Stating Mediocrity

I have mentioned that Mediocre is the default trait level in plain traits and Elementary Fudge, and that any Mediocre trait need not be specified on a character sheet, but I failed to mention that there may be cases in which it might be advisable to list Mediocre traits. There are, in fact, those who are Mediocre at their professions, and although anyone could conceivably fill their positions at the same level of inadequacy if pressed, it is nonetheless a defining aspect of their character by virtue of the time they invest in it. Jane Doe is a Great Martial Artist and a Good Amateur Detective, and it may seem irrelevant that she is a Mediocre Pizza Chef, but if her primary occupation is working at a pizzeria (that may or may not serve as a headquarters for her fellow sleuths), then "Pizza Chef: Mediocre" would be an important fact to record. It's how she pays her bills and it's one of her motivations to take risks in her search for a more rewarding life. She may not be good at it, but it partially defines her.

The Baseline Is Mediocrity

In standard Fudge, the default trait levels for attributes and skills are Fair and Poor respectively, but I ask you: Are most people really of Fair intelligence, physical fitness, or charm? Or are they, in fact, Mediocre? Fair can generally be assumed to mean "good enough," but in my observations of the world, I think it's more accurate to say that the general pattern of human behavior is Mediocre, or "needs improvement." "Good enough" is rarely achieved without effort or luck. Mediocrity, in reality, is the baseline.

If the baseline of attributes truly is Mediocre, can the same be said of skills? Skills are a more complex matter as their difficulty varies, and I doubt there is any system that can accurately reflect all the factors involved in measuring them, so I think it is more useful to frame the question not in terms of what is most realistic, but rather what is more consistent with the genre or medium of inspiration. The baseline of skills in a fictional work tends to be Mediocre or Nonexistent. Either a character has no chance of practising a skill, or the character can just muddle through with a possibility of doing well enough to pass for success. A trait level of Poor or Terrible is reserved for those who have a notable deficiency beyond the human average.

If both attributes and skills have the same default trait level of Mediocre, what is the point of differentiating them? In my opinion, there is none. I fold them both into plain traits or descriptors. Others, however, may prefer to distinguish between the two in terms of how they are acquired and the method by which they can be improved. At any rate, I think Mediocre is the proper baseline. It reduces unnecessary complexity and facilitates more interesting play. And it does so without altering the standard trait ladder. Just drop the average by one rung. Problem solved.

Exceptional Traits Remixed

This article is a slight correction to the way I was thinking about traits in Exceptional Traits for Fudge. Two of the sample characters, initially described in Descriptive Traits for Sherpa and Quasi-Descriptive Traits for Sherpa, have wording that makes less sense in Fudge. Charlotte Chevalier, for example, has Sharp as a Tack (Mind): Good for one trait. "Sharp as a Tack" is a loose description of a trait and its level — not a trait in and of itself. For better clarity, I would list the traits of these two characters in the following manner:

Charlotte Chevalier, Reporter (15 levels allocated)

Reporter: Great ("Ambitious")

Aviatrix: Great ("Daredevil")

Marksmanship: Great

Driver: Fair

Mind: Good ("Sharp as a Tack")

Body: Fair ("Tough Cookie")

Spirit: Great ("Sassy and Irrepressible")

Reflexes: Poor ("Klutzy")

 

Advantages: Patron: Editor of a Big Metropolitan Newspaper, Press Pass

Disadvantages: Obsessed with Dance (and Has Two Left Feet), Recklessly Brave

Complications: Her Prominent Family's Disapproval of Her Lifestyle

Motivations: To Show Up Her Family, To Get the Scoop of the Century

---

Oliver Rath, Police Detective (15 levels allocated)

Police Detective: Great

Boxer: Good

Poker Player: Good

Driver: Good

Mind: Great ("Like a Steel Trap")

Body: Good ("Tough as a Boot")

Spirit: Poor ("World Weary")

Reflexes: Good ("Agile When He Needs to Be")

 

Advantages: Photographic Memory, Law Enforcement Authority

Disadvantages: Lives in a Bad Neighborhood, Coffee Addiction

Complications: Is a Widower with Two Children

Motivations: To Provide for His Children, To Be the Best Damned Cop He Can Be

The descriptions are optional. Some trait/level combinations lend themselves easily to descriptions; some do not. The choice, as always, is yours.

