Values that I was using are: -5 / +5 with zero not being available.
Core set was:
- Gov
- PCs
- Country
- Religion
- War
- Neighbors
- Money
Each of these is a category. Using the inn as an example (either the inn keeper or the general opinion of the patrons): the government is liked (+5), the PCs aren’t liked at all (-5 OUCH!), likes their country and government, doesn’t like religion so much, likes war (or generally hostile towards something/someone or will support it under certain circumstances), loves their neighbors, money is not a deciding factor.
The purpose is to allow the storyteller to get a general feel for the motives of an individual. This person would be motivated by their neighbors, government and country.
For example, if their neighbors (a different city for example) was being attacked by monsters, they would support the idea of going after those monsters or invaders (likes war, likes other city).
Another example, if someone attacked their governing structure, they would support a counter-attack / defend it the governing structure.
The other categories will give the storyteller additional information. Following the ‘Stone, Dwarf and Fork’, the individual is not much of a fighter, a bit on the magic side and not much of a cleric. They are good with their fists and sword, can klunk things over the head with something heavy. Archer, not so much.
The next set of categories is more vague. Is it actual skill or like/dislike? The storyteller would need to interpret this. It seems that this lady isn’t much into the whole magic-cleric thing, but likes to punch something in the nose. (Or kneecaps given that it’s a gnome.)
The last category is whom or what the individual (or group) generally likes.
There is a lesser known deity which is supported/followed. Doesn’t seem to like a known religion at all. This can be worked into the story and/or responses to the PCs. Perhaps there is a large, formal religion in the city to which this gnome is not particularly happy with. Instead she supports a lesser known deity within the pantheon.
Let me know if this helps or if you would like more info. You can treat this as some kind of oracle, it’s an interpretation thing versus a finite number.
Best!
