This post contains the Tribute benchmark table I spent
the weekend working on. Development on the game started with a similar table I
made a few years back. I have no idea how the table will render on a mobile device, so it's probably best to
view it on a computer.
I ended up working on this one as a side effect of trying
to figure out how RELAY worked in the game.
I had a long talk with another game designer and friend
of mine, Barak Blackburn. He wrote Capes, Cowls, and Villains Foul which is a
very exciting light supers RPG meant to emulate the feel of comic books.
Check it out.
Anyway, Barak was helping me with movement issues in my
game, and he was strongly promoting the idea that I not include benchmarks in
Tribute. His case was that if I included them they would become a straitjacket
for some GMs, and that some players wouldn't be able to see past them when
playing the game. I considered what he said, but I decided to include them
anyway. I'm of the mindset that if there's an elegant way to give
concrete information about something in game, it's preferable to abstractions
that are prone to confusion. I guess I'm more engineer than artist.
I think that in the long run benchmarks will enhance play
rather than hindering it. In no particular order, having them allows:
- People other than me to stat up things that other people will agree with. The internet becomes a sourcebook.
- Concrete measurement and use of a game mat, if desired.
- The same stats to have different consequences at different reality levels.
- The dice to inform game play with actual measurements, such as how far an object flies.
Still, I fully intend to see Tribute used to model
completely alien concepts and worlds with no ties to our own reality. I just
want to set a good baseline in modeling reality first. Once you know how to do
that, you can do the stranger stuff- you can "eff" the ineffable, and
hopefully have everyone at the table agree on what things mean.
Credit Where it's Due
The Mayfair Exponential Game System, or MEGS, is often
cited as a brilliant way of allowing characters with a range of capabilities to
interact meaningfully. I'm blatantly ripping it off (with credit) for Tribute.
I made a few changes, but the principle is the same.
In MEGS, everything you interact with is given a Rank,
and a given Rank can correspond to a value, such as 100 lbs. In DC Heroes, the
supers version of the system, every +1 to rank represents a x2 increase in the
actual value you're talking about, such that if Rank 0 represented 100 lbs.,
Rank 1 would represent 200 lbs., Rank 2 would represent 400 lbs. and so on.
Multiplication of actual values is done by adding their
Ranks together. Division is done by Subtracting their Ranks. This works like an
old-fashioned slide rule, and is very handy for things like calculating the
distance you can throw an object (Your Rank - the Rank of the object's mass=
Rank of the distance), etc.
Another game using the system, Underground, which I
haven't seen, uses a different progression whereby each +1 to Rank represents
about a 1.26 multiplier. This means that every +3 equals roughly a doubling,
every +7 equals multiplying by 5, and +10 equals multiplying by 10. The same rules for multiplication and
division apply.
Tribute is using the latter progression. My values for
the various benchmarks are different because of the needs of the system, and I
use metric measurements because they make more sense to me and make for a
neater table. To convert from metric, you can assume that 1 meter equals about a
yard, and 1 kg equals about 2 lbs. This is about estimation, not exact values.
Making sense of the Table:
The only firm benchmark on this table is the "Number of
Men" Rating. The use of the word
"Men" is intended the way Tolkien used it- to represent a member of
the human species of either sex, and does not refer to the male sex
specifically. One "Man" is a mythological human who is average in everything.
It's a useful benchmark for things that don't easily lend themselves to concrete measurement in other units. Rank 5 "FORCE of Mind" means that you have the Intellect of 3 average people combined.
It's a useful benchmark for things that don't easily lend themselves to concrete measurement in other units. Rank 5 "FORCE of Mind" means that you have the Intellect of 3 average people combined.
Number of Men is also useful for finding out the effective rank of a group of collaborators. Simply add the Number of Men of all parties, find the corresponding Rank, and make a check with the leader's FOCUS and the total BURDEN of all participants.
The other benchmark values are strongly approximated (especially
when it comes to Time and Data)- they are rounded to the nearest neat unit when
possible, and are then put onto the "# of Men" progression. This
means that when it's possible to shift from seconds to minutes, for example,
the progression moves on from 1 minute rather than continuing to use seconds.
