Mage Factor - Revision history

Peter Knutsen: /* See also */ adding categories

2011-03-22T22:31:58Z

Peter Knutsen: /* Uses of MF */ Adding Design Notes section (and examining a few MF calculation cases)

2010-12-19T17:45:42Z

Uses of MF: Adding Design Notes section (and examining a few MF calculation cases)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:45, 19 December 2010
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	== Uses of MF ==		== Uses of MF ==
	Mage Factor is currently only used during character creation, and it is used for deriving the amount of [[compensatory points]] given for certain DisAdvantages, because the suck factor (how annoying they are for the character) of those DisAdvantages depends completely or partially on how much the character's ability to use magic is reduced. Examples of DisAdvantages that depend completely on MF for the amount of compensatory points they give are [[Spellcasting]] [[Incompetences]] and Reduced [[Mystery Slots]], while the various [[Speech DisAdvantage]] have their cost influenced by the MF.		Mage Factor is currently only used during character creation, and it is used for deriving the amount of [[compensatory points]] given for certain DisAdvantages, because the suck factor (how annoying they are for the character) of those DisAdvantages depends completely or partially on how much the character's ability to use magic is reduced. Examples of DisAdvantages that depend completely on MF for the amount of compensatory points they give are [[Spellcasting]] [[Incompetences]] and Reduced [[Mystery Slots]], while the various [[Speech DisAdvantage]] have their cost influenced by the MF.
		+	== Design Notes ==
		+	Mage Factor is one mechanic, among many, intended to increase the fairness of character creation. The root of the problem is DisAdvantages that impair spellcasting. Should they be in the game, available for choice? The obvious answer is yes. Greater capabilitistic variety among the characters, including among the ''player'' characters, is inarguably good.
		+
		+	The problem is getting players to actually take those DisAdvantages. If they give ''many'' [[compensatory points]], then it is no problem, players will flock to them like sharks to blood. But another problem occurs, which is that these spellcasting-impairing DisAdvantages will then also be taken by players whose characters wouldn't be good spellcasters in the first place. So they're getting compensated for choosing DisAdvantages that do very little (or even nothing) to impair their characters. The alternative is to have the spellcasting-impairing DisAdvantages give only a small amount of compensatory points, but then no player would choose them.
		+
		+	The third solution is to give many compensatory points, but apply social pressure, i.e. utilizing metagame methods, to deter players with non-spellcasting-suitable characters from choosing these DisAdvantages. That can't be done, though, because metagame solutions to game mechanical problems are morally and intellectually repugnant.
		+
		+	What's left? The best and most elegant solution is the one used in Sagatafl, to calculate one single stat that tries to measure how well suited a character cn vbe expected to be to learning various kinds of learnable magic, and how likely he is to be born with various kinds of innate magic (chosen by the player, but hugely influenced by the fact that the cost of inborn magic, Powers, is affected by Attribute values).
		+
		+	It just so happens that it seems as if one such stat, Mage Factor, is enough to do all this work, because it measures both the character's potential for arcane/wizardly magic and for religious magic (e.g. Divine, Lunar). If it turns out that one single stat cannot do perform all necessary work, that two or even three such stats are equired, then they will be created and become an integral part of the magic system's character creation mechanics. But so far, things are looking good for Mage FActor.
		+
		+	=== A little analysis of MF values ===
		+	As stated earlier in this article, the MF for an average person with 3s in all Attributes is 3.0. If we raise Psyche to 5 and Will to 4, MF goes up to 5.3. A typical PC-grade spellcaster built on 100 Goodie Points might have a Psyche of 6, a Mystical Intelligence of 5, and a Will of 5 (Faith is average, 3). This gives a MF of 7.8, about 2.5 times higher than that of the average person.
		+
		+	Let us also examine two more cases. One is a powerful wielder of Divine Powers, with Faith 8 and Will 8. MF 10.0. A more powerful spellcaster might be Psyche 8, Will 6, Mystical Intelligence 6, and even Faith raised to 5 (raising Faith to get more Essence would be a common choice made by a player, or even by a GM). MF 14.0.
		+
		+	This seems good to me (The Designer), striking a good balance between simplicity, and performing a lot of highly valuable and objective game-mechanical work.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Peter Knutsen: /* Calculating MF */ adding missing paranthesis

