Gesture Skill

[Mcoorlim]

The basic set says that the Gesture skill is required to either convey a simple idea, or to understand one that someone is trying to convey to you.

Does this mean that both people need to pass a skill roll? If not, who rolls? If its both, what are the metrics for task difficulty - two people from the same culture untrained in gesture would both need to roll a 6 or less to understand a conveyed idea at Gesture+0.

[Culture20]

In one second. Don't forget task difficulty and time modifiers.
Imagine your last game of charades. "Look at that" is easy to convey in one second. And Hitler or Charlie Chaplin (holding up a couple fingers under the nose like their mustaches). But other simple concepts can be very difficult to convey by mere gesture, and usually takes more trial and error than Lassie's barks.

[Mcoorlim]

Originally Posted by Culture20

In one second. Don't forget task difficulty and time modifiers.

What would be a baseline +0 difficulty?

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Kurlumbenus

What would be a baseline +0 difficulty?

One second?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by abe ray

would the gesture skill allow you to cast spells that require words?

No. The basic magic system has rules that allow casters with high skill to reduce or dispense with words and/or gestures, and the Gesture skill is not involved with them.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by abe ray

would the gesture skill allow you to cast spells that require words?

I'd say no if you are actually interpreting it as getting something across with improvised gestures. But as written Gesture is so cinematic I could certainly imagine it represents some kind of universal Sign Language. If that's your view of it, then it would make sense.

Certainly if your native language was an actual Sign Language, I'd let you learn your spells with the "verbal" component being a requirement to make complex symbolic gestures rather than sounds.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by abe ray

I meant for the early levels of spell learning.

It's not mentioned, and the gestures for simple spells can't be very complex, given how quickly they can be cast. I imagine spell gestures as being fairly fixed, except for indicating the target, while Gesture skill seems to me to be about trying to make gestures that convey something about the immediate situation.

[Mcoorlim]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

One second?

No, baseline +0 for simplicity of concept. +0 difficulty modifier is for "tasks that an adventurer would not hesitate" for, so I'm curious as to what kind of gestures are too complex for just plain folks but which adventurers just flick away with like it was nothing.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by malloyd

I'd say no if you are actually interpreting it as getting something across with improvised gestures. But as written Gesture is so cinematic I could certainly imagine it represents some kind of universal Sign Language. If that's your view of it, then it would make sense.
...

I thought I was the only one that considered that skill unrealistic. I got lambasted the last time this issue came up.
I felt real world gestures to be a simplistic cultural body language.
Even a "universal" thing like nodding one's head "yes" would easily be confused as a head jerk up which is a "no" in some regions.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Kurlumbenus

No, baseline +0 for simplicity of concept. +0 difficulty modifier is for "tasks that an adventurer would not hesitate" for, so I'm curious as to what kind of gestures are too complex for just plain folks but which adventurers just flick away with like it was nothing.

'Plato' (the philosopher).