SKILL BASICS

Contents

• Ability Checks - Sometimes a character tries to do something to which no specific skill applies.
• Acquiring Skill Ranks - Ranks indicate how much training or experience a character has with a given skill.
• Table: Skill Points Per Level
• Aiding Another - In some situations, characters can cooperate to accomplish a given task.
• Checks Without Rolls - A skill check represents an attempt to accomplish some goal, usually in the face of time pressure or distraction.
• Difficulty Class - Some checks are made against a Difficulty Class (DC).
• Table: Difficulty Class Examples
• Favorable And Unfavorable Conditions - Some situations may make a skill easier or harder to use, resulting in...
• Getting Skills - At each level, a character gets skill points that are used to buy skills.
• Modifier Types And Stacking - A modifier provides a bonus (a positive modifier) or a penalty (a negative modifier) to a die roll.
• Opposed Checks - Some skill checks are opposed checks. They are made against a randomized...
• Table: Example Opposed Checks
• Skill Checks - Unlike with attack rolls and saving throws, a natural roll of 20 on the...
• Skill Synergy - Sometimes, the GM may decide that having one skill provides a bonus when a character uses another skill in certain situations.
• Taking 10 - When a character is not being threatened or distracted, he or she may choose to take 10.
• Taking 20 - When a character has plenty of time, is faced with no threats or distractions,...
• Time And Skill Checks - Using a skill might take a round, several rounds, or even longer.
• Tools - Some skill applications require the use of tools. If tools are needed,...
• Trying Again - If a character fails on a skill check, he or she can sometimes try again.
• Untrained Skill Checks - Generally, if a character attempts to use a skill he or she doesn't have...
• Using Skills - To make a skill check, roll: 1d20 + skill modifier ( Skill modifier = skill ranks + ability modifier + miscellaneous modifiers)
• Ability Modifier - The ability modifier used in the skill check is the modifier for the skill's...
• Miscellaneous Modifiers - Miscellaneous modifiers include bonuses provided by feats and class features,...
• Skill Ranks - A character's ranks in a skill is based on the number of skill points the character has invested in the skill.