Learning from books
 

I thought I would post this to see if anyone had some good house rules about learning from books.

I'm running a game where the characters found a book written by one of the game world's most famous generals.

We were thinking that the skills one would learn from this book could be:
- Military History
- Administration (Military)
- Leadership
- Strategy
- Tactics
- etc

So, how would one learn from this book? I'm thinking of putting a limit on the skills such that someone reading the book would not gain any knowledge beyond the skill level of the writer. And I was thinking that the reader could gain a set number of skill points or maybe skill levels from the book with it acting as a teacher.

So, assuming the writers writing and teaching skill was at least 12 and he rolled well when writing it, it could serve as a teacher. Then we can say that in each area (above) the user could gain up to say ... 20 skill points. They would be studied at the rate of 200 hours per point.

What does everyone think of this approach?

Re: Learning from books
 

Books are simply standard equipment for self-teaching in most subjects.

In a sufficiently cinematic campaign I could see treating a very special and rare book as a teacher, and aesthetically I love the idea of books being valuable and useful treasure.

Even so, I think 20 points per subject and 5 subjects a book are WAY to many.

I'd say that such a book is a teacher for no more than 4 points divided amongst no more than two subjects.

Re: Learning from books
 

If we're going into fiddly details, here's how I'd do it:

A book or set of books is rated for:

• The prerequisites to actually understanding the book (usually a Language, and possibly some secondary skills).
• The minimum number of CPs in the skills in question required before the person can actually get any insight from the book.
• The maximum number of CPs that can be gained through self-teaching from this book.
• The maximum number of CPs that can be gained for the purposes of Super-Memorization from this book (usually same as above).
• The number of CPs in the skill which signifies the point where the book will be nothing new to the student.

Re: Learning from books
 

Molokh has stated the needs: ability to read the book, ability to understand the book (a problem if it assumes much pre-knowledge), wether it contains anything useful to the reader.

'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu in French translation may have been useful to Napoleon as a student; but did it take a Napoleon to make use of it?

Re: Learning from books
 

A limit on maximum skill taught is certainly reasonable. And many books will have a minimum skill as well - if you don't already know the basics you can't get much from an advanced text.

On the other hand, I don't think a number of points or skill levels gained is. At least in modern times, most books intended to teach something contain suggested exercises you can keep doing until you get them right. If you start with a low enough IQ or DX that may take you a *lot* of points and skill levels, enough most people might give up first, but if you stuck with them, eventually....

Re: Learning from books
 

That depends on type of skill. If the fundamental test of skill is performing some manipulation, a maximum skill level might be the only appropriate limiter. For a knowledge-amassing skill, though, a number of points fits better. For History, say, absorbing the material in any given book will only take you so far...and presumably only take so much time, too.

Re: Learning from books
 

Musings from the past that might be helpful...

Re: Learning from books
 

'Ahy speek eenglish well. Ahy layrn eet fram ay boook'

Manuel. Fawlty Towers.


...there are significant drawbacks to learning skills from books. I'd go with the 'standard kit for self teaching' angle.

Re: Learning from books
 

Hal, i do actually don't mind about your calculations, because i think its depends a lot about each campaing seting, but it looks a good starting place for those who have yet no clue about how to calculate book's costs. Nice job.

I do agree with you about the levels... There are basic books and complex books, and someone cannot go from skill level 10 to 18 just reading "electronics for dumbs".

In general, on my campaing, books have two facets and uses: one is that a book have a skill level. If you are under this skill level, you may use this book to study a skill (or several) to increase your level. At my campaing, it means you may spend character points at that skill, but my campaing also have a different relation about CPs and learning, that i think is not the topic now.

At other hand, books may become support. If you are trying to study about something you already know and have some basic books you already did read, it still helping you. I realized it when doing my College class works. Sometimes a book you already did read gives you a different insight from the first time or offer you cross knowledge when combined with something else. So, lets say, a Skill Level 13 may study and rise to level 14 if a given person is using 5 level 12 or 13 books.

The other interesting aspect about your post, Hal, is you vision about Academy and Master/aprenctice systems. In fact, at my campaing, many religious temples realizes this difference and chooses to use one or other system.

But the point is, if you are using an Academic system, full of books, libraries, and many different teachers, you don get levels. Never. Yopu get points. Its because your avaluations or your study program is much more guided by yourself than by teachers. Of course, you may create a cut line, like "No one may graduate without level 12 or more", but what this system offers is juat the points. If this model is more free, like you pay to get knowledge and have no tests and the like, is more likely you dont need a minimal skill level.

On Master/Aprenctice system, its right the opposite. The master will set a minimal level and will keep teaching you until you reach this level. Then the master moves on. Sometimes, with a minimal of learning, a student may pass the minimal level, so the master gets glad and moves on. (You spend half point and gets 2 skill levels over the minimal, lets say)