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Old 04-23-2017, 10:20 AM   #21
johndallman
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Donny Brook View Post
Mermaid Swim (Aquabatics +-0).
I suspect this could be based on Swimming, as well as Aquabatics. I've never done it, but looking up descriptions, the method is far more distinct from ordinary swimming than using a pair of fins, which are a very easy familiarity. So a technique sounds plausible.
Quote:
Hammer Rhythm (Smith -1) (Shorten forging time by margin * ?%, some kind of protection against injury and fatigue loss) [Maybe this one is only a Perk?]
Feels more like a perk. A smith doesn't spend very much time hammering in the same way without adjusting his action or workpiece.
Quote:
Double Clutching (Driving -3) In any given continuous phase of acceleration of at least 5 seconds, a success gives you Move +1 in the third second. (Works only with manual transmission.)
I can't judge this one, as a total non-driver. Anyone else got opinions?
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Old 04-24-2017, 08:46 AM   #22
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

Additional ideas:

Sightlines (H) (Observation -4?) This technique is used to determine lines of sight from positions other than the current location of observation.

Socratic Dialogue (H)(Philosophy -3) Use this technique initiate and maintain a philosophical conversation. Treat this technique as if it were a use of the Persuade function under the Enthrallment skill, but it takes 20 minutes of initial dialogue.

Docking (Shiphandling -2 (H), or Boating -1 (A). Roll to bring a vessel to a halt in alignment with a static structure without damage or trouble.

Prioritizing (called Triage in emergency medical situations) (very generic, might appear under any skill the GM thinks appropriate, (H), -2? -3?). When there are three or more tasks to complete using the Skill, a roll against Prioritizing will identify the best order to complete the tasks, and give a reduction in time required equal to margin * ?%.

Skate Backwards (A)(Skating -2) Roll to succeed, effective Move is -1.

Last edited by Donny Brook; 04-24-2017 at 09:10 AM.
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Old 04-30-2017, 10:18 AM   #23
johndallman
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Default Some Techniques for optional specialisations

These are techniques to improve an Optional Specialisation. Part of the motive for them is to let low-point NPCs be highly skilled at something they've dedicated themselves to.

Mistake: Camouflage can't have Optional specialisations, because it's Easy. <Terrain Type, Season> (Camouflage). A terrain type (as per Survival specialisations) is a valid optional specialisation for Camouflage. This is usually the one you live in, or expect to fight in. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a particular season, such as (Woodlands, Winter), or (Island/Beach, Summer).

<Specific group, Subject> (Diplomacy). A group, such as a nation, a political party, or a socioeconomic group, is a valid optional specialisation for Diplomacy. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a particular subject of diplomacy, such as (Coal Miners, pay and conditions), or (Georgia, border disputes). If your technique level is 20+, you do get the +2 reaction for Diplomacy at 20+ from that group.

<Specific crop, Crop type> (Farming). A general type of crop, such as grain, roots/tubers, or tree fruit, is a valid Optional Specialisation for Farming. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a specific crop, such as barley, parsnips, or pears.

<Specific group, Subject> (Politics). A group, smaller than a nation, such as a political party, or a socioeconomic group, is a valid optional specialisation for Politics. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a particular subject of politics, such as (Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Relations with China), or (Whigs, Corn Laws).

How do those seem?

Last edited by johndallman; 05-07-2017 at 09:02 AM.
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Old 04-30-2017, 10:31 AM   #24
johndallman
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Donny Brook View Post
Sightlines (H) (Observation -4?) This technique is used to determine lines of sight from positions other than the current location of observation.
I think that would be:

Sightlines (A) (Observation -2 or Tactics, cannot exceed prerequisite+4) This technique is used to determine lines of sight from positions other than the current location of observation.

Quote:
Socratic Dialogue (H)(Philosophy -3) Use this technique to initiate and maintain a philosophical conversation. Treat this technique as if it were a use of the Persuade function under the Enthrallment skill, but it takes 20 minutes of initial dialogue.
That's definitely cinematic. I think taking part in an ordinary Socratic dialogue would be un-penalised Philosophy, if you're trained in a school that uses it routinely, and a familiarity for those that don't.

Quote:
Docking (Shiphandling -2 (H), or Boating -1 (A). Roll to bring a vessel to a halt in alignment with a static structure without damage or trouble.
I think that's a core activity of either skill, and hence not a general technique. Harbour and river pilots could well have a Technique for their specific area of operation.

Quote:
Prioritizing (called Triage in emergency medical situations) (very generic, might appear under any skill the GM thinks appropriate, (H), -2? -3?). When there are three or more tasks to complete using the Skill, a roll against Prioritizing will identify the best order to complete the tasks, and give a reduction in time required equal to margin * ?%.
I think that's Administration, with Diagnosis (or whatever skill is appropriate) as a prerequisite.

