Skilled Characters

[Rich H]

Yes I believe this is the most intuitive way to handle it; and the easiest without worrying about changing TNs or math or probabilities etc.

Remember that the thread is also discussing the ease of hitting TNs for common skills when you get ratings of 4 or 5 so there's also that to consider as well as Shadow Point accrual as well.

To summarise for us all, we have so far discussed:

1) The speed that APs are awarded

2) The speed that XPs are awarded

3) Regardless of speed, TNs are seen by some as unchallenging when ratings in skills/weapon skills/Valour/Wisdom start hitting ratings of 4+

4) Increase TNs on common skill tests across the board or scale up the higher TNs so they are harder and therefore still challenging for more experienced PCs

5) Change the Heal Corruption undertaking so that it only reduces Shadow by 1, 2 and 3 points rather than 2, 4, and 6.

6) Make it so that Corruption tests result in Shadow Point gain even when the test is successfully passed - ie, succeeding merely reduces the amount but doesn't negate it altogether.

Other elements have been discussed but those are the ones that really stick in the mind for me as the major points.

[SirKicley]

The speed of APs gained and thus the speed at which skill tests become nearly moot is based on individual taste, preferences, and playstyle.


So too is the speed of earned XP, and the advancement of WISDOM / VALOR and the tests affiliated thereof.



Bottom line - i don't feel there needs to be any "rules" governing this - it's a matter of personal preference; so long as there is transparency in what will result in too fast vs too slow of such advancement. I like that there are no hard fast black and white on this - as it allows the freedom of preference without having to go outside RAW.


Many players of other RPGs love "high-level" play - so have at it. Advance fast, throw some dragons, and powerful trolls and giants, and Nazgul, and uber Agmarrins or Uruk-hai orcs, and have power game fun adventure. Others like myself prefer character growth to be seen in the form of storylines, accomplishments, acquaintances/relationships, etc. Thus I prefer a slower method of advancement to allow for more stories to develop; it allows longer time before the LM/GM/DM throws up his hands and says "you all are too powerful lets start over with a new character" (which always happens in D&D around 12th level). Finally there are those who either don't know the perfect balance and prefer a nice middle ground - who can turn to this board for advice when their own results are not ideal (yet).

For my games, I have established a very consistent methodology for allocating APs, which my one other player who has been LMing, has adopted for his own game. This has resulted with about 3-4 per game and about 7-10 per Adventuring Phase - not enough IMO to break the game too quickly.

I also award 1 XP per game session across the board - and one 1 XP extra for each Fellowship Phase the the player actively partakes in. So given that approximately every 3rd session is a Fellowship phase (6 hour sessions), that's 4 XP every three games; again - not fast enough to break the game.

As a side note - it's not unlikely that a player will have a couple of 4s in their skills after a few Fellowship Phases; so that means that there will be a couple of skills he excels at - but there are still plenty of holes in the character's portfolio that have no skills or only 1. The LMs need to be cognizant of this, and ensure that their games are not being run catering to only a handful of skills. Spread around the skill-tests, and give some love to a number of different skills. Use variety. Characters that do not diversify will find areas that are difficult for them, EVEN if they have two or three skills with 4 points in it. There are 18 or so skills. If a character excels at 3, there are still probably 6-8 that he can barely accomplish even with TN 14. With no skill ranks, that means a success ONLY on a STAFF result (barring no Hope expenditure).

Robert

[Rich H]

Nice one, fella, I'm of the same opinion as you. My game doesn't appear broken in those ways either so won't be making any alterations.

Just wanted to summarise for others!

[SirKicley]

Nice one, fella, I'm of the same opinion as you. My game doesn't appear broken in those ways either so won't be making any alterations.

Yeah I've actually wished on a number of occasions that we resided closer; as I feel our game style preferences would be an ideal match and our games would be the better for each others' inclusion therein.


Robert

[Rich H]

Nice one, fella, I'm of the same opinion as you. My game doesn't appear broken in those ways either so won't be making any alterations.

Yeah I've actually wished on a number of occasions that we resided closer; as I feel our game style preferences would be an ideal match and our games would be the better for each others' inclusion therein.


Robert

That's a really nice thing to say Robert. Thank you. You're certainly one of the guys on here that I'd really like to game with, others too. There are some great people on here. I'd really I've to try and organise a dedicated TOR convention if I could - a weekend of gaming and socialising. Went to a couple of Ambercon's and they were awesome. I think a TOR one would be even better.

[DavetheLost]

Looking at his issue from the perspective of the novels we have two tracks of character ability progression. One is the hobbits, the other is everyone else.

The hobbits all start out with very low skills and abilities, but in about a year of adventuring they become seasoned adventurers. The other characters all start out as competent adventurers if not outright heroes and remain that way.

Merry and Pippen struggle to kill even a single Orc, Boromir slays a score or more before he finally falls "pierced with many arrows". Aragorn, Thorin and Gandalf cleave goblins with merry abandon with their magic swords, then go one to become kings and advisors to kings.

Do you want to play characters who are Sam, Bilbo, Pippin and Merry or do you want to play as Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and Boromir?

[DavetheLost]

"It is the Loremaster's duty to judge whether a hero deserves an Advancement Point or not" LMG p30
"... it is always up to the Loremaster to judge whether a hero should get an Advancement point or not." LMG p31

The second point in a group should only be awarded when something out of he ordinary has been accomplished, and the third should require something exceptional.

All the rest of the rules are guidelines to help the LM decide whether an AP should be awarded or not. There is never a requirement than an AP be awarded, no matter how well the player rolls. If the LM doesn't feel the action deserves an AP, that's it. No AP is awarded.

So, how rapidly the characters advance is entirely up to the LM to decide. Players can ask for an AP when they feel it is appropriate, but the LM is always free to say "No. That action does not merit an AP at this time."