 October 26, 2011 - 12:55pm | Last night we got our character creation session in. Awesome.
Halfway through, I discovered the new skill system in SF #9. After we wrapped our heads around it, we unanimously preferred it. However, I'm a bit curious about unskilled skill checks. I see that if you want to make an unskilled check outside your PSA, you have a 5% chance of success. I wondered if there's been any further discussion on this. For instance, Stealth is covered under the Agent PSA. But Stealth seems like something most characters could try untrained (as opposed to, say, robotics). I think I'd allow untrained checks to be made on skills like this regardless of PSA, perhaps with some GM modifiers thrown in depending on the situation. An example from D&D 4e: at level 1, an easy task is a DC 8 (60% chance), a moderate task is a DC 12 (40% chance), and a hard task is DC 18 or 19 (5% - 10% chance). Halving most characters' Dex scores (assuming that's what we want to roll in this Stealth check), the numbers would likely fall in the moderate range, somewhere between 20% and 40%. Mods could be added to make Stealth easier or harder. I couldn't find a thread dedicated to this topic. Anyone know of some prior discussion on untrained skills that might be attempted in such a way? |
 October 26, 2011 - 3:41pm | I thought skills that could be attempted unskilled were simply at 1/2 the ability score and since skill level is 0; 10% X skill level equals 0. you're quite right about stealth being something attempted unskilled- however, I've been around a lot of people who thought they were being stealthy and found their efforts laughable; many of them were boy scouts in a game of capture the flag. I would not say that I "have skills" braggingly but if I was to rate my skills in SF terms I'd give it a level 1or 2 for stealth. Lots of people attempt stealth but IMO few succeed. I'd say that attempting it on 1/2 the ability score is appropriate. Note some things are impossible to attempt without skill, I seem to remember something somewhere spelling that out. EDIT: the AD subskill system has all sorts of resolution numbers all over the map and that doesn't match well with the simplicity of 1/2 the ability + 10% X Level. For that reason you may want to add task difficulty modifiers- somethings should be automatic like injecting with a hypo spray, where as major medical treatment should be harder than first aid. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 October 26, 2011 - 3:48pm | If you are asked to make a skill roll for a skill that is
from your primary PSA, yet you have no skill level in
that skill, you may (if the Referee allows, based on the
situation) use 1/2 your attribute but add nothing for
skill level. This is called an Unskilled Skill Check. If
you are asked to make a skill check for a skill you don't
possess and is one that is from another PSA, you can
only succeed on a 01-05 (which is an automatic
success in Alpha Dawn rules). Unskilled skill checks can
be abused by players, and Referees are to be the final
arbiter in such situations. You are correct. I don't believe there has been further discussion, but please tell us how you decided to handle the situation. Use w00t's! ad-hoc +/- 10 modifier thingy;
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October 26, 2011 - 7:10pm | I love it.  Having taken a long look at it now, I think I'm going to make the Scientist PSA and the Technician PSA "trained only." All others can be attempted untrained (and I'm using the ability point costs in the same article). There will still be positive/negative modifiers, but at least characters attempting these skills will have some chance to succeed. |
 October 26, 2011 - 7:09pm | -10 you smell like a french public toilet |
October 26, 2011 - 7:16pm | -10 you smell like a french public toilet Good Lord! only a -10 for a french public toilet? I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
October 26, 2011 - 7:52pm | Consider writing a response to that article and well publish. |
October 27, 2011 - 7:00am |
This explains some things. Specifically, why I never caught Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy despite laying in wait for them. Parents got both their undergrad and masters at U of M. Making them very stealthy indeed. Or: All of these creature are real. |
