I suppose I should be helpful and post some feedback.
Generally, I like the system, but it does assume everyone is on equal footing narratively, which can be complicated as others have pointed out.
Mathematically, you really only have 3 choices for each attribute pair because of the pairing: 2/3, 1/4, and 0/5, and 0/5 requires GM permission. 2/3 is the probably the best from a min-max standpoint, since it maximally reduces your probability to be hit. The smart player will employ their largest pool against any opponent's smallest, so you want to ensure you don't have any very small pool; at worst, you're facing 5d20 versus your 2d20, but usually, it's going to be 2d20 vs. 2d20 or 3d20 vs. 2d20 -- I'll take those odds, thanks. You want to put your 3s in the stats that provide derived statistics to maximize how long you can stay up.
I'm not sure there's a good solution to this, especially since it can be hard to argue against an average character from a min/max standpoint. It puts you in the unenviable position of having to tell someone their character isn't good enough at something. One solution is to keep the stat pairs but just give people some number of points (12 feels good?) to spread across them as they see fit. That introduces some hard choices while retaining the paired attributes' disadvantage for those who are hyper-specialized.
Generally, I like the system, but it does assume everyone is on equal footing narratively, which can be complicated as others have pointed out.
Mathematically, you really only have 3 choices for each attribute pair because of the pairing: 2/3, 1/4, and 0/5, and 0/5 requires GM permission. 2/3 is the probably the best from a min-max standpoint, since it maximally reduces your probability to be hit. The smart player will employ their largest pool against any opponent's smallest, so you want to ensure you don't have any very small pool; at worst, you're facing 5d20 versus your 2d20, but usually, it's going to be 2d20 vs. 2d20 or 3d20 vs. 2d20 -- I'll take those odds, thanks. You want to put your 3s in the stats that provide derived statistics to maximize how long you can stay up.
I'm not sure there's a good solution to this, especially since it can be hard to argue against an average character from a min/max standpoint. It puts you in the unenviable position of having to tell someone their character isn't good enough at something. One solution is to keep the stat pairs but just give people some number of points (12 feels good?) to spread across them as they see fit. That introduces some hard choices while retaining the paired attributes' disadvantage for those who are hyper-specialized.
The Freelance Wizard
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))
Quality RP at low, low prices!
((about me | about L'yhta Mahre | L'yhta's desk | about Mysterium, the Ivory Tower: a heavy RP society of mages))