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=='''Rationale on Skills in ADRPG'''== | =='''Rationale on Skills in ADRPG'''== | ||
− | One of the base concepts in the game is that if an Amberite wants to know how to do something he can go out into shadow and learn it. Drive a car, pilot a plane, juggle, do sleight of hand, cook pasta right, build a house, manage | + | One of the base concepts in the game is that if an Amberite wants to know how to do something he can go out into shadow and learn it. Drive a car, pilot a plane, juggle, do sleight of hand, cook pasta right, build a house, manage a elephant as a mount. They find a shadow and find someone to teach them. Do it awhile, and they can manage it. So Amberites and their ilk can have a wide range of things they know how to do if the need arises. |
However; Learning a skill is not Mastering it. It isn't even being an expert. It isn't necessarily being really good at it. Its being able to do it. | However; Learning a skill is not Mastering it. It isn't even being an expert. It isn't necessarily being really good at it. Its being able to do it. | ||
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*3 pips makes them rare, and there are long lists of people with rare abilities. | *3 pips makes them rare, and there are long lists of people with rare abilities. | ||
*4 pips makes one a virtuoso. | *4 pips makes one a virtuoso. | ||
− | *5 pips is a nearly unique skill coming along once in a generation | + | *5 pips is a nearly unique skill coming along once in a generation. |
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==='''Example-Sewing'''=== | ==='''Example-Sewing'''=== | ||
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Learning how to play the guitar, even spending a couple years in shadow getting good with it, doing shows even, does not make even an Amberite able to show up Jimmy Page on stage. Nor Carlos Santana, Brian May, Muddy Waters, or Johnny Lee Hooker. Certainly not either Jimmy Page or Jimi Hendrix. | Learning how to play the guitar, even spending a couple years in shadow getting good with it, doing shows even, does not make even an Amberite able to show up Jimmy Page on stage. Nor Carlos Santana, Brian May, Muddy Waters, or Johnny Lee Hooker. Certainly not either Jimmy Page or Jimi Hendrix. | ||
− | *Rolling Stone published a list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. | + | *Rolling Stone published a list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. The list is daunting. So call anyone on that list having at least 3 pips in Guitar. This would translate to playing most stringed instruments similar to a guitar, like mandolins, balalaika, Sitars and ukuleles at a 2 pip level, and probably even pianos and harpsichords at a 1 pip level. Familiarity and expertise might also translate to being able to play any musical instrument at least a little. So i'd call anyone on the list at least 3 pips. |
**Anyone in the top 20 might be 4 pip guitarists. | **Anyone in the top 20 might be 4 pip guitarists. | ||
**5 Pip Players: Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendricx, Eric Clapton, Kieth Richards, B.B. King, and George Harrison are all 5 pip players. | **5 Pip Players: Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendricx, Eric Clapton, Kieth Richards, B.B. King, and George Harrison are all 5 pip players. | ||
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==='''Languages'''=== | ==='''Languages'''=== | ||
− | Thari is the base language of Amber as well as Chaos. As Amberites travel they pick up languages pretty | + | Thari is the base language of Amber as well as Chaos. As Amberites travel they pick up languages pretty easily. If they spend a significant amount of time in a shadow they can pick up languages easily. But even a few years does not make them experts in nuance and the history of the development of a language. |
− | *1 pip makes a person an expert in dialects, accents, | + | *1 pip makes a person an expert in dialects, accents, variations, slang, and jargon come easy to them. |
*2 pips makes one speak like a native. Few detect their speech as learned | *2 pips makes one speak like a native. Few detect their speech as learned | ||
*3 pips is a scholarly understanding of the language in it historical context. Able to to expound on the detail of the language with native scholars. | *3 pips is a scholarly understanding of the language in it historical context. Able to to expound on the detail of the language with native scholars. | ||
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*4 pips include the behavior from 3 pips but also include using them as weapons and to punctuate conversations. A 4 pip skill dominates the PC's life. | *4 pips include the behavior from 3 pips but also include using them as weapons and to punctuate conversations. A 4 pip skill dominates the PC's life. | ||
