A couple of character questions and a comment

[maxvale76]

Palerider (and Nick, I guess);

I wanted to mention that I updated a PDF of Samantha with a Novice level in Medical Aid and uploaded it to the site as Samantha Hall (3). If you could go ahead and delete the Sam Hall (2) version, I'd appreciate it.

Also; I had a couple of questions/thoughts.....first; I have attempted to increase Sam's skill in Awareness at least 3 or 4 times now and failed every time....I know the book has no mechanic for ever making the improvement chances increase...but it does mention GM privelege in these kind of rulings. I don't particularly care about this particular skill for my character; but I was thinking that for Colson and I who just learned the much more important "Medical Aid" skill at Novice levels; if we get stuck with bad luck trying to improve it mission after mission; this could be bad for the group as a whole. I was thinking; maybe a 10% increse in chance of successfully improving a skill after each failed attempt? Thoughts? Other ideas?

Finally; my character has had a history of being in a Leadership position which I never intended (see; her Leadership stat of 7 ); due to this history; would it be okay to increase her Leadership stat due to Experience to something like....10?

If these are no go issues; no worries....I just thought I'd ask/mention it!

[Morse]

Looking at this I was somewhat confused about what you were talking about. Then it occurred to me that not everyone has been as lucky as Quinn and I in our rolls. - But for those of us that have been here this many years I agree that something should probably be done. Stagnant stats after this long is weird. But that depends on if you really wanted to increase those stats.

For the leadership though..... those are really 'rp stats' for us. We don't really do leadership, and charisma checks. Those are really just based on the person running them really. I think you should go ahead and up those, since I highly doubt Nick's going to argue with that logic.

[Nemo]

A possible alternative is that we say between missions Marines can go on training courses and forgo there usual 2 skill rolls (which has been the norm as long as I've played) and gain either

A) An automatic basic rank in a new skill (Novice?)

or

B) a single skill roll on a skill they already have, but with double the chance of success.



Just an idea, throwing my 2 cents in.

[Pale Rider]

I would agree to two things here if Nick is in agreement as far as skills improvement:

1) For each failed roll you get 5% increase to improve.
Or
2) You roleplay via a written post of as of yet an undetermined length the training received.

Also instead of worrying about the stats I would suggest adding a new skill called Command which can be used to with Leadership and Charisma. Not everyone is a born leader but when thrust into the position they quickly grow into that role.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Morse]

I like Nemo's idea. We do a lot of the time have a point to do training, or at least have a situation where its likely we'd improve. - But if that were the case, I would drop it down to 1 skill, and not 2.

[maxvale76]

I'm good with either of Nemo or Pale Rider's suggestions; Pale (and Nick) your call as to which applies.

As for the Command Stat/skill idea.....I'm okay with the idea of a Command skill; but the fact that there is a stat for it in the game rules works as well. Like many (though not to the extent of some); I made it one of my character's 'dump stats'; as my original idea called for an upbeat; quick and fairly average all around Marine who had some self-doubts as reflected by her stat scores. As a GM I tend to put characters in situations where both good stats and bad ones impact them....that's a bit easier to do in Real world gaming vice PBP; but I don't think characters with low stats should get a pass (including me! ). That's just me though!

I must say though....I do indeed like the idea of either choosing a new skill for free at Novice level or a chance to increase 1 skill; with a bonus to rolls to improve it after failing (i.e. failed at "Awareness" improvement after Mission X; get a bonus if attempting to increase 'Awareness' agains after Mission Y)

[Pale Rider]

Well by and large it would be Nick's call. The game has evolved from the rules we came up with back '06='07.

[Quinn]

Damn, has it been that long?

[Whisky]

I like Nemo's idea if only with a small change.

A) An automatic basic rank in a new skill (Novice?)

-This I feel is fine, it's the courses/training/instruction taken between deployments. (Ideal for situations that appeared this mission.) And I think the original rules even allow for that at GMs call.

B) a single skill roll on a skill they already have, but with double the chance of success.

This I would reduce to a 50% bonus at best.

So if your learning score is 20, it becomes 30. (iirc roll a d100, if the score is <= LearningScore then advance in skill rank unless Nick has been doing something different.)

I know I'm fresh blood here but I've GMed a few games myself (not AAG though) and can understand the frustration of not progressing, especially when other RPGs have a more tangible levelling system. I just don't think it should be too easy. Some people just can't learn afterall and this RPG is meant to be harder and more unforgiving. (just look at the combat system, yikes!)

For the record I consider the new Medical Aid rank I got only temporary unless I'm told otherwise. Although I'd be more than happy at filling the roll of medic for team, only reason I didn't was when I rolled the char we already had two medics. I just didn't expect them to be hamstrung in that regard.

[Whisky]

Nick? Have you had any further thoughts about this thread?

[Pale Rider]

Until some point Nick makes an executive decision to change this here is what I am going to put into play.

1) 1 new skill at Novice Level provided you had to use the skill in previous mission/or it is made known the skill is necessary for the next mission.
2) 50% increase to die roll on 1 existing skill with a 5% increase if failed for the next attempt to roll improvement.

[Quinn]

Works for me.

Also, for example, look at Quinn's leadership score. Not the ideal number for a Platoon leader, which is again, why we ignore the stat for the most part.