Knowledge Attribute Optional Rule

[CRMcNeill]

As an attempt to get the "roll"-players more interested in the Knowledge Stat, here is an optional rule I've come up with.

-You may use your Knowledge skills to gain useful insight when using more practical skills, particularly Perception, but all the other attributes to varying degrees. GM approval is required on a roll-by-roll basis.

-Here's how it works:
1) Pick the appropriate Knowledge skill. For instance, if you are making a Gambling roll against a Twi'lek, you may make an Alien Species roll, or when attempting to Con an Imperial Army trooper, you may make a Cultures roll. You may also use your base attribute if you do not have an appropriate skill.

2) Roll your chosen skill against the appropriate Difficulty (as set by the GM) and apply the result to the following tables.
Skill Roll Success = Bonus
0-2 = +1
3-5 = +2
6-8 = +1D
9-11 = +1D+1
12-14 = +1D+2
15-17 = +2D
18-20 = +2D+1
21-23 = +2D+2
24+ = +3D
(+1 pip for every 3 points of success)

Skill Roll Failure = Penalty
1-3 = -1
4-6 = -2
7-9 = -1D
10-12 = -1D+1
13-15 = -1D+2
16-18 = -2D
19-21 = -2D+1
22-24 = -2D+2
25+ = -3D
(-1 pip for every 3 points of failure)

3) Apply the resulting bonus or penalty to your chosen practical skill. Rerolls are not permitted, and you must apply the bonus or penalty generated.

4) MAPs and all other rules for skill use apply as normal, so if you are attempting to make a Knowledge roll to boost a practical roll in the same round, both rolls suffer a -1D MAP penalty. However, if you are given time to Prepare, you receive a +1D bonus to the Knowledge roll.

-This is just a bare bones concept, and the use of Knowledge rolls to boost a single skill roll can quickly get out of hand, so it will be up to GMs to apply limits. One possible limit would be to apply the MAP penalties if characters attempt to apply multiple skill bonuses to a single skill roll (i.e. yes, your character can roll Alien Species, Business, Cultures and Languages to generate bonuses, but you suffer a -3D penalty on all four rolls).

I've mentioned this before in other topics, but this is the first time I've given it a topic of its own (I think...)

Thoughts?
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Savar]

I like the mechanic, just worried that another roll slow the game down more.

I personally would move both computer & droid programming to knowledge. As programming has more to do with info and less to do with percision physical skills.

[CRMcNeill]

[Savar]

One mechanic would be for every full D or 2 of the appropriate secondary skill add a pip. No extra roll needed, a bonus not hard to calculate. Would need some play testing to see if it works.

[CRMcNeill]

[Savar]

Yes, it would do that.

It is a conflict of interests reduce rolling vs option to fail.

I just was giving a different mechanic.

The end result is subjective to the game master and the group of players.

[CRMcNeill]

[Savar]

Not what you had in mind.

One game system i played used language as a cap to all social skill rolls. If i had said language at 3 but my bargain was 7 i could only roll 3.

That could be expanded to cultures being a cap on bureaucracy, alien species as a cap on intimidation.

[atgxtg]

A couple of thoughts:


1) I think the bonus should probably cap out at the KNO skill. For instance if someone uses Alien Species 3D to get a bonus when gambling against a Twi'lek, they shouldn't get more than a +3D bonus.

2) You could keep a fixed bonus, such as +1 pip per D, along with a skill roll. That would streamline things a little and still keep the possibility of failure.

3) Frankly, I don't think the failure thing is needed. I don't really see a case where having extra knowledge on a subject would hurt your chances of success. Lacking the proper knowledge, would hurt, but, realistically, I just don't see how having 8D in a related skill is going to backfire on a character.

[garhkal]

[CRMcNeill]

[CRMcNeill]

[CRMcNeill]

[DougRed4]

I'm generally okay with it, and if it was done sparingly it wouldn't slow down the game that much.
_________________
Currently Running: Villains & Vigilantes (a 32-year-old campaign with multiple groups) and D6 Star Wars; mostly on hiatus are Adventures in Middle-earth and Delta Green

[Savar]