Ordinary People: Characters [0] to [-50]

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Who's rude then?

Take the *grin* in the good humor it was intended as, then go read up on TDMs, p.345.

After all, you're the one jumping down the throat of a 3 year old thread.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

Take the *grin* in the good humor it was intended as, then go read up on TDMs, p.345.

After all, you're the one jumping down the throat of a 3 year old thread.

I take your style of "good humor" for what it really was.

[Figleaf23]

Meanwhile, back to the point of the thread -- consider the Frankie Santos character above. Supposedly a thug, but has professional-level artistic skills and couldn't survive two seconds in a fist-fight.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Meanwhile, back to the point of the thread -- consider the Frankie Santos character above. Supposedly a thug, but has professional-level artistic skills and couldn't survive two seconds in a fist-fight.

He'd handle his own fine, he's willing to do violence and that's more important in a thug than a high combat skill.

The point of using an NPC like Frankie is that a courageous PC, even a mostly non-combat one, might be able to stand up to him, engage him in conversation, etc., without being in too much danger.
It allows the PCs to see how much better than average people they really are, even if they've sunk most of their points into a non-combat focus.

But keep in mind that he's still dangerous, a typical Telegraphic Attack by him will hit on 15-, he might also AoA for damage, etc.

[Figleaf23]

Certainly these low value characters have their role in a campaign. I just don't think they measure up to the term 'average'. An average person in an occupation can actually do that occupation with a reliable chance of success -- at these point values the people are incompetents in their jobs.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Certainly these low value characters have their role in a campaign. I just don't think they measure up to the term 'average'. An average person in an occupation can actually do that occupation with a reliable chance of success -- at these point values the people are incompetents in their jobs.

They aren't incompetent, they just aren't exceptional.

They're the average shmoes who don't usually stand out.
The person at work who always needs a little help even though they've been on the job for years, the clerk who always has to have a work order explained each and every time, etc., they're the people who make up the bulk of the population.

Showing the PCs how much they stand out above the NPC masses, tends to make them feel more confident in their abilities.

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Certainly these low value characters have their role in a campaign. I just don't think they measure up to the term 'average'. An average person in an occupation can actually do that occupation with a reliable chance of success -- at these point values the people are incompetents in their jobs.

I can think of at least one character in this thread with fewer than 0 points who is the local MVP at her job, because I created her. Also, these points have been raised and addressed in this very same thread already. I know it's big, but please do us all a favor and hold general criticism of the thread (rather than specific posts) until after you've read the whole thing. And make a schmoe for us. ;)

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

They aren't incompetent, they just aren't exceptional.

They're the average shmoes who don't usually stand out.
The person at work who always needs a little help even though they've been on the job for years, the clerk who always has to have a work order explained each and every time, etc., they're the people who make up the bulk of the population.

Showing the PCs how much they stand out above the NPC masses, tends to make them feel more confident in their abilities.

I simply think you are under-rating the success ratio's of average people in their occupations. The AVERAGE nurse, for example, does not bungle half of the procedures he or she attempts.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

0 to -50 is average for people, NPCs.

But where are you getting that idea from?

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

...
10 is the person who gets by with a little help.

So, an apprentice or intern, not a working professional.