Starting level

[SnowDog]

Hi,

I know that a bit similar thread was here some time ago but I decided to ask it a bit differently.

I just finished reading a graphic novel adaptation of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser and just loved it. Okay, I have most if not all general MRQ material plus Lankhmar (I'm waiting to get my hands on Nehwon). In those stories these two ... heroes are obviously quite tough customers as is almost always the case in literature.

My question now lies in how competent characters you generally can get using default rules for character generation? Are they total loosers or moderately competent that when working as a team might actually survive in Lankhmar or in any other hostile place?

Thanks in advance for those enlighting answers. I am totally new to this version of RQ and I am dread to remember my civilized farmer from the old RQ that I played for a while <hrr>...

 

[weasel_fierce]

I find that they feel pretty reasonable. They can be good at some things, and less so than others.

I usually hand out points in Lore and Language skills pretty liberally, so they can focus on other stuff.

 

[SnowDog]

Hi,

Thanks for the information. How much "extra" you give to your players to put to those lore and knowledge skills?

Thanks!

 

[weasel_fierce]

Generally, if they interact with some funky new culture, I usually give them that Lore skill at INT%. Otherwise, 3-5 points to spread on various appropriate lores, languages and similar "background" stuff, every 2 sessions or so.

 

[SnowDog]

OK, so improvement happens along the road and not at the character generation. Makes sense.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[simonh]

My question now lies in how competent characters you generally can get using default rules for character generation? Are they total loosers or moderately competent that when working as a team might actually survive in Lankhmar or in any other hostile place?

That all depends on how you generate NPC s. If you think that average NPCs are created the same way using the basic chargen rules, then starting PCs are just average guys.

However if you assume that most NPCs in the world are much less capable and generate them accordingly (perhaps they don't get any points freely allocated) then PCs will generally be much more competent than the average in their chosen specialist area.

IIRC no guidance is given on this in the rules. Personally I like to run game where the PCs are assumed to be highly competent, talented individuals. It's more interesting and challenging to GM a game where the players can actually do cool and fun stuff, and have a reasonable chance of pulling it off.


Simon Hibbs

 

[weasel_fierce]

Make sure to check the experience chapter. It has a bunch of stuff for making more skilled and experienced characters