newbie with some questions.....

[Lucien Black]

Greetings, and on with the inquisition:

1)  What is the upper limit a PC can gain for proficiency in a weapon?  I assume there is one?

2)  How low can your skills go?  Is 3 the limit, or can you take it down to a 2 or a 1?

3)  Are further supplements going to include any expansions for the unarmed combat rules?  I ask because I have a campaign setting idea in the works that I had originally intended for the d20 system with tweaks to make it more dangerous and realistic (anyone familiar with Kenneth Hood's Grim n Gritty HP rules?), but since TROS does that so perfectly, I'd rather go with TROS.  However, the setting requires a great deal of unarmed combat-- the world is essentialy a desert world, with very scarce minerals for making weapons.  The primary weapons are specially treated glass daggers and your own body and mind (psionics-- if I can figure out how to do them in the TROS system-- I want them less deadly and dangerous than Magic, which in this setting is exceptionally powerful and rare, another reason I want to use TROS).  There are also bone weapons and such, but the culture favors the unarmed attack, or the dagger (yes, I'm stealing and adapting ideas from several different sources that many can probably guess-- go ahead, guess!)  So, to repeat (since I got long winded), are there going to be any expansions for unarmed martial arts?

Thanks for your time!!

Lucien Black

[Shadeling]

As the book states, the lowest skill rating is 3. During character generation, max Proficiency level is 8.

[Jake Norwood]

Yes, The Flower of Battle, due out next year, will have much more on unarmed combat.

Sounds fun.

Jake

[Lucien Black]

Thanks Shadeling, Jake.  Good to hear about the Flower of Battle.  I fear I was a little unclear with my question concerning Proficiency levels:  I meant, what is the maximum possible to attain, given a lifetime of training and experience?  The sort of level that legends and myths are written about.  In other words, post character generation.

Just in case I decide to come up with an NPC who has actually achieved such a level....  *evil grin*  Not that the PC's would meet such a one in combat for quite some time, of course.

Lucien Black

[Jake Norwood]

Thanks Shadeling, Jake.  Good to hear about the Flower of Battle.  I fear I was a little unclear with my question concerning Proficiency levels:  I meant, what is the maximum possible to attain, given a lifetime of training and experience?  The sort of level that legends and myths are written about.  In other words, post character generation.

Just in case I decide to come up with an NPC who has actually achieved such a level....  *evil grin*  Not that the PC's would meet such a one in combat for quite some time, of course.

Lucien Black

Well, there isn't "technically" a limit to proficiencies. Go as high as you like.

That being said, proficiencies cost as much as the current level to reach the next in SA points. Since you can only have 25 SAs total (27 if you're from Fahal), that limits your profiency growth to 26 or 28. A character could, over time, develop a CP of 36 (or 38) by developing their AG and Wit (I think a Fey could pull it higher, too), but that's unlikely in actual play.

Hope that helps.

Jake

[Brian Leybourne]

Lucien,

Sounds like an interesting setting.

Psionics-wise, I actually don't see it as being that difficult to model under the TROS system. I was having thoughts along related lines while I was thinking about Star Wars in TROS (which seems to fit quite well given lightsaber combat etc).

I never got around to fleshing anything out, other projects keep getting in the way, but it seemed clear that the easiest thing to do was come up with a bunch of powers and rate each one on a scale of 1-3. This way, it can just nicely slot into the sorcery system in the place of vagaries (and you keep the concept of novice, apprentice, master) and the proficiency/vagary priority points can stay as they are etc.

Amusingly enough, while I was having these thoughts, I started playing Jedi Knight 2 on my PC, which lets you buy force powers in ranks of 1-3, and I could see the possibility almost direct conversions in some cases.

So stick with it, and of course, let us know what you come up with!

Brian.

[Apprentice of Steel]

course in theory (though its a gen a new char situ)
a character could achieve the knowledge of the riddle,

at that point pools effectivly would be as many as it takes as they fear no foe,

[Lucien Black]

Thanks for the kind words Brian.  And Jake, thanks for the clarification.

Brian, that idea is almost exactly what I've been considering doing.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to purchase the book yet, due to lack of funding (been out of work, only recently started getting an income again).  I've been able to look at the copy that some of my d20 players have, and even had an opportunity to briefly play with a pregen in a one shot that one of them ran.  I had to leave midsession however, just as I was getting into the character (and getting ready to have some fun with the bad temper flaw.. hehe). :(

One thing I'll have to watch is the power level of psionics in general.  I want it to have some *oomph,*  but not enough to give magic a proper challenge, with the possible exception of traditional psionic areas (telepathy, clairvoyance, etc.).  Will have to think on that.  Another option I've considered is using skills to represent certain psionic abilities (ok, so that's a blatant steal from Star Wars d20 and it's copiers).  Perhaps both?  Will have to look at it.  Sorry, I'm starting to ramble.

Anyway, now that I have an income, I just need to convince my local gaming store to order me a copy (I like to support him, or I'd consider doing it online).  Then I can get to work on it!  I don't suppose there's anyway of getting a sneak peek at the new unarmed combat rules?  Pretty please??

Thanks all
Lucien