*5 Pips.....is obsessive. | *5 Pips.....is obsessive. | ||
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Players express themselves in these skills. A person with a pip in motorcycle and a pip in pool means that they are more likely to ride a motorcycle then a horse and are more likely to be found around a pool table if someone goes looking for them. | Players express themselves in these skills. A person with a pip in motorcycle and a pip in pool means that they are more likely to ride a motorcycle then a horse and are more likely to be found around a pool table if someone goes looking for them. | ||
It gives a lot of spin in character creation and development. It has given players a chance to think about what direction they want their PC to go. In general they have spent 2 to 4 pips either in one skill or in a small collection. More then that starts making me question their devotion to a particular skill. I generally don't allow more then one 3 pip skill at the start. As game play goes on if they make a particular effort at using that skill I may at some point let them take a 4th pip. I've yet to let a PC allocate to a 5 pip skill. They would have to be really dedicated to making it a big part of who the PC is, how he reacts, and what people think of them. | It gives a lot of spin in character creation and development. It has given players a chance to think about what direction they want their PC to go. In general they have spent 2 to 4 pips either in one skill or in a small collection. More then that starts making me question their devotion to a particular skill. I generally don't allow more then one 3 pip skill at the start. As game play goes on if they make a particular effort at using that skill I may at some point let them take a 4th pip. I've yet to let a PC allocate to a 5 pip skill. They would have to be really dedicated to making it a big part of who the PC is, how he reacts, and what people think of them. | ||
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=='''Skills from the GM point of view'''== | =='''Skills from the GM point of view'''== | ||
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*1 pip in motorcycles means down the line they run afoul of a biker gang. | *1 pip in motorcycles means down the line they run afoul of a biker gang. | ||
*1 pip of poker tricks and they might get in a big card game with high power cheats. | *1 pip of poker tricks and they might get in a big card game with high power cheats. | ||
− | *3 Pips in Sculpture means their home will be filled with their work. They will be fiercely protective of their work space. They might be interested in a series of games to find powerful | + | *3 Pips in Sculpture means their home will be filled with their work. They will be fiercely protective of their work space. They might be interested in a series of games to find powerful material to work or powerful tool. Also, they might have to deal with powerful thieve stealing their favorite creations. |
− | Since as a GM i have a general idea what skills the elders have it gives me a hook for getting the PCs involved. A PC is fanatical about horses with a 3 pip skill, then he might work well with Julian. 2 pips in cooking? Maybe she and Flora would get along. A pip in guitar, maybe she and Corwin can sing duets. So i learn a bit about the player's interests in what they hope to see in what | + | Since as a GM i have a general idea what skills the elders have it gives me a hook for getting the PCs involved. A PC is fanatical about horses with a 3 pip skill, then he might work well with Julian. 2 pips in cooking? Maybe she and Flora would get along. A pip in guitar, maybe she and Corwin can sing duets. So i learn a bit about the player's interests in what they hope to see in what i their game too. |
=='''Skill Examples'''== | =='''Skill Examples'''== | ||
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*An '''professional pool player''' unable to get a game from someone unwilling to lose. Willie Moscone, Effen Reyes, | *An '''professional pool player''' unable to get a game from someone unwilling to lose. Willie Moscone, Effen Reyes, | ||
*A '''legendary juggler''' able to juggle an alligator, a tiger, and a hamster while singing Opera and tightrope walking. | *A '''legendary juggler''' able to juggle an alligator, a tiger, and a hamster while singing Opera and tightrope walking. | ||
