New Skills

[Rick_Smith]

Originally Posted by JLV

I don't think that's what he said at all, Rick -- I think he's stating that the only real difference between skilled opponents often comes down to luck. And presumably, the people who all have the various talents are roughly equal in skill in most ways.

Hi JLV, everyone.
Oh, maybe? Want to weigh in Chris?

Fencing is IQ 10, and requires a DX of 14. So a starting character can take both Sword and Fencing talents.

So someone with Sword + Fencing feels to me like a "talented beginner" or perhaps a "competent swordsman". Good but not exceptional. Certainly not the best of the best, the master swordsman of sagas & legends.

Under current rules (where you can pick up as many talents as you want), characters with another focus (say a Thief armed with a rapier), could max out sword fighting talents fairly casually. "You know, swords are not my main focus, but it is only one talent. What the heck. I'll be equal skilled to the best swordsman. Why not?"

***
UC v, requires DX 16, & 11 memory. UC v is an example of a "hard to get talent".


If Strike Master (6), required a fairly high IQ (need to know lots of physiology of many different types of creatures and monsters), then gaining it would require some focus and effort. Our casual thief might not have the IQ, or wish to spend that much experience to get the 6 point talent.

Expert Defender (4), needs medium ST & IQ and requires a high DX. Our casual thief has the DX & IQ, but being in fights defending is not his main focus. If there was a better hiding / sneaking talent (which I suggested), maybe he would go for that rather than getting a couple more ST and taking this talent?

Trained Reflexes (11), adj DX 16+. (Perhaps broken up into a couple of talents). This gives UC v like abilities but for armoured fighters. No way the casual thief is getting this.

***

A few tough to get, powerful talents would increase the number of characters possible. TFT could better distinguish between a beginner, an average practitioner, and a master. It would also give something for a mid level player to really lust after. "Let's play next week! I'm only 3 sessions away from getting talent X!"

Warm regards, Rick.

[tbeard1999]

Quickdraw Sword (or Axe/Mace or Pistol for modern campaigns): IQ8, 1 talent point. Allows figure to ready an unready sword (or axe/mace or pistol) and still attack it hit in the same turn.

An unnecessary flourish - the figure must make a 3/adjDX roll. If he succeeds he attacks normally. If he fails, he attacks after everyone else attacks. A 16+ means he drops the weapon.

[Jim Kane]

Originally Posted by tbeard1999

Quickdraw Sword (or Axe/Mace or Pistol for modern campaigns): IQ8, 1 talent point. Allows figure to ready an unready sword (or axe/mace or pistol) and still attack it hit in the same turn.

I am probably going to be odd-man-out on this one, but I highly resist the idea of including "Quickdraw" into TFT, for the simple reason that nearly every member of the adventure party will take it. If everyone takes it, then it stops being special to that super-swordsman, and it just ends up as another player cheat.

I get the idea behind it, and why people really like this thing - and yes, this is the classic Samuri/Conan move - but from a dramatic tension perspective, I think it hurts the overall game-tension level in the long run; and that would hurt TFT.

My 2 cents.

JK

[Chris Rice]

Originally Posted by Jim Kane

I am probably going to be odd-man-out on this one, but I highly resist the idea of including "Quickdraw" into TFT, for the simple reason that nearly every member of the adventure party will take it. If everyone takes it, then it stops being special to that super-swordsman, and it just ends up as another player cheat.

I get the idea behind it, and why people really like this thing - and yes, this is the classic Samuri/Conan move - but from a dramatic tension perspective, I think it hurts the overall game-tension level in the long run; and that would hurt TFT.

My 2 cents.

JK

As TFT stands at the moment, I don't think most characters would take it because, (a) it cost a Talent point that you could use for something else, (b) it's only useful occasionally or to a very specific character type (i.e., the javelin throwing swordsman etc). Obviously game styles will vary and if you feel it breaks your game you wouldn't use it. That's why I didn't use the New Followers Talent for example.

[Jim Kane]

Originally Posted by Chris Rice

Obviously game styles will vary and if you feel it breaks your game you wouldn't use it.

Well, it is not my game I am concerned about Chris; it is the game run by future neophyte GMs and Players, who, if they all end up taking this talent - and at IQ8 and 1 point, what newbie could resist - will miss out on so much added drama, tension, and fun.

It is those people I am concerned about with the inclusion of such a talent at such low IQ and cost.

