Which of these Skills do you use the least ?

[green slime]

i really don't like the Decipher Script skill. i know it's there to mimic an old 1e or 2e rogue ability, but even so, i just don't like it.

if you want to know how to read that ancient elvish text, take Speak Language (ancient elvish)! i just don't get how someone can read something in a language they have no knowledge of.

Well then, how many languages do you speak?

The more languages you speak, the more you can infer the meaning of the written word in a language you do not, if the languages are related and use the same alphabet. It requires a bit of intelligent guess work, and sometimes you get something completely back to front, but in general I think it is a pretty good reflection of an ability.

This is another reason why the study of Latin is not such a silly thing, as many european languages, besides their common heritage in the indo-european language group, inherited Latin words during the enormous influence of the Roman empire and later the Catholic church.

Also gaining knowledge about alphabets is fairly simple really. The greek alphabet, for instance, once known, you should be able to read and understand many shop signs and newspaper headings. In fact to start with, you would just get by with realising which sounds some of the letters represent : You could infer some of the others later on during your stay.

But of course, this relies on some similarity being between the basic alphabets and languages between the language(s) you know and that which you are trying to interpret. The ancient Hieroglyphs of Egypt were completely indecipherable until the finding of the rosetta stone.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

Back on topic: We don't use Profession. They don't take down time, apart from the Wiz and priest who'll stay back a few days to crank out a few scrolls/items.

The others are more of character choice. I don't force characters to use Disguise, but they are most welcome to try.

Balance, Rope Use, Innuendo have all been used. Decipher script hasn't been an issue yet, but it does give a synergy bonus to Use Magic Device... But I doubt that the rogue will get into this, as his Charisma score is very low.

And no, I am not running a ninja game. Just like making sure the characters see a need for a wide range of skills. And include challenges that can be solved by a variety of different skills, according to your approach.

 

[LostSoul]

Jump is great to have, if you're a Psionic Warrior with that feat... Mental Leap, I think. It turns your movement into something crazy.

 

[Limper]

Sorry but I could only vote for one. Inuendo is the one we've NEVER used the rest have come up at least enough to justify their existence.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Innuendo seems to be by far the least used... and surprisingly Read Lips is SECOND ! Thou we havent used it yet... it used to be very useful...

Jump seems to be the least voted... followed by Disguise...

 

[bwgwl]

The more languages you speak, the more you can infer the meaning of the written word in a language you do not, if the languages are related and use the same alphabet. It requires a bit of intelligent guess work, and sometimes you get something completely back to front, but in general I think it is a pretty good reflection of an ability.

i see your point re: Decipher Script, by as a DM, i'd rather adjudicate this like: "OK, you speak Modern Elvish, you can puzzle out some of this text of Ancient Elvish." still no need for a Decipher Script skill, IMO.

This is another reason why the study of Latin is not such a silly thing, as many european languages, besides their common heritage in the indo-european language group, inherited Latin words during the enormous influence of the Roman empire and later the Catholic church.

very good point. but again, i'd rather deal with this by knowing the similarities between languages in my world and allowing those who speak similar languages a chance to understand, rather than a generic skill that's supposed to allow anyone to understand anything.

But of course, this relies on some similarity being between the basic alphabets and languages between the language(s) you know and that which you are trying to interpret. The ancient Hieroglyphs of Egypt were completely indecipherable until the finding of the rosetta stone.

and this is exactly the problem i have with Decipher Script. as written, it seems to me a rogue with Decipher Script could just walk up to some Egyptian hieroglyphics, make a skill roll, and start reading even though she has never seen anything like them before in her life.

at least, that's the impression i get from reading the skill.

 

[Rashak Mani]

A DM could adjucate to avoid this Read Unrelated problem... but how do you determine what is or isnt related in Vanilla flavor settings ? Players might complain about a useless skill made even more.

Anyway its a mute point... a simple low level spell can avoid all this skill hassle... very very easily...

 

[Plane Sailing]

How could you miss "intuit direction" off the list? Surely that is the most one-dimensional and useless skill out there! It is the yin to Bluff's yang

For the record, Innuendo doesn't get much use at the moment because it pretty much requires two rogues to get use out of it. I think I might extend the capabilities of the skill.

Disguise hasn't been used much as there hasn't been much call for it.

Jump gets used lots and lots (last game a 7th fighter managed to leap 27ft in a single bound!).

Read Lips has been used when the campaign was in a city.

Use Magic device has killed one character, seriously wounded another and come in useful a couple of times

Decipher script, craft and profession all see quite a bit of use.

Rope Use is another one-dimensional skill, but it has seen a lot of use at cliffs, canyons and steep drops.

 

[Rashak Mani]

How could you miss "intuit direction" off the list? Surely that is the most one-dimensional and useless skill out there! It is the yin to Bluff's yang

Jump gets used lots and lots (last game a 7th fighter managed to leap 27ft in a single bound!).

Use Magic device has killed one character, seriously wounded another and come in useful a couple of times

I left out Intuit Direction by mistake and space reasons... should have put it...

Jumped 27 ft ? Without armor and with magic yes ?

Could you explain how a skill that killed and maimed is useful ? Tell us the details...

 

[evileeyore]

The least used in my experience are Disguise (we never really have time for its use), Innuendo (it requires another pc or npc to use...), and Read Lips (magic has a way off rendering the skill useless).

Jump, UMD, Decipher Script all the time.

Rope Use, Balance occasionally.

As for DS being useless. Thats your opinion. It allows the user to infer context or subtext without really understanding the whole thing. I see it as having studied alot of written languages, but not enough to speak or write them with any fluency. Thus the character can peice things out.

Example: DM says to Rogue/Temple Raider: You see an inscription that covers the entire wall. It appears to be pictographic.

TR: I'll try Decipher Script. I got a 32.

DM: After 10 or so minutes you think it might mean any who disturb the grounds will be punished or it could be the history of some ancient battle.

TR: Right 'will be punished it is', I'll be extra carefull about Traps...


I really don't see the skill as allowing the character to read languages they are completely unfamiliar with, however I see it as they can piece some of it together.

For instance in reall life I can puzzle out written Latin (Spanish to a lesser degree) enough fot content, and bits of Russian and German. I can speak bits of Japanese. However the only language I am fluent in is English.

 

[Bagpuss]

Hmm since Craft is the only skill on that list we have used so far, I can't limit my least used skills to just 3.

I suppose not having a Rogue in the party means a lot of those skills are ones we don't even attempt.