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Old 09-14-2019, 07:31 AM   #13
AlexanderHowl
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Default Re: Maximum Attributes for Real World People

The RAW maximum is 20 (more for ST). Realistic games tend to cap out at a feasible maximum of 15 for DX, IQ, and HT (20 for ST) because they want to avoid cinematic results, not because such people do not exist in real life (there are some amazing outliers out there, such as an entire extended family with real life Unbreakable Bones, but such outliers would be avoided in a realistic game). When it comes to ST, exceptional ST values seem to exist, and you can go to the local gym and see people who easily break ST 15 without using Extra Effort (because they are lifting long past the point where they would collapse from FP loss if they were using Extra Effort).

Now, one way to address some of the discrepancies between ST and performance would be to have certain skills provide a static bonus to ST in limited circumstances. For example, Lifting should increase Lifting ST by one for every level above HT and Force Entry should increase Striking ST by one for every level above DX when attacking an inanimate object with a kick or impact weapon. You could even apply such bonuses to unarmed combat skills in lieu of the normal damage bonuses (or, for characters with Weapon Master, any impacted muscle-powered weapon).

In many ways though, realism depends on point value rather than any specific limits on attributes or skills. In the real world, point values tend to max out at around 400 CP, and the majority of people with point values above 300 CP tend to have lots of social attributes. For example, most of the Presidents of the USA probably possess Allies [40 CP], Contats [20 CP], Legal Immunity [10], Military Rank 8 [40], Political Rank 8 [40], Status 7 [0], and Wealth (Filty Rich) [50], so 200 CP of social advantages.
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