Rule Mechanic: Synergy Bonus

shootingwomprats · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 6:46 pm Post subject: Rule Mechanic: Synergy Bonus

I have been using a Synergy modifier in my games for some time now, but with no real framework for its use. Here is a quick, easy rule that I think could be a lot of fun.

Synergy Bonus: Whenever a skill may compliment another skill the GM may rule that a Synergy Bonus is applicable. For every full D in the complimentary skill add a +1 modifier, max of +3.
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DougRed4 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 10:25 pm Post subject:

Yeah, that's not bad. I really enjoy using affinities (which is what they're called in the CODA system, which we've used with both Star Trek and Lord of the Rings), but have been hesitant to use them here for fear of slowing down the action.

I love the concept, but what I don't want it for players to stop, scan their character sheet, and hunt for that +1 bonus. I suppose I could tell them that they will be rare, but when they have a natural fit that I'd allow them.

I really like the +3 maximum, as that seems solid. A bit of a boost, but nothing earth-shattering or game breaking.
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

garhkal · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 1:21 am Post subject:

To prevent that 'stopping to scan the sheets' perhaps you can pre-make a list up of which skills synergy with which others. Each time they increase ONE skill, they get to pick a 2nd it can synergy with from the chart. Up to the max # of skills it has synergy with whether upwards or downwards..

IE Star ship repair has an upward synergy with star fighter repair, cap ship repair and space weapon repair, and a downward synergy with vehicle repair (all 4 types of ground vehicles), shield repair and sensors.

During character creation, you can pick one up or down synergy link per full D assigned to the skill. Any future synergy links must be earned in game via training up the skill.
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DougRed4 · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 1:42 am Post subject:

That's sort of how CODA (sort of similar to D20) does it. So, for instance, an affinity for Observe (a commonly used skill in the game) is Conceal.

But for SW I'd rather leave it up to the players and GMs, as it could really vary a ton depending on circumstances. For my son's Barabel arms dealer, I could see Streetwise giving him a synergy bonus for Bargain, when he's making a back alley deal with a scurvy criminal-type, but I don't think those two skills would normally have a synergy bonus.
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

garhkal · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 5:42 pm Post subject:

True, some skills may not generally have bonuses, while specialties might.
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lurker · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 7:50 pm Post subject:

shootingwomprats · Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 8:34 pm Post subject:

garhkal · Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 3:23 pm Post subject:

But since you are tracking which have gotten it in the past, to make sure you are ruling the same each and every time, does that NOT create the same list i was advocating?
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DougRed4 · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 4:21 am Post subject:

You could, garhkal, to encourage consistency, but it's MHO (from seeing this mechanic in play a lot) that it would be a never-ending chore to keep up such a list. There's just too many variables for so many of the skills that I think it's better to just have the GM make quick rulings on the spot, for synergies that make sense.
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Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

garhkal · Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 3:11 pm Post subject:

Then you can end up encouraging players to lobby and waste game time, to get "this skill use" as being synergied with that or the other skill..
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Naaman · Vice Admiral Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 3190

Another approach might be to allow a certain amount of D in one skill provide a discount on raising another skill... or else perhaps if you raise certain skills together during character advancement, you get a discount if you raise them both/all together. For example, a rebel who is in sniper training may get a discount when raising any combination of blaster, search, sneak, and survival at the same time... does that make sense?

For bonuses, like OP says let the GM dictate when and if skills have synergy in-game and let him announce it on the spot. End of story.

shootingwomprats · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 10:15 am Post subject:

lurker · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 1:00 pm Post subject:

garhkal · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 3:23 pm Post subject:

Naaman · Vice Admiral Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 3190

I figure the details could be left to individual GMs to decide. Ill tirn it over in my head a little while to come up with my own cmplete version.

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