Abilities of characters that typically, but not always, apply to a wider setting than simply combat.
2
votes
3answers
556 views
Class skill +3, when you have 1 rank in that skill
"If you select a level in a new class, all of its class skills are automatically added to your list of class skills, and you gain a +3 bonus on these skills if you have ranks in them."
I'm confused ...
4
votes
1answer
302 views
How does the +3 for class skills work when multiclassing a new class?
Inspired by this question:
Class skill +3, when you have 1 rank in that skill
OK, I have a fighter with a ranks in (for example) Acrobatics. Then I gain a level and add a Rogue. Now, if I started ...
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 ...
13
votes
4answers
698 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 ...
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 ...
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.
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
428 views
How much should I reveal on a successful creature Knowledge check?
I am a very new GM, with new players as well, and I am wondering how much information on a creature I should reveal if they make a successful nature/arcana/religion/whatever check. My players want to ...
8
votes
2answers
352 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
172 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
531 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
127 views
Helping and FoRKs on a beginner's luck test
Which of the following scenarios are possible (under suitable fictional circumstances, of course)?
Rolling a skill with beginner's luck, helping with a skill
Rolling a skill with beginner's luck, ...
6
votes
3answers
605 views
Does a monster knowledge check allow the character to learn everything about a monster's powers?
A monster knowledge check, if successful grants:
The character identifies the monster and knows its origin, type, typical temperament, and keywords.
If the character meets of exceeds the hard ...
20
votes
6answers
667 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
226 views
If I train a skill via a feat, do I get to retrain that skill?
If I have previously trained Perception in Star wars Saga Edition, and I later buy Force Perception (Train Perception, and roll UtF for it instead) can I retrain the skill training lost? The ...
14
votes
4answers
995 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 ...
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
689 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 ...
8
votes
4answers
544 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 ...
9
votes
1answer
230 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
125 views
Can I Rope Check After Tripping?
I can't find anywhere stating when I can use my rope skill to tie someone up.
I know it's obvious that if they're incapacitated I should question this but I'm wondering if, after I trip them and ...
10
votes
4answers
194 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 ...
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 ...
7
votes
3answers
418 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
217 views
What is the penalty for stealthing at normal speed?
In both Pathfinder and D&D 3.5e, the rules for stealthing (Stealth, Hide and Move Silently) state:
When moving at a speed greater than half but less than your normal
speed, you take a –5 ...
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
249 views
Dreyfus model of skill acquisition for skill advencements
Does anyone know of either any systems or have house rules that model skill advancement via the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition?
12
votes
1answer
450 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 ...
8
votes
7answers
498 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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
508 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 ...
4
votes
8answers
387 views
What non-RPG hobbies are complementary to the RPG addiction?
We want to recruit players for our regular table-top group, and have been debating where to look, to find non-players who would most likely be interested in playing and enjoy the experience.
Going ...
11
votes
2answers
409 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, ...
7
votes
5answers
342 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
How can you create a well-rounded four character party that is trained in most skills?
Any D&D 4th Ed. player knows that a well-rounded party needs a controller, a striker, a defender, and a leader.
Most often, I think a character's function and contribution to the party is ...
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 ...
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?
4
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the DC for Crafting an arrow?
In 3.5e D&D, what is the DC for Crafting an arrow or quiver of arrows? The table on p71 of the PHB gives DCs of 5, 10, 15 and 20 for a Very Simple, Typical, High Quality and Complex/Superior Item, ...
3
votes
3answers
188 views
How to represent Tradecraft in GUMSHOE?
How can you represent good tradecraft in GUMSHOE-based games, such as Esoterrorists? That is, the techniques used in espionage, the topics or techniques (dead drops, for example).
3
votes
1answer
143 views
What Investigative Skills for Trail of Cthulhu at time of Sun King?
For a Trail of Cthulhu scenario set during the reign of the Sun King in France (1643 to 1715) what Investigative skills would I keep, remove and add?
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
814 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 ...
