03-05-2012, 11:01 AM | #1 | ||
Join Date: May 2011
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Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
Building a sneaky character (Essentially a fantasy rogue in a magepunk setting), I came across these two skills, which I haven't had any reason to use before.
Filch, DX/A, defaults to DX-5, Pickpocket-4, or Sleight of Hand-4. Quote:
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My question is: What, if anything, does Filch allow one to do that Sleight of Hand does not? In which situations would Filch be used instead of SoH? |
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03-05-2012, 11:14 AM | #2 | |
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Athens of America
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
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Filtch is limited to quickly, subtling grabbing, palming, stealing small objects and getting away with it... (DX/A) Slight of Hand (Dx?H) covers that...and doing Three Card Monte (Find the Lady, wheres the Lady <Fast Talk for the Patter tho>...and Juggling, and dealing cards from the bottom of a deck...and and and.... So again IMHO...Filtch does not cover anything that you cannot do with SOH...it is just easier to learn/cheaper...
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My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack.-Foch America is not perfect, but I will hold her hand until she gets well.-unk Tuskegee Airman |
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03-05-2012, 11:17 AM | #3 |
Join Date: May 2011
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
So you'd say that SoH subsumes Filch, similar to how Main-Gauche subsumes Knife skill? That was my main thought, but Filches -4 default from SoH seems to suggest otherwise.
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03-05-2012, 11:22 AM | #4 |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
Filch is basically the shoplifting skill. It lets you steal an object of any size that would fit under your clothes, in your pockets or pack, behind your back, etc. It's about knowing when to snatch something, and then how to interpose concealment between your swag and any observers. It could as easily be based on Per (knowing when people are looking) or Will (being brazen enough to move and not freeze up) as on DX.
Sleight of Hand is basically the prestidigitation skill. It lets you use just your fingers and palms to manipulate tiny objects – no larger than marbles, silver dollars, or playing cards – right before the eyes of any observers. It's about misdirection and "forces," and doesn't require any hiding place or concealment beyond your hands. It's pure manual dexterity. You can use both to steal, but Filch lets you steal bigger items than Sleight of Hand, obviously. On the other hand, Sleight of Hand works even while you're nearly naked and under observation (like any number of movie scenes where a prisoner grabs a paperclip and hides it for later use). And Sleight of Hand lets you cheat at dice or cards, perform entertaining stage magic for money, etc. Overall, Sleight of Hand is the more versatile skill, but it's also harder. Filch is mostly a petty-criminal skill at the same general level of sophistication as Forced Entry. Still, Filch isn't just a subset of Sleight of Hand. Filch lets you steal TVs by walking out with them behind your back, and allows you to snatch an order of fries off the counter and run out the door before anybody realizes you have them. Sleight of Hand is worthless for that stuff, because you can't conceal TVs and orders of fries in your palm, and doesn't cover the running away part at all.
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Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
03-05-2012, 11:23 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Athens of America
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
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Never played a "dedicated" thief in GURPS...never had Filtch. Have often played spy/rogue types and have often had SoH...often Pickpocket also (nice for planting evidence) but never Filtch...
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My center is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent. I shall attack.-Foch America is not perfect, but I will hold her hand until she gets well.-unk Tuskegee Airman |
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03-05-2012, 11:37 AM | #6 | |
Join Date: May 2011
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
Whee, instant Krommquote.
That clears up the differences between Sleight of Hand and Filch, but your description there makes me wonder how far Filch overlaps with Holdout, especially given the rest of the working on Filch. Quote:
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03-05-2012, 11:41 AM | #7 |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
Holdout is needed if you want to carry something around. Filch is about grabbing it unseen and running off. It's a GM call because situations will vary. Snatching an order of spicy wings off the counter and bolting is just a Filch roll. Swiping documents off the detective's desk and into your briefcase is Filch followed by Holdout.
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Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
03-05-2012, 11:45 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
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03-05-2012, 11:53 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
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Re: Clarification regarding what Filch and Sleight of Hand cover
Shoplifters who have Filch and not Holdout tend to be the subject of "Funniest Criminals" type shows, especially when caught on camera with a frozen turkey under their shirt or something.
Holdout lets you wander around in the store with it hidden on your person somewhere, and gives you a chance to keep it hidden even if the security guards pat you down. Filch involves trying to keep it on the other side of your body from the security camera without walking funny - you can try to avoid suspicion on your way to the door with Filch, but if the store cop actually checks you out with his Observation skill, your Filch won't contest it like Holdout would. You might be able to argue Smuggling instead of Holdout if you have a wheelchair, motorized scooter, or huge baby carriage and you're hiding it inside the framework somewhere.
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clarification, filch, overlap, sleight of hand |
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