Goodman Games

Is there a modifier to artifact checks for Zero Level characters beyond their Intelligence modifier?

If not, it seems a bit cruel to Plantients that they actually get worse at using artifacts when they lvel up to first level. A level one Plantient having an artifact check modifier of -1.

I agree that Plantients should have a difficult time figuring out how to use technology, I just find it odd that a character would get worse at something going from level zero to level one. Granted level zeros need all the help they can get.

It happens in DCC, too. Zero level PCs don't take any penalty for unfamiliar weapons.

Call it "the Luck of the Zeros" if you like. It isn't that they are actually better; it is that Fate is somehow looking out for them....until a more amusing death can be arranged.

You have to think of the Funnel as being a bit more "adstracted" than full-on, leveled play. It uses simpler rules, so it plays faster and easier.

Some folks add the extra rules back into their funnels, because they want to...

Just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something. I haven't had the DCC experience, so...

Liking MCC so far.

I house-ruled Pure-strained Humans to have +1 at level 0, and plantients −1. It felt weird to me having a character getting worse. But in a one-off, or if I wasn't sure we'd go into a campaign, I'd probably not bother and would rather keep it simple.

Huyderman wrote:I house-ruled Pure-strained Humans to have +1 at level 0, and plantients −1. It felt weird to me having a character getting worse. But in a one-off, or if I wasn't sure we'd go into a campaign, I'd probably not bother and would rather keep it simple.

That is an excellent rule I may use it. Out of 20 characters made I have seen only 2 rolled plantients. One was from the pre-generated scratch off sheet!

Maybe a beginning Plantient is a supple young sprout, open to new ideas & experiences.
Once he ages a bit, gains more experience, his bark hardens, he slows down and becomes more set in his way of thinking.