Talents from Attributes Other Than IQ

[tbeard1999]

Originally Posted by Kromm

As with all games, The Key Question is really: "Is it fun?"

Over the course of three decades in the GURPS-sphere, we've learned that staying true to The Old Ways is good for backward compatibility – for continuity – but that on occasion it's necessary to break new ground in the name of ease of use, evocativeness, and game balance . . . all of which are definitions of fun for various people. Nostalgia in itself is fun for a minority!TFT.

I don't think that nostalgia is driving the resistance. I don't care for David's solution either, for reasons that have little to do with nostalgia. (It *is* an interesting concept; I just don't care for it as a TFT solution).

I think it's also a tad condescending to presume that nostalgia is driving the critique. Mr. Kane has made numerous detailed and thoughtful TFT posts here. While I don't necessarily agree with everything he said, it does him (and others here) a disservice to dismiss their critiques as mere nostalgia. I'm pretty sure you didn't intend to be condescending; but it kinda came off that way to me.

Anyhow, I don't care for this solution for the simple reason that its proposed benefits don't outweigh the likely costs (all in my opinion of course).

Benefit - It solves a problem. One that I personally consider to be minor, but other longtime TFT players disagree. So I'll assume arguendo that it's a serious TFT problem.

Costs -

1. It's a fiddly mechanic that will slow character creation down (a TFT strength), as players agonize over the exact right mix of ST, DX and IQ talents.

2. It represents a significant and jarring change from TFT.

3. There are several less complex alternatives which solve the problem better in my opinion.

4. I don't really buy into the rationale. I think that the number of things you can do well is mostly a function of how good your mind is. Yes, high ST will make you a better axeman...but that's already reflected in weapon damage. High DX will make you a better acrobat - but that's already reflected by the DX based success roll.

I can probably think of other cons, but these are the major ones. The others are likely to be quibbles.

At best, only #2 could be characterized as "nostalgia" (and then only partially so). And that is probably the least important issue to me. For me, the most devastating critique is that there are better - as I subjectively define the term - ways to solve the "Conan the Wizard" problem than introducing a complete replacement of the TFT talent system.

Again, it's an interesting concept that might work well. I just don't think it's a good fit for TFT.

I'd add that I have replaced the 3d6 roll in TFT with a d20 for years. I also converted weapon damage to polyhedrals - solving the "some weapons do no damage" and "some use a bell curve and some don't for damage" issues that bug me (and apparently almost no one else).

I don't flog those solutions here - except in jest - because while I like them a lot, they just ain't TFT. Though I do think the title "TFT20" is catchy.