The results are somewhat different than they would otherwise be, but again, this
table is meant to allow you to estimate conversions
between benchmarks and Ranks, and not to find exact values. The apparent
precision in the table should never be considered to be written in stone. When
using this Table with benchmarks and a value falls between two Ranks, use the
lower of the two Ranks. A given Rank represents a range of results from the
listed value to just before the next higher one.
The table's built on the assumption of a d4 Reality die (a
range of -3 to +3). After all, games that use a d4 will be the ones most
concerned with accuracy in benchmarks.
Values get fuzzier the further you get from mundane human
range. For example, it's possible even in a mundane reality level for a unique
human being to throw a football (Rank -15 mass) 300 meters (Rank 28 distance),
which exceeds World Records (non-NFL) by 2 Ranks. The record was allegedly set in
1934 by George Lansborough at 195 meters.
I wanted to keep values conservative, but it wasn't
possible if I wanted other human ranges to work right. Still, if the Guinness Book of World Records is
to be believed, it's somewhat conceivable. Especially if you remember that Rank
5 is meant to represent a World Class Attribute, and getting such a roll would require a lot of FOCUS in throwing, little to no BURDEN, a perfect roll, and full activation of a +5 DRIVE. Sports
legendry in the making.
As you read the table, keep in mind the following rules.
The game will assume the following:
Rank 0:
Average human capability or measurement. As a result on the dice, it represents
a casual effort for a normal human.
Rank 3: The
highest an average human can roll on a Mundane Reality Level (d4s) Test without
an activated DRIVE (which can add up to +5 to your Attribute Rank)
Rank 5: The
realistic human maximum Attribute Rank. This is an optional cap to Attributes
for humans.
Rank 8: The
maximum that an average human can roll with d4s and an activated DRIVE of 5, or
the highest value that a human with maximum Attributes without DRIVE can roll.
Rank 13: The
highest amount that a human with maximum Attributes can roll with an activated
DRIVE of 5.
Table 1: Tribute Benchmarks
Rank
|
# of Men
|
Mass
|
Mass Example
|
Distance
|
Time
|
Volume
|
Language
|
Data
|
-10
|
1/10
|
1.25 kg
|
.05 m
|
.1 sec
|
.2 m3
|
1 letter
|
1 bytes
|
|
-9
|
1/8
|
1.5 kg
|
.06 m
|
.125 sec
|
.25 m3
|
1.25 letters
|
1.25 bytes
|
|
-8
|
1/6
|
2 kg
|
.08 m
|
.15 sec
|
.3 m3
|
1.5 letters
|
1.5 bytes
|
|
-7
|
1/5
|
2.5 kg
|
.1 m
|
.2 sec
|
.4 m3
|
2 letters
|
2 bytes
|
|
-6
|
1/4
|
3 kg
|
.125 m
|
.25 sec
|
.5 m3
|
2.5 letters
|
2.5 bytes
|
|
-5
|
1/3
|
4 kg
|
Human Head
|
.15 m
|
.3 sec
|
.6 m3
|
3 letters
|
3 bytes
|
-4
|
2/5
|
5 kg
|
.2 m
|
.4 sec
|
.8 m3
|
4 letters
|
4 bytes
|
|
-3
|
1/2
|
6 kg
|
.25 m
|
.5 sec
|
1 m3
|
5 letters
