Good Handwriting: A Perk?

[OldSam]

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

What minor benefit would it convey?

Of course one aspect is a reaction bonus from teachers... =)

[whswhs]

You probably should review the "can you read it" passage on p. 34 of LTC1, which Kromm already alluded to. It provides detailed rules for legibility of ordinary writing. Kromm's suggestion for a perk doesn't work badly in that context.

Bill Stoddard

[pawsplay]

I think this is basically One Task Wonder (Calligraphy), where the task is producing ordinary but high-quality handwriting.

[RobKamm]

The problem with One-Task Wonder for this is that OTW is usually phrased as OTW (Skill; Circumstance). It allows the use of the skill at attribute (in this case IQ) but no restricted use is included. I don't think OTW (Calligraphy; when writing in my own language) constitutes a real limitation on the skill. Even OTW (Calligraphy; Uncial Hand) seems a stretch to me, but YMMV.

[pawsplay]

Originally Posted by RobKamm

The problem with One-Task Wonder for this is that OTW is usually phrased as OTW (Skill; Circumstance). It allows the use of the skill at attribute (in this case IQ) but no restricted use is included. I don't think OTW (Calligraphy; when writing in my own language) constitutes a real limitation on the skill. Even OTW (Calligraphy; Uncial Hand) seems a stretch to me, but YMMV.

Calligraphy isn't normally used to simply write attractive thank-you notes. And this would explain why you don't have a good default for other Artist specialties.

[Astromancer]

Pawsplay is right, Calligraphy is much more than simply nice handwriting.

I'm liking these notes and ideas, thanks folks.


Given my handwriting, the Nice Handwriting perk is nearly as much of a fantasy as Multimillionare or Very Handsome, with Vioce and Charisma +7!

[aesir23]

I think there's room for 2 Perks here:

Perfect Handwriting: Your hand writing is perfectly legible and easy to read (mechanics as described by Kromm).

Beautiful Handwriting: + 1 reaction bonus from anyone reading something you've handwritten. This is cumulative with any bonuses from successful use of Calligraphy. If the piece is well-written as well (successful Writing or Poetry roll), increase this bonus to +2.

[EDIT] Although, I can't really see ever spending two points on having really nice handwriting.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by aesir23

[EDIT] Although, I can't really see ever spending two points on having really nice handwriting.

That's why my proposal combined improved legibility with social benefits in one perk. ;)

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Kromm

That's why my proposal combined improved legibility with social benefits in one perk. ;)

And that you can do that so smoothly is why you're KROMM and the rest of us envy you ;-)

[RobKamm]

Originally Posted by pawsplay

Calligraphy isn't normally used to simply write attractive thank-you notes. And this would explain why you don't have a good default for other Artist specialties.

The normal use of the skill isn't the point. OTW requires that there be a specific situation where it applies. I would argue that if you can write a nice thank you letter with calligraphy you can write anything with calligraphy because you know how to draw the letters. So OTW (Calligraphy; when writing a thank you letter) shouldn't be "legal." Compare that with OTW (Mechanic, when hotwiring cars) -- Mechanic can do far more than just hotwiring, this is a very specific subset of the Mechanic skill.

In this case I would go even further and suggest that nice handwriting, that is not in a calligraphy hand, is orthogonal to the Calligraphy skill. It isn't hard to imagine (for me as I've known a few) someone who can do very nice calligraphy, but who have otherwise atrocious handwriting. For that matter someone might have very nice handwriting, but only know calligraphy with a dense Gothic hand that is unintelligible to the uninitiated. Nice handwriting should, I think, be a completely different trait. Kromm's Perk fits the bill quite nicely but YMMV and all that.