In role playing games such as Morrowind, Oblivion and AD&D players' abilities are recorded as stats that progress linearly. Of course, real skills grow more like a pyramid - starting principles growing out into a plethora of applications. Assuming, however, that real skills and knowledge were banded then a universal 'state of education' could be made. For example, I could be only level '1' in French language, but a level '3' electrical engineer. At the moment we use things such as degrees and diplomas which, although can be graduated, differ in breadth from institution to institution. Using a 'levelling' system with clear requirements would standardise educational gradings and might also provide an interesting form of motivation.
Roll the dice to see if I'm getting drunk! Name: Domesticated Om Class: Wage Slave Level: 9 Sex: Male Race: Human Str: 10 Int: 16 Wis: 14 Dex: 13 Con: 9 Com: 15 Cha: 9 Thac0: 20 Armour Class: +10 Equipment: Backpack Enchanted Dell laptop (+2) Linksys USB wifi adapter with speed boost (+1) Bluetooth mouse -0 gold -0 platinum -0 silver - 1296 copper
rather modest. I was, of course, referring to skill stats. The more I think about it the more I see that such a system would be inappropriate for the higher echelons as they tend to specialise. But for the record: Long Sword: 1 Lover: 14 Engineer: 3 French Lang: 2 Maths: 8 ...
My skills make up for my rather low ability scores. Also, in a 3d6 generated stat array, the idea is to have it a comparative system. That is, a person with a 16 ability score is far more rare than one with a 10. However, since many of these abilities are assigned other, measurable, values (weight lifted above head, IQ, how long you can run for, etc), they will be low, compared to an actual 3d6 array. That is, compared to the RPGs setting, most westerners will be of below average physical scores. My comparative stats would be str12 dex10 con14 int12 wis6 cha12 I'm not really sure what your skill values mean, though. What's the difference between 0, 1 and 10?
str, dex, con etc. are all base stats. yeah they're generated on a bell curve, but I'm talking about learned skills. You start at 1 and progress according to an arbitrary standard. For example, with mathematics, you could say that if you can count then you're level 1. If you can perform basic arithmetic then you're level 2, if you can perform very basic algebra then you're lvl. 3 and so on to things like basic calculus, differential equations and others. Prior knowledge laying the prerequisite foundation for more complex knowledge. But of course, you can go very far with statistics and know little about calculus or whatever field. Obviously levelling only works at the start - unless of course you just insist that to get higher levels you have to have a broad AND detailed knowledge of the entire subject!
It would mean that the person with climb 5 had met the requirements set out in a set of guidelines. The progression may not be linear in difficulty or time spent trying to progress. I expect something like a climb 5 would include things like mountaineering knowledge and use of equipment, ability to safely lead expeditions up small mountains etc.