[Edit: Upon re-examining the other sample characters, I noticed they, too, could benefit from this minor alteration (perhaps with the exception of Sam Turnstile).]

Exceptional Traits for Fudge

[Exceptional Trait Fudge is a modification of Plain Trait Fudge, Descriptive Traits for Sherpa, and Quasi-Descriptive Traits for Sherpa. It grew out of my desire for a version of Fudge stripped of unnecessary complexity, but with a modicum of structure not offered by the subjective version of the rules. What follows is a variant midway between the subjective and objective rules tempered with wisdom inspired by Sherpa. The goal of this variant is to encourage creativity, speed up the character creation process, and simplify character information so players can play their characters instead of their character sheets.]

Exceptional Trait Fudge is a variant of Fudge that utilizes neither attributes nor skills, just traits. It is a system that emphasizes exceptions to the rule, and this is reflected by the absence of predetermined trait lists. Everyone has an equal possibility of accomplishing anything unless they are exceptionally well-suited or ill-suited to the task.

In addition to traits, there are four other elements used to describe a character: advantages, disadvantages, complications, and motivations. These have no effect on the cost of traits, but their inclusion encourages the player to consider a character's background and psychology both when the character is created and during play.

It is presumed that the standard trait ladder and dice-rolling conventions of Fudge are being used, but these are, of course, optional. Action resolution, supernormal powers, combat, wounding, and healing are conducted as per standard Fudge or any variant desired. The two areas in which Exceptional Trait Fudge differs from standard Fudge (and could even be interpreted as Alternate Rules) are Chapter 1, Character Creation and Chapter 5, Character Development.

Exceptional Trait Terms

Trait: Any ability rated according to the trait ladder. Vocational and avocational traits are groups of skills related to an occupation or pastime. Inherent traits are general abilities. Inherent traits include Mind, Body, Spirit, and Reflexes.

Exceptional Trait: A specified trait; any trait listed as being possessed by the character. An exceptional trait is either exceptionally high (Fair or better) or exceptionally low (Poor or worse).

Unexceptional Trait: An unspecified trait; any trait not listed as being possessed by the character. Unexceptional traits are Mediocre and represent the default level of all traits.

Advantage: A benefit to the character.

Disadvantage: A detriment to the character.

Complication: A plot hook.

Motivation: A specified drive or goal.

In other words, all characters have unspecified unexceptional traits that are Mediocre and specified exceptional traits that are anything but Mediocre.

Exceptional Trait Character Creation

The following steps describe the standard method of exceptional trait character creation:

Step One: Trait Level Allotment

The GM allots a certain number of trait levels to be spent on each character by each player. This may require a bit of adjusting for the genre and the preferred playing style, but it is not necessary to make the number too high. An allotment of 10 or 15 levels is a good starting point.

Step Two: Trait Specification and Level Allocation

The player decides what makes his or her character different, or exceptional, by specifying the character's defining traits. Each trait specified is allocated 1 level, thus raising it from an unexceptional Mediocre trait to an exceptional Fair trait. Exceptional traits may be further increased by allocating additional levels. The player may specify any number of vocational or avocational traits (within allotment limits) as well as up to four inherent traits. Any trait not specified (including inherent traits) is considered Mediocre. Needless to say, one must balance breadth of abilities with the depth of each ability, with the extremes being jack-of-all-trades, master of none at one extreme and idiot savant at the other. If the player feels that there are not enough available levels to describe the character's traits accurately (or if it would be true to the character for certain traits to be deficient), then one or more exceptionally low traits may be specified, thereby gaining 1 additional level for each Poor trait and 2 additional levels for each Terrible trait.

NB: Beyond the allocation of GM-allotted trait levels, the value of any trait level gained is only equal to the value of the trait level sacrificed.

