Abilities of characters that typically, but not always, apply to a wider setting than simply combat.
3
votes
1answer
58 views
Converting Command skill from Rogue Trader to Fate Core
My group worked hard to get through the first two ranks in our Rogue Trader campaign, but we keep finding new flaws in the d100 system used by FFG. Finally we've decided to try out more likeable (and ...
6
votes
2answers
73 views
Is making a skill check in place of another check still considered the original skill?
I have an ability that allows me to make a "Use the Force" check in place of a "Stealth" check for the purposes of avoiding detection.
Is it still considered a "stealth check" and i am just using my ...
7
votes
4answers
141 views
What systems do use-based skill upgrades well? [closed]
By "use-based skill upgrades," I mean skills are increased as they're used. At some point, everyone questions the sense in killing just enough Orcs that you get better at sneaking. This sort of ...
3
votes
1answer
149 views
What is the difference between Skill Challenges and Skill Checks?
I was reading the DMG (p 72 to be specific), and I noticed that "haggling with a merchant" is just a simple Diplomacy check and not a complete skill challenge. How does a "skill check" differ from a ...
11
votes
6answers
208 views
Should Merits be given as rewards when the accomplishments match?
As a storyteller, are merits acquired only through experience after character creation, or do you reward your players with them for accomplishing their goals? Suppose a situation like the following ...
9
votes
1answer
121 views
Where are a monster's skills?
If you grab a goblin for example, and the goblin test to escape it says to have it make an acrobatics or athletics check but I can't seem to find where it says there skills? Any help?
10
votes
5answers
338 views
Aced d4s vs skill development in Savage Worlds
Is there errata covering aced rolls when skills are at low levels vs higher?
I've heard of players staying at rudimentary skill in order to reward themselves with aced rolls more frequently than ...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
Is gaining Fly as a class skill with the Feather Subdomain supposed to replace gaining Knowledge (Nature) with the Animal Domain?
I'm creating a cleric of Erastil and I'm thinking about choosing the Good domain and Feather subdomain. Should the Fly skill be the only class skill gained or is it supposed to supplement the ...
2
votes
2answers
159 views
Healing Kits in combat
2 players are in combat, with no healing abilities except for 1 player has the Healing skill and also has a Healing Kit +1.
Can he use that kit in combat to heal his friend that is low on health or ...
0
votes
1answer
65 views
How do passive skills work? [duplicate]
How does passive insight/perception skills work? I've read about it and asked people but I keep getting different answers. Any help?
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Is automatic success guaranteed when Aiding Another with a high skill?
In my campaign, we've used the old mechanics for Aid Another up until now: roll 10 or more to assist with a +2, if you roll under you simple fail to assist.
I recently became aware of the errataed Aid ...
8
votes
1answer
104 views
Can you take 10 on Aid Another?
I've only seen the "take 10" specifically disabled for ritual checks (PH1, p. 300).
Are they allowed for Aid Another?
3
votes
2answers
162 views
Can I default to Swimming?
I've been told that in Shadowrun 2e, there was a tree of skills that connected to every other skill (with varying degrees of distance), and in order to default you would take a die penalty to move ...
7
votes
2answers
125 views
Do shield and armor check modifiers stack?
If I wear Hide armor (Check -1) and use a Heavy Shield (Check -2) is my check -2 or -3?
In other words, do the checks stack or do I use the highest negative?
8
votes
2answers
173 views
Can circumstances change a skill's key ability score?
Can you use a different key ability for a skill check when it would make more sense for the situation? I think that I've read of this being done. I know there are feats and other abilities that let ...
9
votes
3answers
394 views
Can a sleeping character Hide?
Hiding requires an opposed roll.
Can a sleeping character hide at all? If they do so, do they roll Hide when they go to sleep (for hiding their sleeping spot, etc.), or do they make an opposed roll ...
6
votes
4answers
364 views
What is an appropriate list of Medical Investigation Skills for GUMSHOE?
I’m currently working on a one-shot for Gumsheos that will be very medically focused where the characters are quarantined in a medical facility and trying to identify a “super plague” of occult ...