|
5 bytes
|
|
-2
|
6/10
|
8 kg
|
Koala
|
.3 m
|
.6 sec
|
1.25 m3
|
6 letters
|
6 bytes
|
-1
|
8/10
|
10 kg
|
Farm Sack of Potatoes
|
.4 m
|
.8 sec
|
1.5 m3
|
8 letters
|
8 Bytes
|
0
|
1
|
12.5 kg
|
Cooking gas cylinder
|
.5 m
|
1 sec
|
2 m3
|
1 word
|
10 bytes
|
1
|
1 1/4
|
15 kg
|
Stowable Travel suitcase
|
.6 m
|
1.25 sec
|
2.5 m3
|
1 1/4 words
|
12.5 bytes
|
2
|
1 1/2
|
20 kg
|
Suit of plate armor
|
.8 m
|
1.5 sec
|
3 m3
|
1 1/2 words
|
15 bytes
|
3
|
2
|
25 kg
|
Industrial bag of laundry
|
1 m
|
2 sec
|
4 m3
|
2 words
|
20 bytes
|
4
|
2 1/2
|
30 kg
|
9 -year-old child
|
1.25 m
|
2.5 sec
|
5 m3
|
2 and 1/2 words
|
25 bytes
|
5
|
3
|
40 kg
|
Medium ship's anchor
|
1.5 m
|
3 sec
|
6 m3
|
3 words
|
30 bytes
|
6
|
4
|
50 kg
|
Small Adult Sheep
|
2 m
|
4 sec
|
8 m3
|
4 words
|
40 bytes
|
7
|
5
|
60 kg
|
2.5 m
|
5 sec
|
10 m3
|
5 words
|
50 bytes
|
|
8
|
6
|
80 kg
|
Human Adult
|
3 m
|
6 sec
|
12 1/2 m3
|
6 words
|
60 bytes
|
9
|
8
|
100 kg
|
4 m
|
8 sec
|
15 m3
|
8 words
|
80 bytes
|
|
10
|
10
|
125 kg
|
5 m
|
10 sec
|
20 m3
|
10 words
|
100 bytes
|
|
11
|
12 1/2
|
150 kg
|
6 m
|
12.5 sec
|
25 m3
|
12 1/2 words
|
125 bytes
|
|
12
|
15
|
200 kg
|
8 m
|
15 sec
|
30 m3
|
15 words
|
150 bytes
|
|
13
|
20
|
250 kg
|
10 m
|
20 sec
|
40 m3
|
20 words
|
200 bytes
|
|
14
|
25
|
300 kg
|
Big Male Lion
|
12.5 m
|
25 sec
|
50 m3
|
25 words
|
250 bytes
|
15
|
30
|
400 kg
|
15 m
|
30 sec
|
60 m3
|
30 words
|
300 bytes
|
|
16
|
40
|
500 kg
|
Cessna 150, horse
|
20 m
|
40 sec
|
80 m3
|
40 words
|
400 bytes
|
17
|
50
|
600kg
|
25 m
|
50 sec
|
100 m3
|
50 words
|
500 bytes
|
|
18
|
60
|
800 kg
|
30 m
|
1 min
|
125 m3
|
60 words
|
600 bytes
|
|
19
|
80
|
1 t
|
40 m
|
1.25 min
|
150 m3
|
80 words
|
800 bytes
|
|
20
|
100
|
1.25 t
|
50 m
|
1.5 min
|
200 m3
|
100 words
|
1 KB
|
|
21
|
125
|
1.5 t
|
Sedan Car
|
60 m
|
2 min
|
250 m3
|
125 words
|
1.25 KB
|
22
|
150
|
2 t
|
Light Truck
|
80 m
|
2.5 min
|
300 m3
|
150 words
|
1.5 KB
|
23
|
200
|
2.5 t
|
100 m
|
3 min
|
400 m3
|
200 words
|
2 KB
|
|
24
|
250
|
3 t
|
125 m
|
4 min
|
500 m3
|
250 words
|
2.5 KB
|
|
25
|
300
|
4 t
|
150 m
|
5 min
|
600 m3
|
300 words
|
3 KB
|
|
26
|
400
|
5 t
|
200 m
|
6 min
|
800 m3
|
400 words
|
4 KB
|
|
27
|
500
|
6 t
|
250 m
|
8 min
|
1 km3
|
500 words
|
5 KB
|
|
28
|
600
|
8 t
|
300 m
|
10 min
|
1.25 km3
|
600 words
|
6 KB
|
|
29
|
800
|
10 t
|
400 m
|
12 1/2 min
|
1.5 km3
|
800 words
|
8 KB
|
|
30
|
1,000
|
12.5 t
|
500 m
|
15 min
|
2 km3
|
1,000 words
|
10 KB
|
|
31
|
1,250
|
15 t
|
600 m
|
20 min
|
2.5 km3
|
1,250 words
|
12.5 KB
|
|
32
|
1,500
|
20 t
|
800 m
|
25 min
|
3 km3
|
1,500 words
|
15 KB
|
|
33
|
2,000
|
25 t
|
1 km
|
30 min
|
4 km3
|
2,000 words
|
20 KB
|
|
34
|
2,500
|
30 t
|
1.25 km
|
40 min
|
5 km3
|
2,500 words
|
25 KB
|
|
35
|
3,000
|
40 t
|
1.5 km
|
50 min
|
6 km3
|
3,000 words
|
30 KB
|
|
36
|
4,000
|
50 t
|
2 km
|
1 hour
|
8 km3
|
