The Zodiac – How to make it work?
With the game mechanics ready, all I need is the Zodiac signs. I have some ideas how to implement them in a game, but I’m not completely sure if they’re all good and necessary.
12 Zodiac signs, 12 skills. My first idea was to associate each sign to a matching skill and grant the player a re-roll for that skill. For example, if the character was Sagittarius, then he’d gain re-roll on athletics, because he doesn’t want to give up on physical tasks.The other idea I had was to grant synergy bonuses and penalties for the players if they had signs that go well (or not so well) together. This I’m not so sure about. It might be more fitting for the horoscopes, but it’s not that good of a mechanic. It’s not as balanced and can be easily broken.
Nonetheless, the Zodiac will help the players get into their characters better. I want the players to have that “My big brother is a Taurus, so I know how to play my character” feeling. I’ll make a description for each of the signs for the players. I might need some help with that too, because I’m not that familiar with them.
I’ve used this website for inspiration: http://www.psychicguild.com/horoscopes_explained.php
And causticbuddhist linked this site for more information: http://horoscopes.aol.com/astrology/career-tips-aries-taurus-gemini-leo (thanks!)
Here are the signs and their associated skill re-rolls. If something particular doesn’t seem fitting, please point it out.
Aries
You are courageous and impulsive. Your habit of taking risks gives you a re-roll in Combat-skill.
Taurus
You are determined and stubborn. Your ability to not give up until you succeed gives you a re-roll in Larceny-skill.
Gemini
You are curious and witty. Your habit of taking nothing for granted gives you a re-roll in Science-skill.
Cancer
You are perceptive and creative. Your interest in mysteries gives you a re-roll in Paranormal-skill
Leo
You are devoted and proud. Your radiant personality gives you a re-roll in Coercion-skill.
Virgo
You are compassionate and sensitive. Your social awareness gives you a re-roll in Empathy-skill.
Libra
You are charming and passionate Your sense of cause and effect gives you a re-roll in Socialize-skill.
Scorpio
You are secretive and resilient. Your desire to triumph no matter what gives you a re-roll in Deception-skill.
Sagittarius
You are adventurous and optimistic. Your enthusiasm gives you a re-roll in Athletics-skill.
Capricorn
You are conscientious and ambitious. Your determination gives you a re-roll in Technology-skill.
Aquarius
You are intelligent and practical. Your resourcefulness gives you a re-roll in Academics-skill.
Pisces
You are intuitive and imaginative. Your quick wits gives you a re-roll in Stealth-skill.
EDIT: Swapped some skills around and wrote up a little info on each Zodiac sign. Also listed a few links that served as inspiration and background material.
I like the idea of the matching of the characters sign to a bonus. Should give a nice reason for players to pay attention to it beyond just picking one at the start.
Tarus connected to Stealth makes me laugh… the old “Bull in a China Shop” expression comes to mind.
I just noticed that I forgot to give a link to the site I had used as a reference. It said about Taurus: “Taureans manage to discreetly stay apart from the crowd, even though they have a well-earned reputation for being socialisers.”
So I figure that they aren’t your typical “Bull in a China Shop”
Took a lot of this from a website that had a list of perfect jobs for your sign.
Format:
Sign
Description
Stat
Aries
Strong willed and driven by money. Finance and politics.
Academics
Taurus
Good with money, works on projects until the end. Finance and architecture.
Larceny
Gemini
Natural communicator and highly proactive. Secretarial and sales.
Stealth
Cancer
Motivated, creative, and a good listener. Counseling and catering.
Paranormal
Leo
Natural born leader and charismatic. Public relations and medicine.
Socialize
Virgo
Detailed orientated with strong visual flair. Editing and fashion.
Deception
Libra
Organized, in control and fair-minded. Administration and human resources.
Combat
Scorpio
The ultimate executive, power hungry. Diplomacy and government.
Coercion
Sagittarius
An ideals person, patient and persuasive. Advertising and teaching.
Athletics
Capricorn
Business acumen, strong investigative skills. Engineering and research.
Science
Aquarius
Determined, perceptive and clever. Science and technology.
Technology
Pisces
People person, and excellent sympathizer. Cabin crew and charity.
Empathy
Another half way decent site about astrological sign job suggestions is here
http://horoscopes.aol.com/astrology/career-tips-aries-taurus-gemini-leo
I might consider instead of a complete reroll adding a single die to that skill and then dropping the lowest number rolled, or something like that.
-Larry
Hm, I checked your link and it was quite useful. But I disagree with your skill propositions. They seem a little off.
Let’s take Libra for example: The site (and various others I checked earlier) described Libra as charismatic, good with people and artistic. So from the skill list, I think the Socialize skill corresponds the best.
Also, dropping the lowest number is somewhat pointless when only the highest have any value. If I need to roll threes, it doesn’t matter if I discard a lower die. And even if I had to discard a three, that would mean I have a die that’s even higher than three, so it’s not working there either. And I’d rather not give an extra die, because it would screw the odds pretty bad.
But thanks anyway, especially for that link. I’ll check it and see if my initial ideas fit.
No problem
Yep Libra was a stretch I picked combat for them since every HR person I know would make a perfect contract killer given a gun and a need to Terminate someone.
L