If I was forced to include it in the rules-set, I would make the talent reflect *years* of specialized training, and seriously raise the IQ requirement *and* the cost - so it would be very rare among members of an adventure party.

JK

[Chris Rice]

Originally Posted by Jim Kane

Well, it is not my game I am concerned about Chris; it is the game run by future neophyte GMs and Players, who, if they all end up taking this talent - and at IQ8 and 1 point, what newbie could resist - will miss out on so much added drama, tension, and fun.

It is those people I am concerned about with the inclusion of such a talent at such low IQ and cost.

If I was forced to include it in the rules-set, I would make the talent reflect *years* of specialized training, and seriously raise the IQ requirement *and* the cost - so it would be very rare among members of an adventure party.

JK

Well, I'd say the prerequisite should be that you have the Talent for both weapons, the Thrown weapons Talent and perhaps a min adjDX to use it. And perhaps 2 points is a fairer cost. I wouldn't allow it in conjunction with a missile weapon. In my games it was intended for the skilled javelin/axe thrower, who could throw and then rush into combat.

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by Jim Kane

Well, it is not my game I am concerned about Chris; it is the game run by future neophyte GMs and Players, who, if they all end up taking this talent - and at IQ8 and 1 point, what newbie could resist - will miss out on so much added drama, tension, and fun.

It is those people I am concerned about with the inclusion of such a talent at such low IQ and cost.

If I was forced to include it in the rules-set, I would make the talent reflect *years* of specialized training, and seriously raise the IQ requirement *and* the cost - so it would be very rare among members of an adventure party.

I agree and posted earlier that I think if such a talent simply removes the need to ready a weapon, then it is mainly removing an interesting element of play for those characters.

And, I generally dislike all the things that remove elements of play. (e.g. High DX - yay, I almost always hit everyone I attack. Magic healing - poof, no one needs to rest. Magic Light or Dark Vision - poof, no one needs to worry about lighting. Magic Food - poof, no more food supply issues.) It makes improving your character make interesting parts of the game go away.

And, it shouldn't just remove all meaning from having your weapon ready or not. It should still be better to have a ready weapon than not.

Seems to me a DX penalty for attacking on the turn you fast-draw something would tend to work well. There could be levels of mastery that reduce the penalty, but I'd never have it go away entirely. Maybe start at -5 or -6 for the first level of the talent, and let people dump points into it to reduce the penalty.

Of course, there should be some consideration for the type of weapon. One or more of the classic "TFT is broken" articles was about people abusing the fast-draw ability included in Thrown Weapons to have people with many boomerangs, nets and bolas using them every turn (sigh). Can someone quick-draw a crossbow, load and shoot it in one turn? Can they fire a bow twice per turn?

Also, should the talent apply to all weapons, or do you need to train it in each weapon type, as in GURPS?

[zot]

Here are 32 new talents

Research (find things out about the world and people)

• Sense motive
• Interrogation
• (Knowledge)
• (Talent fields)

Knowledge (declare things your character already knows)

• Nature
• History
• Architecture
• Architect
• Mining
• Dungeoneering
• (talent fields)

Manipulation / Influence (get people to do what you want)

• Intimidation
• Torture
• (Membership / culture / reputation)

Arts (bard specializations -- perform in front of a crowd)

• Acting
• Musical performance
• Composing
• Dance
• Comedy

Culture / reputation (make impressions, use reputation)

• Etiquette
• Poetry appreciation
• Poet
• History
• Music appreciation
• Social dancing
• Literature appreciation
• Pedigree
• Renown
• Wealth

Ranking Membership (contacts, influence)

• Guilds
• Police
• Government
• Royalty
• Military

Level 2 (higher levels of existing talents)

• Chemistry 2
• Alchemy 2

[zot]

Originally Posted by zot

Here are 32 new talents

There are more possibilities if you think about court life, like hawking, hunting, and heraldry (I'm sure there inspirational are scenes from Game of Thrones for this).

[ecz]

First aid.
It costs only one point, level 9.
works as a "minor physicker" Heals one point and works even without any medical equipment making a 3d/DX. The Physicker talent costs 1 if the Character already has First Aid.


Also I love the idea of a sort of "level two" for many talents that come only in one version without a reason:

silent movement II
climbing II
Acrobatics II

tracking II
woodsman II
spying II
chemist II
alchemy II
mathematician II

the first three should have an high DX (15?) as prerequisite

finally I'm in the camp of who thinks that a "quick draw" talent is not that useful for playing and combat balance.