[Torg] Skills now....

[Benjamin Grant]

Phil Dack wrote:
>
>--- Benjamin Grant <benn at 4efix.com> wrote:
>> However, *this* GM cannot imagine, no matter the
>> training, and dancer pulling off most of the sick
>> moves I saw last season on SYTYCD with a mere 8
>> base Dex.
>
>Must remind you of one thing about Torg though. It's an entirely
>skills-based system, which means that Dex 8 means nothing more
>and nothing less than a default level of 8 in all Dex skills.
>DEX doesn't actually mean adroitness, agility, suppleness or any
>such thing - it approximates to that certainly, but you can
>explain it in so many different ways that it essentially
>abstracts to whatever you want.

You are certainly entitled to read it and play it that way, but I am not
sure that I choose to do so.  In fact, as a person having played Torg for
over a decade, I could take some umbrage at the potential tone involved in
"reminding" me, but I will that pass as probably yet another instance of net
communication seeming less friendly than I am sure you intended.

In any case, the fact that you level in Dex affects so many skills means
that the attribute is de facto a representation of a characteristic of the
character - a natural knack for all skills that rely on agility and hand-eye
coordination.  Therefor, I find it wholly appropriate to GM and play that
Dex *does* mean " adroitness, agility, suppleness" etc.  In fact, it is an
entirely valid perspective to say that one's Attributes are the main ways a
character interacts with the world, and one's skills are just "icing" to
that cake.  Certainly, if your Dex is 12 and your Dodge is +3, your Dex is
not only the largest part of your dodge total, but also the largest part of
all your totals relating to dex.

>There's functionally no difference in agility between Dex 8 with
>Dance 3 and Acrobatics 3 to someone with Dex 11.
>
>Phil

What about the fact that the Dex 11 person has a higher natural dodge, fire
combat, and the rest?  The fact that the 11 Dex person has a higher base
total pre-skill or unskilled in all Dex tests has to mean *something*.  IMO,
I have correctly interpreted that meaning.

I am not trying to proscribe how you should play or interpret this game,
merely responding to your reply about how *I* should - and I find I am
already doing exactly what I should with respect to skills and attributes.
After so many many years, I would hope so.

:)

-Benn Grant