[Torg] Stat/Skill balance

[Garrett Taylor]

On 2008-07-25 at 17:20, Kansas Jim <ksjim at sdc.org> wrote:

> Garrett Taylor wrote:
> 
> > First off, I made an Artist Meta Macro skill.  The Macro part just
> > means that there has to be a foci for the skill, metalwork, poetry,
> > paint, food, leather, stone, statuary, bonsai, trumpets, etc.  The Meta
> > means that the artist can 'embed' an Interaction skill into a work and
> > the skill is the limit on how much oomph the Artist can put into a
> > work.  For example: Mike
> 
> It seems to me that would mean that an uncharismatic artist, regardless
> of his talent, would be incapable of producing artwork that could move
> people.

My apologies. I forgot to mention that Artist has become a stat-less skill,
like the Arcane Knowledges (State, Fire, etc.) for spell design.  It isn't
based on CHA.

> But how many times have we seen in fiction, and even real life, cases of
> artists who produce greatly moving works yet as soon as you interact with
> them you discover they're boorish, unfriendly, unlikable cads?

Because instead of buying up the CHA and/or Charm score they spent all
their PP in getting Artist(Paint) +5. :)

Mechanically, if Mike's Charm is 10 it doesn't matter if he's really an
all-round amiable fellow (CHA/Charm : 10/+0) or a unlikable cad who knows
how to work a party like rented mule (CHA/Charm : 7/+3) when it suits him.

Also, some great works were a 'team' effort. If the Artist has the
personality of a rabid pitbull but wants a reasonable Charm skill to embed,
he can find an eager apprentice / intern that will put up with him long
enough to finish the work.  On the other hand, if Jack wants to make you
feel frightened by his metal monstrosity, he won't need Charm (or any 
CHA). He'll need Intimidation.

'Moving' in this context a function of embedded Skill Value, a the Bonus
Number, the viewer, and the ability of the Artist.  Which is why Art
doesn't effect everybody the same - a Bonus Number is rolled to generate a
Skill Total.  People who want to enjoy the work aren't resisting, so the DN
is 0.  Someone who is forced to experience it may roll an Active Defense. 
People who could care less, use a Passive Defense.   Then the Artist skill
determines how many success levels are kept if the Skill Total beats the DN. 
Great Artists ( +5 or more ) can 'move' a viewer quite easily, where as a
barely competent Artist (+1) could never get more than a passing 'Hmm.'
even from a willing viewer.

Examples:
                   Propaganda -> Persuasion
               Bosch's 'Hell' -> Intimidation
    Illusions / Trompe-l'oeil -> Trick
                Shock/Pop Art -> Taunt

That's about all I can think of for examples - my one semester of
Western Art in college didn't stick very well. :(

-- 
-Garrett Taylor
Java Jackleg  /  Perl Pundit  /  Web Wrangler  /  SQL Stooge
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach, FL USA
Information Technology >> Middleware Services >> Development
<taylorg at erau.edu>            <http://blog.taylorkith.com/>
 
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a
man's character, give him power."
--Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th U.S. President