Never post again to a closed thread. I have split this post into a thread of its own, but I could just as easily have sent it to the Inactive File. Next post of your that defies my moderation will indeed go there, and possibly any further posts regardless of content.
Discussion of Legends of Lanasia is welcome to continue here.
Best,
Ron
QuoteOf course, that comment from the last player (about making the "right" choices) sounds a little metagamish/munchkiny. If so, he's not going to be happy until he figures out the system and how to exploit its weaknesses
Just to clarify this point:
That player was me, and I was not intending it in a metagamey way.
What I meant was that because I had a limited understanding of how task resolution worked in LoL, I didn't know how these talents would come into play. I felt like I didn't know what substituting Tactics for Luck would play out like in an ingame situation.
I think the problem, if it is indeed a problem, is that talents are very hinged on replacing different ingame values, at a very "technical" level. It made it hard to understand the practical implications of my choice.
Because talents are "what makes my character unique", understanding my choice was crucial, IMO.
Hi!
OK, it's a littl long, but here goes:
Talents
Use your imagination to devise a new Talent that best describes their character's special qualities. Talents cannot be added to skill rolls. Not even indirectly like adding to an attack roll. Talents cannot add to Abilities either. Below we will describe each of the current Talent mechanics:
Skill Replacement Instead of rolling using one of the listed skills, you will roll using the Talent. These Talents should be specialized versions of existing skills (fencing for instance). In order to balance these Talents, it is necessary to allow players to add the Skill Modifiers for two abilities (Strength and Prowess for instance) and the Talent should count as two points of skill for each level of Talent. Finally, the Talent roll should be modified based on the following table:
Talent Scope ModifierSpecialized (Talent can only be used in limited situations) Roll, plus two Ability Skill Mods, plus two times the Talent, Talent can also negate one group of skill penalties up to the level of the Talent
Broad (Talent is limited, but could still be worked into many situations) Roll, plus two Ability Skill Mods, plus two times the Talent, Talent can also negate one specific skill penalty up to the level of the Talent
General (Talent can be used in almost any situation) Roll, plus two Ability Skill Mods, plus two times the Talent, no other special modifiers
Note: Consider the scope of the Talent from the perspective of the character's profession. For instance, Fencing might be specialized for a Librarian and General for a Mercenary.
Example: Fencing – This Talent comes into play any time a character is wielding a sword in combat (Melee or Slashing swords included). For most characters, this would be considered Broad. So the character would roll two dice, add their Prowess and Perception Skill Modifiers and two times their Fencing Talent. Since this is a Broad Talent, the character can also negate Initiative Penalties up to an amount equal to their Talent.
Re-Rolls The level of your Talent will allow a specific number of re-rolls to an existing skill over a specific amount of time. Typically this type of Talent allows one re-roll per level of Talent per day of Game Time (the time the character experiences, not the time the player experiences). Base the way the re-rolls are handled from the following table
Talent Scope ModifierSpecialized (Talent can only be used in limited situations) Character can use whichever roll (old or new) that is more beneficial
Broad (Talent is limited, but could still be worked into many situations) Character must take the new roll, even if it is worse
General (Talent can be used in almost any situation) Character must take the new roll, even if it is worse. Characters cannot re-roll Unmodified 2's
Note: Consider the scope of the Talent from the perspective of the character's profession. For instance, Pottery would be General for an Artisan and Specialized for a Librarian.
Example: Disarm – Characters use this Talent to overcome traps. Since this is so specialized, characters can re-roll any attempt to detect or disarm traps and take whichever roll is more beneficial a number of times per day equal to their Disarm Talent.
Penalty Negation You might be able to reduce Difficulty penalties for an existing skill, based on your level of Talent. Normally, a character can negate a number of difficulty modifiers equal to their Talent. The penalties that can be negated, depend on the scope of the Talent:
Talent Scope ModifierSpecialized (Talent can only be used in limited situations) Characters can negate most penalties for a specific skill
Broad (Talent is limited, but could still be worked into many situations) Characters can negate a group of penalties for a specific skill
General (Talent can be used in almost any situation) Characters can negate a specific penalty for a specific skill
Note: Consider the scope of the Talent from the perspective of the character's profession. For instance, Authority would be General for a Constable and Specialized for a Farmer.
Example: Authority – Authority negates penalties equal to their Talent for Intimidation.
