Thought I'd see what your preferences were on an issue!

The poll is close enough that its clear people are fairly evenly divided on the issue (Besides, several of the comments suggest that people would like to see both.) Not sure how to do a mouse over, but its something I can look into if there is much call for it. I've actually been talking just a little bit with the coders about this and we've come up with the following plan: For the Cheat Menu: Both would be displayed. So it would look something like this following a skill name: Fair (25) For the main NPC display: Will include a switch in the settings section eventually so you can choose which version you want to use when playing. Initially, we'll just have the numbers since that will be the easiest way to set it up from my end. Then once we know everything is working right, we'll add the mechanic that will allow both versions to be seen. I'm working on the Cheat Menu right now, so I'll be including at least the relationship portion of that to the next build, then a build or two down the road I'll get things set up to display the descriptive version as well.

Aftermath Team

Personally I feel like the descriptive stats keep the game more immersive at a glance, but the numbers should be in there somewhere too because a lot of people will replay the game over and over, and end up wanting to know the detail of how things work 'under the hood'. Could they be shown with a mouseover of the descriptive words? or one click away in a more detailed stats menu? Just some ideas.

Blottscrunk

I actually don't think it will be too difficult to set up multiple ways to display the information. Maybe an hour's work all together, which in the big scheme of things isn't much at all.

Aftermath Team

To be perfectly honest I was quite shocked to have received a reply, let alone a follow-up from such. My idea was something that is far more grandeur than need be. From a game designer perspective, I'm the type that would prefer an easier route, especially in a place such as scripting, which is a definite weakness.... I know to employ two different degrees of this is a huge deal, and I wouldn't ask it on you at all. I just believe it would add to depth to see stats listed in numeric value in a short review, but in a detailed view to actually delve into aptitude and eloquence such as to say "your /color/ eyes are alive with intelligence, incessantly surveying the world around them" and such. Again, it's a world I'd never ask someone to delve into, but it's definitely something that would be appealing to many.

Lawhorn

Actually just posted a comment about this. ;) I'm thinking we'll use the winning item on the poll as the default setting, then include the ability to change between the two display types at will through the Options area. It probably wouldn't be too much more work to set up a third option to show both.

Aftermath Team

That's what I'm thinking. We intend to have an options menu (Likely that's where the cheat menu will be placed as well) that can be used for things like this. We want to have an option to do a white text on black background or black text on a white background, player's choice. This would be the same, basically be a switch you can select to change between descriptive or numerical as you prefer, the winner of the above poll will be set as the default I'm thinking..

Aftermath Team

How difficult would it be to have both? "Cleaning: Fair (24)"

Cameron_D

Toggle in the options menu?

This is kind of along the lines of the posts above: The further down this list this series of posts, the more I feel like some system to display both descriptive and numerical would be the way to go with this. As for how skill checks will work in the game: The idea is to have static numbers when related to skill checks. My thinking is that something like cleaning a room would take 120 minutes if it was really dirty, then subtract the skill value from the time it would take. Eventually there would also be scenes in the game that would only trigger at certain skill levels.

Aftermath Team

I do hope to have a little bit of blending between levels as far as scenes are concerned, which as you say can make a descriptive system just a little bit annoying at times. Having the option of both would be a fair idea. I'll have to consider how best to handle something like that.

Aftermath Team

Seeing the comments and the poll, I'm leaning towards doing both. I'm thinking the Cheat Menu would include the actual numbers (Cheat for a skill would be along the lines of +1, +5, +10, -1, -5, -10.) so you could see the exact value. Then in the character's description you would just have the descriptive portion.

Aftermath Team

I prefer to either have the numbers or to have the skill checked fixed between the descriptive levels. For example I find it frustrating to pass a check against 65 with a "Good" level in one play through but not the next just because one had skill level 68 and the other 62. For a similar reason if there is a random element to the checks - say it is 65+d10 I prefer to have the skill numbers and the random result explicit.

Rachel

I think numbers is better because its more accurate. The larger your number range and difficulty of raising skills the more annoying a descriptive system can be. Honestly I think both would be a better option, if you only want one displayed you could have a toggle option. Although depending on how you display the information it might make sense to have a descriptive overview of the skills then just have a numerical print out further down.

I think in the normal game I'd prefer it to be descriptive, but for a cheat menu I don't think there's a problem with lifting the veil a little and showing the actual number so you know by how much you're actually changing it.

Ver Greeneyes

That's something I had not really considered. Maybe if the poll comes out close, I'll see about doing it that way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Aftermath Team

In truth, while I prefer them to be in a numeric form, I like having both. If I see that I have, for instance, high strength, I like to see it as a number, but in closer inspection I like it being descriptive.

Lawhorn