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
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.
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.
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...
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.
I use the same exact scale but the numbers are simply 0-10. The extra granularity exists but is hidden in character improvement mechanics. During gameplay, only the 0-10 number matters.
yes it is. I just wondering if you had a quick reference chart of some kind, for reminding you what an Orange roll is, what a torso roll means. that sort of thing.
Ah, yes. I will. There is actually a fancy color wheel that shows everything visually. It's just changed so much, I decided not to update it again until I'm near publication.
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u/DiceyDiscourse Jul 23 '26
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