PERFORMANCE RATING

A performance rating is an optional rule used by Game Masters to award performance on an encounter by encounter basis for each PC. This allows exceptional play to be rewarded against average play. It also inspires certain behaviors that may be beneficial for group play.

PCs are rated on individual performance. NPCs will never be rated and always receive a Good performance rating although, if directed by a player, their actions can influence that player’s character.

Performance ratings are important because it will determine the length of time required in training and this directly impacts cost.

When completing each major encounter area (dungeon level, tower, warehouse, etc.), each character will be given a performance rating by the Game Master. This assessment will be more art than science but the following factors (sub-ratings) are considered:

• How well did the character adhere to his or her alignment?

• How well did the character adhere to his or her class restrictions (if any)?

• How well did the character role play (according to character background) in interactions with NPCs or other PCs?

• How well did the character fare in combat in terms of tactical decision making?

• How effective was the character’s contribution to the achievement of the group’s goals?

• How much did the group need to rely on non-player characters or outside creatures to succeed?

• Did the individual survive? Did the individual save another PC from death? Did they save an important NPC from death?

• Did the entire group survive? Did any of the group fall below -5 h.p.?

• Did the individual make an exceptional contribution that affected the outcome of the encounter overall?

• If directing NPCs, what would the rating be given to the NPC if NPCs received ratings?

Each will be given a rating of 1 (exceptional) to 5 (deficient) and an overall rating of 1-5 will be assigned:

1. Exceptional Performance. No sub-rating above 2 and many are a 1.

2. Superior Performance. No sub-rating above 3 and only 25% are 3.

3. Good Performance. Almost all sub-ratings are 3 or better with only one area of deficiency;

4. Average Performance. A mix of rating between 3 and 4 with no more than one rating of 5.

5. Deficient/Lacking Performance. The rating has an average value above 4. This means the player did not achieve performance goals due to circumstance or play in multiple sub-ratings.

IMPORTANT. Players should expect that a typical performance rating is Good to Average. Only in the most extreme circumstances will performance ratings average out to something better than Good overall.

Each major encounter area experienced during the PC’s current level will be rated separately. Once a character gains enough experience to advance, all ratings will be averaged together to assign an overall performance rating for the level. Typically, these are unweighted, but the GM may weight certain campaign arc ending encounters more heavily. It is common for a performance rating to go to one decimal.

Why Are Performance Ratings Important? Training expense is incurred per week spent training. Performance Rating = Weeks Required to Train to the next level. Any decimals are included but rounded up to a full day.

PERFORMANCE RATING MARK

Certain activities will call for an immediate rating mark to be recorded by the GM. This simply means the GM will log the action for subsequent review. Often, this also calls for an alignment review. The mark itself is not good or bad, it simply means an action was taken that requires a specific review which goes into the performance rating above. Typically, the best performance rating for the mark (considered on it’s own) is a 3.