Basic Level Talents - A Proposal

[Jim Kane]

Originally Posted by tbeard1999

...and (b) that campaigns work best when each character is the best in the party at one very important thing.

WOW This is such a critical concept in drama and literature, I would need to work-up an outline first to even do this one justice and make a substantive comment. Suffice it to say, anyone who has ever run an adventure party where there is one "Dudly Do-All" character, and he is supported by what is basically a handful of cannon-fodder minions, it is just booooring from a stand-point of dramatic focus and story tension.

The classic "team of specialists" dynamic is so critical to drama and action/adventure.

I always felt (in my mind, anyway) that it was so perfect that the entry-hexes on the Melee Map had four stars: one for the talented Leader, one for the Human-Tank, one for the hot-shot energy-projector, and one for the brains/gadgeteer/specialist/unique/healer.

Or, look at the basic STAR TREK essential personnel: a) Alpha Leader, b)Brains/Unique, c) Healer/Philosopher, and d) Gadgeteer/Specialist - (read as: Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty).

Speaking of Party Balance, and the critical importance of having each character serve a specific function in the story AND the game:

Back in the day, Gene L. Coon (2nd season Line Editor for STAR TREK, after Roddenberry stepped-back into "Exec Prod" status) was rumored to send-back story-pitches, with a single note attracted, address to the rejected would-be author, which simply read: "We are not currently producing:The Mister Spock Show. Please familiarize yourself with our writer's guide and format. While we appreciate your interest in STAR TREK, your story submission does not meet our needs at this time."

This is such a critical element to adventure design and story, it really should be it's own thread; but usually these analysis topic threads don't seem to get the traction that other topics do. So I will just stop here on the topic as Sidebar Commentary.

Anyway, I am glad you brought it out TY

JK

PS - Yes, it is very true that Robert E. Howard's: Conan, and Edgar Rice Burroughs': Tarzan are two of my three all-time favorite literary characters; and yes, they are both essentially classic Ubermensch archetypes. TRUE. However, from a writer/adventure-designer stand-point, these Ubermensch characters will dictate the type and style of story/adventures you will be forced into composing as a GM. These same adventures do not play so well for a GROUP of people wanting to play TFT. After all, everyone else but the Ubermensch character gets stuck playing the collective 2nd Bananas through the entire campaign - not a very appealing prospect when compared to the Team-of-Specialists form TY was pointing to.

JK