Why the starting skill value of 13?

From: Bryan <bethexton_at_...>
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:10:28 -0000

Just wondering if anyone in the know recalls why HW used 12 as the starting level for skills, and HQ went to 13? Was there some mathematical reason for it, or it felt right, or just what?

(My son has been learning D&D from a friend, and I'd like to try to convert them to something more subtle, but was considering using a base skill level of 10, for familiarity and ease of math, but was wondering if there was reasoning behind the 13 value that I was missing)

--Bryan