Increasing stats of non-human PCs ?

[AlexH]

It kinda seems unfair to me to have players rolling a 96-00 to increase basic stats over 20. I have a player who is an Elf and started with a base score of Int of 18, which is only 2 points above average.

In fact, the whole rules about increasing stats are harsh. If you don't roll over your stat X 5, you get to loose 3 improvement rolls *but* add 1% to one derived skill. Ouch!

I just might make it an automatic success. Anyone having other suggestions?

Btw, my group happily switch to Runequest, yay!

 

[Deleriad]

It kinda seems unfair to me to have players rolling a 96-00 to increase basic stats over 20. I have a player who is an Elf and started with a base score of Int of 18, which is only 2 points above average.

In fact, the whole rules about increasing stats are harsh. If you don't roll over your stat X 5, you get to loose 3 improvement rolls *but* add 1% to one derived skill. Ouch!

I just might make it an automatic success. Anyone having other suggestions?

Btw, my group happily switch to Runequest, yay!

What I do is to say that the chance of success equals (maximum stat value minue current stat value) *5%. E.g. A human with STR 12 has a chance equal to (21-12)*5% = 45%.

In addition, if they fail I say that it only cost 1 Improvement Roll.

Otherwise it is just too harsh.

Another possible way to do it without needing the maths is simply to try to roll equal to the current stat or high using the normal rolls. E.g. a human rolls their STR on 3D6. if a human is STR 12 then they have to roll 12 or more on 3D6 in order to increase STR.

A final option is to say that they get to add a number to their roll to represent the number of Improvement Rolls they are spending. The more Improvement rolls they spend the better their chances. E.g. If you spend 3 IRs you get to add +3 to the roll (roll 3D6+3 and try to roll equal to or better than 12).

 

[soltakss]

Old versions of RQ used (Species Maximum - Current Characteristic)x5% where Species Maximum was either (7 per D6 + any static add-on) or (Maximum rollable + Minimum Rollable), depending on whether it was RQ2 or RQ3.

If you don't like those method and you still want to roll higher than your current characteristic x 5 then why not add on (Species Maximum - 20) x 5 to the roll and try to roll over characteristic x 5 or 100, whichever is lower?

So, a human has 3D6, so has a maximum of 21 (using both methods), so you roll over your characteristic x 5, but add 5 to the result. Someone with 4D6 characteristic has a species max of 28 so rolls over current characteristic or 100, but adds (28-20)x5=40.

It's quick and easy once you know what you are adding.

 

[AlexH]

Thanks a lot! I like the idea of rolling the basic stats (ie 3d6 for humans). Simple and effective.