Re: [BNW] point-based system?

[Mark Kilfoil <kilfoilm@nbnet.nb.ca>]

Allan Seyberth wrote:
> 
> At 11:20 AM 2/19/99 -0800, you wrote:
> >Just wondering what the list's speculations are on the BNW character
> >generation system.  Does everyone think they'll use a point-based
> system?
> 
> You know - I've seen both point and roll based systems for hero games,
> and have seen both types work and both types fail miserably (sometimes
> with the same game system).

Roll-based systems seem to be on there way out, with point-based systems
on the rise.  (That is, if you consider "roll-based" to really be 
randomly generated stats.)

Granted, we've seen a big exception with the interesting (although
admittedly gimmicky and scenario-tied) Deadlands/HoE system...

What'll be important is balancing the speed of basic character
generation with the need to specialize characters.  In other words,
you should be able to build a "really neat, supercool, one-focus"
character quickly and not be bogged down in character creation, but
be able to specialize the character if you want to take the time...

It may even be that while the character creation is fairly generic
(by that I mean something like Champions or Fuzion) but the "powers"
system be truly innovative.

Innovation is the key here, I think; without it, it will fail to 
capture new interest, except as a new universe...

But that's just me...

-- 
the encaffeinated ONE -- LIVE! from minbar!
Mark K.  <kilfoilm@nbnet.nb.ca>