PC's assessing opponent’s skills

Tomsdad · 01-24-2010, 09:16 AM

Hi I've been a lurker for a bit here*,

Anyway, are there any rules for PC's assessing or otherwise evaluating or estimating an opponent’s skill level? Either as GM to Player "he has broadsword at 18" of to PC "he's better than you / you look about even" etc. I could have sworn there was but I can't find it now. I can make something up like a skill perk which allows you to assess another’s skill, maybe using a perception + skill roll where margin of success is accuracy on estimate. On the whole I'd do this in game terms rather than using metagame figures.

Anyway any pointers to already existing rules, or has anyone done anything similar?

*well I've read all of the "Vehicle design where are you" thread ;)

PS where are the smileys?

davidtmoore · 01-24-2010, 09:23 AM

Not that I'm aware of. There's the Evaluate maneuver, but that's the melee equivalent of Aim; ie., it gives a bonus to your next attack. If the player wanted to Evaluate to gauge the opponent's ability level rather than get the bonus, I'd probably allow it without requiring a perk or the like, as he's trading one advantage for another. Probably make an IQ-based melee skill roll after one second, and on a success allow a ballpark "Better/Worse/Roughly Equal" description, with a critical failure giving you a misleading impression.

Tomsdad · 01-24-2010, 09:42 AM

Sounds good,

I thought I'd seen something in the combat manoeuvres section, but I couldn't find it when I looked again. Making it an option in evaluate seem like a good fit to me. It also fits my idea of two opponents sizing each other up before really going at it. Although I'd rule you'd need to see the skill in action before trying to assess it, maybe give mods for longer evaluation etc.

ed_209a · 01-24-2010, 10:03 AM

If you are judging relative skill, I would use the appropriate skill, but paired up with either IQ, or Perception.

Edges · 01-24-2010, 10:27 AM

In many competitions (combat included), people will try to get their opponent to underestimate them. You may want to add a special Feint to your rule to model the psych-out.

Refplace · 01-24-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edges

In many competitions (combat included), people will try to get their opponent to underestimate them. You may want to add a special Feint to your rule to model the psych-out.

yeah like fighting with your off hand as in Princess Bride for example.
But also peple can be judged by thier stance and a fw tentative attacks.
after a few rounds I tend to give an estimate when asked based on a roll too.

roguebfl · 01-26-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed_209a

If you are judging relative skill, I would use the appropriate skill, but paired up with either IQ, or Perception.

Actually this is almost the conical case of Skill based on the flat 10, not Stat.

vsh · 01-26-2010, 01:29 PM

I think that PC's can always evaluate Feint result and Deceptive Attack penalties. If you see a fighter trying to put a dagger in your eye with -4/-2 deceptive attack, you'll know that he's a good one.

01-24-2010, 09:16 AM	#1
Tomsdad Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Brighton	PC's assessing opponent’s skills Hi I've been a lurker for a bit here, Anyway, are there any rules for PC's assessing or otherwise evaluating or estimating an opponent’s skill level? Either as GM to Player "he has broadsword at 18" of to PC "he's better than you / you look about even" etc. I could have sworn there was but I can't find it now. I can make something up like a skill perk which allows you to assess another’s skill, maybe using a perception + skill roll where margin of success is accuracy on estimate. On the whole I'd do this in game terms rather than using metagame figures. Anyway any pointers to already existing rules, or has anyone done anything similar? well I've read all of the "Vehicle design where are you" thread ;) PS where are the smileys?

01-24-2010, 09:23 AM	#2
davidtmoore Join Date: Dec 2009	Re: PC's assessing opponent’s skills Not that I'm aware of. There's the Evaluate maneuver, but that's the melee equivalent of Aim; ie., it gives a bonus to your next attack. If the player wanted to Evaluate to gauge the opponent's ability level rather than get the bonus, I'd probably allow it without requiring a perk or the like, as he's trading one advantage for another. Probably make an IQ-based melee skill roll after one second, and on a success allow a ballpark "Better/Worse/Roughly Equal" description, with a critical failure giving you a misleading impression.

01-24-2010, 09:42 AM	#3
Tomsdad Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Brighton	Re: PC's assessing opponent’s skills Sounds good, I thought I'd seen something in the combat manoeuvres section, but I couldn't find it when I looked again. Making it an option in evaluate seem like a good fit to me. It also fits my idea of two opponents sizing each other up before really going at it. Although I'd rule you'd need to see the skill in action before trying to assess it, maybe give mods for longer evaluation etc.

01-24-2010, 10:03 AM	#4
ed_209a Join Date: Sep 2004	Re: PC's assessing opponent’s skills If you are judging relative skill, I would use the appropriate skill, but paired up with either IQ, or Perception. __________________ “Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E Howard, "The Tower of the Elephant"

01-24-2010, 10:27 AM	#5
Edges Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: GMT-5	Re: PC's assessing opponent’s skills In many competitions (combat included), people will try to get their opponent to underestimate them. You may want to add a special Feint to your rule to model the psych-out.

01-26-2010, 01:29 PM	#8
vsh Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Rostov-on-Don, Russia	Re: PC's assessing opponent’s skills I think that PC's can always evaluate Feint result and Deceptive Attack penalties. If you see a fighter trying to put a dagger in your eye with -4/-2 deceptive attack, you'll know that he's a good one.