concept for a "Luck" attribute

[athios]

Was thinking of this this morning, thought it might add a fun dimension to the game. Perhaps it could be specifically for the Captain character class only, because [1] right now there is no real incentive to play this class, and [2] it fits his class description and my impression of this type of character (i.e. Jack Sparrow).

The idea is based on how luck is implemented in some other RPGs. Not ones where it just gives critical hits, but where your luck will help with dice rolls and give special encounters.

Example bonuses:
+n% chance to
- cause/avoid damage
- success during operations
- Gold Rush
- find Hives/Aliens when patroling over feral/dead planets
Example encounters:
- find salvageable drifting space debris
- accidentally stumble upon hidden caches when looting another ship (and maybe on your own ship too?)
- the Prince invites you to a week-long spice orgy

If there are balancing issues, it could be set so that the XP cost is set to scale with your level, or with the existing attribute value. Could also have an absolute cap on the value.

Would also be cool if you could "trade in" some luck (i.e. it goes negative) in exchange for XP points, allowing you to create highly skilled but incredibly unlucky Captains.
Example penalties:
- increased hostile encounters
- increased Aliens encounters
- penalty to chance/severity of being hit in combat
- mysteriously lost caches
- engine failures, the sails you bought at the last port were actually made from plastic bags, etc
- First Mate has died from dysentery!

Alright alright, this is more a pipe dream than a real feature request, but it's a fun idea to think about... ;-)

[Deleted]

luck plays a role in every dice in st. from every combat op to every orbital and deep space op (patr blockade) to every wild op to trading to travel

[Cory Trese]

Heroes of Steel has a built in "Luck" boost, that is, points that are added to every roll.

It isn't an attribute that character possess, but in HoS items and spells can add Luck points.

[xdesperado]

I actually like and play the current Captain class at times.
Buying cheap pardons makes it easier to stay on the good side of more factions.
The morale protection means less worry about W-F especially early in the game so you can haul more goods.

While your starting skills are almost non existent, a little XP will have you going good in no time.

Since he start with a 14 Quickness and 14 Charisma you won't need to worry about raising attributes for a while, allowing you to build a very capable Merchant or Smuggler in very short order

Give him a Tempus Fugit with it's Smugglers Hold and he can quickly gain XP and cash through Transport and Message deliveries.
Buy your cheap pardons and surrender when needed knowing your contract is hidden.

Get a Pilot, Body Guard and Scout for more money on those contracts and extra contract protection.

Or grab a Political Officer and Tradesman to pump up your merchant activities.

Would I like to see the Captain class get more bonuses? Definitely, but it's already a pretty solid character class.

[Deleted]

yeah the captain definetly has bonuses that makes it a good class. its half price off pardon price is huge and unique, as is its morale loss ability which, combined with intimidate, first mate and vodka can allow you to survive quite a while without fuel. he also gives a discount for luxury rations.

hes a very good class for certain play styles.

[Cory Trese]

Might be fun to give him a dodge wounds ability -- classic space Captain who gets mauled by a xeno and in the next scene is running and using a leviathan again

[xdesperado]

Jun 28, 2013 20:26:48 GMT -5 Cory Trese said:

Might be fun to give him a dodge wounds ability -- classic space Captain who gets mauled by a xeno and in the next scene is running and using a leviathan again

I like it.
Might be overpowering, but maybe just allow the Captain class 1 free healed wound every X number of turns. He could still be hurt and killed but if he doesn't have access to a doctor for some reason, could still recover to full health given enough time.
Would make him the perfect choice for Independent Captain since the Indy worlds don't have doctors.

[Deleted]

he doesn't have any warrior though so it wouldn't make sense for board. maybe for surrender our mutiny though. his good looks and smooth talking helps him for more than just pardons!

also, most professiona have a combined 16 addition
points in skills and attributes on average (10 in skills and 6 in attributes for most, 17 in skills and 0 in attributes for zealots). the captain though only has 12 additional points though (2 in skills and 10 in attributes). Prehaps some more charisma and quickness or more pilot and intimidate will make it better.

[Cory Trese]

Healed / turns is outside the scope of the ST engine, but it could support a 10% "chance to save wounds" for a specific character class.

That would end up being something like +1HP for the initial game run. Hmmmm

[athios]

Wow, I didn't realize the Captain was so popular, since I hardly ever hear anyone talk about this class in the forums. Guess he does have his perks, just didn't my play style.

The dodge wounds sounds fun though!

[Deleted]

Jun 29, 2013 2:02:02 GMT -5 athios said:

Wow, I didn't realize the Captain was so popular, since I hardly ever hear anyone talk about this class in the forums. Guess he does have his perks, just didn't my play style.

The dodge wounds sounds fun though!

People talk about him as much as they talk about the star trader!

[darkhunter]

the dodge wounds perk gives the captain a good perk that no class has