from the others (ie close friends with Mrs Smith but community complications, limited in technical practice but excellent in theory) just take it into consideration as it is.

 

[half-dragon dragon]

I find after having read Burning Wheel, that I like mental stats that measure things that aspects of a character that don't particularly relate to training, and having skills fill in for what the character knows and such things. In BW, the only two mental stats are Will and Perception, which to me at least make sense for minimalist inherent mental capabilities.

 

[Set]

GURPS seems to make do with four stats, ST / Strength, DX / Dexterity, HT / Health and IQ / Intelligence.

IQ pretty much covers all skills and uses of intellect, perception and socialization, making it the Int, Wis and Cha for that system (although one can buy Keen Senses or Charisma as Advantages, like Feats, that add to perceptual or social skill checks).

It's do-able, so long as you leave the potential for bonuses or penalties to different sub-categories, so that a player could make a woodsman with keen senses, but awful interpersonal skills, or a drugged-out socialite who'se the exact opposite, being a master of getting people to do stuff but fairly obtuse.

 

[Logos7]

I tend to enjoy 2 or 3 mental stats mostly because thats what i game with, and also it seems like there are some people out there who are smart in different ways than other smart people. there are booksmart people and actual smart people it seems like .

The Int vs Wis vs Cha is a bit of a pain for me because the difference between wis and cha seems arbitrary (the force of your will vs the strength of your will or some such) and this is kinda reflected in late 3.x and 4th edition with feats and stuff that tie your will save to cha instead of will etc.

That said , if your willing to ignore the simulationist gasps, one stat has a lot of advantages.

Its clear what it is, mental vs physical has no where near the fuzziness of smart vs alert vs noticible.

Less fiddly bits allows you to focus on the game rather than making sure that you have two mental stats up to x to get y etc.

hope that helps

L