tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post453917588768623708..comments2024-03-26T01:17:49.256+00:00Comments on Roles, Rules, and Rolls: One-Nerd Character SheetsRoger G-Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-42016888269976949362012-10-11T11:38:05.541+01:002012-10-11T11:38:05.541+01:00I ran a game based on the League of Extraordinary ...I ran a game based on the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen where most of the players were new and/or not accustomed to 3rd Edition D&D (so they weren't used to number crunching). In order to promote a sense of immersion, I used a system none of them had played before (Alternity) and asked them to write character descriptions with an emphasis on their powers and abilities. Then I made two character sheets for each: one with numbers for myself, and one without for the player. The player's copy had descriptions to indicate the character's relative level of skill/ability/power.<br /><br />It worked like a charm. The players rolled dice when I asked them to, and I could reference the result against my copy of the character sheet to determine success or failure. The players quickly learned which actions would likely lead to success and which wouldn't, based on the context of the situation and the results of the dice rolls.<br /><br />I would recommend this approach to anyone who's trying to introduce the game to new players. Create a chart of descriptors that can relate back to skills and abilities. That way the player has a reference point: i.e. the fighter is an "apprentice" in the use of daggers, but a "master" in the use of the longsword. Given a choice between the two, the player should pick the longsword and should see the results when the dice are rolled (she hits more often with the longsword than the dagger). The same principle applies across the board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-54479851573112250202012-10-08T19:15:28.781+01:002012-10-08T19:15:28.781+01:00Running off six-page 4E character sheets has proba...Running off six-page 4E character sheets has probably cost me at least one ink cartridge this year alone.WQRobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436898737750581192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-44889627104075957952012-10-08T14:29:42.143+01:002012-10-08T14:29:42.143+01:00For Basic Papers & Paychecks?For Basic <a href="http://apaladinincitadel.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/papers-and-paychecks-rpg.html" rel="nofollow">Papers & Paychecks</a>?Roger G-Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-17505362699142734682012-10-08T13:11:23.572+01:002012-10-08T13:11:23.572+01:00Very nice. I love the 52 page RPG, too, from what...Very nice. I love the 52 page RPG, too, from what i've seen.<br /><br />Having said that, I am now very tempted to strip a 1040EZ of its text and make that a character sheet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-90776393841770671942012-10-07T16:34:03.447+01:002012-10-07T16:34:03.447+01:00The math scares a lot of newcomers.
I like your ap...The math scares a lot of newcomers.<br />I like your approach, players in our group use a character builder to handle the math.<br /><br />I tend to start of newcomers at a lower level in an intro adventure. A simpler character sheet would be good, so they don't get scared off.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07553566390465880784noreply@blogger.com