First question: how were the point totals differentiated for the Manse characters? All 16 characters built on the same number? Each of the 4 classes built on the same number? Each player given X number of points to split between as they saw fit?
Second question: Do the players have control over which of their PCs get involved in which issues? Does any player want to keep bringing his higher point soldier into the problems where others use servants or children? Given that the game was designed for highly social role players I doubt it's an issue, but I am curious whether those sorts of in game social norms can reliably curb player abuse.
After all, sometimes the competence levels matter in player engagement. Especially in settings where everyone his broadly trained, it's easy to move from being sidekick to sidelined. I solved it in Trek by giving each player X points to split between their 2 PCs, so the player would have control of the same amount of competence. (Interestingly, it's the PCs who are further apart in power where the player gives each more balanced screen time.) Ars Magica settles it by rotating who gets to be the big kahuna, so the balance is maintained in the long run. I'm curious what other methods might work.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-08-22 03:04 pm (UTC)Second question: Do the players have control over which of their PCs get involved in which issues? Does any player want to keep bringing his higher point soldier into the problems where others use servants or children? Given that the game was designed for highly social role players I doubt it's an issue, but I am curious whether those sorts of in game social norms can reliably curb player abuse.
After all, sometimes the competence levels matter in player engagement. Especially in settings where everyone his broadly trained, it's easy to move from being sidekick to sidelined. I solved it in Trek by giving each player X points to split between their 2 PCs, so the player would have control of the same amount of competence. (Interestingly, it's the PCs who are further apart in power where the player gives each more balanced screen time.) Ars Magica settles it by rotating who gets to be the big kahuna, so the balance is maintained in the long run. I'm curious what other methods might work.