I first ran into using the dice this way when the Legendary Edition came out in 2008(?).  I thought everyone else copied it.  It was only later that I found out that there were games that used advantage/disadvantage dice prior to that.

I can't say that I've had an epiphany like yours but I often compare other games to BoL and wonder why they don't do it the same as BoL because it works so well.

SimonW wrote:

Yes. I'm going to publish it. Just sourcing some artwork and laying it out. It's changed a lot along the way. More playtesting tonight, so hopefully it'll stand up to scrutiny now. If you want to see the draft (not for distribution, obviously), PM me with your email.

Thanks for the reply.  I'm looking forward to this.

Gundarr_the_Great wrote:

I love reading about the creativity of the characters that people make!  I am especially fascinated by how people create such original ideas instead of the same standard ones.  Love the name as well, Zoltan Zo!

Thanks for sharing!

There's just something about BoL's character creation system that sparks my imagination.  Another reason it's my favorite game.

A couple more, removed from the Lemurian setting.

BoL Egyptian Style 

Some Bad Fiction and a Couple of Characters      

The tavern was dim, the shuttered windows keeping most of the fierce midday sun at bay.  Intef took a sip from his beer-straw and looked across the low table at his companion.  “Do not become a soldier, my young brother.  It is a miserable life.  In the summer you boil, never seeming to cool.  In the winter you freeze.  You march all day and sleep on the rocky ground at night.  The food isterrible, when there is food.  Do you know that when it is cold enough, water turns solid?”
      “I have heard of that.  I thought it was but a traveler’s tale related to impress the gullible,” replied Djehuti.  “But I want to travel.  I want to see the world as you have.”
“The only part of the world I have seen is the desert outpost I am posted," said Intef.  “Miles away from anywhere, surrounded by sand and scorpions and asps.  Once in a great while the sand people stage a raid.  That is all that breaks the monotony.  Then it is blood and fear and the smell of death.  No.  You will continue your studies as a scribe.  I am now Greatest of 50.  The outpost commander cannot remember a soldier so valiant or a one so quickly promoted to Line Leader, then Standard Bearer then to Greatest of 50.  By Montu, I will soon be the Commander of 250!  Then higher.  Even a Division Commander!”
      “But...”
      “No!  I cannot be a scribe.  I could never hold the symbols in my mind.  You must do it.  Then you will work in luxury for a high official or a noble.  If you apply yourself you may even become a scribe in the royal household.  Then, with me holding high rank in the military and you holding high position as a scribe, we can can forget the wretched mud-brick hovel we grew up in and lift ourself to a higher station.  No more rooting in the mud as farmers and laborers.”
Djehu

I often start with a concept, also.  And then build the character to my vision, fleshing out a story from their careers.