[Star Wars] SECR Preview #5 is up

[RigaMortus2]

One of my minor gripes about the new system is with the skill consolidation. For example, the Perception skill. I understand they rolled Spot/Search/Listen/Sense Motive into this one skill, but what happens if a GM wants to give a player something that enhances his vision (so he can spot things better) or hearing (so he can hear better). Normally you might get like a +2 Equip bonus to Spot, so when you make a Spot check, you have a better chance. Now, since it is all one skill, if you have a piece of equipment that enhances vision, I am assuming that +2 Equip bonus would go to Perception (since Spot no longer exisits). Which would have the wierd side effect of applying to my Perception checks whether I am "technically" spotting, listening, or sensing motive...

If anyone understood all that, let me know what you think

 

[Stalker0]

One of my minor gripes about the new system is with the skill consolidation. For example, the Perception skill. I understand they rolled Spot/Search/Listen/Sense Motive into this one skill, but what happens if a GM wants to give a player something that enhances his vision (so he can spot things better) or hearing (so he can hear better). Normally you might get like a +2 Equip bonus to Spot, so when you make a Spot check, you have a better chance. Now, since it is all one skill, if you have a piece of equipment that enhances vision, I am assuming that +2 Equip bonus would go to Perception (since Spot no longer exisits). Which would have the wierd side effect of applying to my Perception checks whether I am "technically" spotting, listening, or sensing motive...

If anyone understood all that, let me know what you think

One thing to note is that spot and listening are not mutually exclusive. For instance, I've noticed plenty of times someone can talk to me while I'm not looking directly at them and I miss what they are saying, but its a lot clearer if I'm watching them say it.

If you hear better, your more likely to bring your eyes to bear on what's going on and see it, if you see something you'll focus in on it and may hear it better. I think its fine that the 2 are combined.

 

[ValhallaGH]

One of my minor gripes about the new system is with the skill consolidation. For example, the Perception skill. I understand they rolled Spot/Search/Listen/Sense Motive into this one skill, but what happens if a GM wants to give a player something that enhances his vision (so he can spot things better) or hearing (so he can hear better). Normally you might get like a +2 Equip bonus to Spot, so when you make a Spot check, you have a better chance. Now, since it is all one skill, if you have a piece of equipment that enhances vision, I am assuming that +2 Equip bonus would go to Perception (since Spot no longer exisits). Which would have the wierd side effect of applying to my Perception checks whether I am "technically" spotting, listening, or sensing motive...

If anyone understood all that, let me know what you think

That the player would ask "Do my cool goggles apply?" and the GM would respond yes or no as appropriate. It requires a bit more effort on everyone's part but that not something I have an issue with.

More importantly, we finally have a skill for touching and smelling and tasting. I don't know about your games, but mine have been harmed by having people roll spot for smell, taste and touch checks.

 

[Plane Sailing]

but what happens if a GM wants to give a player something that enhances his vision (so he can spot things better) or hearing (so he can hear better).

Easy peasy.

"These special goggles give you +2 on your perception checks when made to spot something"

"The parabolic microphone eliminates the range penalty when making perception checks to hear something".

There is one skill (Perception), which can be used for different things. For general 'situational awareness' a simple check of perception to see whether someone notices a sound/sight/smell is enough. When the PC wants to read a notice the other side of a vat of acid, you make a perception check to see if they can read it. When they are trying to hear a whispered conversation you make a perception check to see if they hear the details. Equipment can simply give a bonus in appropriate circumstances.

Cheers

 

[Baby Samurai]

I was thinking of porting over this no iterative attacks action into my current D&D campaign. Now what would be the best way to emulate the following with this new system?


11th level ranger (Greater Two-Weapon Fighting) with a 10 Str, dual wielding two +1 longswords (Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting):

Full Attack: +1 longsword +10/+5/+0 (1d8+1/19-20) and +1 longsword +10/+5/+0 (1d8 +1/19-20)

 

[Plane Sailing]

I was thinking of porting over this no iterative attacks action into my current D&D campaign. Now what would be the best way to emulate the following with this new system?


11th level ranger (Greater Two-Weapon Fighting) with a 10 Str, dual wielding two +1 longswords (Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting):

Full Attack: +1 longsword +10/+5/+0 (1d8+1/19-20) and +1 longsword +10/+5/+0 (1d8 +1/19-20)

Well, we don't really know how they handle two weapon fighting yet, but it might be that it would look like this:

Full Attack: +1 Longsword +10 (1d8+6) and +1 Longsword +10 (1d8+6), assuming that (a) there are some feats to bring the TWF penalty down to -2, and (b) that you follow through in replacing iterative attacks with a damage bonus equal to half heroic class level (rounded down).

 

[Baby Samurai]

Well, we don't really know how they handle two weapon fighting yet, but it might be that it would look like this:

Full Attack: +1 Longsword +10 (1d8+6) and +1 Longsword +10 (1d8+6), assuming that (a) there are some feats to bring the TWF penalty down to -2, and (b) that you follow through in replacing iterative attacks with a damage bonus equal to half heroic class level (rounded down).

So you would lose 4 attacks for 1d8 +1 each to gain +5 damage to your remaining 2 attacks, that's a pretty big wet bite out of your ass, wouldn't you say?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

So you would lose 4 attacks for 1d8 +1 each to gain +5 damage to your remaining 2 attacks, that's a pretty big wet bite out of your ass, wouldn't you say?

You would have missed on some of the 1d8+1 attacks anyway, plus in Star Wars and other systems where PCs can control their defensive ability, Defense is high enough that you miss a lot anyway (so you wouldn't be losing anything). Iteratives are a waste of time in d20 Modern, I find.

Maybe applying the system to DnD, where it's hard to miss if you're not a monk, is not a good idea.

 

[Baby Samurai]

You would have missed on some of the 1d8+1 attacks anyway

Maybe on a few of the 3rd iterative attacks, but characters/monsters attack bonuses usually far outstrip AC at higher levels.

I don't know, I'm all confused now, but I do know that iterative attacks have been niggling me for a while now.

My example ranger, either goes from 1 attack as a standard action, to 6 attacks (blender) as a full round action (too disparate for me).

 

[iwatt]

Maybe on a few of the 3rd iterative attacks, but characters/monsters attack bonuses usually far outstrip AC at higher levels.

That's an intentional design decision of D&D: iterative attacks requiere that attack outstrip AC, so that they even have a point. AC in D&D is not about avoiding been hurt, it's about avoiding been hurt too much.

In games with more even defense/attack progressions, iteratives loose their punch very quickly, becoming nigh useless.

Now, since it is all one skill, if you have a piece of equipment that enhances vision, I am assuming that +2 Equip bonus would go to Perception (since Spot no longer exisits).

BTW, I very much doubt that equipment will grant an actual skill modifier, since one of the design goals is streamlining skills. It's quite more likely that equipment will grant bonuses similar to Plane Sailing's parabolic mike example. Goggles would reduce penalties for distance (-1/4 squares), lie detectors would allow rerolls on Sense-Motivey checks, etc...