thread: 2005-03-23 : Strong Stuff Indeed
On 2005-03-25, Chris wrote:
Hi Andrew,
Right, it's not just what's on the sheet, it's what's not on the sheet as well. What's on the sheet is what matters, what's not on the sheet is what doesn't matter, is what a character sheet conveys. If you have a column that lists the weight of everything you're carrying, then that means weight and encumberance matter. If you don't, then that means it doesn't really matter to the focus of the game.
5 pages of backstory? Who knows! Small chart to scribble key concepts to character? Boom- focused and clear.
That's why Dogs traits work better for making a clear idea about a character more than the massive list in HQ. In HQ, it requires a bit of finangling and experience with the system and your players to know what traits they're calling out as markers, and which ones are just there. And likewise, that's why other games with less stuff on the sheet can get much more focused play going on, because there is less and less of a chance that the group might think play is about "Drive Auto 73%" instead of "Investigate Nameless Horror 24%"
