[Torg] Improving Attributes in play: Edges

[winstoninabox]

Hi. New to the discussion.

> > So you're a visual learner and think that what a teacher can 
> > do for you is minimal. Try to learn ballroom dance with a 
> > partner from a book forget how, and then try to learn it from 
> > a teacher. I assure you that a lot of the things in Torg may 
> > be explained by a teacher, but are most likely handled with a 
> > very large amount of visual information, with people showing 
> > you how it is done.

Certainly you may at that time have been able to move around the floor. But it doesn't sound like you've *learnt* to dance by getting a permanent +1 in your ability to dance.

<snip> 

> However, something to bear in mind... I did once have to learn to dance, in
> a big hurry, during a roleplaying game. I had, as a teacher, a competitive
> ballroom dancer and sometime-instructor. (I don't see her at the roleplaying
> conventions so often these days, because she attends dance championships on
> the same weekend now.) Repeated attempts to instruct me in basic steps
> failed. I achieved my limited success when I asked her to stop for a minute...

<snip>

> The point? Learning styles are not equally effective from one person to the
> next.

> > The most obvious example is martial arts. 
> 
> Done that too. I could have learnt the principles watching a video, but I
> did definitely need my instructor as a sparring partner to put the moves
> into practice.
> 
> Some skills are easier to learn using certain methods. Instruction by a
> teacher is not always the most effective.

Sure one could learn the principles watching a video, but that wouldn't come anywhere near the training done with an instructor. An instructor / coach does more than demonstrate the principles. They give advice on physical and mental training methods, diet, tactics, timing. They find good sparing partners, they give encouragement, etc...

There would be very few top athletes who don't have a trainer.

But otherwise I agree with your analysis.

Benn, I'd recommend letting shifting Attribute points around a little for the first few sessions. Maybe even give new players the chance to totally change their character if they find they are unhappy with it. This method gives players flexibility without the need for new rules.

Wow, it's great to see 30 TORG messages in my inbox.

winstoninabox

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