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Old 05-27-2016, 01:58 PM   #1
johndallman
Night Watchman
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
Default [Basic] Skill of the week: Observation

Observation is the Per/A skill of covert observation, noticing interesting things without being obvious about it, even if it's visible that you're present. The defaults are Perception-5 or Shadowing-5, and Shadowing is the only skill that defaults to Observation. The skill appeared at GURPS 4e.

Observation is enhanced by Hyperspectral Vision and Ultravision, and is part of the Detective! Wildcard skill. It can counter Camouflage, Disguise, Filch, Pickpocket, and Sleight of Hand, and Intelligence Analysis reminds us that Observation is the skill for gathering intelligence by small-o observation. Gathering information close up is Forensics or Search; Observation is always at a distance.

With a successful roll, you get information about things and people that have not been deliberately hidden. If they have, you need to win a contest against the skill (usually Camouflage, Shadowing or Stealth) that has been used to conceal, which is done by the GM, rather than the player. That argues for the GM making all Observation rolls. Understanding whatever you observe may require another skill, such as Intelligence Analysis. On a failure, you miss something important. On critical failure, someone notices you casing the joint, and does something about it. There's some overlap with Traps skill, since security cameras are traps, and thus spotted with Per-based Traps skill (B226-7).

There are lots of modifiers: applicable Accute Senses, usually Vision, modifiers that would apply to Perception rolls, penalties up to -10 for really advanced concealment, and bonuses up to +10 for appropriate surveillance equipment, which may require a skill roll to use successfully. More applications of Observation are under Sense Rolls on B358.

Kromm made a significant clarification to Observation here (scroll down a little). Its "strategic" use is in information-gathering, as explained in the skill description, where you need actual Observation skill, or to use a default. Its "tactical" use is for countering Stealth, Camouflage, etc., where you use full Per unless your Observation skill is better, which is mostly explained under the skills it counters.

Observation is a common skill on templates for guards, investigators, reporters, scouts and spies, often as an alternative to Search, although a party will want both skills. Action 2: Exploits calls it out as the broad skill for noticing stuff, and AtE 2: The New World uses it for spotting minefields, ambushes, and giving an ally guidance in combat. DF2 has it as an option for spotting secret doors, and DF16 has too many applications to list. Observation is a prerequisite for Precision Aiming in Gun-Fu and Tactical Shooting, and High-Tech points out that it's needed for comprehensive mapping, and a countermeasure to intrusion detection systems and drug smuggling. Pulp Guns 2 describes flashless ammunition, as a counter to an observer trying to spot a sniper. Monster Hunters 1: Champions uses it for spotting disguised weapons. Power-Ups volumes 2, 3, 6 and 7 have examples that use this skill, and Powers, Enhanced Senses and The Weird have abilities that boost it. Psionic Powers uses it for realising that someone has been affected by psi; Social Engineering for searching for people and assessing the mood of a crowd, and Back to School for learning a skill by watching people use it. Supers uses Observation for spotting concealed bases, and possibly in spotting crimes to fight. Tactical Shooting uses it for general tactical awareness, walking a burst, assessing enemies, making range cards, helping a sniper by spotting their fall of shot, spotting someone shooting at you, and spotting concealed weapons.

What have you spotted that was awesome in a game?

Last edited by johndallman; 07-14-2017 at 06:21 AM. Reason: Clarity
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