Rant
1)
What is a renaissance man?
2)
Hero is only one very specific example of word value.
3)
TFT captured a moment prior to this 'so called ''18th level.''
4) Each talent in TFT is equal to an entire "Class book"
in AD&D3e +.
4) Each
talent in TFT is equal to an entire "Class book" in AD&D3e.
TFT rescued the word value of ''assassin'' from the glut of sub classing. TFT represents the medieval pre-renaissance view of Heroes or gods (what we call wizards.) Or in the case of GURPS with its barrage of endless skill lists of smaller and smaller use, TFT represents the old hand crafted made by one person world view.
I have heard the term industrial disease thrown around like it is a problem or something. Like it actually has any bearing what so ever. Like the post gurps-ian way some people play their campaigns somehow justifies "fixing" the TFT game system. Where as the evidence shows that in just the Roman mythology alone there is, in fact, only one guy who can make magic items. He provides them to all the gods, and if anyone anywhere wants to get a magic item recipe they would necessarily have to go through him.
The word Assassin as abused by AD&D. If, on the other hand, it is used to describe a method of performing an illegal act then it is Ok. It is more political in its art that martial in it's training. It appears no where on the job table in TFT, but it easily could. Even in the face of this, the existing rules allow it to happen perfectly and effortlessly. It just requires the will to do so.
Did you know that AD&D3e has an entire book for the ''Barbarian'' subclass? Not just that, they have an entire book for every single subclass. It's a mountain of literature. But it seems to have jumped the tracks some how. I mean this post modern assembly line method of RPG design seems to be hopelessly contaminated by computer games. You know. If its not programed into the game, then you can't do it. But people, I'm here to remind you that we used to run these things on a super processor called our imagination. Something not nearly so narrow minded. Well in some of us anyway. Besides, was ''barbarian'' something that people ever really called themselves. Let alone strove to be? Such that an entire book should be written on it. Should they make two books? One for eastern and one for western, barbarians.
Every single god or demigod I read in the old AD&D book is a simple low power TFT character. I mean there are few greater gods with 25 ST or "enchanters to the gods" with IQ 20 and such, but usually there is only one of those. At most. They are in charge, and they provide all the artifacts to the other hero gods. I recommend reading Deities some time. It's pretty much where the entire ITL magic system came from. SJ was explaining and filling in the gaps in the Deities rule book.
Now if this means ancient gods are mere high school prom queens in this modern day of mudflation and statflation, I say fine. Along with Bacon I agree that romanticism of the past should not come at the cost of the present or future. If one's players can not be kept interested unless they have hundreds of points to spend on endless lists of skills and minutia then fine. Do that. A sharply pointed brush can make for some amazingly realistic paintings. It's called pointillism and it's considered modern. All I'm asking is that it be acknowledged that TFT, as is, may still be the best and most powerful RPG ever written. That those of us who hold this position at least have some arguments to support it. One may not agree with those arguments, but they do exist. That an entire AD&D character class can be summed up in one TFT word. That an entire game system can be described with one TFT disease (Vampire anyone?). That an entire genera can be described with one TFT magic item (Lensman anyone?). Can we at least agree that what is old is good, and that what is new is also good. But to punish the old for not being the new is worse than a tautology. It is just not helping in any way at all.
In closing I submit to you that character class sized talents in TFT can be warm, comfortable, and perfect. Each one a nice home with a fireplace and rug. Maybe even a whole town, (or a city if your campaign is like mine.) Both down to earth with their feet on the ground, and unlimited in all their possibilities. I read a sword talent on a TFT character sheet and I read ''The Way of the Sword: the philosophy of a warriors life." I read a ''rapier'' skill on a GURPS character sheet and I wonder, did they spec any points in sword cleaning, or sword sharpening as well, or did all those points go into DX?
David
Michael Grouchy II