Two Heads, Two Players

[Ankhanu]

I think the issue that *I* have is that I'm looking at the situation differently. I'm thinking of the Triog as a single character. As such, I'm looking at character creation as though it were being played by a single player, and the two player control idea is an oddity. Basically, the rules for playing with two players should be the same as playing the character with a single player... and I hesitate to give a single player both additional skill dice AND 2 actions before incurring a MAP.
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[Esoomian]

I'm not quite sure it's two actions before incurring a MAP each player gets one action, that's fine. After that they start getting MAPs in fact if one head tries to have five actions then the other head gets stung too... doesn't he?
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[Ankhanu]

My point isn't that each player gets 1 action before MAPs begin, it's that the character gets 2 actions before MAPs begin. I don't really see why character creation/gameplay rules should differ whether the character is played by one or more than one player.

Again, the perspective I've been approaching this discussion is from that of the character, not players. Given how the species entry is written, and how we've been running this species in the game I'm GMing, there is nothing suggesting that a Triog [/i]character[/i] should have any more Attribute or Skill allocation options than a Human character (other than the regular differences for Attribute Min/Max ranges that would apply for any alien deviating from the 2D/4D min/max pattern). Whether this one character is operated by one or two real people is kinda immaterial from my perspective.
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[obidancer]

Ankhanu, in your game does each head has a different set of skills or do they actually the same stats, as per one unique character?

[Delkarnu]

Looks like the difference is if you look at it as two players or one character, I look at it as two players.

Lets say the two players want to play separate chars. One a con man, the other a tech. One takes 4D Perception, lowering another skill to 2D while the other raises Tech to 4D and lowers another to 2D. If they share a body, and all their attributes have to match, to get 4D per and 4D tech, two other attr would have to be lowered, giving both players a bigger weakness.

Also, any damage would weaken or knock out both players, which I think also reduces any advantage the two players would have.

[Gry Sarth]

Agree 100% with Delkarnu. I think they should only share those attributes and skills that would be obligatory, like Strength and Running. Otherwise, treat it as two characters trapped in one body.
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"He's Gry Sarth, of course he has the stats for them."

[Ankhanu]

[Gry Sarth]

I believe a Troig character should be "overpowered" if you compare it to a normal character. Two heads are better than one, that's what they always say, isn't it? But game-wise I think it must be regarded as two characters trapped inside a single body, which presents many tactical disadvantages.

There is precedent for species with two different sets of stats for the same character, like the "hulking" Dazouri or the schizophrenic Thakwaash.
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"He's Gry Sarth, of course he has the stats for them."

[Delkarnu]

I think having all attr and force powers the same, and 7D of skills matching, and giving 3D to each head. Each head can use the other's skills at base attribute level (since I am using the optional penalty for untrained skills). I think this gets balanced by the limitations of both being in the same body.

If it was just Vong, I'd probably not allow the Troig, since I haven't played with him before(although, since he is arguing for less power,I dont think powergaming is an issue). In the groups I have played with, I'd let them play a troig under the same rules, since I know their RPing ability.

[Ankhanu]

[obidancer]

It is my understanding that Delkarnu found the proper medium between Gry's and Ankhanu's perspectives:

By forcing the two players to actually have matching attributes is pretty much like having just one character anyway, right?
Then we're talking about a mere 3D to differenciate the uniqueness of each head in personnality and learning. I don't feel it's overpowering the character.
As a possible co-player I'd be totally fine with that, as the small bonus would only add to the depth of the character more than make it better.

Plus some species are just more powerful than others. tough. It's more a matter of how they are roleplayed. Both Vong and Ankhanu are experienced roleplayers (I'm playing in a campaign with them...), I'm sure they can handle the extra potential power without unbalancing teh other players or the game.