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Nothing against that but then, why retain the characteristics at all? I mean, why having characteristics with such a limited usage? They are there mostly for two purposes: Determining the initial value of the skills; determining the attributes. Other then this they serve almost no purpose. If that's so, why not drop them altogether?
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What purpose do characteristics serve in RQ/BRP derivatives like Elric or CoC - save for the characteristic rolls (which are there for exceptions, rather than the norm)?
To me, they serve a number of important purposes. First, as the primary building blocks of the character, they act as an immediate key for the player to see that his character is tough, tall, fast, dumb, ugly, etc. All very important meta factors in roleplaying. They therefore have a use beyond the straight game mechanics.
Second they determine the starting values of all skills. RQ3 diluted that with the category modifiers and arbitary starting %ages. You also needed a separate set of starting %ages to reflect racial differences and competencies. In MRQ, that's built right into the mechanic.
Third, if you got rid of the characteristics altogether, as, say HeroQuest has done, there'd be all hell let loose from people saying 'But it ain't RQ!' and a whole other camp saying 'That's a HQ rip-off'!
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my main issues are about the combination of SR and action phases, on one side; and the fact that the rules don't take into account things that were present in the past editions and that made sense to factor into SR.
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The GMs Guide for MRQ factors in weapon reach, opening and closing, and so forth. I know this doesn't help your review Sergio, but just to mention that its on the way in.
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I couldn't agree more. The problem is that INT in MRQ (as in RQ and most games) does not measure instinct, on the contrary it measures conscious thinking. So, the impact of INT in SR should be negative but this is the exact reverse of what the rules dictate.
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I fundamentally disagree. A clever fighter doesn't just rely on instinct. He uses his brains to analyse options, openings, weaknesses, and so forth. He watches an opponent's stance and body language to assess the point to make his move; he doesn't just blunder in (although he'll still strike first). I know several experienced SCA fighters and they all use their brain as well as their skill with weapons - if not more so. If we applied your logic above, it would be the fast but dumb fighters who strike first more often than not - and they will, if they have a really high DEX - but please, INT IS important in Strike Rank. You're mistaken to downplay it.