INCREASING SKILLS/LEARNING NEW SKILLS updated 2/6/99 At the end of each session, the GM will distribute 'character points', which are a measure of how much the characters learned during the session based on how well the GM thinks they did. Character points may be immediately spent on increasing skills. Learning new skills is more complicated and discussed below. The cost of increasing a skill depends upon it's current level. If a skill is at 1D, it costs 1 cp to raise it to 1D+1. It costs 1 more to raise it to 1D+2, and 1 more to raise it to 2D. Henceforth, it costs 2 cp's to raise it, until it reaches 3D, and so on, up to a maximum of 5D+2. When at this level, the character cannot increase the skill unless and until he studies for a time under a master of the skill who has that same skill of ability 9D or higher. Then, the skill can be increased up to 8D+2 when the character must seek a master of skill with at least 12D. See chart below. TO ATTAIN YOU MUST LEARN FROM 6D 9D 9D 12D 12D 15D 15D 18D 18D 21D This goes on until the character has reached 18D, at which time the cap is taken off, and the character must spend 2 times the normal amount of cp's to increase the skill, but has no cap on it. Essentially, if a character wishes to get a skill at XD, he must seek a master of (X+3)D or greater to teach it to him. This keeps tabs on characters who do nothing but spend hundreds of cp's on their sword skill, for example, and have no other skills. It forces balance and fosters diversity. Optionally, the barriers can be removed, but this is not recommended. Raising advanced skills is harder. Twice as many cp's must be spent to increase the skill. Thus, to increase a 1D skill, one must spend 2 cp's. To raise it from 1D+1 to 1D+2, another 2 cps. To raise it to 2D, another 2 cp's. Henceforth, the character must spend 4 cp's to raise the skill, until it reaches 3D, when he/she must spend 6 cp's, and so on. The same 5D+2, 8D+2, 11D+2 etc. barriers apply to Advanced skills. Specialized skills (weapons) do NOT cost extra to raise, but their special powers cost the amount specified under character creation. Priest spheres and wizard schools as well as gathering (magic points) raise at 6X normal level. Thus, it costs 6 cps to go from 1D to 1D+1. The reasons for this become obvious quickly. For example, a wizard with 3d of invocation tosses around fireballs that do 3d of damage. 3-18hp isn't so bad in D&D (with its 100+ hp fighters) but in this rule set, with even the best fighters having no more than 26 hp, and the average joe having 12-18 hp, an average damage of 9-12 hp of damage can flatten a room, and oftentimes a village. Increasing stats is even more difficult. The player must come up with a valid reason, and the ability to do so is at the GM's discretion. Then, the character must spend 10X the normal amount of points. To go from 1D to 1D+1 costs 10 cps. To go from 3D to 3D+1 costs 30 cps (quite expensive). No attribute can be raised above 1 more than the racial maximum (specified by the racial adjustments under character creation) without magical help. Thus, since an elf gets +1 dex, their racial max is 5D for dexterity. The elf character can train up to 5D+1 (superhuman or superelven in this case) and cannot go higher without magical/divine aid. Divine favor can NOT be spent to raise attributes without a damn good reason (impending doom, etc) and is NOT permanent unless the character has 4 divine favor (from the same god). LEARNING NEW SKILLS To learn a new skill, the character must seek a teacher with at least 5D in the skill and learn under them for a time until they have the skill. The GM can specify an arbitrary amount of time, or use a rough formula, specified below. Base 6 mo. Teacher rolls teaching (or charisma against the skill chart). For each success, reduce the amount of time by 1 month (when under one month, halve the month each time). Student rolls learning (or intelligence against the skill chart). For each success, reduce the amount of time by 1 week (when under one week, halve the week each time, minimum 1 day). The teacher must spend at least 4 hours a day instructing the student. When the time period is over, the student starts with the skill at their base attribute level.