Non-Skill Roll Bonuses A Talent might affect things that cannot be influenced by skill rolls (Initiative for example). Use the table below to see what values can be affected by which Talents:
Talent Scope ModifierSpecialized (Talent can only be used in limited situations) Can even be used to modify numbers that have a limited range of values (e.g., Rec or Magic Resistance)
Broad (Talent is limited, but could still be worked into many situations) Can only be used to modify numbers that have a wide or moderate range of values (e.g., Defense or Move)
General (Talent can be used in almost any situation) Can only be used to modify numbers that have a wide range of values (e.g., Stun or Init)
Note: Consider the scope of the Talent from the perspective of the character's profession. For instance, Dueling would be General for a Gladiator and Specialized for a Librarian.
Example: Dueling – This Talent allows the character to add their Talent to their Defense when fighting with a single one-handed weapon and no shield.
Luck Replacement A Talent might act like luck point in regard to an existing skill. Use the table below to determine how these pseudo-luck points can be used.
Talent Scope ModifierSpecialized (Talent can only be used in limited situations) Character can declare how much luck is being spent before or after the dice are rolled. Each point spent turns a failure to a success or adds a number of points to the roll equal to the level of the Talent
Broad (Talent is limited, but could still be worked into many situations) Character can declare how much luck is being spent before or after the dice are rolled
General (Talent can be used in almost any situation) Character must declare how much luck is being spent before the dice are rolled
Note: Consider the scope of the Talent from the perspective of the character's profession. For instance, Pilot would be General for a Sailor and Specialized for a Librarian.
Example: Diplomacy – This Talent allows the character to use their Talent level as Luck points on all Persuasion rolls. This Talent is Broad, the character can decide before or after the dice are rolled.
Build and Spend A Talent can also work by allowing you to build special feats and then use those feats by spending points based on the level of your Talent. Magic and Prayer use a similar system.
Example: Martial Arts – This Talent replaces the unarmed skill. Character's can learn a Martial Arts attack, even if they cannot afford the Build cost of it and once they learn it, they do not forget it. Characters declaring a Martial Arts Attack Type gain a +1 Initiative. The character's attack must have a Build Cost equal to or less than your Martial Arts Talent Level. When attacking with Martial Arts, players will roll two dice, add the skill modifier for Prowess, two times their Talent and the accuracy of the Martial Arts attack used this round.
Martial Arts Build Costs
Stat----------------Base--Cost Per
Accuracy------------1-------1
Damage-------------1-------1 per 2 Damage
Shock----------------1-------1
Stun-------------------0-------1
Range Attack------No-----1
Range Increment--0-------1
Minimum Reach---1------(-1)
Maximum Reach--1-------1
Note: The Build cost is zero (0) for a base attack and reducing the values refund points (i.e., -1 Stun reduces the Build Cost by one point)
Chop
Cost: 1
Acc: 0
DMG: 1
Shock: 2
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 1
Knuckle Punch
Cost: 2
Acc: 1
DMG: 5
Shock: 1
Stun Mod: 0
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 1
Combo punch
Cost: 3
Acc: 1
DMG: 3
Shock: 2
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 1
Jump Kick
Cost: 4
Acc: 2
DMG: 3
Shock: 1
Stun Mod: +0
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 3
Qi Punch
Cost: 5
Acc: 1
DMG: 1
Shock: 5
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 1
Tiger Claw
Cost: 6
Acc: 1
DMG: 7
Shock: 1
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 3
Qi Kick
Cost: 7
Acc: 2
DMG: 7
Shock: 2
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 2
Flying Jump Kick
Cost: 8
Acc: 1
DMG: 5
Shock: 3
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 2
Max Reach: 5
Vital Point
Cost: 9
Acc: 1
DMG: 3
Shock: 8
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: N/A
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 1
Qi attack
Cost: 10
Acc: 1
DMG: 1
Shock: 7
Stun Mod: +1
Range/Range Increment: 2
Min Reach: 1
Max Reach: 1
Sorry about the length.
Also, I wasn't trying to call you out Joe and I knew you didn't mean it in a powergamer context. My guess is with Joe is that he hasn;t read much of my book and hasn't actually played yet, so the meaning of some of these potential abilities are not toally clear.
So, this is the complete text on Talent creation. you think it needs better examples, more drive from me to get these slackers to read the book (or at least this part of it) or something else?