Quality rating in QREBS

[Murdoc]

I am putting this here rather than in the errata since it is technically not one, instead it is something I think should be changed to make more sense (and make things easier for players and refs). I know that that makes it unlikely to happen, but I have to give it a try.

Why is the Quality rating in QREBS on a different scale than the other ratings? The best explanation I can think of is that someone doesn't like the idea of "negative" quality, which is pretty subjective. I can see no other benefit. If there is one, please let me know.

Instead, if we were to make it the same "flux" scale as the others, we would have the following benefits:

1. People wouldn't have to remember two different scales for different ratings
2. Baseline QREBS would appear as 00000, which just looks more like baseline than 50000
3. There already is a "Quality Mod" (chart p. 194) that uses the flux range, and is what is actually used in formula and rolls. Using just this would mean that there is only 1 number to use for Quality instead of 2.
4. Virtually all the examples in the book show a baseline QREBS as being 00000, which is right now errata. Changing the Quality range would mean we don't have to hunt down and change all those examples.

The decision to make any such change to the rules is a matter of comparing the weight of the benefits, plus the cost of making the change. This change would be incredibly easy to make, and in fact save work in having to change all those erroneous examples (so a net saving of work rather than a cost). So if someone can list for me the benefits of keeping it the same and they outweigh these benefits plus the work savings, then I will certainly agree that they should stay as they are. So what do people think?

 

[atpollard]

QREBS is a clunky acronym and far to difficult to pronounce.
"Rule 68A" or "Double Tap" were far catchier names.

I realize that this doesn't help at all, but I have nothing else to contribute other than to say that your argument makes sense.

 

[Hemdian]

QREBS is a clunky acronym and far to difficult to pronounce. "Rule 68A" or "Double Tap" we're far catchier names.

I've been pronouncing it "krebs". Seems easy enough.

 

[pendragonman]

I've been pronouncing it "krebs". Seems easy enough.

I go QueRebs myself

 

[atpollard]

I've been pronouncing it "krebs". Seems easy enough.

I go QueRebs myself

So what about the original question ... should quality start at 0 for 'standard' rather than 5?

 

[LiminalMask]

There are "Quality Checks" called for in at least one place, p. 256, the GunMaker chapter. When using weapons with variable settings, if you use higher settings you have to "roll quality or less" or the weapon malfunctions. I am assuming this is on 2D, though it doesn't say. In this case, a 0-10 number is needed.