Quote:
Skate Backwards (A)(Skating -2) Roll to succeed, effective Move is -1.
That makes sense to me.
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Old 05-06-2017, 05:14 AM   #25
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

Exorcism (Religious Ritual -3, Ritual Magic -3, or Theology -3). Hard, default prerequisite, cannot exceed prerequisite +6.

This was suggested by Phil Masters: rather than Exorcism being a skill in its own right, it's a technique for the skills that people who could plausibly drive out spirits are likely to have. Methods based on the three prerequisite skills are likely to be significantly different.

Edit: the default penalties could plausibly vary by religion. A church with a stress on ritual and abstract theology might use Religious Ritual -2 and Theology -4; one with minimal rituals and theology full of information about demons might use Religious Ritual -5 and Theology -1.

Last edited by johndallman; 05-07-2017 at 03:02 AM.
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Old 05-06-2017, 04:12 PM   #26
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

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Exorcism (Religious Ritual -3, Ritual Magic -3, or Theology -3). Hard, default prerequisite, cannot exceed prerequisite +6.
Seems reasonable to me. At least in the modern day RC church which is the one I know most about, there's no special Exorcist Course; it's studied as part of the full set of rituals, with more or less emphasis depending on the teacher and curriculum. (Generally less.)
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Old 05-06-2017, 04:30 PM   #27
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by johndallman View Post
Exorcism (Religious Ritual -3, Ritual Magic -3, or Theology -3). Hard, default prerequisite, cannot exceed prerequisite +6.

This was suggested by Phil Masters: rather than Exorcism being a skill in its own right, it's a technique for the skills that people who could plausibly drive out spirits are likely to have. Methods based on the three prerequisite skills are likely to be significantly different.
Personally, I would make it -2 from Religious Ritual and -4 from Theology.
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Old 05-07-2017, 02:58 AM   #28
johndallman
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

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Originally Posted by Donny Brook View Post
Personally, I would make it -2 from Religious Ritual and -4 from Theology.
Plausible for the right religion(s). I'll edit the original.
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Old 05-07-2017, 08:01 AM   #29
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Default Re: New Technique of the Week: an ongoing thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by johndallman View Post
I think that would be:

Sightlines (A) (Observation -2 or Tactics, cannot exceed prerequisite+4) This technique is used to determine lines of sight from positions other than the current location of observation.
I think it rates as a Hard technique because you won't get a chance to retry a failure.

Quote:
That's definitely cinematic. I think taking part in an ordinary Socratic dialogue would be un-penalised Philosophy, if you're trained in a school that uses it routinely, and a familiarity for those that don't.
Perhaps an uncinematic variant is that it can serve as a use of Fast-talk that takes 20 minutes.


Quote:
I think that's a core activity of either skill, and hence not a general technique. Harbour and river pilots could well have a Technique for their specific area of operation.
But if judoka can buy a Throw technique, docking seems a sufficiently distinct part of the operation to sustain a technique.

Last edited by Donny Brook; 05-07-2017 at 08:26 AM.
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Old 05-07-2017, 08:09 AM   #30
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Default Re: Some Techniques for optional specialisations

Quote:
Originally Posted by johndallman View Post
These are techniques to improve an Optional Specialisation. Part of the motive for them is to let low-point NPCs be highly skilled at something they've dedicated themselves to.

<Terrain Type, Season> (Camouflage). A terrain type (as per Survival specialisations) is a valid optional specialisation for Camouflage. This is usually the one you live in, or expect to fight in. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a particular season, such as (Woodlands, Winter), or (Island/Beach, Summer).

<Specific group, Subject> (Diplomacy). A group, such as a nation, a political party, or a socioeconomic group, is a valid optional specialisation for Diplomacy. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a particular subject of diplomacy, such as (Coal Miners, pay and conditions), or (Georgia, border disputes). If your technique level is 20+, you do get the +2 reaction for Diplomacy at 20+ from that group.

<Specific crop, Crop type> (Farming). A general type of crop, such as grain, roots/tubers, or tree fruit, is a valid Optional Specialisation for Farming. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a specific crop, such as barley, parsnips, or pears.

<Specific group, Subject> (Politics). A group, smaller than a nation, such as a political party, or a socioeconomic group, is a valid optional specialisation for Politics. It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique for a particular subject of politics, such as (Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Relations with China), or (Whigs, Corn Laws).

How do those seem?
I don't understand the underlying concept of techniques of optional specializations. In particular, I don't understand what you mean by: "It's possible to buy up skill for that optional specialisation as a Technique".

I'm not sure, as well, that in all those cases I agree with the stated specializations being valid ones.

(Also, as an Easy skill, I don't think optional specialization is applicable to Camoflage.)

Edit: sorry one more thing -- notation-wise, isn't the optional specialization name supposed to appear in brackets with the Skill name? So, e.g. "Border Disputes (Diplomacy (Georgia)(A)"

Last edited by Donny Brook; 05-07-2017 at 08:26 AM.
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