19
votes
9answers
603 views
Dealing with skill rerolls by several players
I could use some advice as a GM on how to handle rolls which get repeated by several players one after the other.
Example 1
The PCs stand in front of a locked door and try to force it open. The ...
5
votes
1answer
109 views
Can Bluff be used to emulate an alignment?
If a character has something like the Touch of Golden Ice feat (Book of Exalted Deeds, pg41) could an evil character use bluff to avoid the ill effects, or is there an item that already does this?
7
votes
2answers
163 views
Failing to use acrobatics to move through threatened squares in Pathfinder
As a rogue I want to start making better use of the Acrobatics skill to move through threatened squares to get better positioning. However, I have been holding back because I am a little unclear on ...
2
votes
1answer
110 views
Pathfinder: Does the +3 Bonus count as ranks in itself, or just a bonus? [duplicate]
I have a simple, yet complicated question regarding skill ranks and the initial trained bonus of +3. My question arose when one of my players stated that he was a Pale Master at level 5 because he had ...
7
votes
2answers
191 views
What skills would a DFRPG PC roll when playing a video game?
In an upcoming session, one of the PCs will be babysitting a pre-teen video gamer. I expect that we'll be modeling a PvP scenario and want to roll some dice; whether as a conflict or a contest I don't ...
7
votes
4answers
383 views
How can I use a Conspiracy X Influence system in GUMSHOE?
One of Conspiracy X's greatest innovations was influence and pulling strings to represent the important and influential “day jobs” players come from. These day jobs range from the FBI, to the DEA, to ...
3
votes
2answers
143 views
Combat - What is the chance of hitting someone on Range? [closed]
I'm designing a game system, and am working on the combat system. I have several questions, and I'm trying to create a system that is as realistic as possible. Sadly I have no experience with guns or ...
21
votes
5answers
402 views
Preventing character skill from impeding player enjoyment
Let's consider a player, whom we shall call Bob. Bob loves exciting gunfights and is a big John Woo fan. So he makes up "Shooty McShootenstein," who is a master with a gun. One thing that Bob is not ...
7
votes
3answers
278 views
Intimidation in D&D 4e - What can it be used for and what are the consequences for doing so?
I'm a Halfling Warlock with a +17 to my rolls in Intimidation. As such I want to be able to make use of this as much as I can. So far I've only really used it to force bloodied targets to surrender. ...
5
votes
1answer
224 views
'From the class skills list below, choose four more trained skills at'
Example (Rogue):
Trained Skills: Stealth and Thievery. From the class skills list below, choose four more trained skills at 1st level.
Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Athletics (Str), Bluff ...
22
votes
3answers
519 views
Why is Survival not a class skill for animals?
Question in title.
Seems odd that an animal isn't naturally inclined to get bonuses to Survival, which typically involves dealing with the wilds and it's associated difficulties (an animal's natural ...
12
votes
2answers
259 views
Inhuman Strength vs. +5 Might
I have been reading Your Story and Our World, trying to figure certain things out. One of the things I am stumped over is how stats work in this system.
I am not sure if this is intentional or not, ...
3
votes
1answer
143 views
Are class skill bonuses per rank or only once?
A skill gets a +3 bonus if it's a class skill. Do you only get the bonus once, or do you get the bonus for every rank put into the skill?
3
votes
3answers
330 views
Is there a way to use Charisma in an intimidate check?
I understand Intimidate using Strength as its skill when done in a manner of just looking scary enough to demoralize your opponent, but is there a way to use Charisma to intimidate with words? Aside ...
4
votes
6answers
215 views
What skill should PCs use to find information in books in D&D 3.5e?
The PCs don't have much time: they have to find certain mission critical bits of knowledge in a few ancient tomes on magic. It's not a matter of minutes, but they definitely can't read all the books ...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
How do raising skills work in The One Ring?
When the adventuring phase ends, PCs can use their advancement points to raise common skills and experience to raise other stats. I hav several doubts about that:
Is advancement points the only way ...
7
votes
5answers
400 views
Are there rules for skinning animals and making leather armor with the hide?