− | *'''Epic Surgeon'''. John Heysham Gibbon ''(first open heart surgery)'', Christiaan Barnard ''(first heart transplantation)'', Calow Bruce-Nu Yark- ''(Creator of experimental cyberware.)'' | + | *'''Epic Surgeon'''. John Heysham Gibbon ''(first open heart surgery)'', Christiaan Barnard ''(first heart transplantation)'', Calow Bruce-Nu Yark- ''(Creator of experimental cyberware.)'', Adrian of Mandalay (Surgical Power Crystal Implantation) |
*'''Language Final Authority-Creator of a cohesive language-Linguistic theory'''. JRR Tolkien-Elvish/Dwrvish. Ferdinand de Saussure-Developmen of Linguistics and symbolism. Noam Chomsky- Universal grammar, [[Tolknor]] Scripter-Psychohistory of Language | *'''Language Final Authority-Creator of a cohesive language-Linguistic theory'''. JRR Tolkien-Elvish/Dwrvish. Ferdinand de Saussure-Developmen of Linguistics and symbolism. Noam Chomsky- Universal grammar, [[Tolknor]] Scripter-Psychohistory of Language | ||
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=='''Shadow Shaving'''== | =='''Shadow Shaving'''== | ||
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Shadow Walking is an extremely specialized ability. It is the ability to concentrate on a very precise set of shadow parameters including details such as time ratios, minor changes in the time-line, addition or elimination of particular events, minor changes in details of places and individuals. | Shadow Walking is an extremely specialized ability. It is the ability to concentrate on a very precise set of shadow parameters including details such as time ratios, minor changes in the time-line, addition or elimination of particular events, minor changes in details of places and individuals. | ||
− | <span style=color:blue> | + | <span style=color:blue><big>*The greater the pattern imprint allows for reaching a chosen destination at a quicker rate. <big></span> |
+ | <span style=color:blue><big>*The more skill points a shadow walker has in ''Shadow Shaving'', the greater amount of detail that can be added to arrive at a more precise place in the same amount of time. <big></span> | ||
− | + | ==='''''Example'''''=== | |
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− | ==='''''Example'''''=== | ||
===='''Normal Shadow Walker and a Normal Destination'''==== | ===='''Normal Shadow Walker and a Normal Destination'''==== | ||
*I walk to a water rich world with blue skies and warm weather. | *I walk to a water rich world with blue skies and warm weather. | ||
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*The technological age should be a sword age. | *The technological age should be a sword age. | ||
− | + | <span style=color:blue>Basic Imprint: Distance 36 miles. 9 hours of walking at 4 miles per hour, 3 hours of riding a horse at a cantor of 12 miles per hour, 1 hour and 12 minutes of riding a horse at a gallop of 30 mph. 24 minutes riding a motorcycle at 90 mph</span> | |
− | + | <span style=color:red>Advanced Imprint: Distance 18 miles. 4 hours & 30 minutes of walking at 4 miles per hour, 90 minutes of riding a horse at a cantor of 12 miles per hour, 1 hour and 12 minutes of riding a horse at a gallop of 30 mph. 12 minutes riding a motorcycle at 90 mph</span> | |
− | + | <span style=color:Green>Master Imprint: Distance 9 miles. 2 hours & 15 minutes of walking at 4 miles per hour, 45 minutes of riding a horse at a cantor of 12 miles per hour, 36 minutes of riding a horse at a gallop of 30 mph. 6 minutes riding a motorcycle at 90 mph)</span> | |
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===='''1 Pip in Shadow Shaving''':==== | ===='''1 Pip in Shadow Shaving''':==== | ||
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*Foods span the nations and there is an active fusion of food styles despite the nationalities that amounts to a peaceful exchange even among warring nations. Keeping of pets is common and one nation is reviled for its practice of using pet animals as a food source. | *Foods span the nations and there is an active fusion of food styles despite the nationalities that amounts to a peaceful exchange even among warring nations. Keeping of pets is common and one nation is reviled for its practice of using pet animals as a food source. | ||
*Specific Time relations available in adjacent shadows. | *Specific Time relations available in adjacent shadows. | ||
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===='''4 Pips in Shadow Shaving''': ==== | ===='''4 Pips in Shadow Shaving''': ==== | ||
*All the above but specific social trends can be altered | *All the above but specific social trends can be altered | ||
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===='''5 Pips in Shadow Shaving''': ==== | ===='''5 Pips in Shadow Shaving''': ==== | ||
The Devil is in the Details | The Devil is in the Details | ||
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