Matrixed Attributes

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Matrixed Attributes

Some Role Playing Games (RPGs) used something I like to call Matrixed Attributes (XA¹). This categorizes Player Character (PC) attributes in two dimensions, creating a grid or matrix. One example of this is the 5th edition of World of Darkness (WoD). These dimensions are hidden but are Physical, Social and Mental going one way, and Force, Control and Endure the other. WoD has this matrix structure to its attributes, but only the Physical, Social and Mental dimension are explictly named. I'm going to call that dimension Aspect. The other, I will label Method (Force, Control, Endure).

Aspect - What domain of activity is it?
Method - How is the character trying to affect the narrative?

This is the matrix for WoD 5e:

	Physical	Social	Mental
Force	Strength	Manipulation	Intelligence
Control	Dexterity	Charisma	Wits
Endure	Stamina	Composure	Resolve

For Dungeons and Dragons

Here's the matrix I'd use for D&D and its variants.

	Force d12	Control d10	Endure d8
Body d12	Strength	Dexterity	Constitution
Soul d10	Charisma	Intelligence	Wisdom

In this model, you don't have a flat bonus to add to your d20. Instead, you roll and sum the dice indicated by each dimension. For an effort using Physical/Force, roll 2d12 (Strength). This gives you a range of 2 to 24 and an average of 13. Soul/Endurance (Wisdom) would be d8 + d10 with a range of 2 to 18 and an average of 10. The averages in the strongest and weakest cases are close to what your might get for a character with a +3 and +0 bonus respectively. That's pretty close to what a first level character might have under the d20 + Modifier model.

With this model you can't roll a natural 1 or natural 20. You might make rolling all 1s the new fumble, and critical success could be rolling double the AC/DC. In a game using this, fumbles will be very rare. Feel free to make them particularly vicious.
Some ACs and DCs will be out of reach for some characters some of the time. The example character above can't roll above 18 for "Wisdom". That reinforces that some characters will do better than others at some rolls.
Rolls are going to be closer to average. That might be good for a more grounded, down to earth game.
You can still use the Proficiency Bonus as usual, or you can use the optional Proficiency Die. That would work very well with the idea of a fumble being rolling all 1s.
You'll need more dice to use this, that might be fun though.
Speaking of more dice, grab some of the odd numbered dice so you can cover the gaps between dice. Instead of going from d8 to d10, you can have d9. d9s exist!
I haven't thought of how attribute increases would play into this yet.

¹I'm using X for matrixed in the same way that the word pixel (picture grid element) does. Think X by Y.

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