Re-calibrating Attribute Costs

[Arcanjo7Sagi]

As implied in my last post there, care needs to be taken about the impact of math on the game in general. If stats cost too much and the starting score is high to compensate, then problems begin to arise when a player simply decides to spend those points to be hyper-competent in a single skill.

I'm going to use combat as an example, because it's something recurring, but you can change it for magic, etc.

Let's count:

Originally Posted by DX 20/level

DX 14 [80], Broadsword 18 [16], Shield 16 [4]. Total 100 points for a sword and shield knight.

DX 13 [60], Two-Handed Axe/Mace 23 [40]. Total 100 points for a classic greataxe barbarian.

Here the idea is of a higher DX character allowing him to be good at more than one combat skill, alongside a lower DX character and focusing the difference on a single skill.

Let's see how the same idea looks, only with DX costing 40 per level:

Originally Posted by DX 40/level

DX 14 [160], Broadsword 18 [16], Shield 16 [4]. Total 180 points for a sword and shield knight.

DX 13 [120], Two-Handed Axe/Mace 28 [60]. Total 180 points for a classic greataxe barbarian.

Moving on, only with DX costing 60 per level:

Originally Posted by DX 60/level

DX 14 [240], Broadsword 18 [16], Shield 16 [4]. Total 260 points for a sword and shield knight.

DX 13 [180], Two-Handed Axe/Mace 33 [80]. Total 260 points for a classic greataxe barbarian.

Can you see the pattern?

I understand that simply increasing the cost of attributes may sound like a simple solution, but we have to remember that they exist alongside a whole set of other elements that make up the system. You move one, it will impact how the system behaves. When we try to solve a problem, it is very easy to create others. That's why being an RPG designer can be difficult. We have to take many situations into account.

EDIT: If you really want to go in that direction, it might be worth taking a look at Power-Ups 9, Alternate Attributes, the "More Expensive Basic Attributes" section, starting on page 10.