The GM may set limits on the number of traits that may be specified at certain levels. For instance, a realistic setting might have a maximum of one Superb trait per starting character. For a gritty setting, it might even be preferable to have the maximum set at Great (either any number of traits not exceeding Great, or even a maximum of one Great trait per starting character).

Players may also save levels to buy traits during play that might have been overlooked.

Step Three: Advantages

Players may specify one or more advantages for their characters. For each advantage specified, a disadvantage must also be specified. Advantages are optional. (Advantages function in the same manner as gifts, but they cannot be exchanged for trait levels.)

Step Four: Disadvantages

Players must specify one disadvantage for each advantage specified. If they wish, they may specify multiple lesser disadvantages to counterbalance a greater advantage as long as their total effect is equivalent. (Disadvantages function in the same manner as faults, but they cannot be exchanged for trait levels.)

Step Five: Complications

The GM may require that the players list personal complications or plot hooks for their characters. Complications may be entirely negative, or they may have both positive and negative elements, but in any event they must serve to complicate the character's life and lend themselves to potential use as plot devices by the GM. The GM may set a minimum required number of complications.

Step Six: Motivations

The GM may also require that the players list their characters' motivations. This gives both the GM and the player a better understanding of the character, and enables the player to indicate to the GM what he might want for his character in the way of goals or challenges. The GM may set a minimum required number of motivations.

Other Steps

Other steps that may occur during character creation, during play, or between sessions include details of the character's description, background, and equipment or other belongings. Non-player characters important to the character (such as dependents or patrons) may be described briefly or created fully by the GM, the player (with GM approval), or both in cooperation.

Exceptional Trait Character Development

Exceptional (and unexceptional) traits, being neither attributes nor skills, have different costs for improvement. Since characters with exceptional traits generally have fewer traits than those with attributes and skills, and since those traits have a higher default level than most skills, improvement should be more gradual. This can be done very easily by means of the subjective character development system in Section 5.1 and the development through training system in Section 5.3. If the objective character development system in Section 5.2 is preferred, the cost of raising a trait is double the cost for skills of the same level. In other words:

RAISING A TRAIT:
FROM:	TO:	COSTS:
Terrible	Poor	2 EP
Poor	Mediocre	2 EP
Mediocre	Fair	2 EP
Fair	Good	4 EP
Good	Great	8 EP
Great	Superb	16 EP
Superb	Legendary	32 EP + GM permission

Example

Step One: The GM is running a Wild West scenario, so she allots each character 15 trait levels.

Step Two: The GM limits allocation to no more than one Superb trait and one Terrible trait. All other trait levels are unlimited. Player A decides his character will be a gambler named Sam Turnstile with the following vocations and avocations: Cardsharp, Gunslinger, and Charmer. Specifying these traits automatically starts them at Fair, which is a total cost of 3 levels. He envisions Cardsharp as his best trait, so he spends 3 more levels to raise it to Superb. A famous gambler needs to know how to defend himself, so he spends another level to raise Gunslinger to Good. Talking his way into and out of trouble is likely to occur more often, though, so he spends 2 levels to raise Charmer to Great. Thinking about his inherent traits, he reckons his gambler is a knowledgeable man, a veritable Walking Encyclopaedia. He spends 2 levels to specify it as Walking Encyclopaedia (Mind): Good. He's been around and survived his share of inconvenience (to put it mildly), so he spends a level on Rugged Enough (Body): Fair. As for his Spirit, he has many temptations and succumbs a little too willingly, but not more so than any other man, so he's unexceptional in that regard: [Spirit: Mediocre]. He's Quick as a Rattlesnake when there's trouble, though, so he spends 3 levels to specify it as Quick as a Rattlesnake (Reflexes): Great.

Step Three: Through his wanderings, and as a result of his wide interests, Sam Turnstile learned the secret art of Hypnosis, which comes in useful from time to time. Be careful when he asks you to observe something shiny.

Step Four: Such a powerful advantage is Hypnosis that he has two disadvantages to make up for it: Drinks Too Much and Flirts Too Much. Both have caused him a heap of trouble.

