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<blockquote data-quote="Crazy Jerome" data-source="post: 5912168" data-attributes="member: 54877"><p>Maybe I'm reading more into it than is there, and looking at where I think they are going instead of where they are at, but it seems to me that it breaks down roughly like this, conceptually:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ability scores are natural talent <strong>and</strong> broad skill that pertain to what you could reasonably do giving your class, background, theme, etc. If you are a sailor and have developed your Str and/or Dex to some extent, you can probably climb and swim fairly well. You can't really develop a broad talent for hitting things with axes without also developing some ability for hitting things with swords or spears.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Skills are specialized, and are all training. These let you heighten that natural talent and broad skill for particular purposes. They also let you do things that you might not otherwise have a shot at. A wizard from the land-locked plains with his 8 Str can barely climb and might not swim at all. Add a skill for swimming, and he can do it, not well but better than other people with his background. If he really wants to swim well, he'll bump that Str a little and/or add other skills that can stack?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Traits don't boost the numbers any, but they <strong>can</strong> change what your naturally ability can cover. Maybe that wizard never gets stronger or develops definite skill in swimming, but if he picks up some relevant trait after several adventures in and around water, he can start making his modest checks with the ability he has.</li> </ul><p>There are some pitfalls in all of that, but the flatter math will help immensely to navigate most of them. Getting additional themes at later levels will also help.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Crazy Jerome, post: 5912168, member: 54877"] Maybe I'm reading more into it than is there, and looking at where I think they are going instead of where they are at, but it seems to me that it breaks down roughly like this, conceptually: [LIST] [*]Ability scores are natural talent [B]and[/B] broad skill that pertain to what you could reasonably do giving your class, background, theme, etc. If you are a sailor and have developed your Str and/or Dex to some extent, you can probably climb and swim fairly well. You can't really develop a broad talent for hitting things with axes without also developing some ability for hitting things with swords or spears. [*]Skills are specialized, and are all training. These let you heighten that natural talent and broad skill for particular purposes. They also let you do things that you might not otherwise have a shot at. A wizard from the land-locked plains with his 8 Str can barely climb and might not swim at all. Add a skill for swimming, and he can do it, not well but better than other people with his background. If he really wants to swim well, he'll bump that Str a little and/or add other skills that can stack? [*]Traits don't boost the numbers any, but they [B]can[/B] change what your naturally ability can cover. Maybe that wizard never gets stronger or develops definite skill in swimming, but if he picks up some relevant trait after several adventures in and around water, he can start making his modest checks with the ability he has. [/LIST]There are some pitfalls in all of that, but the flatter math will help immensely to navigate most of them. Getting additional themes at later levels will also help. [/QUOTE]
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