Racial Max/Min

[Tatum]

Is it just me, or has anyone else ever thought of these as kind of loose restrictions? To me, it seems like a racial max, in any attribute, would be a fairly rare thing. Yet, its pretty common for a player character to have at least one or two attributes maxed. Yea, I know that player characters are supposed to be way above average hero types, but it still doesnt jive with me.

Take Humans and the strength attribute for instance. Almost every group has AT LEAST one character with a 4D strength. But, if this is the absolute max for a human that would make them the equivilant of one of the World's Strongest Man types. Not only would they be pretty freakin big, but theyd also spend a ton of time strength training. Obviously thats not very practical and its something the rules are designed to cheese a little to make things more streamline, which is good.

But, it seems like it would make more sense, and be more interesting, if racial maxes were just a "soft" restriction. Say for instance that humans can go above a 4D strength, maybe even up to 5D, but its extremely rare, even for player characters. So, the character would have to be pretty focused around that stat, would have to have a good background, and would have to spend all his free time training to keep the stat where it is.

A GM could allow this with maybe some draw backs. EX. The 5D strength human is obssesive about strength training and spends all his free time doing it, maybe he even has some kind of steroid addiction that helps him keep his strength up (with even more side effects attached to the steroids). Maybe a 5D Knowledge human is allowed, but hes the mad genious type and has numerous mental conditions.

Ive never actually has a player ask about something like this, but Id definately consider if they did. It would be pretty interesting and would provide a lot of plot lines and fodder for adventures.

[Lord Ben]

The bodybuilder would probably have a skill in weightlifting though, and the knowledgeable person would probably just have lots of knowledge skills. So the racial max isn't really the only thing you look for.

[Stule]

Right you are, Lord Ben.

In D6, you have to consider two things, Ability Scores (Str, Tec, etc.) and Skills. This is what defines a character. Sure, 4D means your a pretty big guy (or gal), but to be a weightlifter, warrior, or whatever, you have to have the skills for it. Just a plain 4D Strength would be akin to being old Jethro on the farm.

But as I always say, it's you game. That's the beauty of RPG's. So if you want to raise the maxes, feel free.

Remember that Human maxes are not Near Human maxes. A Near Human can exists on a high gravity world and therefore have a much higher Strength (Like 5D for instance).

Remembe, it's your game. There is no limit but your imagination.

[Tatum]

Still though, if 4D is the human max, the character would be big. He wouldnt be the typical "6'1 180lbs" description that players like to go with. If so, what happens when someone plays a human character that is really big, like 6'6"-7' and 250-300+ lbs? Are they limited to the same starting strength as a more normal sized character? On top of that, what if this exceptionally large character happens to also be exceptionally strong for even his size?

Also, youd assume that characters use strength to resist damage because stronger characters are more bulky and fit. But, a character that pumps up through heavy weight lifting is also gonna gain bulk and muscle, wouldnt you think that would help his damage resistance?

I understand that these types of things are up to the individual GM, Im just trying to bring up some points that are kind of hang ups for me, just to see what others think.

[Gry Sarth]

Having 4D STR sure means you're big. You can't play a 4D STR human and have him be just "fit" physically, he's big. However, he's not the strongest man ever, he's not a mountain, for this he'd have to have like 9D Lifting, 8D Stamina and so on. This goes for all attributes.

High attributes only indicate a natural disposition to be good at that characteristic, you need high skills to be the MAX.

[TheFamousTommyZ]

[garhkal]