Agreed. Ability is much better than perk.

How about Skrep

Do I hear a hint of sarcasm?

Thats OK, us old guys are allowed some of our peculiarities

Storm

i think that ability instead of perk is apropriate

I think Beth made a bad decision by calling them perks, it encourages people to be negative about an otherwise really good system of character building. Basically it's just DND feats, no matter what you call them. This system is a great idea because it adds a lot of flexibility to character building, a lot of replay value and it is a brilliant way to make leveling up feel much more rewarding.

I'm not a big fan of the "talents" term either because it is both reminiscent of other games and, more importantly, because talents imply an innate ability, not something you gain through training.

"Feats" would be ok because the majority of players weren't around when DND based RPGs were all the rage, but I would definitely prefer a new term (expertise is a good suggestion).

Storm:
Perhaps a poll would be fitting here? With a few popular options like ability and whatever else mentioned here.

What about Trait? Or Characteristics, but Characteristics is a little long.

How about a Strain? Or simply, a Quality.

Property?

Agree, I am hoping that the term perk is merely the description du jour, and they will have a better (in my opinion) term upon release.

Storm

This.

Feats is the classic D&D term that http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/feats.htm what the perks are probably going to look like.

To be honest, I am not sure I know how to do a poll. Will look into it

Storm

Because it hurts our feeling... :sadvaultboy:

To the role-playing connoisseur the term perk is mainly used to describe less important, useless and often double edged abilities that just give more character to your character.

In Skyrim I get the impression that the new system is centered around "perks" since you get one every level.
Perks aren't perks when the game revolves around them. Then they're abilities.

Might I suggest Strong-suit or Forte? :tops:

I prefer the term perk its nice and short and just nifty.

Well said obxure -- this is what I have been trying to say.

Thanks for your better explanation

Storm

You go to your topic-post #1, then edit, then manage topic poll, then ask a question and add options.

I actually like the semblance to Fallout. I enjoy TES so much that it gives me hope that I might, someday, enjoy playing a game where I am living in a post-apocalyptic nightmare.

Since I created a poll http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1166470-a-better-descriptor-for-the-term-perk/

Mod, feel free to close this topic in preference to the poll.

Thanks
Storm

Lets not find another word to describe perks. There is no point. Thats what they are and its not a problem.

The additional bonuses you unlocked for reaching a particular level internal to a skill have always been called "perks." In fact, reference The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Official Game Manual (the one that came with the game for both XBox 360 and PC... yes, I have both...), listed in the Table of Contents under the entry for Page 20:



Upon turning to Page 20 we find:



That, my friends, is verbatim. Does anyone actually read the manuals before they play a game. At any rate, it would seem that calling them perks actually reminds you of a feature that migrated from TES to FO. Not vice versa. All names and such aside, does it actually matter what you call them? Does it change how the game plays? Does our whining about it make anyone here honestly believe that it will be changed? I think not.

Perks have been a staple in Fallout since its inception. To claim they originated in TES is ludicrous.

Feats seems to fit- same as perks but it does have a nice "olde school" ring to it. Think it would work good in Skyrim

Well since Fallout 3 was basically Oblivion with guns anyway...

My claim is not that they originate in TES, but that it is a term which was ALSO present in the series prior to Bethesda's involvement with FO. Being as that the games of FO to which most people are inferring the similarity are also those games which gamesas handled, then you catch my meaning. My point, albeit quite understated, is that perks were present in TES it was just that they weren't so obvious. Just because Todd Howard has used the word a few times in interviews doesn't actually change much of anything. Additionally, using the word ludicrous in that context is a bit in extemis. <--Irony.

Somebody got the thesaurus working.

Perks sounds trivial, unimportant. I like boobs, could they call them boobs? Even bewbs. I would always be looking forward to boobs.