Writing skill?

ISNorden · 09-21-2008, 12:48 AM

One of the characters in my new campaign has a Role as a locally published author (specializing in how-to books). Both the player and I wonder whether the rulebooks mention any kind of Writing skill (not just literacy, but authoring) apart from the Role itself. Could someone else help us out, please?

robkelk · 09-21-2008, 10:49 AM

I'm not aware of anything official.

As a house rule, I'd say Artistry (writing) if the writing is in an imaginative style, or Knowledge (writing) if it's in a dry, no-nonsense style. (I've seen some how-to books which were so dry they nearly put me to sleep, and others filled with witty stories describing how to do, or not do, things.) There's nothing saying the character can't have both skills, of course.

(Emote might work in place of Artistry (writing) for the witty/imaginative/creative style of writing, but I think that skill is more about body language than words.)

ISNorden · 09-21-2008, 09:12 PM

Any author who'd call his series "The Wide-Eyed Beginner's Guide to [subject]" (yes, the player mentioned this in his character history) probably uses a little creativity along with the technical knowledge. So I'd say it was six of one, half dozen of the other; thanks for making that clearer, though!

fwcain · 09-22-2008, 04:42 PM

If I recall correctly, there have been more than one NPC published in various sourcebooks having "Artistry (Writing)", so I believe that would be the canonical answer. ;-)

Franklin

09-21-2008, 12:48 AM	#1
ISNorden Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Madison, WI	Writing skill? One of the characters in my new campaign has a Role as a locally published author (specializing in how-to books). Both the player and I wonder whether the rulebooks mention any kind of Writing skill (not just literacy, but authoring) apart from the Role itself. Could someone else help us out, please? __________________ Ingeborg S. Nordén

09-21-2008, 10:49 AM	#2
robkelk Untitled Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: between keyboard and chair	Re: Writing skill? I'm not aware of anything official. As a house rule, I'd say Artistry (writing) if the writing is in an imaginative style, or Knowledge (writing) if it's in a dry, no-nonsense style. (I've seen some how-to books which were so dry they nearly put me to sleep, and others filled with witty stories describing how to do, or not do, things.) There's nothing saying the character can't have both skills, of course. (Emote might work in place of Artistry (writing) for the witty/imaginative/creative style of writing, but I think that skill is more about body language than words.) __________________ Rob Kelk “Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.” – Bernard Baruch, Deming (New Mexico) Headlight, 6 January 1950 No longer reading these forums regularly.

09-21-2008, 09:12 PM	#3
ISNorden Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Madison, WI	Re: Writing skill? Any author who'd call his series "The Wide-Eyed Beginner's Guide to [subject]" (yes, the player mentioned this in his character history) probably uses a little creativity along with the technical knowledge. So I'd say it was six of one, half dozen of the other; thanks for making that clearer, though! __________________ Ingeborg S. Nordén

09-22-2008, 04:42 PM	#4
fwcain Evil Game Master For Hire Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL	Re: Writing skill? If I recall correctly, there have been more than one NPC published in various sourcebooks having "Artistry (Writing)", so I believe that would be the canonical answer. ;-) Franklin __________________ Franklin W. Cain Evil Game Master For Hire -- Have Dice, Will Travel SJG MIB # 9808; Net.Rep.: Chez G* and Frag