2010-12-19T17:30:48Z

Calculating MF: adding missing paranthesis

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:30, 19 December 2010
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	A computer can calculate a character's MF very easily. For humans it is slightly more tricky. First take four times the character's [[Psyche]], three times the character's [[Faith]], twice the character's [[Will]], and the character's [[Mystical]] [[Intelligence]], and add these four numbers up. That's the easy part.		A computer can calculate a character's MF very easily. For humans it is slightly more tricky. First take four times the character's [[Psyche]], three times the character's [[Faith]], twice the character's [[Will]], and the character's [[Mystical]] [[Intelligence]], and add these four numbers up. That's the easy part.

-	An average person has a 3 in each of the four attributes, so the numbers added would be 12 (4xPsyche), 9 (3xFaith), 6 (2xWill) and 3 (Intelligence (Mystical), and the sum would be 30. A character with Psyche 5 and Will 4 would instead have a sum of 20+9+8+3=40.	+	An average person has a 3 in each of the four attributes, so the numbers added would be 12 (4xPsyche), 9 (3xFaith), 6 (2xWill) and 3 (Intelligence (Mystical)), and the sum would be 30. A character with Psyche 5 and Will 4 would instead have a sum of 20+9+8+3=40.

	Once the sum has been found, either perform the following arithmetical operations, or else un-hide the lookup table in the next section and use that, to look up the final value.		Once the sum has been found, either perform the following arithmetical operations, or else un-hide the lookup table in the next section and use that, to look up the final value.

Peter Knutsen: Adding completion category tag (usually ICart, Incomplete article), and trying to remember to remove |Categories part from older category tags

2010-10-09T02:45:59Z

Adding completion category tag (usually ICart, Incomplete article), and trying to remember to remove |Categories part from older category tags

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:45, 9 October 2010
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	== See also ==		== See also ==

-	[[Category:~~Sagatafl character~~ creation~~\|Categories~~]]	+	[[Category:Character creation]]
		+
		+	<!-- Use this to "shift down", as the article progresses. Remember, only one completion tag at a time should be "un-commented" -->
		+	<!-- [[Category:No Content]] -->
		+	<!-- [[Category:Stub]] -->
		+	[[Category:ICart]]
		+	<!-- [[Category:NCart]] -->
		+	<!-- [[Category:Complete article]] -->

Peter Knutsen: /* Uses of MF */

2010-08-07T14:42:56Z

Uses of MF

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:42, 7 August 2010
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	== Uses of MF ==		== Uses of MF ==
-	Mage Factor is currently only used during character creation, and it is used for deriving the amount of [[compensatory points]] given for certain DisAdvantages, because the suck factor (how annoying they are for the character) of those DisAdvantages depends completely or partially on how much the character's ability to use magic is reduced. Examples of DisAdvantages that depend completely on MF for the amount of compensatory points they give are [[Spellcasting]] [[Incompetences]] and Reduced [[Mystery Slots]], while the various ~~severities of the~~ [[~~Stuttering~~]] ~~DisAdvantage~~ have their cost influenced by the MF ~~(in a linear fashion)~~.	+	Mage Factor is currently only used during character creation, and it is used for deriving the amount of [[compensatory points]] given for certain DisAdvantages, because the suck factor (how annoying they are for the character) of those DisAdvantages depends completely or partially on how much the character's ability to use magic is reduced. Examples of DisAdvantages that depend completely on MF for the amount of compensatory points they give are [[Spellcasting]] [[Incompetences]] and Reduced [[Mystery Slots]], while the various [[Speech DisAdvantage]] have their cost influenced by the MF.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

