Date: 98-04-14 23:11:33 EDT
From: dos021@freenet.mb.ca (Darryl Shpak)
>I would appreciate any additions or suggestions you may have for this.
>The Perception score; a new way of looking at things!
>
>By Thomas Ruddick
>Update to 2nd Edition & Skills & Powers By Lord Eadric
>How should he (the DM) determine if the characters notice or not?
>
>My own solution has been to create an eighth ability (this the time of
first
>edition when comliness was in use) score: perception.
>
>Perception describes the quality of a character's vision and hearing, as
>well as mental habits such as attentiveness, visual and aural memory, and
>interest in his surroundings
I really like this :-) I've been running a PbEM game, and to keep the game
moving, I often have to decide if a character notices something. Often IRL
you can tell the PCs what they see and they can ask questions and the
players can figure it out. This REALLY bogs down a PbEM, so I can describe a
scene, and give different amounts of detail based on what I think they see,
or what they're looking for. Sometimes, though, it's just chance. "I check
out the jewellers". What are the chances of a guy noticing an abnormally
large or valuable gem? Well, you'd modify it for a dwarf, and for Gemcutting
or Appraising ability, and maybe for being a Thief, but it's still got a lot
of chance in it.
What I'd do with your system is this:
Use 3d6 rolls for the stat, and roll against a d20 to make checks. I'd make
a LOT of adjustments based on the character and what they should be
"noticing", especially race, class, and non-weapon proficiencies. I'd give a
rogue a better chance of noticing someone following him/her, a warrior a
better chance of seeing an especially sharp blade, etc. I'd also modify it
for intelligence or wisdom in some situations: The more intelligent players
will have a better chance of seeing that especially useful tome on the
shelf.
Other than that, I think it's a great idea. Mostly so far in my PbEM I've
been making rolls against intelligence, modifying for anything the player
especially said he was looking for. I just might introduce this into my PbEM
sometime soon....
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Date: 98-04-15 04:37:05 EDT
From: 2max1@ebox.tninet.se (Tom_P†hlsson_&_Marie_Wennerlund)
I think your perception system sounds very interesting and perhaps
something to try in my own campaign. I just seem to remeber that I've seen
a profiency named "Alertness" in a Dungeon magazine. The skill isn't in the
PHB and I don't know exactly what it does. Perhaps someone out there do,
and wish to explain it. It might be an alternative for the DM's not
interested in using the complex system of Lord Eadric?
Tom Paulsson
2max1@ebox.tninet.se
Date: 98-04-15 09:55:38 EDT
From: ttubbs@kclife.com (Tubbs, Tony)
The 13aRd wrote:
I would appreciate any additions or suggestions you may have for this.
Well you asked for it. :-)
I agree it seems that this issue is always coming up in a game, and it
never seems to be handled the same way twice.
I think it would be nice to have rules that cover this topic, and I
think you have put a lot of thought into your idea. I don't think I
would use it as written though, and I will tell you why. Just don't
take it as a slam or anything, this is just the way I like to play and
do things.
First what I like:
I like the way you broke things out like:
Perception describes the quality of a character's vision and hearing, as
well as mental habits such as attentiveness, visual and aural memory,
and
interest in his surroundings.
You also said something about light and heavy sleepers.
I like the 1d20, 2d20, 1d100 type of rolling system you describe.
And finally, I agree totally with the arguments you make for having such
a system.
OK what I don't like so much:
I don't like another ability score. I just seems that it could be too
limiting to add it in. I mean what if I really wanted to play a ranger,
but I don't have the score I need for perception, then I'm out of luck.
(I know this may be a weak argument because it can happen even without
this ability, but it seems to me that some amount of perception is
already brought into the ranger class by the high ability requirements
from the PHB. It just doesn't feel right to add another limitation.)
I don't think each ability/skill (hearing, eye sight, sleeping) are
related in anyway, and to have one score set them all doesn't work for
me either. I mean you can be blind, but have great hearing, right? Or
you could be very alert while you are awake, but be able to sleep
through an earthquake.
There is nothing about getting your eye knocked out or cutting your ear
off.
Some suggestions if you are interested:
I think I would like a system more like saving throws, in which each
ability has it's own value. I don't think it should be level related or
come off a table though. They could be call perception scores perhaps.
Anyway, I think there should be some formula used to determine a base
score. These score could be something like the values you suggest so
that the 1d20, 2d20, 1d100 rolls would still apply. I haven't really
thought it out, but a combination of some of the following ideas my be a
nice way to determine the formula:
1. Make one set of base scores that every class/kit would use
2. Maybe a table of bonuses for other ability scores. Say an Int
15 gets you a +2 to memory etc.
3. A die roll from the player, say 1d6 on each score and the d6
represents a range of -2 to +3
Well I didn't mean to ramble on so long, but that is my 2 coppers.
Thanks for getting me thinking. If you like my idea and do something
along those lines, I'd like to see it. If not, I think someday I might
flesh out this idea and incorporate it into my own games. For what it
is worth, you've done a more thorough job than I would. It is a great
idea.
Date: 98-04-15 10:37:30 EDT
From: scbates@lamar.colostate.edu (Scott C. Bates)
This is a really terrific write-up; a good synopsis of a very basic AD&D
problem and a good solution. These sorts of well thought out, clearly
written, posts are the reason that I subscribe to ADND-L. It was very
clearly 'signal' in a very strange time of 'noise.'
Thanks
Fellow DM,
~Scott
Date: 98-04-15 15:46:44 EDT
From: Nathan.Pollard@GMG.co.uk (Pollard, Nathan)
The idea of a perception score for AD&D doesn't seem like a bad idea.
Though it does make the game a little trickier once again as it would
affect an awful lot of other rules.
The roll under WIS does work quite well, but as you say, is a little too
simplistic in some circumstances.
It is of course a bonus if your players choose NWPs like Observation,
Alertness, Trouble Sense etc.
You can also give them a little nudge in that direction!
Apart from that, I think I would like to give your Perception rules a
try, as that is the only way to find out.
Good luck
Nathan
Date: 98-04-15 23:36:48 EDT
From: DWARF001
Hey, I like your perception attribute... I have always used the Palladium
Rules for a similar attibute. It is a great idea, and I would ask your
permmision to incorporate this into my campaign world. [It is easier to use]
I also use First Edition Rules in my world as I am an Old-timer: been
playing since 1979, DMing since1982 and enjoying it all! I grew up on the
old rules and you can't teach an old dog new tricks.... yeah, right! I
wouldn't be a good DM if I didn't!
Happy Gaming,
DWARF
From: ehardersty@aol.com (EHardersty)
Date: Mon, Apr 20, 1998 23:33 EDT
Looks like somebody wants to write for WotC or TSR...A simple way (Realism
in D&D???) is to have a perception stat, but not a complex one. Perception
is rolled on D100 (percentile) and is equal to the characters level
(highest for multi or dual classed) plus intelligence and wisdom as a
general evidence of their watchfulness...This gives a low number for most
PC's so use of it should be sparing and rare and should be rolled by the DM
From: Tyler Dobson <sherigr@nb.net>
Date: Tue, Apr 21, 1998 22:46 EDT
I think you have come up with a great way for perception to be
determined. I plan to use it.
