[Maromar158]

In my preference, they would use something that scales off of GUI or SKI and make the build work as best they could. For example, when I played Uncle Kenn, I used a dancing shiv with ghost/void assassin, because he couldn't be a kensei due to no katanas at the time scaling off of non-strength stats, he's a frail old man, and also because he used a shortsword, which uses piercing strikes instead of slashing. I saw what was available to me and realized what options I could not take, and did what I could. In fact, not only do his stat match his abilities, he also has his abilities match what his IC is- Uncle Kenn uses absolutely no void in his void assassin skills.

The restrictions are good to avoid poor roleplay- having too many in-lore stats can get closer to godmodding, and while your example of having effectively less stats in-lore is not nearly as problematic, it can still be a concern for other examples.

This is a baller adaptation, and I respect the hell out of it. I'm afraid that I still disagree on principle though. I think we're from different camps where the degree of separation between stats and writing is concerned. In your case you didn't do kensei and found something that works. Another person could really be in love with the idea of wielding a katana with that concept and being in the kensei class, but gets gated by numbers. It's a bad feel, and takes more away from the rp experience than it adds for people that don't find numbercrunch to be fun.

As for the restrictions being good to avoid poor roleplay? Yesn't?

Nothing's stopping someone from using the very same restrictions as a means of godmodding (My str is much higher than yours so I crush your windpipe and you can't get around this because your vit and defense are lacking). I'd leave it up to common sense and nuance for players to avoid godmodding instead.

Being able to make things work within your preference is great. Imposing that preference on others isn't so great while things are still a little hazy on the divide between mechanics and rp.

Ultimately, the original concept of the idea probably isn't the way to go. If the trait were to be added in the 'flex' way I mentioned earlier, I don't think it'd be capable of really limiting RP in the way described. If you have low FP and want to RP being high focus, don't take the trait. If you see someone who has the trait, you can choose to RP it or not.

A 'flex' command that displays mechanical stats might be fun. I feel iffy about it but displaying your stats to others instead of having your stats called out for you in ways that may reveal identities or invalidate IC is better.

I can see spats started in looc between someone who refuses to be pinned by someone's mechanical sensing trait because it'll dampen their experience and the mechanical sensor being upset because they feel the same way because they took a trait that they can't apply to everyone. A headache.