Possible Erratta?

[mikeryan]

Okay, I know which Statistics are Mental and which are Physical, but which ones are Bored and Mean? On page 60 of Character Burner, Bosuns get a "+1 Mean" Stat and Helmsmen get "+1 Bored" Stat.

They're typos right? :P

[Kublai]

Ah, yes... +1 Bored and +1 Mean!

These are to BW as the last few Neanderthals were to Cro-Magnon Man -- evidence of a dead-end in evolution. From these two Bonuses evolved Lifepath Traits.

Take them as you will - most people use them as Lifepath Traits.

Perhaps they will finally be extinct when, just as the Spaniards killed the last of the Neanderthals in the Azores (?), Abzu will put to rest these two anachronisms.

[luke]

What are you talking about? "Put them to rest"? Taking those lifepaths gets your character a new stat!

"Ok, he's not scared."
"Can I test my G5 Mean to shake him up?"
"Sure!"

or

"You've been waiting for about a half an hour."
"I leave."
"Why?"
"I'm bored."
"You are?"
"Yeah, I voluntarily tested my B4 Bored skill; 3 successes."
"Damn."

See! Your character is more powerful than any other!

Um. Kublai's right, they're the source of the Lifepath traits. Originally many LPs gave you +1 Mean, Bored, Fat, Scurvy or whatever. Eventually these migrated over to LP traits. Those last few are hold outs. I probably just couldn't bear to get rid of 'em.

-abzu

[rafial]

While on the subject of errata and traits, I thought I'd point out that "a feeling in your fingertips" is Fingerspitzengefuehl, and not Fingerspritzenful, which might be loosly translated as "touch of the squirty finger". That might also be a trait, but I doubt it will help you win battles! :D

[eruditus]

Or am I just oblivious?

Where is the Meditation Skill listed? Several LPs have it without * but I didn't find it in the skill lists.

[eruditus]

Aside from my Meditation question I have another...

on page 177 of the Character Burner it says under the Frail trait it says "...maximum for the Frail stat is reduced to exponent 5."

Should that be Forte?

[luke]

A character can be Frail anyway you like. I personally have this trait, it effects my Power.

-abzu

[Yagathai]

I request two clarifications from the all-powerful Abzu:

1) Bosuns get +1 Mean, which is a trait, as per above. Do they also get a +1 Men or +1 Phys?

2) There's a training skill "patis" granted to the Free Companyman lifepath. Um, as far as I know, patis is a type of fermented fish sauce used in Southeast Asia, though I'm told it's also a term used in quilting. So either all Free Companymen are connosieurs exotic coastal cuisine, fervent quilters, or one of us is missing something. Is there a meaning to patis that I'm not familiar with, or did you mean something else -- patois, perhaps.

[luke]

Bosuns do not gain a stat bonus in my book. If you are feeling generous and favorably disposed to seamen, you might give him a +1 P.

Regarding Patis: Not so smart now, are ya Dr Willy!?

Ahem.

Patis is a french word describing the complex process of extortion that the english freecompanymen harassed the french clergy and townsfolk with during the Hundred Years War. Very similar to what modern mob savvy folk would call a "protection racket." What does this mean to a character? Essentially freecompanymen are very familiar with running schemes and scams that involve the the threat of violence, rape and pillage in exchange for regular payments.

-abzu

I love Dr Willy

[Yagathai]

Regarding Patis: Not so smart now, are ya Dr Willy!?
-abzu

I love Dr Willy

Dr. Willy is a very smart man, but he's sure that he's even smarter than that. ;)

OK, my next (somewhat bizarre) question. Would a non-elf character that possesses a trait (or whatever) that grants him immortality eventually begin to suffer from Grief? That is to say, in your rulebook is Grief an inevitable result of living too long, or is it rather unique to elves and the fact that they're poncy brooders at heart?

[luke]

OK, my next (somewhat bizarre) question. Would a non-elf character that possesses a trait (or whatever) that grants him immortality eventually begin to suffer from Grief? That is to say, in your rulebook is Grief an inevitable result of living too long, or is it rather unique to elves and the fact that they're poncy brooders at heart?

