Opend20: Attributes and Skill Families
Almost every system uses Characteristics to help define/create a character (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma are the standard D20 characteristics). At the current time, OD20 is to be a characteristic-less system.
The main reasons for this are:
a) Characteristics are so broad as to be a hinderance in some character designs (a character might have ledendary balancing skills, but extremely poor hand-eye coordination. You have to go out of your way to design a character who has 'high' and 'low' dexterity)
b) Characteristics are so vague as to be confusing for some players (the 'mental' characteristics often overlap, particularly Cha and Wis. The name 'wisdom' often leads to disputes about intelligence checks).
Instead, OD20 uses a system of attributes derived from ranks in skills.
Skills are divided into the following groups:
| Athletics | Manipulation | Combat |
| Strength | Device | Defense |
| Forgery | ||
| Balance | Heal (+Know) | Charge |
| Climb | Open Locks | Dodge (+Athl) |
| Dodge (+Comb) | Sleight (+Stealth) | Escape (+Athl) |
| Escape (+Comb) | <play instrument> | Fast Draw |
| Ride | Use Rope | Heavy Weapons |
| Tumble | Grapple | |
| Swim | Perception | Manoeuvre (Trip/Throw) |
| Multidexterity | ||
| Communication | Appraise (+Know) | Sunder |
| <Detect> | <Weapon> | |
| Animal | Lip Reading | <Weapon> |
| Bluff | Listen | |
| Bureaucratics | Search | Perks |
| Diplomacy | Sense Motive | |
| Gather Information | Track (+Stealth) | <Access |
| Intimidate | Trail (+Stealth) | <Contacts> |
| Orate | <Membership> | |
| Patter(Fast Talk) | Stealth | <Reputation> |
| <Perform> | <Wealth> | |
| Streetwise (+Know) | Disguise (+Know) | |
| Obfuscate | Powers | |
| Knowledge | Sleight (+Mani) | |
| Sneak | Dampen/Dispel | |
| Alchemy | Track (+Perc) | Enchant |
| Decipher | Trail (+Perc) | Resist |
| Disguise (Stealth) | Ritual/Ceremony | |
| Heal (+Mani) | Spellcraft | |
| <Language> | Use Magic Device | |
| <Profession> | ||
| Streetwise (+Comm) | ||
| ______________________ | ______________________ | _________________ |
Skill implies a derived Attribute (the only ones so far are movement and defense).
<Skill> implies that the skill can be taken multiple times, with each instance of the skill applying to a new set, e.g. knowledge<arcana>.
A character can place a maximum of (4 + character level) ranks in any skill (this is one higher than the current D20 system). Whenever a character has 5 ranks in a skill, they receive a +1 synergy bonus to the attribute associated with that skill.
So, for example, taking five ranks in knowledge:arcana at first level will give a character a knowledge score of 1, +6 to knowledge:arcana roles and +1 to all other knowledge checks.
This is functionally very similar to a character with an Intelligence of 12 and 5 ranks in knowledge:arcana. Why change this from the current D20 system? Well, for one thing, 'knowledge' is much more well defined than 'intelligence'. Academics are still arguing over exactly what 'intelligence' is, so it's not a very useful term to use in a game.
Futhermore, many players have wizards running around with an Intelligence score of 18 or higher. But most of them can't accurately roleplay a genius - and most of them aren't trying. They just want their wizard to be able to cast spells as effectively as possible.
The solution to this problem is: instead of skills being dependent on characteristics, make attributes dependent on skills. This way, the game maintains elegant simplicity and becomes more focussed on the individual needs of the character.
