(TFT) Superscripts in TFT

[Pasha and or Rick Smith <pnrsmith@istar.ca>]

	More Uses for Experience in TFT

One of the strengths and weakness of the TFT system 
is the compactness of the attributes.  The number of 
attributes is kept to a minimum by using the attributes 
often and this works well enough except in two situations.

First, the talents / IQ requirements ratio is such that
multi-class characters are impossible unless the character is 
given genius level intelligence.  
(  Note, I also feel that several TFT talents cost 
too many memory points for what they provide
the character and I have lowered the cost of 
these talents, but that is another issue.)

Second, at very high levels characters always have high 
values in all three attributes. This makes capable people tend
to feel alike.  Wizards need high ST to power their spells, while 
fighters need high IQ to be able to learn enough talents (even if 
the talents are all low IQ skills).

The way TFT gets so much distance from its three attributes 
is that each attribute represents several separate but related 
aspects of the character.   For example: ST has two primary 
uses in TFT, the character's endurance and their general 
vitality. It is easy to argue that these aspects of a person are 
related, but are they absolutely connected?
DX's sub categories are accuracy and speed.
IQ is divided into memory and general intelligence.

With these optional rules it is possible to spend experience 
in order to improve these sub-categories of your attributes, 
while still retaining the basic relationships in a simple manner. 
The most difficult to improve aspect of each attribute is 
retained as the attribute, while the other aspect of the 
attribute can be cheaply improved, turning the character into 
something of a specialist.

These improved sub-attributes will be shown by adding 
superscripts beside the attribute itself on the character 
sheet. Here after these sub-attributes will be called 
superscripts.  A superscript is a MODIFIER to the basic 
attribute which is added to it in special circumstances.

A superscript costs one third of an attribute ( round up ).  
When totaling up attributes to see how much EP is needed to 
gain the next attribute each point of superscripts the 
character possesses also counts as one third of an attribute.  


The superscripts of the three attributes will now be defined.


ST: 
The most difficult aspect of strength to improve is 
your basic power which determines how much you can lift, 
the largest weapons you can comfortably use and your hit 
points so this will be the basic attribute. 

If you wish to improve your endurance add a superscript 
above and to the right of the where your ST is on your character
sheet.  This superscript is not used when making saving throws
vs ST, it is only used when powering spells, or using fatigue ST
to power magic items.  (If you have been exhausted by a long 
run this also uses fatigue.)
Normally this fatigue ST (here after abbreviated fST) 
is gained by wizards to help power their spells.


DX:
The base aspect of DX is accuracy so your general 
accuracy represents the true meaning of DX and costs the full 
amount. DX is used to hit or cast spells and all feats were 
finesse in required.  Most saving throws are based against 
DX, but see below. 

The second part of DX is the speed of the character.  This 
represents the quick twitch that allows you to go first in 
combat.  Any ability that allows you to do more things in one 
turn are concerned with Speed.  To show that you have added to
a character's Speed, place a super script above and to the right 
of your DX. 
The Speed super script is added to your DX when 
determining the DX order of attacks each turn. (In fact your 
basic speed is equal to your adjDX not counting range 
modifiers.)  It is also used to determine if you can fire a bow 
twice per turn.  Note that several of my new talents that 
allow you to do additional actions during a turn have a 
prerequisite of a certain level of Speed. I allow Speed to be 
used in a small class of DX rolls: if you need to react quickly
to a trap or some sudden event, but you don't need to react 
accurately Speed may to be added to the character's DX.   
(For example, when you need to throw your self out 
from under a falling block you could  hardly MISS the ground, 
you just need to move quickly.)


IQ:
Memory is far easier to improve than innate intelligence 
so general IQ remains the basic attribute.  General IQ is used 
to decide how complicated spells and talents the character
is able to understand.  It is also used for IQ saving throws and 
for battle of wills. 

Memory (shown by a super script above and to the right of
the IQ attribute on the character sheet) is used to learn additional
spells or talents.  For example, if you had a 10 IQ with +5 memory,
you could learn 15 spells of IQ 10 or less.



It is possible for characters or races to have negatives 
to their super scripts but normally player characters will use 
experience to purchase additional superscripts.  Curses and 
various bad effects can lower your superscripts.
They will also allow some spell and potion effects to be 
more precisely defined as well as suggesting new spells and
potions.


Sample Character Sheet:

Neawea  the Elf				+6
32 Attributes


ST 10

+5
DX  12

+1
IQ     8

MA  14


Horse Bow  1 die (fires twice per turn at speed 16)
Cutlass  2d-2


Talents
-------
Bow  (2)
Running  (2)
Sword  (2) (includes knife)
Literacy * (1)
Swimming (1)
Boating (1)

Note that Neawea can fire her horse bow twice per turn altho 
her accuracy with it is relatively low.  She has 9 points of 
talents because of her extra point in memory.  She is a 34 
attribute character for all purposes (in particular for when 
deciding how much EP she needs to go up an attribute).

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