Abilities of characters that typically, but not always, apply to a wider setting than simply combat.
3
votes
1answer
63 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
52 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?
8
votes
1answer
91 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?
2
votes
2answers
137 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
98 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
1answer
95 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
114 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
166 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
389 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
104 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
149 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
101 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
185 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 ...
19
votes
9answers
593 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 ...
10
votes
5answers
317 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
52 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
3answers
253 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
204 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
511 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
257 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
3answers
317 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
140 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?
4
votes
6answers
211 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
83 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
314 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
140 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
151 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
164 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
111 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
137 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
118 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
291 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
129 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 ...
10
votes
5answers
188 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 ...
2
votes
5answers
329 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
828 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
249 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. ...
4
votes
1answer
289 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
466 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 ...
11
votes
5answers
294 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
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.
4
votes
3answers
398 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 ...
6
votes
5answers
336 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
335 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
502 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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
170 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
121 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, ...
