Agree with Logrin, great stuff :)
Ook, I've got a few questions about some things, here's some info and I'll update the 1st OOC post a bit at some point today:
Logrin, I'm just going to put your PM to me here, for my own ease of replying...if you object let me know and I'll take it out.
Logrin = normal, me = bold
Most of this stuff applies pretty evenly to everyone, so I'm going to answer in general rather than specific. Hopefully I'll cover everything, but (seriously) feel rfee to ask me to be specific. This is a new system I invented...and that's not exactly my strong suit. I want holes poked now, I want you guys to be clear on what's going on, and I don't want to miss glaring errors! lol
*Low Strength - With only two people having rolled worse ((1's respectively)) on a sliding scale of 5 for what seems to be the measure of how much magic you naturally possess, Crosby will need to siphon off power from others through channeling if he expects to do anything cool. Leading to the second problem.
Everyone pretty much has fairly low stats overall, I think there's two things we can do about this;
-re-roll: however, no one guessed any 5s and this seems like sort of a waste of time to me...but I'm up for it if that's the consensus.
-re-distribute: I'm more in favor of this. Basically what we would do is say the total number of stats you got, add them all together then you get to choose how to redistribute them. This way no one will be crazy strong, there will still be a strength variation, ut you can have a bit more say in how things play out. Don't jump for joy yet though, I've got more on this below.
*Worst Possible Element Rating - A Dubious honor that I share with Nemaisare and Bunnito's characters and the measure of how much control you have over your elements. I read that as "ability to do supernatural things that aren't healing" and while I am certainly disappointed I hasten to add I haven't any a right to complain when both GM's find themselves in the same boat. As a plus side you did manage to keep a roster of super mages from cropping up, Lady Squee seeming to have hands down the most powerful and well balanced character of the group.
You're right that there are quite a few with low element readings.As in...pretty much everyone, lol. The only one to get anywhere near 'high' is chaotic with a 3.
The way I'm debating handling this would combine well with the redistributing option above. I'm not stuck on any of these stats being permanent, this one in particular. It makes sense to me that we'd all start out with little/no control, but as we worked harder you could bump that number up. If we assumed this number will change as we go (I could Pm everyone when it seems to me you've mentioned practice enough to bump up a bit more..*shrugs* the fact is I'm planning of gradually giving you more magical info as we go so you're learning along with your characters. That's part of the fun IMO ;)
So, if we go with redistributing, but everyone is aware that the element stat (at least) WILL change for the better you could balance your character out in other ways.
Very open to suggestions here, this is just what's come to me.
*Modest Channeling - Not much to note here. Crosby can channel energy at a respectable rate to himself or other. His low scores in strength and element suggest that this would best be utilized in helping someone else do something cool or aiding in his healing, speaking of which.
Channeling is another reason I'd like to redistribute. It's pretty much 3s across the board...and that's a bit lame. I'd like one or two of us to be great at it, and some to have little or NO channeling power...
*Tied for Best Healer - Your character and my own seem to have found themselves in the position of being the best healers, followed not so closely by Goldmarble and his character's unfortunately paltry strength score. If I had to order them I'd probably say it progresses: Mellie, Crosby and then Tyko. The tenderhearted teacher edging Crosby out from being just a tad better than him in nearly ever other respect.
I'm fine with healing, personally...and there may be other uses for this sort of power int he future *cough cough*...but if we redistribute this could become a moot point.
All that being said I don't really know how important our elemental affinities are. ((It would seem a bit unfair if they were just added to the strength or element scores when doing magical things in line with your chosen element--considering how few people actually used all four and especially those, myself included, that stacked them.)) So I could be *way* off on my assessment of Crosby and the others.
The elemental score, the number I had you guys straight up pick, to me is your potential. Someone who doesn't want to be full strength would pick a 3, someone who wants to (eventually) be cream of the crop would pick 4. To me it was used as an indicator of intent...I DID end up using it a bit to fill out the info I gave you guys, mainly because I was trying to make fairly balanced strengths and weaknesses and it happened to be convenient that way. lol
Your elemental affinities, in the long run, will be VERY important. Here's a bit of fluff and background to hopefully give some context:
The magic right now in the world is very weak. The Change has just occurred, and as more people are bonding that burst of energy is releasing magic that has been pent up for centuries. With each bond the amount of usable magic in the world grows, and with it so do the powers of the bonded pairs (we really need a better name for that, btw...suggestions welcome). At first the magic will be temperamental and undependable, at this point your powers manifest as the simple base powers of each element; water can call/direct water that is exisitng, fire can call little flames, air can pull gusts of wind, earth can call dirt, stones ect, or encourage plants to grow.
As the level of magic increases worldwide your powers also increase, along with your control (through practice). This is the point where affinities start making a difference; and earth mage with an affinity to stone would be able to call rocks, rather than 'earth' as a general thing. Someone with fire and an affinity to electricity would be able to call sparks. This is on TOP of their base elemental powers.
Eventually, and I'm not going to give away a ton here, your elemental powers will be what you rely on most, a favored tool or weapon, whereas the base element powers remain in the background. You can always use them, and sometimes you'll have no choice (*cough cough*), but they'll be put away for bigger and better things...unless you choose to keep them 'sharpened'. So to speak.
Part of the fun, to me, is going to be discovering what exactly the magic can do. Using your brain, creatively, to see how the application of a little power can do big things. IMO strength isn't at all the most important thing and subtlety is underrated. I left tips and hints in everyone's magic info of how your powers could be used to the best effect, mistakes you can take and run with, and suggestions on what I'll be ok with going on. I do plan on sending more of that sort of thing, but some of this is about discovery. If you can describe (IC) how you use your (as a group, not anyone in particular) small amount of power cleverly to do something amazing then I may let you keep that power and ability. I have no interest in giving anyone a list of 'cans and cant's', hopefully I won't have to as long as you realistically build strengths and include weaknesses and fatal flaws.
...well that was long and a teeny bit rant-y at the end there...not my intent. Anyways, please - question away :)
Summary:
What I need from you; a vote on whether to re-roll or allow people to redistribute their points. Either way I won't be changing your magic blurb, I'll leave it to you guys to figure out how a change of powers would effect what i sent you. I WILL answer questions of course :)
I'll be adding more info to the OOC 1st post today to help you guys make some decisions, so keep your checking back.
