GMing Children's Old West TV Show

[ravenfish]

Originally Posted by ACuterTriangle

Does anyone have any suggestions on how Acute Vision would benefit a cowboy with his six-shooter? My brother bought this, but I'm not sure how to make it come into play. Should the level add to search rolls, etc? Can he use it in combat? Would it improve Aim? What is the intended effect?

Acute vision benefits rolls to see something- e.g., "do you spot the bandit hiding in the brush before he gets the drop on you" would be a contest of Perception+Acute Vision versus the bandit's Stealth or Camouflage. Search rolls would often benefit ("Your keen eyes spot a gun-shaped bulge concealed amoung the wrinkles of his coat"), although a pat-down search wouldn't, and tracking and finding traps are explicitly called out as getting the bonus.

Acute vison doesn't benefit rolls to hit a foe (except insofar as spotting the foe is necessary before attacking). If you want preternaturally sharp vision to improve shooting, take Telescopic Vision instead, which does improve Aim. Technically, it's not a realistic advantage for humans, but, in a cinematic campaign, such rules can be slightly bent- and if it's good enough for elves, surely it's good enough for sharp-eyed frontiersmen.


EDIT: Regarding your first question, mounts don't have a stability rating under the rules as written. It might be a reasonable house-rule, however, to allow the horse to attempt a Dexterity roll to prevent a whipeout when the rider fails.