4,000 words
|
40 KB
|
|
37
|
5,000
|
60 t
|
2.5 km
|
1 1/4 hours
|
10 km3
|
5,000 words
|
50 KB
|
|
38
|
6,000
|
80 t
|
3 km
|
1 1/2 hours
|
12 1/2 km3
|
6,000 words
|
60 KB
|
|
39
|
8,000
|
100 t
|
Blue Whale
|
4 km
|
2 hours
|
15 km3
|
8,000 words
|
80 KB
|
40
|
10,000
|
125 t
|
5 km
|
2 1/2 hours
|
20 km3
|
10,000 words
|
100 KB
|
|
41
|
12,500
|
150 t
|
Spruce Goose (Plane)
|
6 km
|
3 hours
|
25 km3
|
12,500 words
|
125 KB
|
42
|
15,000
|
200 t
|
Statue of Liberty
|
8 km
|
4 hours
|
30 km3
|
15,000 words
|
150 KB
|
43
|
20,000
|
250 t
|
10 km
|
5 hours
|
40 km3
|
20,000 words
|
200 KB
|
|
44
|
25,000
|
300 t
|
12.5 km
|
6 hours
|
50 km3
|
25,000 words
|
250 KB
|
|
45
|
30,000
|
400 t
|
15 km
|
8 hours
|
60 km3
|
30,000 words
|
300 KB
|
|
46
|
40,000
|
500 t
|
20 km
|
10 hours
|
80 km3
|
40,000 words
|
400 KB
|
|
47
|
50,000
|
600 t
|
25 km
|
12.5 hours
|
100 km3
|
50,000 words
|
500 KB
|
|
48
|
60,000
|
800 t
|
30 km
|
15 hours
|
125 km3
|
60,000 words
|
600 KB
|
|
49
|
80,000
|
1,000 t
|
40 km
|
20 hours
|
150 km3
|
80,0000 words
|
800 KB
|
|
50
|
100,000
|
1,200 t
|
50 km
|
1 Day
|
200 km3
|
100,000 words
|
1 MB
|
|
51
|
125,000
|
1,500 t
|
60 km
|
1.25 days
|
250 km3
|
125,000 words
|
1.25 MB
|
|
52
|
150,000
|
2,000 t
|
80 km
|
1.5 days
|
300 km3
|
150,000 words
|
1.5 MB
|
|
53
|
200,000
|
2,500 t
|
100 km
|
2 days
|
400 km3
|
200,000 words
|
2 MB
|
|
54
|
250,000
|
3,000 t
|
125 km
|
2.5 days
|
500 km3
|
250,000 words
|
2.5 MB
|
|
55
|
300,000
|
4,000 t
|
150 km
|
3 days
|
600 km3
|
300,000 words
|
3 MB
|
|
56
|
400,000
|
5,000 t
|
200 km
|
4 days
|
800 km3
|
400,000 words
|
4 MB
|
|
57
|
500,000
|
6,000 t
|
250 km
|
5 days
|
1,000 km3
|
500,000 words
|
5 MB
|
|
58
|
600,000
|
8,000 t
|
300 km
|
6 days
|
1,250 km3
|
600,000 words
|
6 MB
|
|
59
|
800,000
|
10,000 t
|
Eiffel Tower
|
400 km
|
8 days
|
1,500 km3
|
800,000 words
|
8 MB
|
60
|
1,000,000
|
12,500 t
|
500 km
|
10 days
|
2,000 km3
|
1,000,000 words
|
10 MB
|
|
61
|
1,250,000
|
15,000 t
|
600 km
|
12.5 days
|
2,500 km3
|
1,250,000 words
|
12.5 MB
|
|
62
|
1,500,000
|
20,000 t
|
800 km
|
15 days
|
3,000 km3
|
1,500,000 words
|
15 MB
|
|
63
|
2,000,000
|
30,000 t
|
1,000 km
|
20 days
|
4,000 km3
|
2,000,000 words
|
20 MB
|
|
64
|
2,500,000
|
40,000 t
|
1,250 km
|
1 month
|
5,000 km3
|
2,500,000 words
|
25 MB
|
|
65
|
3,000,000
|
50,000 t
|
1,500 km
|
1.5 months
|
6,000 km3
|
3,000,000 words
|
30 MB
|
|
66
|
4,000,000
|
60,000 t
|
2,000 km
|
2 Months
|
8,000 km3
|
4,000,000 words
|
40 MB
|
|
67
|
5,000,000
|
80,000 t
|
2,500 km
|
2.5 months
|
10,000 km3
|
5,000,000 words
|
50 MB
|
|
68
|
6,000,000
|
100,000 t
|
Nimitz Aircraft Carrier
|
3,000 km
|
3 months
|
12,500 km3
|
6,000,000 words
|
60 MB
|
69
|
8,000,000
|
125,000 t
|
4,000 km
|
4 months
|
15,000 km3
|
8,000,000 words
|
80 MB
|
|
70
|
10,000,000
|
150,000 t
|
5,000 km
|
5 months
|
20,000 km3
|
10,000,000 words
