(TFT) DX and Bell Curve

["Kirk Woller" <kwoller@satx.rr.com>]

It isn't opinion, it is natural fact.  Training is practical application, or
it isn't really good or valid training!

If you consider DX, for instance, and measure people's ability to do "DX"
things, whether it be to successfully pick a lock, jump over a pit, wield a
sword, etc. they will all fall into a bell curve.  Very few people won't be
able to jump at all, neither will there be many Olympic level jumpers.  You
can try to increase your ability, or DX, or IQ, or ST, but your efforts will
be rewarded in a decreasing fashion.   

The bell curve applies to almost everything in nature (in the context of
what we are talking about, of course).  You don't hear linearly, but on a
curve, with higher intensity sounds not being heard at their "true" level,
but at a reduced one, so to speak.  This allows your hear to hear very low
intensity sounds with some preciseness yet hear very loud sounds without
destroying your ears.  

Any system that models nature that doesn't use a bell curve for these
considerations will feel "wrong" to anyone with the awareness of what makes
a good game and what mimics natural events.  Now whether someone enjoys or
wants to play a game that has a linear approach is their own preference, of
course.  But if you analyze most good games, take the more recent Euros, you
can quickly identify the engines that work well because they have the proper
"curves" built in for the various aspects of the game, whether it be getting
points or negotiating or bidding or whatever.

-Kirk


>Kirk,

The curve you speak of all applies to training:  in your words, "the more 
you train the less you get for
> your effort". <in my world, it's the Law of Diminishing Returns">.

This certainly makes sense in a skill-level system, but not necessarily in a

system where a character's only measure of skill - of all of his various 
skills - is DX.

And even more to the point, that's all in the training.  It doesn't in any 
way apply to practical application.

It seems like "double-dipping" to apply the curve to learning ("learning 
curve", anyone?) and ALSO apply the curve to application.  And really, 
what's the point?  Who's to say a roll of 14 should be significantly 
far-removed from a roll of 13?

Don't you guys just think it comes down to opinion?

Gavin Gossett
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