I've always considered the Mastery rules to be a very elegant
implementation of an essential Gloranthan concept: the difference between
Heroes and ordinary folk. The Mastery special is somewhat broken and, if
one or more contestants have a target number below ten, I generally add
ten after all Masteries have been subtracted. Mastery subtraction should
be applied to supporting characters as well, something the rules seem to
overlook, and that helps control the AP inflation of multiple-wibble
opponents. I usually set starting APs at the hero's TN after Mastery
subtraction, as it speeds contests immensely. It's easiest to do
everything as follows:
- players make any augments and adjust TN accordingly;
- subtract Masteries from all characters, as per the rules;
- if any hero has a TN below ten, add ten to all characters;
- calculate starting APs: final hero TN + reduced supporting
characters' TNs.
This requires a little more math but the Narrator can calculate all the
numbers beforehand, assuming he or she is familiar with all the hero and
character stats, which can make this a very simple process for the
players.
--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz_at_... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan USA | swingsets. -- yours truly