[TSoY] Ability categories 1st vs. revised

[Matt Snyder]

In the first edition, Clinton organized abilities into categories (for example, the Craft Abilities category, which included Haggling, Fine Crafts, Rough Crafts, and Complex Crafts). Players prioritized these catgories, and when they earned an advance, they could increase 1-3 abilities in the category depending on its priority.

But, in the revised edition, the categories exist, but I believe they are merely organizational titles. Players purchase advances for individual abilities only.

So, my questions to Clinton are: Can you explain a bit about why this was a revision? I'm interested in using the Categories in a way that's much closer to the 1st edition method. Did you find this problematic in play? Or, did you just "like" the more straightforward advance system better? Was it an issue of currency, where revised characters have fewer skill levels, for example?

[Clinton R. Nixon]

In the first edition, Clinton organized abilities into categories (for example, the Craft Abilities category, which included Haggling, Fine Crafts, Rough Crafts, and Complex Crafts). Players prioritized these catgories, and when they earned an advance, they could increase 1-3 abilities in the category depending on its priority.

But, in the revised edition, the categories exist, but I believe they are merely organizational titles. Players purchase advances for individual abilities only.

So, my questions to Clinton are: Can you explain a bit about why this was a revision? I'm interested in using the Categories in a way that's much closer to the 1st edition method. Did you find this problematic in play? Or, did you just "like" the more straightforward advance system better? Was it an issue of currency, where revised characters have fewer skill levels, for example?

It was a lot of issues, but mainly this one: the 1st edition version was unjustifiable. It served no mechanical purpose beside acting as a brake on character progression. When I eliminated the need for that brake, then there was no need for the categories. I left the organizational titles for posterity's sake.

Other notes:
- The categories will not really work out with the newer ability system. You could make abilities cost more if they aren't in an A category, but that would be another brake, which I can't recommend.
- Requiring that someone raise three abilities when they just wanted to raise one was frustrating in play.

[Matt Snyder]

Ok, thanks. I suspected it was something along those lines. Here's what I'm working towards:

I wanted to give each of five possible "ranks" some utiltity and identity. For example, I wanted Rooks to have stealthier tendencies than, say, Knights.

Now, I already plan on doing that via Secrets and Keys (and Pawns -- they're new and very swank). And, maybe that's enough. But, I was toying with the means to do it with the categories. I was going to hybridize the two versions, but I think I'm going to step back and re-think, simply offering special Abilities, Secrets, and Keys to each rank type.

FYI, players can choose one of five ranks (Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, or King) and one of four+ houses or guilds (Grimm, Magirious, Clockworkers, Fleshworkers, possibly more).

More questions as I think of them!