Abilities of characters that typically, but not always, apply to a wider setting than simply combat.
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 ...
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 ...
21
votes
5answers
403 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 ...
20
votes
6answers
665 views
How can I make monster knowledge checks fun?
By now most players know, or should know, that a monster knowledge check can make all the difference when you’re fighting a monster for the very first time. But how can we make them both fun and not ...
19
votes
9answers
604 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 ...
17
votes
9answers
449 views
What game systems determine skill levels only through use?
Is there a table top game similar to the video game Dungeon Siege where you don't really pick a class but what you become depends on what you do? You cast magic your magic skill increases, you beat ...
17
votes
4answers
687 views
How can acrobatics be used to move through an enemy occupied square?
According to the AcrobaticsDDI skill you can use an Acrobatic Stunt to "somersault over an opponent", amongst other things . It gives a base DC of 15, and "the DM sets the DC based on the complexity ...
14
votes
4answers
992 views
When should I allow Intimidate checks to rout enemies in 4e?
I know that in 4th edition, you're allowed to make an Intimidate check against a bloodied enemy to send it running. As far as I've seen in the rules, there doesn't seem to be any real limitation ...
13
votes
4answers
695 views
What kind of rulings predated ability or skill checks in old school D&D?
As I grow more weary of 4E and more nostalgic for my days playing 2E, I'm spending more and more time reading the old rules and the retroclones. I'm having a great time.
One of the things that I ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How does an opposed (stealth) check work?
I was reading the Players Handbook 1 and I don't understand how the opposed check works, especially in context of a stealth check.
13
votes
2answers
7k views
Build Advice For Pathfinder Oracle
I've made an Oracle, 1st level, Mystery of Lore, Haunted Curse, and I took Sidestep Secret as my first revelation. I'm trying to decide if I should focus on melee combat and take relevant feats for ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
Do Class Skill Bonuses Count as Ranks?
In Pathfinder do class skill bonuses count as ranks, especially for the purpose of prestige classing, or are they a generic bonus?
If they are a bonus, how should I adjust the required ranks for ...
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, ...
12
votes
1answer
445 views
Do ranks gained in a class count for purposes of enabling class skill bonus in another class?
In Pathfinder class skills get a +3 bonus, as long as the character has one rank in a skill. Can this effect be activated by taking a rank in a skill while leveling up another class?
For example, a ...
11
votes
5answers
302 views
What skill to use to determine cause of death and analyse wounds?
When running Pathfinder one of the players wanted his character to investigate how a walking corpse had originally died. This obviously calls for some skill check, as the task if far from easy (the ...
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
408 views
What rules govern group skill checks?
A number of published adventures mention rolling a "group stealth check" and other group checks where, theoretically, a proportion of the players try to beat the DC.
Are there formal rules for this, ...
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
5answers
341 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 ...
10
votes
4answers
193 views
Does finding and removing a trap require one or two find/remove traps rolls?
Most of the question's above. I shall be running a campaign tomorrow where thieves and traps may have a higher profile than usual, and it occurred to me to wonder whether the thief skill of ...
10
votes
2answers
523 views
Question regarding spellcraft: Learn a spell
Browsing the PHB, I noticed the 3rd entry of the spellcraft skill's usages:
15 + spell level: Learn a spell from a spellbook or scroll (wizard
only). No retry for that spell until you gain at ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
How many doses of poison does the Craft (alchemy) skill check produce if completed?
I can find no reference in published Pathfinder material to how many doses a completed Craft (alchemy) skill would yield as a result. It seems to me that only 1 dose would be of very limited use ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
How does a DM define a Skill Check value?
When a DM says make a skill check, how do they decide what value they need to beat?
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 ...
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 ...
9
votes
1answer
122 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?
9
votes
1answer
229 views
Can a creature use an Immediate Interrupt (Trigger: Enemy Movement) against his own forced Move Action?
If a creature has an Immediate Interrupt action with a Trigger: Enemy Movement - can the creature use an ability that forcefully pulls the target - then immediately after pulling the target, invoke ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
What classes other than Rogue can initially train in Thievery?
My gaming buddies and I are about to start up a second group to play D&D 4e with, and I'm looking for a class to replace the rogue to freshen things up a little.
The only problem is that Thievery ...
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 ...
8
votes
7answers
495 views
Anyone have write-ups (or alternatives) for “missing” skills in D&D 4E?
I decided that my urban campaign setting for 4E would be better off if characters had some "mundane skills and knowledge."
One solution is adding the Knowledge, Craft, and Profession skills back in ...
8
votes
4answers
540 views
Dark Sun 4E: Is Religion a useless skill?
1. Is Religion a useless skill in 4E Dark Sun?
I know the Divine Power classes are out (aside from house rules) and was thinking that Religion as a knowledge class is of limited or virtually no ...
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
348 views
How to manage character arguments / conflict?
I'm a new DM and have just started a 4e game as Play by Post.
The game has started with one character (Bob) recruiting in a pub and the first response was from another character (Al) wanting to ...
8
votes
1answer
504 views
When are characters restricted from using Untrained Skills in 4e?
There is a large volume of information on using skills in 4e D&D. The basic assumption is that the character using the skill is trained and the rules reflect this.
My question is, what about ...
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?
8
votes
1answer
171 views
Can all skills and feats be used in conjunction with Magic Jar?
The spell Magic Jar allows you to possess a nearby creature. The spell states:
If you are successful, your life force occupies the host body, and the
host's life force is imprisoned in the magic ...
7
votes
2answers
126 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?
7
votes
5answers
404 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; ...
7
votes
2answers
164 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 ...
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
149 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 ...
7
votes
5answers
339 views
Does the DM tell the players when a skill check can be used in a conversation?
Often times in adventures the players can make a skill check during conversation to learn some important information. Does the DM tell the players or otherwise give them a hint that a particular ...
7
votes
2answers
810 views
Putting more focus on knowledge skills
Knowledge skills are the cinderella of the skill set. Nobody really puts grades in Knowledge (local), Knowledge (Nature) or Knowledge (Royalty). If you have a bard in the group, all these knowledge ...
7
votes
3answers
281 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. ...
7
votes
3answers
411 views
Comprehend Languages vs. Linguistics
Given the nature of the spell Comprehend Languages in Pathfinder, is there any particular advantage to taking Linguistics for a character who can cast it? Especially given the chance of severe (or ...
7
votes
6answers
344 views
Are there any systems featuring skill atrophy?
I was thinking the other day about skill atrophy - the opposite of advancement. What I mean precisely is a system that takes a use-it-or-lose-it approach to even maintaining skill proficiency.
I was ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I Intimidate (demoralize foe) as a Move or Swift action?
I would like to make Intimidate a major part of my PC's fighting style. I think it's cool, and themey; I don't like the fact that it takes a Standard action, though. Is there any way to speed it up a ...
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
206 views
Do check bonuses apply to passive checks?
The Warlord Class Feature Canny Leader grants a "+2 bonus to Insight checks and Perception checks" to you and allies within 10 squares.
Does this also apply to checks against Passive Perception and ...
6
votes
5answers
340 views
Skill Proficiency vs. Character Backstory
I have found myself in a position, as a DM, that is causing me some discomfort. What do I do when, in a specific situation, a PC's back-story and skill proficiency do not match? This has occurred to ...
