[TML] Leveling (was NEW SFRPG - Thousand Suns)

[Richard Aiken]

On Feb 6, 2008 12:17 PM, Brad Murray <bjmurray.halfjack at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 6, 2008 8:34 AM, Knapp <magick.crow at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Why does everyone hate leveling so much?
> Now, I do have a bias against levelling but it's for a totally
> different reason.  Leveling systems imply a progression -- a
> substantive change in the character's capabilities.  Whether or not
> they remain "realistic" (whatever that is -- besides a can of worms),
> this qualitative change of the character inevitably means that there
> is a sweet spot for play

You know, I never thought about my dislike of leveling in quite those
terms, but I'd have to say I agree with you.  I can remember being
impatient to get to 4th level or so, but actively dreading progression
past about 9th.

> So the fact that Traveller functions in the sweet spot and then stays
> there is a big deal for me and a big part of why I dislike "leveling"
> in general.

I do, however, think Traveller (CT, anyway) has a rather strange
method of character progression.  Relatively speaking, everybody
shoots up during their pre-game careers - gaining one skill or
attribute level every game year or so (particularly after allowing for
mustering out benefits) - but basically stops improving once play
begins.  There should be a happy medium in there, somewhere.

> I also dislike that whole "Hero's Journey" theory of story and gaming
> -- that all great stories start with farm boys who come to defeat the
> galaxy's worst villains, and that is what leveling is designed to
> deliver.  I think great stories can be told right here and right now
> without jumps in power.

I agree.  If someone wants to follow the Hero's Journey arc, they
should be able to go for it.  But the system should support other
types of character arcs as well.  Of course, there can be jumps in
power without the character actually changing very much.  Give a
warrior a bunch of Allies and a powerful Patron and he's a now much
bigger player, without needing big stat increases or more attacks than
a set of Ginsu knives.

-- 
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein