30 April 2016

The Very Idea: Variations of the Trait Ladder

[This article from 2006 addresses a perennial topic in Fudge that I discuss more seriously in One Step Beyond.]

From time to time one hears complaints about the trait ladder of Fudge being "broken" because the adjectives do not extend above Superb or below Terrible, whereas results may occur beyond these ranges, especially when characters possess Great or Superb traits. I consider any result above Superb to be an extension of Superb, and it only matters how Superb if one is involved in an opposed action in which more than one character gets a Superb or higher result. If it is a matter of combat, then I generally just deal with the numbers in order to arrive at a relative degree. If the conflict is not combat-related, then I merely state results in terms of one being "more Superb" than the other. Some may balk at such vague descriptions, so for those who desire "hard and fast rules" preserving the adjectival integrity of the trait ladder, I offer the following simple remedy that will extend the ladder without relying on numerical modifiers or adding more words to memorize. All one has to do is add "Very" for each level above Superb or below Terrible. That's all there is to it. If your Superb Swordsman rolls +3 in a fight against a Superb Axe-wielder who rolls +2, then you now know that your Very Very Very Superb result defeats his merely Very Very Superb result. And whatever you may say about a Terrible combatant who rolls -4, it's a Very Very Very Very Terrible result.

Fudge Traits#Not-So-Very-Varied Traits
Superb +4+7Very Very Very Very Superb
Superb +3+6Very Very Very Superb
Superb +2+5Very Very Superb
Superb +1+4Very Superb
Superb+3Superb
Great+2Great
Good+1Good
Fair0 Fair
Mediocre-1Mediocre
Poor-2Poor
Terrible-3Terrible
Terrible -1-4Very Terrible
Terrible -2-5Very Very Terrible
Terrible -3-6Very Very Very Terrible
Terrible -4-7Very Very Very Very Terrible


The Good, the Bad, and the Adequate

To be honest, all results really boil down to being either good, bad, or adequate, or degrees of the first two. To extend the idea presented above, one could center the trait ladder at Adequate, with Good at +1 and Bad at -1. For each level above Good or below Bad, one adds "Very." A Great result is now Very Good, a Superb result is Very Very Good, and a Terrible -1 result is Very Very Very Bad.

Fudge Traits#Good to Bad Traits
Superb +4+7Very Very Very Very Very Very Good
Superb +3+6Very Very Very Very Very Good
Superb +2+5Very Very Very Very Good
Superb +1+4Very Very Very Good
Superb+3Very Very Good
Great+2Very Good
Good+1Good
Fair0Adequate
Mediocre-1Bad
Poor-2Very Bad
Terrible-3Very Very Bad
Terrible -1-4Very Very Very Bad
Terrible -2-5Very Very Very Very Bad
Terrible -3-6Very Very Very Very Very Bad
Terrible -4-7Very Very Very Very Very Very Bad


The English Gentleman's Trait Ladder

To reflect a more civilized point of view, one may opt for the famous capacity for both understatement and overstatement that is characteristic of the archetypical English gentleman. Whilst one may admit that French cuisine is Quite Sufficient, one can state with satisfaction that English cooking is simply Smashing. Similarly, whereas the Bataan Death March was a Rather Bad situation, the service in this restaurant is Appalling!

Fudge Traits#Traits for Gentlemen
Superb+3Quite Sufficient
Great+2Jolly Good
Good+1Splendid
Fair0Smashing
Mediocre-1Appalling
Poor-2Dreadful
Terrible-3Rather Bad


Big Brother's Newspeak Trait Ladder

George Orwell's 1984, written as a warning of the dangers of totalitarianism, has a built-in trait ladder for those who wish (for whatever incomprehensible reason) to adventure in his nightmarish dystopia. Note that there is no equivalent trait for Fair in this trait ladder. The concept of "Fair" is a thoughtcrime. Report at once to the Ministry of Love.

Fudge Traits#Newspeak Traits
Superb+3doubleplusgood
Great+2plusgood
Good+1good
Fair0[not applicable]
Mediocre-1ungood
Poor-2plusungood
Terrible-3doubleplusungood

[Originally posted in Fudgery.net in 2006.]