Hm, good question. Personally, I wouldn't enforce Grief on the non-Elven as it is probably a symptom of their culture (not their genes). However, it sounds like a fine balance for the Immortal trait. This, of course, would be between you and your GM.

-abzu

[Yagathai]

Some lifepaths grant skill points but no actual skills. Laborer, for example, gets 2 pts of skills, but only "Mind Numbing Work*" (and "Drunkenness*" in the city) are listed. Another example would be Captive of War, or Leper. What are we supposed to do there?

A similar oddity appears with the City-Dweller version of Pilgrim, who gets 4 pts in skills, but only one actual skill, Doctrine, to spend those points on. Does he really get 4 pts of skills and only one skill to spend it on? I can see how that might be possible, but it does violate your own lifepath creation guidelines.

There are some paths where the number of skills points come up short when compared to the skills required by the path, like Cloistered monk/nun.

Also, lifepaths with training skills sometimes have enough points to open all of the skills on the list, but sometimes don't (like Squire, or Governess). Is this intentional?

[Yagathai]

Another question! Tired of me yet? Is there a particular reason that Master and Apprentice Craftsman are only available in the Village setting?

[eruditus]

Elves, Immortality & Grief

oooo....good question

well I dig the idea. I can see where you might argue that it has to do with elven culture COMBINED with immortality. This would be really interesting because maybe humans must make Will checks each lifepath ot not commit suicide if originally raised in a human environment.

However, I also see the other side - the human that lives with the elves but is never a real member of the community and cannot achieve certain elven ideologies. Does make them more unique racially. I think Gandalf is a good indication of this - living a long time and having associated extensively with the elves but not given into their morose nature (although Gandalf is not human but you get the idea). On the other hand there is Aragorn who has lived with them for a long time and I can see a certain sorrow in his eyes :)

Maybe Grief is something one succumbs to?

[luke]

Some lifepaths grant skill points but no actual skills. Laborer, for example, gets 2 pts of skills, but only "Mind Numbing Work*" (and "Drunkenness*" in the city) are listed. Another example would be Captive of War, or Leper. What are we supposed to do there?

Page 18 of the Character Burner: "6. Skill Point Pool: Total all the skill points accrued from the character's lifepaths. General Points should be kept separate."

This point total is then used in Step 7, Buying Skills. To my knowledge, no where does it state that skill points from individual paths may only be spent on the skills from their respective paths.

Of course, the only skills available to open and advance are the skills listed with the character's chosen lifepaths.

The only skills required are the first ones listed on each path.


A similar oddity appears with the City-Dweller version of Pilgrim, who gets 4 pts in skills, but only one actual skill, Doctrine, to spend those points on. Does he really get 4 pts of skills and only one skill to spend it on? I can see how that might be possible, but it does violate your own lifepath creation guidelines.

Guidelines are meant to violated. Rules are meant to be broken. I like Pilgrims who drift into major urban centers. The experience often opens their eyes.

A path that has no "real" skills but gives points indicates that the character is getting "free" points. These skill points may be spent on other skills from their lifepaths. They add to the Skill Point Pool total, but are not General Points which could be spent on anything anywhere.


There are some paths where the number of skills points come up short when compared to the skills required by the path, like Cloistered monk/nun.

There are various reasons for this. Most often it is because the path has many options, but it is very difficult for a person to live them all in one swoop. I think I mention this in my guidelines. If not, I just did.



Also, lifepaths with training skills sometimes have enough points to open all of the skills on the list, but sometimes don't (like Squire, or Governess). Is this intentional? Yes. It is. Life is hard, sometimes one doesn't get a chance to do everything one wants and one must make sacrifices.

[eruditus]

to clarify Yagathai's question as to the intention here:

If I take City Born, Laborer, Laborer what do i spend points on?

(I did this blind since I didn't bring my books to work today. This is to indicate two lifepaths with no skills listed)

[luke]

Cityborn, Laborer, Laborer

tough life. Ever hear of unskilled labor? This character starts with NO skills learned from his lifepaths. General points may be spent accordingly.

[eruditus]

Cityborn, Laborer, Laborer

tough life. Ever hear of unskilled labor? This character starts with NO skills learned from his lifepaths. General points may be spent accordingly.

YIKES!