What're Your Dream Stats?


#1

Alright, lumpy heads. Once again, I have set out on a quest to discover the PERFECT STAT LIST for use in a home brew system. What are your favorite lists? Are they role-based like in Warrior Rogue Mage? Are they approach-based like in FATE Accelerated or PbtA? Or good ol’ S/D/C/I/W/C? Do you use a universal list or customize it to the setting?


#2

I’ve given that a lot of though and I’ve concluded that you cannot have a “perfect stat list”, you need a good enough stat list for your game.

But…S/D/C/I/W/C has passed the test of time and repeatedly come out as enough. Fate Accelerated Approaches are just a more different way of doing the same thing. I think a skill list works if you’re making a game where it’s ‘what you know’ more than ‘what you are’ that defines your character.


#3

I second and agree with everything Achris_K_Ringle said.


#4

Castle Falkenstein had an interesting take on the stats list. Here is a sampling of what that system used:

  • Animal Handling (Animal Skills)

  • Athletics (Physical Skills)

  • Charisma (Likeability)

  • Comeliness (Personal Beauty)

  • Connections (Knowledge of People)

  • Courage (Reaction under Pressure)

  • Education (Formal Training)

  • Exchequer (Personal Wealth)

  • Fencing (Skill with Swords)

  • Fisticuffs (Skill in Fighting)

  • Gambling (Skill in Gambling)

  • Leadership (Ability to Lead)

  • Marksmanship (Skill with Range Weapons)

  • Outdoorsmanship (Survival Skills)

  • Perception (Attention to Detail)

  • Performance (Skill in Performing)

  • Physician (Medical Skills)

  • Physique (Physical Strength)

  • Piloting (Skill with Vehicles)

  • Riding (Skill with Riding Animals)

  • Social Graces (Social Skills and Status)

  • Sorcery (Magickal Prowess)

  • Stealth (Sneaking Skill)

  • Tinkering (Crafting and Inventing Skill)


#5

Speed, Strength, Smarts


#6

Pretty much. If I’m honest my FAVORITE stat list is the chronicles of darkness one, because that 3x3 grid is just so great, but if I’m REALLY honest, with 9 stats I have trouble making sure they all get even use.


#7

I’ve always loved the World of Darkness Stats. something about mixing and matching the abilities with the skills, but with a simple creation process. It had a rich feel to it.

But then you play, and it’s hit or miss if you’re actually going to use more than 8 of those 30 odd skills.

and then…do you really need to have a 9 Attributes? It could have just been “Power, Finesse, Resistance” or “Physical, Social, Mental”. Or, just the 9 Attributes and no Skills. I could see a case for a system using 9 attributes instead of 6. Like, WoD without the Skills.

And 9 Attributes wouldn’t be too bad. ICRPG has 11.


#8

I’ll say that as a guy who ran decades of WoD and CoD games I eventually made all my NPC’s with power, finesse, resistance or physical, social, mental and it was just fine.


#9

From my own home brew:
SCRAPPY
SAVVY
SUBTLE
SWAY

From an existing game (Fate Modes a la Atomic Robo):
Action
Intrigue
Science
Banter
Weird


#10

Strength (Str + Con)
Coordination (Dexterity renamed)
Cunning (Int + the Perception part of Wisdom)
Personality (Charisma + the Willpower part of Wisdom)
Luck (DCC style)