Char-Gen: Aliens Notable/Weak Characteristic

[E.T.Smith]

My reading of the alien section of character generation is that, if the species has a Notable or Weak attribute, the roll generating that attribute is raised or lowered by 2. Thus a species with a Notable Strength who rolled a 7 who have an actual Str of 9.

However, over in this rpg.net thread of Traveller char-gen examples, it has been claimed "the racial modifiers are simply DM modifiers that apply to all rolls with that stat, and not modifiers to the actual stat." In other words, the Notable DM is applied to every roll using that Attribute in play, not when generating during char-gen. I've re-read the relevant rules section and can sort of see that interpretation, but it still seems unlikely (and cumbersome). So, which is it?

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

I read it as a DM and an alteration to the maximum for the stat for the race.

So a +2 gets +2 DM on throws and the maximum characteristic is raised from 15 to 17 for the race.

I could be wrong though :lol:

 

[simonh]

I could be wrong though :lol:

I'm sure that's right. The get the modifier when rolling for the characteristic, not when rolling for tasks using it. Otherwise they wouldn't actually be notably dextrous, strong, etc because they wouldn't have all the advantages conferred by having a high characteristic, e.g. greater resilience to damage.

Simon Hibbs

 

[E.T.Smith]

I read it as a DM and an alteration to the maximum for the stat for the race. So a +2 gets +2 DM on throws and the maximum characteristic is raised from 15 to 17 for the race.

Do you mean +2 on the throw to generate the attribute, or +2 on throws using the attribute it play after it has been generated? That's the crux of the question.

 

[-Daniel-]

I read it as a DM and an alteration to the maximum for the stat for the race. So a +2 gets +2 DM on throws and the maximum characteristic is raised from 15 to 17 for the race.

Do you mean +2 on the throw to generate the attribute, or +2 on throws using the attribute it play after it has been generated? That's the crux of the question.

It is a +2 to the throw when you generate the attribute not to throws later in play.

Daniel