No bidding, just...
Message:If your stat/trait/ability is higher, you win, period.
I've seen other diceless games that used other methods for randomization and/or bidding, but the Amber diceless game was about the worst implementation possible.
Cutlass - four Traits: Dashing, Cunning, Lordly, Stout, aka Fast, Smart, Charismatic, Strong. Four traits covering mental and physical.
Amber - four Traits: Psyche, Strength, Endurance, Warfare, aka, Magic, Strength, Endurance and "Fighting ability a fugging Skill, not a Trait, Erick." Two physical traits, something about magic and "that's still a skill." One's intellect literally isn't an option, unless one will fold that in with one's Magic use. These are poorly chosen traits... They aren't even well chosen for the specific storyline a PC is forced into.
Most interesting part of the game is character creation because the group builds characters together and bids Character Creation points against one another to drive up the cost of the buy. Otherwise, if my Warfare is higher than your Warfare, I win the knife fight. Period. You don't get a lucky shot in, I don't fumble. I just win... So you better hope your Psyche is higher so you can magic blast me before I stab you.
Amber is, of course, a game of conflict between players. My one session I bid super high on Psyche and Warfare and didn't care about Strength and Endurance. I was highest in my two chosen. Significantly. Then I killed everyone else in one session. Stabby, stabby, magic magic. Your Endurance does (diddly/squat)^2 when the knife fight is a comparison of Warfare. Oh, you two are ganging up on me? My Warfare beats both of yours put together. Screw your Strength, stabby-stabby, I win, you can't stop me, shall we house rules some randomization? The throne is MINE!
Still not sure what an Erick Wujick game is doin' in a Ken Ralston thread... Other than both wrote Paranoia stuff for West End.
Now I feel bad for kicking a dead man.
Yours,
IronMike
09-Sep-2020