[Runequest] Age and Inaction

[Lev Lafayette]

I've been doing the numbers on the Aging and Inaction
rules in RuneQuest3 (p84).

Basically, for every year over 40, one has to roll on
the table with a an overall 20/36 chance of losing
between 1 and 4 points against STR, CON, DEX or APP
with an additional 20% of no loss.

The breadown, per annum, is as follows.

2/36 chance of losing 4 points
4/36 chance of losing 3 points
6/36 chance of losing 2 points
8/36 chance of losing 1 point.

Which comes to an average of 40/36 or 0.88 points lost
per annum.

i.e., n = ((2/36*4)+(4/36*3)+(6/36*2)+(8/36*2))*0.8

This chart is also used if the character takes a year
off adventuring.

A character who is over 40 and doesn't adventure has
to roll twice!

By these numbers a character, on average, will live on
average to 87 if they remain fit and active after 40,
and 64 if they do not. If they have a sendentary
lifestyle from 15 onwards (in RQ III starting age is
rolled on 2d6+15), they are likely to be dead at 39. 

I am thinking of the following variations.

1) Roll for each individual characteristic. For
example, DEX losses start at 30, STR losses and SIZ
increases at 40, CON losses at 50, INT losses at 70.
No, I haven't checked medical records for the accuracy
of this, although I will admit that at least one game
I know (Swordbearer) does this.

2) Roll every year over 60 for POW gain.

3) Roll once every 5 years for each characteristic
over the base age. Roll twice if that characteristic
is not being used effectively, either through
occupation or by adventuring.

4) d100 roll, 01-05 A gain of 1 point, 06-80 no
change, 81-95 loss of 1 point, 96-00 loss of 2 points
(or gain for SIZ).


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