In Volant, I introduced a new kind character generation. In this scheme,
you are given a number of build points based on the character's age,
and with these points may purchase Templates, which each have a number
of Skill ranks, and possibly Edges and/or Attribute improvements. You
add up all these ranks given by the Templates, assign 7 points to
Personality traits, and the character is complete, with personality,
history, Skills, and Edges. It takes about 5 minutes to create a
character of moderate (mid-30s) age - longer to create older characters.
This compares very favorably time-wise with the usual year-by-year
generation the StarCluster system requires, at a small cost in
flexibility. Volant also has a much smaller number of skills - though
they are still center-defined, just broader - than typical StarCluster
games, which also helps a bit.
I haven't yet released Volant -
it's due for release early next year - but I am considering using it for
upcoming projects as well. My Alpha group has really liked using it,
and the results are compatible with other StarCluster games. What do you
all think?
-clash
Sounds solid idea to me.
ReplyDeleteCool! I don't think I will use it for everything, but It is another tool in my toolbox. :D
ReplyDelete-clash
I like the template system, it's ease and speed of use, it's ability to handle specialists and generalists but mostly because it can result in interesting age mixes within the party. I can imagine doing a Swiss Family Robinson/Lost in Space set-up, or a school field trip in peril.
ReplyDeleteCool, Geordie! There is some loss of flexibility, I know, but this is, I think, more than made up with the speed of generation and the ability to link skills in a way so as to define competence within a job. For example you have a group of five Scouts. GM asks "Anyone here an Advanced Scout?" and two players raise their hands. "Anyone a High Scout?" One hand is raised. "OK - The High Scout is the leader, and the Advanced Scouts are her deputies."
ReplyDelete