Monday, January 12, 2015

Skills in My Current Campaign

Here are the skills as they are in my current campaign. It isn't very cumbersome and maybe 7 or 8 rolls were made the entire first session among four players with description being adequate to resolve most action. Rolls are necessary when a situation is pivotal or resources are at risk.

Skills
Adventuring will make use of common tasks that are going to be classified as skills. Each character will have 4 skill points to divide among skills as they wish.  Thieves will get 2 bonus skill points per level (including 1st level) while Fighters and Magic users will gain 1 skill point ever even level after 1st.
Skill
Human
Brownie
Ability
Alchemy
T-M
T-M
INT
Awareness
0
+1
WIS
Bushcraft
0
0
WIS
Calligraphy
T-M
T-M
DEX or INT
Craft*
0
+1
DEX or WIS
Climbing
0
0
DEX
Construction
0
0
INT
Healing
0
0
WIS
Language
0
0
INT
Piety
0
0
WIS
Riding
0
T-F
DEX
Runes
T-M
T-All
INT
Searching
0
0
INT
Sleight of Hand
0
0
DEX
Stealth
0
+1
DEX
Swimming
T-all
T-all
STR
Tinkering
T-T
T-all
DEX
Weapon Mastery
T-F/T
T-F
N/A


T-all, only possible if trained, any class may train.
T-T- only possible if trained, only thieves can be trained at initial character creation
T-F- only possible if trained, only Fighters can be trained at initial character creation
T-M- only possible if trained, only Magic-Users can be trained at initial character creation
A rank of 0 indicates training in the skill is possible and anyone may attempt the skill even if they have no ranks allotted.
+1 indicates a bonus to rolls but not a free rank.

Training requires at least 2 weeks per skill rank be spent and may have additional cost in materials or to hire a master (someone with 5 or 6 ranks in the skill). Self study is possible after 4 ranks are gained at a cost of 100 groats per ran begin trained for per week. Successful training requires a training task resolution roll of 6 or better at the end of each week.

Alchemy- the art of brewing potions and other magical substances. The basics are explained in task resolution example above. 5 craft points are required per potion rank to successfully brew a potion. While some magical substances may be mixed in play most have time demands that only make it possible during downtime between sessions.
An alchemy skill roll allows anyone to identify a potion. Only a magic-user may make truly magical potions.

Awareness- how perceptive a character is, this may be used to avoid ambush or thwart stealthy advance. Also used when listening at doors.

Bushcraft- knowledge of a host of smaller tasks in the wild including hunting, tracking, and foraging (among others).

Calligraphy- ability to properly take pen to hand an duplicate and create written works. Required to write scrolls and of advantage when brewing inks (adds to Alchemy skill when brewing an ink). Characters will learn one script per rank in calligraphy and is only able to read scripts known.

Craft- ability to work with tools and supplies in a variety of crafts. Players will be assumed to be familiar with the most basic of handy-crafts but should not particular skills with each rank devoted to this (wood working, pottery, smithing, etc)

Climbing- ability to make difficult climbs in a variety of conditions. The normal rate of movement while climbing is 1/4th normal movement. Some climbs may only be possible with tools.

Construction- knowledge of building methods and materials. May be of benefit while searching for unusual features in constructed environments.

Healing- allows a character to attempt surgery and to apply medicines and antidotes.

Language- general knowledge of common and exotic languages. Humans start knowing the common language. Brownies begin with Common and Low Fairy.
When meeting folk speaking a new language a skill roll to understand what is begin spoken may be made on an Extremely Favorable roll add the language to languages known. Speaking a language does not grant the ability to read the language without knowledge of the script begin used.
Characters with multiple ranks in language may also have the gift for gab and may distract or confuse by blathering.

Piety- a characters knowledge of religious procedures and practices. Ranks in this skill are also applied when attempting to turn away the undead.

Riding- ability to ride well. Riding ranks also allow one to add 1d6 per rank to damage on a mounted charge (hit roll required and a successful task roll may be required as well)

Runes- knowledge of magical runes.
Fighters may only use the runes skill to identify runes and lay down wards known to them.
Thieves and magic users may use the runes skill to read a scroll and lay down wards known to them.
Magic-Users may also use the Runes skill to identify magical items and  determine attunenment required to master an item in addition to the abilities noted above. Successful training and a task roll for runes will allow a character of any class to learn how to fashion a ward if instructed by a written work or master of runes. Players do not begin play with knowledge of wards.

Searching- the ability to find the hidden/secreted objects and doors. Description on part of a player may still be required to complete successful searches.

Sleight of Hand- ability to make quick and unnoticed maneuvers allowing one to filtch small items, draw small weapons in an instant, to pick pockets or remove worn jewelry (sentient beings ay be allowed a Awareness roll to note someone stealing from their person if not adequately distracted).

Stealth- stealth is the ability to move unnoticed or remain hidden. Alert foes may still get an awareness chef to avoid begin completely surprised.

Swimming- not everyone can swim or swim well enough to save their lives. This is the skill required to tread water well.

Tinkering- the ability to manipulate and comprehend the purpose of complex mechanical apparatuses of all sorts. It may be of bonus when opening locks and disarming traps.

Weapon Mastery- particular skill in a given weapon. Those with weapon mastery may make task rolls to perform stunts with a weapon (some of which may still require a hit roll).  Fighters gain additional benefits with weapon mastery.

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