This time around, I want to talk about ability scores, because they appear in both roguelikes and TTRPGs define the character’s capabilities and can also give modifiers that influence dice rolls. The names of ability scores can vary, but usually they all define similar traits. For example, there’s usually a score that determines:
Physical strength
Speed and or agility
Stamina
Mental strength
Intellect
Luck and or magic
Speed isn’t often included in the main ability scores, but in this case, for a very tile-based TTRPG, It could be helpful. A luck score might affect loot drops, probabilities, whereas a magic score will be used as a measurement of spellcasting ability.
As mentioned before, ability scores can act as modifiers to your dice rolls, and for TTRPGs that I’ve seen, you’ll have an bonus which is determined by the value of a certain abilities. For example, in Dungeons and Dragons an ability score of 10 is “standard” and therefore gives a modifier of 0, whereas an ability score that is two more or two less than ten can give a modifier to a roll. A 12 will give a +1, 14 a +2, etc, and the same is true but with negatives for modifiers two or more below 10. A number in-between the two will have a modifier of the number closest to it rounded down, or in
While it is mainstreamed, that system can be a bit complicated and confusing sometimes, so here’s an even simpler system: You only add the ability score itself as the modifier, without having to worry about converting any values. So, I think using a d4 to roll ability scores, then having the option of adding more d4s at later levels to increase the ability scores and therefore, the modifiers as well.
Next time, I’ll be discussing classes, since they are some of the key foundations of both a TTRPG and a roguelike’s gameplay.
Comments
Post a Comment