Learning new talents

[TippetsTX]

I can't find anything like the following rules in the revised ITL. Why was it removed?

As a character gains experience, he may add IQ points, allowing him to learn new abilities. However, a figure cannot just increase his IQ and suddenly gain a new ability "out of the blue" — he must have studied it. At any time, a figure may be studying any three talents or languages. When he increases his IQ to the point where he can add a new talent or language, he may take any one of those that he has been studying (assuming, of course, that he also meets any DX or ability prerequisites for that talent). He may then start to study a new ability. A figure may choose to study anything he/she likes. However, it would be foolish for an IQ 8 figure to begin to study three IQ 13 talents, since he could not take any of them until he reached IQ 13. It is not necessary to learn new talents or languages in the order in which you begin to study them. If a figure, once having started to study a talent or language, wishes to abandon that study, he or she may do so, but there is a penalty: loss of half the experience points he/she has at the moment the study of that ability is abandoned, or 1,000 EP, whichever is higher. It is possible for a character to have a negative amount of experience points, but this does not cause loss of attributes or abilities — it just means the character must work up to zero before accumulating a positive total again.

[platimus]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

I can't find anything like the following rules in the revised ITL. Why was it removed?

As a character gains experience, he may add IQ points, allowing him to learn new abilities. However, a figure cannot just increase his IQ and suddenly gain a new ability "out of the blue" — he must have studied it. At any time, a figure may be studying any three talents or languages. When he increases his IQ to the point where he can add a new talent or language, he may take any one of those that he has been studying (assuming, of course, that he also meets any DX or ability prerequisites for that talent). He may then start to study a new ability. A figure may choose to study anything he/she likes. However, it would be foolish for an IQ 8 figure to begin to study three IQ 13 talents, since he could not take any of them until he reached IQ 13. It is not necessary to learn new talents or languages in the order in which you begin to study them. If a figure, once having started to study a talent or language, wishes to abandon that study, he or she may do so, but there is a penalty: loss of half the experience points he/she has at the moment the study of that ability is abandoned, or 1,000 EP, whichever is higher. It is possible for a character to have a negative amount of experience points, but this does not cause loss of attributes or abilities — it just means the character must work up to zero before accumulating a positive total again.

Because it has been replaced with the new XP buy system.

[TippetsTX]

But even w/ XP buy, why wouldn't there be an expectation of having to study and train in order to aquire new talents? XP may be the new currency, but that doesn't address the time required to gain a new skill.

[platimus]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

But even w/ XP buy, why wouldn't there be an expectation of having to study and train in order to aquire new talents? XP may be the new currency, but that doesn't address the time required to gain a new skill.

The time you spent acquiring that XP is considered to be the time you spent learning.

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by platimus

The time you spent acquiring that XP is considered to be the time you spent learning.

Which doesn't make much sense unless you say what you're studying and apply the XP towards, and unless you have access to a source of the learning at that time.

[TippetsTX]

Originally Posted by platimus

The time you spent acquiring that XP is considered to be the time you spent learning.

Sorry, but that makes no sense. XP is earned from time spent adventuring not training.The old rules required a player to make choices about a character's goals. As the original text states, talents cannot be acquired "out of the blue". I think this needs to be put back into the revised rules.

[platimus]

Guys, it makes complete sense to me and lots of people who replied when Steve asked the question (in the Experience thread, I think). Skarg, I know you were in that thread. Maybe you weren't disagreeable enough! LOL

If you want to make players say what they are studying before they earn the XP to buy it, Just Do It. How elaborate does it need to be?

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

I can't find anything like the following rules in the revised ITL. Why was it removed?

As a character gains experience, he may add IQ points, allowing him to learn new abilities. However, a figure cannot just increase his IQ and suddenly gain a new ability "out of the blue" — he must have studied it. At any time, a figure may be studying any three talents or languages. When he increases his IQ to the point where he can add a new talent or language, he may take any one of those that he has been studying (assuming, of course, that he also meets any DX or ability prerequisites for that talent). He may then start to study a new ability. A figure may choose to study anything he/she likes. However, it would be foolish for an IQ 8 figure to begin to study three IQ 13 talents, since he could not take any of them until he reached IQ 13. It is not necessary to learn new talents or languages in the order in which you begin to study them. If a figure, once having started to study a talent or language, wishes to abandon that study, he or she may do so, but there is a penalty: loss of half the experience points he/she has at the moment the study of that ability is abandoned, or 1,000 EP, whichever is higher. It is possible for a character to have a negative amount of experience points, but this does not cause loss of attributes or abilities — it just means the character must work up to zero before accumulating a positive total again.

It is mentioned.

New ITL Page 144 - Learning New Spells
It is assumed that the wizard has been practicing the new spells as he goes along; they may be used immediately.

This can also be applied to Talents.

Perhaps a What Was Left Out of New TFT could be done.
I found the following removed:

• Duels (old ITL p28): Duels paragraphs have been removed.
  
• Clothing (old ITL p28): Removed?
  
• Slaves (old ITL p34) Removed?
  
• Language (old ITL p16) The Pidgin form of Language has been removed.
  If a character suddenly needs to use a language that he is studying, but does not yet know, the GM may allow him to try it. He speaks the language in "pidgin" form, getting no reaction roll adjustments for it. Every time an important item of information is presented (either by him or by those he is talking to) the GM makes a roll against the character's IQ. A missed roll means that there is a misunderstanding. GMs may be creative in inventing misunderstandings! Similarly, a player may try to read something written in a half-learned language - but there is a chance that he'll misunderstand each important piece of information.

[Skarg]

* Most of the Learning New Spells section on Advanced Wizard page 10. (Gives actual times/costs/requirements for learning spells from various teaching situations and books.)