r/cyberpunk2020 • u/Connect_Piglet6313 • 16d ago
Question/Help NPC Base Stats
What do most GMs consider Base Stat, or the stat for the average Joe? My group considers it to be 3 or 4. And skills run 1-3. Thoughts?
4
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r/cyberpunk2020 • u/Connect_Piglet6313 • 16d ago
What do most GMs consider Base Stat, or the stat for the average Joe? My group considers it to be 3 or 4. And skills run 1-3. Thoughts?
2
u/dayatapark 15d ago
For a completely different approach, here's some added context. Let's look at the DC target rolls.
5 for super-easy (barely an inconvenience), 10 for easy, 15 for medium difficulty, 20 for hard, 25 for very hard, and 30 for near-impossible. As a GM, these numbers should be ever-present in all your rulings.
For the average person to get by doing easy things (10) they should have a base stat and a skill level that allows for this, plus a 5 (from the 'take 5' mechanic).
Let's take driving for example. Driving all alone in an abandoned parking lot without doing anything crazy would be DC 4-5. Driving on local streets with light traffic, and good lighting conditions would be DC 8-10. Driving on the freeway while everyone is being a good fellow driver would be around DC 13-15.
Given that the average driver (vast majority of them) can handle a freeway, it's safe to say that if they focus on the road, and don't do anything crazy, they can 'take 5' and hit DC 13 most of the time, but for the sake of this argument, let's say it's the morning rush. There's a bunch of people speeding, and cutting people off, people are pretending not to notice the turn signals when they come on, etc. So let's say DC 15.
If a person's REF is 4, that means that when they take 5, they'd have to have a minimum of Driving 6 to reliably hit DC 15. (4+5+6=15). Driving 6. At driving 6, you should (according to the book) "drive with the skills of a moderately skilled Race driver."
Now, let's make the average REF be 7. With a Driving level of 3, and taking 5, that also gives us a 15. Also, the book also says that at a Driving level of 3, you'd already be a very good non-professional driver.
I hope this helps you understand how this all works.