Absurdly high skill levels

[Tai]

Originally Posted by Mgellis

If, for example, I want to make a skull shot (-7) at someone 1,000 yards away from me (-14) in poor light (-5), then even if I've got a really good rifle and stop to aim, etc. (about +8, depending on the rifle), I would need a skill of 28- simply to have a 50% chance of hitting.

Actually, let's assume you have a halfway decent sniper build. Let's say you're using a Fine Izhmash 7.62 rifle with the best scope you can buy (6+3Acc), you Aim for two additional seconds beyond what's necessary (+2 Acc), and you're Braced (+1), aiming in that situation (skull shot, 1000 yards away, in poor light, for -7-14-5 total -26). A skill of 24 would be needed to make the shot 50% of the time. If it were important, then further factors may come into play - a sniper with TA (Rifle/Skull) at max (effective +4), taking extra time to perfect the shot (+1 after 6 seconds on a successful roll, and another +1 every doubling after, to the full +5 available), and you only need a 15, for 50% chance.

For every insane quantity of negative modifiers you pile onto a problem, it's likely there's just as many positive modifiers you can add if you approach it right. And if a situation is reasonable common, then many people will buy it as a technique - even if the technique only halves penalties, that goes a long way to making even an 'impossible' task doable.

Of course, if they're practicing 'impossible' tasks to the point where they become routine, then it's not impossible anymore, is it?