Recently I was DMing a game, and my players ran into a giant lizard. After they defeated it, they asked if they could skin the lizard and make it into armor. I basically just made it up on the fly; ...
6
votes
1answer
334 views
Pathfinder: Craft as class skill
Suppose I'm playing a character with Craft as a class skill. I put 1 rank in it, select Weaponsmith to fit my background and end up with Craft (Weapons) +4. Now, if I later decide I want to be able to ...
5
votes
2answers
142 views
Is there a distinction between skill and knowledge checks?
On page 26 of the DMG it describes knowledge checks as giving the players particular information, such as a history check to identify a region. But wouldn't a skill check be the same? Or does the ...
4
votes
3answers
154 views
Retrying a failed skill challenge
On page 74 of the
DMG (Step 5: Consequences), it says that if you fail a skill challenge, it can become more difficult, such as detouring you in a different direction. Could you attempt the same ...
5
votes
1answer
166 views
Can you redo a failed skill check?
If I were to fail a dexterity roll to unlock a chest, could I redo it next time? I know that if you fail a skill challenge it is permanent, but are skill checks the same, or can you redo them? If you ...
24
votes
6answers
2k views
How to improve the Diplomacy skill mechanic in D&D 3.Xe and Pathfinder?
In D&D 3rd Edition, 3.5 Edition, and even Pathfinder, it is ridiculously easy as a player to purposely or inadvertently break the skill system, especially with Diplomacy.
For example: A level 5 ...
11
votes
3answers
225 views
Are there maneuver options for non-combat skills?
My GURPS GM complains that the PCs put a point or two in most skills, except for combat skills which get 10-20% of our character points. Aside from the fact that he asks us to make more combat checks ...
10
votes
2answers
126 views
Infiltration trapping in Burglary
I am translating certain portions of the rules of The Dresden Files RPG to my native language (because there is no official translation), and I fail to understand what exactly the Infiltration ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Build advice for Heavens Oracle (Pathfinder)
I'm building a 1st level half-elf oracle, lame curse, heavens mystery for an upcoming game. She will be living in a world where mixed-bloods are subject to negative discrimination. My goal is to use ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
Pickpocketing through powers in GURPS
One of my players was thinking of creating "the best pickpocket evar" in GURPS 4e. Naturally, there will be some skills involved, but he's envisioning crazy stuff, like he's standing 5 feet away and ...
1
vote
1answer
119 views
How does the Ambitious Schemer racial trait for Drow work?
I'm confused here. It is written "You may choose either Bluff or Diplomacy as a class skill, and gain a +2 bonus on such skill checks." So, how it works with regular class skills?
6
votes
1answer
294 views
“If I have 3 or more ranks…” What does that mean?
In some skills, it is written that if you have three or more ranks in the skill, something will happen, such as the Acrobatics skill:
If you have 3 or more ranks in Acrobatics, you gain a +3 dodge ...
2
votes
5answers
336 views
What 3–4 social skills would cover every need?
I'm building a role-playing system and am just thinking about the social skills.
In D20, you have like appraise, barter, intimidate, gather information, and then the really useful diplomacy, bluff ...
3
votes
1answer
133 views
Can a spellcraft check reveal the target of a spell?
You can use spellcraft to identify a spell as it is being cast. But does this check let you know the target of the spell? As an example of when this could matter quite a lot, Dominate allows you to ...
8
votes
4answers
290 views
Will a house-rule for trained skills work?
I've been using a house rule for a while now. If you have a trained skill, and you are making a knowledge check it's free.
For example, if you are trained in nature, and fighting natural beasts; you ...
5
votes
3answers
875 views
How to roll perception checks for characters who aren't actively looking?
This applies to all d20 systems, but with an example from the from the Pathfinder PRD (emphasis mine):
Stonecunning: Dwarves receive a +2 bonus on Perception checks to potentially notice unusual ...
4
votes
3answers
252 views
What use is Skill Beyond Your Years?
In low-level D&D variant E6, you max out at level 6 and only gain feats every 5,000XP thereafter. There is a feat as follows:
Skill Beyond Your Years
Prerequisite: Level 6
Pick a skill. ...
