So I'm looking over the sample elf character and it shows she has Spellcaster as Primary and Scholar as Secondary with one level in Spellcaster. Does that mean she has to wait till she gets a level in Scholar befor using it, but must pick it at first level?
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That's exactly what it means. Primary and Secondary skills must be selected at first level. You could do this as part of the planning for how you'll build your character. For example, if I was building a character who's got an undiscovered talent for magic that I plan on exploring later, I might make Spellcaster either Primary or Secondary.
What Fifth Wanderer said. Putting Primary or Secondary into a skill ranked at zero is a perfect way of signaling the character's hidden potential. For example, it's quite possible that Conan selected Leader as his Secondary skill but didn't put any levels into Leader until quite a few adventures later, opting to boost Warrior, Scout, and Thief first.
Cool. I just wasn't certain. I had other questions, but I think I'll make a up a character first and put it up online so you alls can have a look see.
The Character in question. Please let me know if I did anything wrong.
Seems I have a problem with the sizing of the jpeg. I've tried over and over to correct it but have no clue what I'm doing wrong.
[IMG]http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd485/brian_scott1/DevonBranson1.jpg[/IMG]
Hate to say it, but you really do need preview AND the ability for the poster to just erase his own post.
What are your questions?
Scout 41 (81/2)
Spellcaster 71 (81/2 +10 +20)
Longsword damage is 2D+2 (+1 for high STR)
I'm curious, how would you role-play "handsome" to earn DP for that descriptor?
Yes, we need to work on this site. It's on the task list.
I think that goes along with the last part of the descriptor as "handsome...thief of hearts". In other words, he's a ladies man and has no problem swooning the ladies (or gents as the case may be; hey, I'm not judging).
Unless there is a house rule in place, players specify one positive and one negative descriptor.
During a playtest I had a player select "scar face" and it never came into play during the game. I'll wait for Nightstorm's answer because I'm curious how such descriptors are role-played.
Intereasting. When I posted this earlier the jpeg was too big and now it's just right. Hummm. Anyway I see my mistakes on not adding the level(Duh) and mistake on scout and where I missed the str bonus. Thanks! As for the extra Descriptor, that is in the suggestion for half elf by what I beleive is one of the writers in the new races section.
I can see where handsome would be difficult. But at the same time the game does not have a stat for looks. I believe Willpower is force of personallity. I would say haveing a high Willpower might suggest attractiveness when it's added as a descriptor. As to how it would be played out would depend on the character. A thief of hearts knows he's handsome and uses it while someone pious might not believe they are handsome (dispite being told so) and so on.
Remember - the GM is the host of the party and is responsible for everyone's fun (at least that's how I always look at it). If you feel "Handsome" is an important descriptor for your character, then keep it. Don't look at it as a mechanism for advancement. Your GM should make sure to create opportunities for the handsome character trait to mean something now and then.
+1 Bill
I see descriptor as a flexible advantage/disadvantage system. I might give a handsome character a small bonus when he tries to sweet talk the farmers daughter. But I also might have the obsessive, stalker, crazy woman fixate on that character as well. Either way, DPs!
If you're saying someone does not advance because of their looks..
Over time a good looking person learns to use their looks for their own gain. Both material and experience. Material gain is obvious, being anything from a woman using a man to keep her in gold to using looks in a negotiation. As far as advancing the character, through DP, the same can be said of any descriptor if you think about it. As for the GM making situation, almost any social situation involves looks. From entering the gates, to buying from the street vendor and asking for a lower price. IN fact really good looking /charismatic people don't even have to try most of the time. Here in San Diego and LA you see it all the time. The sheeple just bend over backwards for the good looking.
Likewise in the Big Apple. And not just for the good-looking, but also for the wealthy. What's a professor to do? Heh, when I want to charm them, I just sic my wife on them--get's them every time ;)
EDIT.
oh I wasn't suggesting that good-looking (or wealthy, or whatever) people don't get an advantage. I wasn't suggesting that at all. All I suggested was that people shouldn't think of min-maxing advancement probabilities when creating their descriptors. Otherwise people would only pick descriptors that are easily within their control to ensure they come into play.
For instance, if your concept is that your character is known for always being in the wrong place at the wrong time, then go ahead and make that a descriptor even though it's outside of your control... it'll be the GM's job to make sure it comes into play. Same with a descriptor of "handsome" -- Don't look at it and say "Hm... that is going to be a lot harder for me to get +1 DP than YOUR descriptor, so I'll change it."