wrote:
>
> --- In HeroQuest-rules_at_yahoogroups.com, Jane Williams
> <janewilliams20_at_> wrote:
> >
> > > "Bruhan is the most promising of young clan
> > > warriors, and his skills with the axe are famed"
> >
> > While this is true, I'd just point out that with that
> > narrative, I wouldn't give a skill in "Axe 17". At
> > least, not *just* that (as you say, it's off the
> > keyword). What I'd give him is "famed for skills with
> > axe" at 13.
>
> Very nice idea, I'll have to keep that kind of thinking in mind when
> going through the narratives of my players to be. I don't think it
> would be a good idea to give "famed for...." instead of the originally
> intended ability. If I was a player and got my intentions warped like
> that when writing a narrative, I'd stick to the list in the future.
> But then, you said "not just that", which I actually managed to
> overlook the first time I read the paragraph. Oops.
>
Actually, out of that sentence I'd give:
-keyword: warrior
-keyword: (Heortling) (assumed as part of being of the clan)
-relationship to warband or warband leaders: most promising young warrior
-axe combat (added to warrior keyword)
-famed for skills with axe
-possessions would include a war axe
His warrior keyword would give an additional melee weapon (say dagger
combat). If he is a heortling he'd also get spear and shield combat.
If he followed an Orlanth Adventurous cult (I forget which one is the
example in HQ) he gets an additional weapon and shield comabat
skill--say sword and shield.
However out of those four combat skills, the player would be most
likely to add starting points to axe combat (unless he wanted the
character to be famous without being all that good. 17 is not
especially skilled).
After all, it is normal enough for a warrior to have trained in
multiple weapons. He probably won't increase them all equally, but he
know's the basics in all of them.
Something to remember about HQ is that more or less abilities don't
really break anything. More abilities do allow more augements, but as
narrator you just need to adjust the difficulties appropriately.
Personally I like lots of abilities, as it gives more ways to deal
with the issue ("Hmmm, do I cut him down with my axe, or just
intimidate him with my famed skill so that he'll run away?")
--Bryan