|
100 MB
|
|
71
|
12,500,000
|
200,000 t
|
6,000 km
|
6 months
|
25,000 km3
|
12,500,000 words
|
125 MB
|
|
72
|
15,000,000
|
250,000 t
|
8,000 km
|
8 months
|
30,000 km3
|
15,000,000 words
|
150 MB
|
|
73
|
20,000,000
|
300,000 t
|
10,000 km
|
10 months
|
40,000 km3
|
20,000,000 words
|
200 MB
|
|
74
|
25,000,000
|
400,000 t
|
12,500 km
|
1 year
|
50,000 km3
|
25,000,000 words
|
250 MB
|
|
75
|
30,000,000
|
500,000 t
|
15,000 km
|
1.25 year
|
60,000 km3
|
30,000,000 words
|
300 MB
|
|
76
|
40,000,000
|
600,000 t
|
20,000 km
|
1.5 years
|
80,000 km3
|
40,000,000 words
|
400 MB
|
|
77
|
50,000,000
|
800,000 t
|
25,000 km
|
2 years
|
100,000 km3
|
50,000,000 words
|
500 MB
|
|
78
|
60,000,000
|
1,000,000 t
|
30,000 km
|
2.5 years
|
125,000 km3
|
60,000,000 words
|
600 MB
|
|
79
|
80,000,000
|
1,250,000 t
|
40,000 km
|
3 years
|
150,000 km3
|
80,000,000 words
|
800 MB
|
|
80
|
100,000,000
|
1,500,000 t
|
50,000 km
|
4 years
|
200,000 km3
|
100,000,000 words
|
1 GB
|
|
81
|
125,000,000
|
2,000,000 t
|
60,000 km
|
5 years
|
250,000 km3
|
125,000,000 words
|
1.25 GB
|
|
82
|
150,000,000
|
2,500,000 t
|
80,000 km
|
6 years
|
300,000 km3
|
150,000,000 words
|
1.5 GB
|
|
83
|
200,000,000
|
3,000,000 t
|
100,000 km
|
8 years
|
400,000 km3
|
200,000,000 words
|
2 GB
|
|
84
|
250,000,000
|
4,000,000 t
|
125,000 km
|
10 years
|
500,000 km3
|
250,000,000 words
|
2.5 GB
|
|
85
|
300,000,000
|
5,000,000 t
|
150,000 km
|
12.5 years
|
600,000 km3
|
300,000,000 words
|
3 GB
|
|
86
|
400,000,000
|
6,000,000 t
|
200,000 km
|
15 years
|
800,000 km3
|
400,000,000 words
|
4 GB
|
|
87
|
500,000,000
|
8,000,000 t
|
250,000 km
|
20 years
|
1,000,000 km3
|
500,000,000 words
|
5 GB
|
|
88
|
600,000,000
|
10,000,000 t
|
300,000 km (1 light-second)
|
25 years
|
1,250,000 km3
|
600,000,000 words
|
6 GB
|
|
89
|
800,000,000
|
12,500,000 t
|
400,000 km
(1.25 light-seconds)
|
30 years
|
1,500,000 km3
|
800,000,000 words
|
8 GB
|
|
90
|
1,000,000,000
|
15,000,000 t
|
500,000 km (1.5 light-seconds)
|
40 years
|
2,000,000 km3
|
1,000,000,000 words
|
10 GB
|
|
91
|
1,250,000,000
|
20,000,000 t
|
600,000 km (2 light-seconds)
|
50 years
|
2,500,000 km3
|
1,250,000,000 words
|
12.5 GB
|
|
92
|
1,500,000,000
|
25,000,000 t
|
800,000 km (2.5 light-seconds)
|
60 years
|
3,000,000 km3
|
1,500,000,000 words
|
15 GB
|
|
93
|
2,000,000,000
|
30,000,000 t
|
1,000,000 km (3 light-seconds)
|
80 years
|
4,000,000 km3
|
2,000,000,000 words
|
20 GB
|
|
94
|
2,500,000,000
|
40,000,000 t
|
1,250,000 km (4 light-seconds)
|
100 years
|
5,000,000 km3
|
2,500,000,000 words
|
25 GB
|
|
95
|
3,000,000,000
|
50,000,000 t
|
1,500,000 km (5 light-seconds)
|
125 years
|
6,000,000 km3
|
3,000,000,000 words
|
30 GB
|
|
96
|
4,000,000,000
|
60,000,000 t
|
2,000,000 km (6 light-seconds)
|
150 years
|
8,000,000 km3
|
4,000,000,000 words
|
40 GB
|
|
97
|
5,000,000,000
|
1,000,000,000 t
