Should there be a skill for the ability to smell?

[Afrodyte]

Smell could be a skill but we do already have the scent ability. But one problem is that no matter how much you train your nose its never going to be as good as a dogs for instance. If you make is a skill then it would be possible for people to out smell a dog.

One limitation to this would be to say that the maximum number of ranks you could put into a perception-based skill is equal to your Wisdom score.

 

[Saeviomagy]

It's also redundant with existing systems. Say an opponent is invisible, and you want to locate him. Normally you roll listen. If you fail this check, however, you now have scent to roll back on. The same applies to hidden foes and spot, and now there are two skills that counter disguise, bluff, etc.

Of course redundancies already exist beyond that - if, for instance, you have blindsight (which is supposedly acute hearing, sight and other abilities all rolled into one), you automatically detect anything without needing a spot check.

Personally, I'm all for the introduction of a 'perception' skill, and the modification of scent, blindsight, tremorsense and blindsense so that they all give different (and massive) bonuses in limited situations.

Blindsight should, for instance, be a blanket +40 bonus to perception tests (so it automatically detects and pinpoints an invisible foe), and individual monsters should have "this bonus can be negated by..." listed in their description.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Personally, I'm all for the introduction of a 'perception' skill, and the modification of scent, blindsight, tremorsense and blindsense so that they all give different (and massive) bonuses in limited situations.

Way back in the day, after my hiding rogue was sniffed out by a curious orog, I had a discussion with my DM about this topic. We never came to a decision, but I remember thinking that there should be a Perception skill (rolling Spot and Listen into one, and then giving out racial bonuses and penalties for sight, hearing, smell, etc. It just seemed...unfair...that everything with Scent could smell equally well.

Search would remain the same, since that's not entirely a sensory skill. It uses them, but it isn't one.

Brad

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I wouldn't allow it, but since dreaded_beast seems bent on making it available, how 'bout Scent as a skill that is trained only and must be taken at character creation? ie: only some rare few persons in the world who possess extraordinary nasal perception make good "smellers." Kind of like spellcasting prodigy...

 

[Saeviomagy]

Search would remain the same, since that's not entirely a sensory skill. It uses them, but it isn't one.

Personally I see search as taking 20 or 10 on a perception check, especially since it can detect proximity triggers of traps without triggering them. It almost has to be non-contact. I'd probably hand out a bonus to any perception test for interaction (like - if you search for secret doors, you'd get a +5 for tapping on the wall. If you're looking for information on a desk full of papers, you'd get a +5 for actively ruffling through them. Hell, you could even make the bonus equal to your int mod...). This also clears up that dwarf/elf ability to make search checks by merely passing by things. How that can possibly be a search check is beyond me...

 

[Aristotle]

...I then have the players choose two senses as their primary types (default for most PC races is sight and hearing...

Wow, this is simple enough that it actually works. Asking a player to define his character's primary senses isn't any more daunting than asking a player to define his character's primary hand.

I'm definately thinking about moving to a perception skill (I think I'll call it Sense), and then a deception counter-skill (i.e. Sneak). And then, to keep continuity with the rules, give a +2 circumstance bonus for the character's primary senses.

I don't think I'll be rolling Search into Sense (it feels like it is more than just sensory to me). But I may provide a synergy bonus to Search and similar skills. I won't be rolling Disguise or skills of that sort into Sneak either.

My only issue with this is the skill points. With things pared down to these two skills you can be most characters will have them maxed out. I have to wonder if that breaks the "if everyone wants it, it might be too good" rule.

 

[Saeviomagy]

My only issue with this is the skill points. With things pared down to these two skills you can be most characters will have them maxed out. I have to wonder if that breaks the "if everyone wants it, it might be too good" rule.

Personally I'd have no problems if the PC's in my game were better at sneaking and noticing stuff. As is, the solution to an enemy is either talk to it or fight it. Adding sneak past it as an alternative would be great.

And lets face it - the fighter will STILL not take stealth or perception cross-class.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

See I classify the Spot skill more as "Notice" rather than visually spotting something. I'd use a Spot roll to notice a particular smell rather than creating a new skill. There are already too many perception skills and not enough skill points to go around.

 

[Garnfellow]

Smell could be a skill but we do already have the scent ability. But one problem is that no matter how much you train your nose its never going to be as good as a dogs for instance. If you make is a skill then it would be possible for people to out smell a dog.

Sort of like how people could never out Spot an eagle?

(I see you are wearing the hat of shame. Excellent -- and I hope it chafes!)

 

[Gez]

You seem to do just fine without any skill whatsoever...

P - U!

Smelling is a class skill for gamers.

(Or so I'm told.)

My dad had a few RANKS in it, with a specialization in smelly socks.

And there you see why I dubbed the skill "Odor Perception" rather than "Smell".