[JLV]

I actually like that idea a lot -- it solves a large number of issues that are currently causing dispute on the board here.

Of course, it may introduce new reasons for dispute, but I like the idea because it actually allows for the occasional "one in a million" character to occur -- if he's incredibly lucky.

In effect, most characters will stay within the bounds that you would expect (because most of them won't have the opportunity to exceed those bounds due to either a literal lack of opportunity, or because of untimely death); but at the same time the potential to create and improve a character to the Fahfred/Grey Mouser standard is implicit in the new system...

Yep, I think you might have found the middle way that allows the best of both worlds!