	[[Category:Sagatafl character creation\|Categories]]		[[Category:Sagatafl character creation\|Categories]]

Peter Knutsen: /* MF lookup table */

2010-08-07T14:42:15Z

MF lookup table

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:42, 7 August 2010
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	== MF lookup table ==		== MF lookup table ==
-	Insert lookup table here, for sums from 1 to 120. (A sum of 120 comes from a character with Psyche 11, Faith 11, Will 11 and an Intelligence (Mystical) of 20.)	+	Insert lookup table here, for sums from 1 to 120. (A sum of 120 comes from a character with Psyche 11, Faith 11, Will 11, and an Intelligence (Mystical) of 20.)

-	test of hide function	+	Note the collapse-table function isn't working yet.
		+
		+	(test of hide function)

	{\| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"		{\| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"

Peter Knutsen at 17:56, 29 July 2010

2010-07-29T17:56:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:56, 29 July 2010
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-	Mage Factor is a statistic that is used during character creation. It attempts to estimate the character's total potential for magic, so as to increase the fairness of the [[compensatory points]] given for some DisAdvantages. ~~Often~~ abrevieated MF.	+	Mage Factor is a statistic that is used during character creation. It attempts to estimate the character's total potential for magic, so as to increase the fairness of the [[compensatory points]] given for some DisAdvantages. It is very often abrevieated MF.

	== Calculating MF ==		== Calculating MF ==

Peter Knutsen at 06:16, 18 July 2010

2010-07-18T06:16:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:16, 18 July 2010
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	Mage Factor is currently only used during character creation, and it is used for deriving the amount of [[compensatory points]] given for certain DisAdvantages, because the suck factor (how annoying they are for the character) of those DisAdvantages depends completely or partially on how much the character's ability to use magic is reduced. Examples of DisAdvantages that depend completely on MF for the amount of compensatory points they give are [[Spellcasting]] [[Incompetences]] and Reduced [[Mystery Slots]], while the various severities of the [[Stuttering]] DisAdvantage have their cost influenced by the MF (in a linear fashion).		Mage Factor is currently only used during character creation, and it is used for deriving the amount of [[compensatory points]] given for certain DisAdvantages, because the suck factor (how annoying they are for the character) of those DisAdvantages depends completely or partially on how much the character's ability to use magic is reduced. Examples of DisAdvantages that depend completely on MF for the amount of compensatory points they give are [[Spellcasting]] [[Incompetences]] and Reduced [[Mystery Slots]], while the various severities of the [[Stuttering]] DisAdvantage have their cost influenced by the MF (in a linear fashion).

		+	== See also ==

	[[Category:Sagatafl character creation\|Categories]]		[[Category:Sagatafl character creation\|Categories]]

Peter Knutsen: /* MF lookup table */

2010-07-18T06:16:25Z

MF lookup table

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:16, 18 July 2010
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	test of hide function		test of hide function

-	{\| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" ~~text-align:right~~	+	{\| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
	! colspan=12 \| Simple collapsible table		! colspan=12 \| Simple collapsible table
	\|-		\|-

Peter Knutsen: /* MF lookup table */

2010-07-18T06:16:13Z

MF lookup table

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:16, 18 July 2010
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	test of hide function		test of hide function

-	{\| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"; text-align : right ;	+	{\| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" text-align:right
	! colspan=12 \| Simple collapsible table		! colspan=12 \| Simple collapsible table
	\|-		\|-

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:31, 22 March 2011
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	[[Category:Character creation]]		[[Category:Character creation]]
		+	[[Category:Magic]]
		+	[[Category:Need collapsible table]]

	<!-- Use this to "shift down", as the article progresses. Remember, only one completion tag at a time should be "un-commented" -->		<!-- Use this to "shift down", as the article progresses. Remember, only one completion tag at a time should be "un-commented" -->