Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Techniques

Polkageist · 04-06-2021, 12:38 PM

Techniques do have a maximum value, such as 'cannot exceed base skill by 2' which is pretty common throughout the collection of them. That max can be a negative number, i.e. 'cannot exceed base skill -2' which can be half the untrained technique penalty if the math lines up right.

For the targeted attack technique because there are so many options for which target that comes along with a different malus to-hit the technique instead opts for a formula instead of listing out each option. Arm is max -1, vitals is max -2, eye is max -5 and so on. So "max is 1/2 the penalty" is a nice shorthand for the max level of the technique that'll handle all potential targets for targeted attack.

04-06-2021, 12:38 PM	#2
Polkageist Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: Techniques - half penalty vs full? Techniques do have a maximum value, such as 'cannot exceed base skill by 2' which is pretty common throughout the collection of them. That max can be a negative number, i.e. 'cannot exceed base skill -2' which can be half the untrained technique penalty if the math lines up right. For the targeted attack technique because there are so many options for which target that comes along with a different malus to-hit the technique instead opts for a formula instead of listing out each option. Arm is max -1, vitals is max -2, eye is max -5 and so on. So "max is 1/2 the penalty" is a nice shorthand for the max level of the technique that'll handle all potential targets for targeted attack.