Step Five: The GM sets a minimum requirement of two complications. Player A specifies Wanted for a Crime He Didn't Commit as one complication and Shunned by His Kinfolk as the other.

Step Six: The GM sets a minimum requirement of two motivations. Player A specifies three: To Clear His Name, To Strike It Rich, and To Enjoy the Finer Things in Life.

Sam Turnstile, Gambler

Cardsharp: Superb

Gunslinger: Good

Charmer: Great

Walking Encyclopaedia (Mind): Good

Rugged Enough (Body): Fair

[Spirit: Mediocre]

Quick as a Rattlesnake (Reflexes): Great

 

Advantages: Hypnosis

Disadvantages: Drinks Too Much, Flirts Too Much

Complications: Wanted for a Crime He Didn't Commit, Shunned by His Kinfolk

Motivations: To Clear His Name, To Strike It Rich, To Enjoy the Finer Things in Life

I adapted the following characters from other articles to provide further examples:

---

Aurelia Brixton, Spy (20 levels allocated), (q.v.)

Cat Burglar: Great

Jewelry Expert: Fair

Getaway Driver: Good

Acrobat: Great

Martial Artist: Good

Handgun Expert: Fair

[Mind: Mediocre]

Physically Fit (Body): Great

Strong-Willed (Spirit): Good

Highly Coordinated (Reflexes): Great

 

Advantages: Trained as a Secret Agent

Disadvantages: Criminal Past

Complications: Born into a Family of Thieves

Motivations: To Redeem Herself, To Reform Her Family, To Serve Her Country

---

Charles Standish-Reddy, Sergeant-Major (ret.) (15 levels allocated), (q.v.)

Big Game Hunter: Superb

World Traveller: Great

Leader: Good

Pugilist: Fair

Educated (Mind): Fair

Physically Impressive (Body): Good

Determined (Spirit): Good

[Reflexes: Mediocre]

 

Advantages: Retired Military

Disadvantages: Past His Prime

Complications: In Love with a Vegetarian Teetotaller, Out of Place in Civilised Society

Motivations: To Hunt on Every Continent, To Sample the Scotch of Every Distillery

---

Stan Tucker, Cowboy (15 levels allocated), (q.v.)

Ridin': Superb

Shootin': Good

Wranglin': Great

Wrestlin': Good

Guessin' the Weather: Fair

Cogitatin' (Mind): Poor

Laborin' (Body): Good

Reflectin' (Spirit): Fair

Skedaddlin' (Reflexes): Good

 

Advantages: Trusted by Horses, Keen Eyesight

Disadvantages: Claustrophobic, Illiterate

Complications: Fond of a Schoolteacher, but Too Shy to Court Her

Motivations: To Become a Trail Boss

---

Charlotte Chevalier, Reporter (15 levels allocated), (q.v.)

Ambitious Reporter: Great

Daredevil Aviatrix: Great

Crack Shot: Great

Crazy Driver: Fair

Sharp as a Tack (Mind): Good

Tough Cookie (Body): Fair

Sassy and Irrepressible (Spirit): Great

Klutzy (Reflexes): Poor

 

Advantages: Patron: Editor of a Big Metropolitan Newspaper, Press Pass

Disadvantages: Obsessed with Dance (and Has Two Left Feet), Recklessly Brave

Complications: Her Prominent Family's Disapproval of Her Lifestyle

Motivations: To Show Up Her Family, To Get the Scoop of the Century

---

Oliver Rath, Police Detective (15 levels allocated), (q.v.)

Damned Good Police Detective: Great

Impressive Middleweight Boxer: Good

Savvy Poker Player: Good

Skilled and Fearless Driver: Good

Mind Like a Steel Trap (Mind): Great

Tough as a Boot (Body): Good

World-Weary (Spirit): Poor

Agile When He Needs to Be (Reflexes): Good

 

Advantages: Photographic Memory, Law Enforcement Authority

Disadvantages: Lives in a Bad Neighborhood, Coffee Addiction

Complications: Is a Widower with Two Children

Motivations: To Provide for His Children, To Be the Best Damned Cop He Can Be