This is a lovely idea and one I believe can easily work with RQ or Pendragon mechanics. I admit that I haven't thought this out, but I submit the following idea anyway for people to shoot at.
The concept is to assign level descriptor to skills that correspond to the number rank of the skill. I first saw this used in a little RPG called Malanda back in 1981(?). The goal was to discourage players from using game terms to describe their characters. It was well received by the players and worked pretty well in practice.
Briefly, instead of the player having a number next to a skill, he'd have a "level" descriptor. For example, in Pendragon it would work something like ... any skill rated: 1-3 = Inept, 4-6 = Novice, 7-9 = Trained (Apprentice), 10-12 = Skilled (Journeyman), 13-15 = Experienced, 16-18 = Talented and 19+ = Master. Of course, the GM must have a master character list with the actual skill numbers for use in resolving any skill tests.
This allows the character to honestly state he is a talented swordsman rather than saying he has a 16 sword skill. It's also a great way to describe an NPC's abilities or reputation.
Under these rules when a Master successfully uses a skill the results can be assumed to be better than the best efforts of an Apprentice. The skill level descriptor helps qualify the expected results of the two craftsmen. The whole concept just feels right to me.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Paul Harmaty
End of Glorantha Digest V3 #188
WWW material at http://hops.wharton.upenn.edu/~loren/rolegame.html
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