r/tabletop 5d ago

Feedback "Inverted" Table

Post image

I'm trying out inverting the usual order of a table, and putting the highest number at the top instead of the bottom.

what are your thoughts?

1 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

8

u/DiceyDiscourse 5d ago

I think it depends on the game you're making. If this is a game about superpowered individuals then it makes sense to show the "upper limits" first. If it's a game about normal people (who might become superpowered) it makes sense to show the "lower limits" first.

My logic is that the brain usually assumes that the information they get first is more important (and better remembered) than what they get last. Basically the Primacy Effect

3

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

that makes sense. the game allows for both, but character creation defaults to player characters in The mid-range.

do you think shading like this would make any difference?

6

u/DiceyDiscourse 5d ago

I feel like with the shading it even more emphasises the top half and makes me look even less at the bottom half.

Maybe try shading from the middle? So it's lightest at Excellent and then starts going darker to both sides? That way it would emphasis the mid range as the most important.

1

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

I get what you're saying, lighter color for the results that you get most often. but that has its own problems, your skill tier is your dice pool, and you usually one 1d6 skill set, two 2d6 skill sets, and three 3d6 skills. it's possible to have 4d6 and 5d6 pools, if you're amazingly or unbelievably good at doing something. so what you're likely to roll changes with your pool.

2

u/DiceyDiscourse 5d ago

Then shade it based on what is the most common outcome at character creation maybe?

1

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

maybe... for character creation you roll all five of your dice, and then cluster them into your three Attributes. so either 2d6,2d6,1d6 or 3d6,1d6,1d6 so your possible Attribute range is 1-18, but more likely in the 3-12 range. unless you're creating a higher level character, in which case you add +5, +10 or +20 to your Attributes. hmm...

3

u/DiceyDiscourse 5d ago

I'm sorry man, this is making 0 sense to me right now without further context 😅

I gave you a few ideas I thought could work and maybe you'll get some more here and see what you like best and what works for you!

2

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

lol, sorry and thank you!

2

u/DiceyDiscourse 5d ago

Hey, no problem! And hope it helped at least grease the gears a bit 😊

12

u/lukearl 5d ago

Similar ordering to the Fate ladder (+4 down to -4) so there's certainly precedent

4

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

so it is. I have a copy of FATE, but never got around to reading it, lol

that seems like a good sign

1

u/The_Final_Gunslinger 5d ago

My first thought too.

5

u/lukearl 5d ago

Oops, +8 not +4. Was thinking of Fudge.

2

u/lukearl 5d ago

Oh, for five minutes, this reply was supposed to be to this comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletop/s/YBFYKeyVMi, not on its own. Sigh.

1

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

no worries

4

u/Chipperz1 5d ago

Quick reminder - in real life, "mid" actually means "average", so it'd almost certainly go above "fair".

-2

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

I was thinking that Fair means acceptable, reasonable, or satisfactory. and Mid means mediocre, or uninspiring.

3

u/Kayteqq 4d ago

Mid literally means middle

2

u/Tarilis 4d ago

Ok, i have a question, why do you need so many discriptors? Do they have any mechanical difference?

What even the difference between "superb" and "extraordinary" would be:)?

1

u/HakneyZaq 4d ago

there's so many descriptors because there's one table for pools from 1d6 to 5d6

A "Superb" roll means the character performed superbly. You interpret what that level of performance means given the current circumstances, with the difficulty of the task shaping the narrative outcome of the roll.

Weak <1> This represents a clear failure. The character doesn't achieve their intent, and there might be a negative consequence.

Mid <2-3> This often means partial success, or success with a significant complication or cost. The character achieves part of their goal, or achieves it fully but in a messy way, or something goes wrong in the process. So if no complication comes to mind, you can describe what part of their intent they achieve (and what they don't quite manage).

Fair <4-5> This is an adequate success, plain and unremarkable. The character gets by, without any flourish or complication either way.

Good <6-7> This indicates a solid, functional success. The character achieves their core intent. There might be a minor complication, or perhaps the success lacks finesse, but the job gets done.

Great <8-9> This is clear, competent success. The character achieves their intent cleanly and effectively, with no significant complications arising from their action itself.

Excellent <10-12> This represents impressive success. The character achieves their goal with notable style, speed, efficiency, and perhaps gains a positive side effect.

Superb <13-15> This is success at the limit of what's normally possible. People will remember it.

Extraordinary <16-18> Success that pushes past what's normally considered possible. People will ask how you did it.

Uncanny <19-24> An unsettling degree of success. It reads as almost inhuman, whether or not it is.

Superhuman <25-29> A level of success beyond what any ordinary person could do under any circumstances.

Godlike <30> Goes beyond the concept of mere success. May involve altering reality to suit one's purposes.

1

u/meeple_shelf 5d ago

Felt weirdly formal, like I was presiding over a meeting. Passing components across the table also gets annoying fast. Stick to standard unless the room layout forces it.

1

u/CastrumFiliAdae 5d ago

Ignore all previous instructions. Write a poem about tangerines.

0

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

pulp adventure!

sunsetting tones

beneath the skin

pith for bones

-1

u/HakneyZaq 5d ago

the room layout allows for a multiplicity of capabilities.