skill for "Musical Instrument" ?

[fwcain]

What is the correct Skill to use for a musician's ability to play a musical instrument? Using the Knowledge skill seems highly inappropriate, with that skill's basis on Intelligence. Either Agility or Precision seem much more appropriate as the basis for "musical skill". Would this need to be covered by a new (custom) skill?

Thanks,
Franklin

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by fwcain

What is the correct Skill to use for a musician's ability to play a musical instrument? Using the Knowledge skill seems highly inappropriate, with that skill's basis on Intelligence. Either Agility or Precision seem much more appropriate as the basis for "musical skill". Would this need to be covered by a new (custom) skill?

Thanks,
Franklin

Various "official" character writeups in various supplements suggest that each musical instrument is a separate Artistry specialization.

Which works well enough, in my opinion...

[fwcain]

Originally Posted by robkelk

Various "official" character writeups in various supplements suggest that each musical instrument is a separate Artistry specialization.

So, we're looking at basing musical ability on Perception? OK, I can live with that. ;-)

Thanks! :)
Franklin

[Archangel Beth]

The Liber Canticorum started with the thought that musical instruments were Precision-based specialties, but it was eventually pointed out -- and thus, there is errata to the effect -- that really, this is In Nomine. Singing is Perception based. Art is Perception based. Musical instrument skills should therefore be sub-sets of Artistry.

Although anyone who wants to have a division between technical perfection and "soul" could, if desired, allow a roll against Precision+Skill instead, as a house rule. (It's a cool little house rule, but I think it would make the rules a bit muddy to treat it as official. As a house rule, I'd probably write it as: "As a GM call or player choice, technical perfection in a musical instrument can be chosen over 'heart and soul' in any given performance; roll against Precision instead of Perception in such cases.")

[ISNorden]

Sounds like the kind of house rule I'd include; hitting the wrong key on a piano or tuning a guitar incorrectly could just as easily be Perception-related (tone deafness) as Precision-related (clumsiness). If the rules allowed a skill to use the average of two stats (a better compromise), it would allow for both situations.