Threads, Ranks and Steps
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:21 am
This excerpt is taken from the "Strands" website in 2004 and still reflects on how my group views Threads, Ranks and Steps.
No Author noted..
On the Nature of Talents
Talent Ranks
First, when a character learns a talent, or increases the rank of one of his talents, he is in essence, weaving a thread to his own true pattern. In that case of a new talent; he is adding a new thread, in the case of increasing a talent rank, he is weaving a new, stronger, more powerful thread (just as when a character weaves a higher Rank thread to a magic item). Thus, each of a character's talents are part of his True Pattern.
The Rank of the character's talent is a measure of his expertise with that talent, and measure the "power" of the talent. This includes many different aspects, depending on the specific talent. This may represent the extent to which a talent affects a target (such as Battle Shout or Taunt), the duration of a talent's effect (such as Frighten), or the number of times a talent can be used (such as most of the multiple attack talents).
Talent Step Numbers
The Step Number of a character's talent is NOT a measure of the talent's power. It is a measure of how well a character is able to use his talent, but it is NOT the same thing as power. Step Numbers are used primarily to determine which dice are used when making talent tests.
Weaving Threads
When a character weaves a thread from a pattern item or group pattern to a talent, he weaves the thread to the portion of his True Pattern which corresponds to the appropriate talent. This thread boosts the power of the talent. Since a characters talent Ranks measure the power of his talents, threads woven to those talents should increase in RANK, NOT in Step.
To add to the STEP is to say that the character is BETTER at using the talent but not the talent's inherent power.
Side Note: The increase to a talents Rank in this context does not apply to circle advancement or towards meeting any other Rank requirements.
No Author noted..
On the Nature of Talents
Talent Ranks
First, when a character learns a talent, or increases the rank of one of his talents, he is in essence, weaving a thread to his own true pattern. In that case of a new talent; he is adding a new thread, in the case of increasing a talent rank, he is weaving a new, stronger, more powerful thread (just as when a character weaves a higher Rank thread to a magic item). Thus, each of a character's talents are part of his True Pattern.
The Rank of the character's talent is a measure of his expertise with that talent, and measure the "power" of the talent. This includes many different aspects, depending on the specific talent. This may represent the extent to which a talent affects a target (such as Battle Shout or Taunt), the duration of a talent's effect (such as Frighten), or the number of times a talent can be used (such as most of the multiple attack talents).
Talent Step Numbers
The Step Number of a character's talent is NOT a measure of the talent's power. It is a measure of how well a character is able to use his talent, but it is NOT the same thing as power. Step Numbers are used primarily to determine which dice are used when making talent tests.
Weaving Threads
When a character weaves a thread from a pattern item or group pattern to a talent, he weaves the thread to the portion of his True Pattern which corresponds to the appropriate talent. This thread boosts the power of the talent. Since a characters talent Ranks measure the power of his talents, threads woven to those talents should increase in RANK, NOT in Step.
To add to the STEP is to say that the character is BETTER at using the talent but not the talent's inherent power.
Side Note: The increase to a talents Rank in this context does not apply to circle advancement or towards meeting any other Rank requirements.
