Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Niv wrote:I agree that the new system is better for the reasons Vluh mentioned but I don't think it would hurt to have the ratios made a bit more manageable. If they don't I could live with it but it would make things a little less tedious near the end.
You've got my vote.

Griffin wrote:The points ratio is highly unlikely to undergo a revision I'm afraid folks. The top end points should be difficult to obtain, and they should take serious investment. However, in the world of idalos, I personally would be thrilled to see lots of PC's with many many low level skills up to novice in order to round characters out. If your character has no points in cooking, how are they eating? What about running, writing, sewing? Are they paying for someone to do all of these day to days tasks for them? It's unlikely that all PC's can really afford personal servants to keep house, cook for them, mend their clothes (and clothes are expensive to buy!) and so it might be worth investing in many low-level basic skills and concentrating on a few super star skills... just my thoughts...

However, points should be given freely. As pointed out, if someone keeps getting 4-8 points for their solo's they're going feel disheartened. This is not what the site is for.

A mediocre thread to one person, might be a thrill for another reviewer. Subjective opinions on subject matter, sentence length, story length shouldn't influence the number of points awarded. Because then it really isn't fair if one reviewer would have given full marks and another has dropped points for a subjective reason. Points are to award effort and to encourage.

Feedback is a wonderful way to explain how a reviewer felt sentences were too long too short, etc and to raise a few of those 'I think you missed a word - or I think you meant hear instead of here in line 5...' but again, they shouldn't be a reason to deduct points. However feedback should also be handled with kindness and respect. We're all at different levels and the last thing we want to do, is to discourage someone.

I personally try to limit 'feedback' of structure and story things to improve to one thing, or two at a push so that they can be considered by the writer. Lets remember, that as writers, although we're given feedback and someone might tell us our sentences are too long for their preference etc (boring example I know)- we're also entitled to ignore that advice and shouldn't feel as though our 'voice' is being dictated. One suggestion at a time, I feel, allows for consideration without threat of overwhelming or causing distress. Above all, (I'm going to repeat myself - sorry), putting work up for review opens up a little door of vulnerability. Kindness costs nothing, and it might just make someones day.

Niv wrote:I think it's less that it's hard to level up and more that this system encourages you to be a jack of all trades and makes specializing much less desirable.

Griffin wrote:Subjective opinions on subject matter, sentence length, story length shouldn't influence the number of points awarded. Because then it really isn't fair if one reviewer would have given full marks and another has dropped points for a subjective reason. Points are to award effort and to encourage.

Maltruism wrote:There are some skills that bolster several others, and are worth putting points into as an indirect way of specializing.
Strength and Acrobatics both serve to make an otherwise unlikely move entirely viable. Even Detection can serve a combat situation.

If have yourself up against an NPC with 10 or 15 more points in blades, it would be proper to start out writing that he is getting the edge, maybe even toying with you. But if you then "detect" that he has made moves to keep from getting his fine silk shirt dirty, you could very logically use the grimy scenery to bring him into a position where this vanity undermines his advantage. Finally, through gasps of exertion, you exclaim, "Oh my goodness, I've gone and soiled that fine shirt with your blood! How sad."

As for the ratio, I honestly think it is very true to life that when picking up a new skill, we go in leaps and bounds through the easy stuff. And it gets to be a grind as we get to more challenging levels. How long did it take to learn "Chopsticks" on piano?...5 minutes?...Happy Birthday?...a full day?...Piano Man?...A week?...Keith Emerson?...Mozart? Masters and Legends that I could not match in a lifetime of RL practicing.

When you've gotten to level 75, and you are faced with the slow going of the upcoming level, ask yourself if that is really an obstacle to writing. If you are really determined to run out and take on the mightiest swordsman in the land, and can't think of anything else to write in the meantime, well then go for it! He's probably an NPC and he doesn't have shit for Detection...lol

Vluharqih wrote:

Griffin wrote:Subjective opinions on subject matter, sentence length, story length shouldn't influence the number of points awarded. Because then it really isn't fair if one reviewer would have given full marks and another has dropped points for a subjective reason. Points are to award effort and to encourage.

It just seems like the grading really just boils down to "did they write?", if so, then "full points"

Kingdom wrote:
Will be interesting over the next few months to see how it goes and how players advance. I think I talked about it in my vlog but honestly there has been so much discussion that I can't be sure, about no one ever really mastering anything unless they pour a hell of a lot of time into it. For example, I consider myself quite average at writing and I do a hell of a lot of it, but I don't picture myself ever becoming a master no matter how much time I put in. I think the ratios reflect this quite well and players will start thinking smarter about what skills they feed points into and when is the best time to stop on one and focus on another.

Kingdom wrote: I think you'll find it allows everyone to write what they enjoy, instead of stressing about "shit did I swing my sword enough to get a point?" People who like socialising IC will continue to do so, and are rewarded for this (writing with other PCs), with collaboration points. I promise you'll like it or your money back hahaha.

Kingdom wrote:
I think you'll find it allows everyone to write what they enjoy, instead of stressing about "shit did I swing my sword enough to get a point?" People who like socialising IC will continue to do so, and are rewarded for this (writing with other PCs), with collaboration points. I promise you'll like it or your money back hahaha.