|
2,500,000 km (8 light-seconds)
|
200 years
|
10,000,000 km3
|
5,000,000,000 words
|
50 GB
|
|
98
|
6,000,000,000
|
1,250,000,000 t
|
3,000,000 km (10 light-seconds)
|
250 years
|
12,500,000 km3
|
6,000,000,000 words
|
60 GB
|
|
99
|
8,000,000,000
|
1,500,000,000 t
|
4,000,000 km (12.5 light-seconds)
|
300 years
|
15,000,000 km3
|
8,000,000,000 words
|
80 GB
|
|
100
|
10,000,000,000
|
2,000,000,000 t
|
5,000,000 km (15 light-seconds)
|
400 years
|
20,000,000 km3
|
10,000,000,000 words
|
100 GB
|
The Volume column is in red because I'm not sure about
which value should line up with 0. I chose 2 m3 because it's a rough
estimation of a human body occupying space on a battlemat.
Benchmarking things on your own
Benchmarking is straightforward. You can take a statement
like "He has the strength of 10 Men" and find its Rank on the table.
Of course, you can use numerical values if they line up to what the table
measures.
Google Search has a feature wherein you can type something like
"34 lbs. in kg" and it will calculate the result for you. That has
proven very useful.
If you want to create a new column on the table, start with a fact that has a number attached to it like "The average person can...". Decide whether this fact refers to an average person's casual effort (Rank 0), Decent Effort (Rank 3), Extreme Effort (Rank 8) or somewhere in between. Place the rating provided in that space, and calculate the other values based on it, using the Number of Men progression. It's best to round the value you're placing to the nearest Number of Men value for consistency.
Going off the Scale
Say your character wants to throw the Earth at the Moon.
What would she need to roll?
Look up the mass of the object. Google says that Earth's
mass is 6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 metric tons.
- Find the largest Rank that is close to the first few digits. In this case, it's Rank 98.
- Count the zeros in the nearest Rank on the table. Mass for Rank 98 has 9 zeros.
- Count the zeros in the value of the object's mass. There are 21 zeros in the Earth's mass.
- Subtract 9 from 21 to find how many more zeros the Earth's mass has. The result is 12.
- Multiply your Result (12) by 10 to find out how much higher than 98 the Earth's Mass Rank is. It's 120 higher than 98.
- Add 120 to 98 to find the roll you'd need to achieve to move the Earth half a meter per second (rank 0). The Rank for this is 218.
- Throwing it all the way to the Moon is another matter. The Moon's distance on average is about Rank 89 (384403 km). You'd need to roll 89 points higher on the roll (Rank 307) to throw the Earth to the Moon within the space of a second.
Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or ideas for benchmarks that I should add to the table, feel free to leave them in the comments.
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