Acumen (n) the ability to make quick decisions and good judgements, particularly in a specific field.
That's definitely not a Charisma analog, if that's what it's intended to represent. Good for the chunks of both Intelligence and Wisdom that aren't part of Knowledge and Willpower, though.
"A person with common sense is an example of someone with acumen."
Acumen is often used when referring to how people conduct themselves. And usually qualified as well. Like Business Acumen. I think it is a good alternative term to charisma to refer one's innate talent to handle social situation.
these are not the same types of things. Constitution, Strength, Dexterity are (youth based) things you are born with. Acumen is half knowledge, half talent. (and acumen for WHAT?) and knowledge is learned, and I would say willpower can be....
Saying that strength is something you're born with will be a real shock to everyone who's ever done a bench press :) but I don't think that being the same type of thing is as important as being good differentiating factors between characters.
You could reason that in some cases you need both, like in combat (not just for sword fighting but also for effectively handling a longbow for example).
I like the Prince Valiant Storytelling Game idea of just 2 basic stats, one physical & one mental, but I'm still looking for a good alternative for "brawn". I want something that implies both strength & dexterity like elements.
@Ghasthouse Physical Prowess, maybe? There was a local homebrew RPG back in the 80s that did quite well with Physical Prowess, Mental Acuity, and Social Adeptness, although the latter was a bit awkwardly phrased. Kind of wish I still had the mimeographed rules for that one, but the creator died years ago and none of the other folks I played with have their copies either.
I like: (STR)ength (INT)uition (WYR)d (DEX)terity (CHR)isma
I use Intuition to mod individual initiative bonuses, Wyrd as a measure of spiritual power and sensitivity to the magical, and Acumen as skill related to understanding complex financial, legal, and etiquette based problems.
I like that intelligence has been taken out of the equation, same goes for charisma (less so, though). If Acumen somehow stands for Perception I'd probably be happy to see it go too. These days I'm a lot less keen on psychological/mental stats than I used to be.
I certainly agree on intelligence. The only limit there is real player intelligence. Intellectually solving a problem and understanding situations should come down to player skill, not to a stat based dice roll.
I like to pick names that imply the scores can't actually do much for a character other than be prime requisites for the classes. In the past, I've suggested Valor (fighters), Subtlety (thieves), Discipline (monks), Mana (wizards), Piety (clerics), and Creativity (bards).
I'll await your explanation, but the wargaming part of me definitely thinks that there needs to be an attribute that measures the leadership quality, the X-factor that causes people to want to follow some people but not others.
And even at that no one's mentioned the Storyteller approach White Wolf took, which split stats into physical, mental, and social categories with three stats in each.
Acumen (n) the ability to make quick decisions and good judgements, particularly in a specific field.
ReplyDeleteThat's definitely not a Charisma analog, if that's what it's intended to represent. Good for the chunks of both Intelligence and Wisdom that aren't part of Knowledge and Willpower, though.
I'll explain my own intentions in a follow-up post.
Delete"A person with common sense is an example of someone with acumen."
DeleteAcumen is often used when referring to how people conduct themselves. And usually qualified as well. Like Business Acumen. I think it is a good alternative term to charisma to refer one's innate talent to handle social situation.
these are not the same types of things. Constitution, Strength, Dexterity are (youth based) things you are born with. Acumen is half knowledge, half talent. (and acumen for WHAT?) and knowledge is learned, and I would say willpower can be....
ReplyDeleteSaying that strength is something you're born with will be a real shock to everyone who's ever done a bench press :) but I don't think that being the same type of thing is as important as being good differentiating factors between characters.
DeleteYeah, fair. I am stuck in the AD&D mold that you cannot improve this. Should remember Usurper, where steroids ran rampant...
DeleteMake Constitution "Fortitude."
ReplyDeletemore like FARTitude
Deletehot take maybe but strength and dexterity don't have to be separate
ReplyDeleteThey absolutely do. Lifting capacity, physical grace and reaction speed are not the same thing at all.
DeleteYou could reason that in some cases you need both, like in combat (not just for sword fighting but also for effectively handling a longbow for example).
DeleteI like the Prince Valiant Storytelling Game idea of just 2 basic stats, one physical & one mental, but I'm still looking for a good alternative for "brawn". I want something that implies both strength & dexterity like elements.
@Ghasthouse Physical Prowess, maybe? There was a local homebrew RPG back in the 80s that did quite well with Physical Prowess, Mental Acuity, and Social Adeptness, although the latter was a bit awkwardly phrased. Kind of wish I still had the mimeographed rules for that one, but the creator died years ago and none of the other folks I played with have their copies either.
DeleteIt's a possibility, but I'm looking for something that better fits a medieval setting.
DeleteI like:
ReplyDelete(STR)ength
(INT)uition
(WYR)d
(DEX)terity
(CHR)isma
I use Intuition to mod individual initiative bonuses, Wyrd as a measure of spiritual power and sensitivity to the magical, and Acumen as skill related to understanding complex financial, legal, and etiquette based problems.
I like that intelligence has been taken out of the equation, same goes for charisma (less so, though).
ReplyDeleteIf Acumen somehow stands for Perception I'd probably be happy to see it go too.
These days I'm a lot less keen on psychological/mental stats than I used to be.
I certainly agree on intelligence. The only limit there is real player intelligence. Intellectually solving a problem and understanding situations should come down to player skill, not to a stat based dice roll.
DeleteI like to pick names that imply the scores can't actually do much for a character other than be prime requisites for the classes. In the past, I've suggested Valor (fighters), Subtlety (thieves), Discipline (monks), Mana (wizards), Piety (clerics), and Creativity (bards).
ReplyDeleteCool
DeleteCan we put them in alphabetical order?
ReplyDeleteHere to plug the good old Marvel Super Heroes
ReplyDeleteFASERIP stats.
Thought they covered most needs nicely
I'll await your explanation, but the wargaming part of me definitely thinks that there needs to be an attribute that measures the leadership quality, the X-factor that causes people to want to follow some people but not others.
ReplyDeleteLook at the explosion of comments ... and James hasn't really said anything yet! :-D
ReplyDeleteAnd even at that no one's mentioned the Storyteller approach White Wolf took, which split stats into physical, mental, and social categories with three stats in each.
Deletei like dcc
ReplyDeletestrength
agility
stamina
intelligence
personality
luck