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Old 06-06-2016, 03:01 PM   #1
Themoopanator
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Default [3e] Another Question - Skills above 16 ?

Sorry- I literally just posted a question but have come back for another that has been niggling me. (I am using 3rd edition)

I cannot seem to remember (if I knew at all) the point in bringing a skill level over 16. E.g. if your character had 10DX and +6 archery, what is the point in bringing your archery or even your DX up any more if you have got all other DX skills to +6 ? Is there some rule that I haven't seen or can't remember since rolls 17 and 18 are always a critical fail.

Can someone point me in the right direction ? Thanks.
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Old 06-06-2016, 03:24 PM   #2
johndallman
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Default Re: [3e] Another Question - Skills above 16 ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Themoopanator View Post
I cannot seem to remember (if I knew at all) the point in bringing a skill level over 16. E.g. if your character had 10DX and +6 archery, what is the point in bringing your archery or even your DX up any more if you have got all other DX skills to +6 ? Is there some rule that I haven't seen or can't remember since rolls 17 and 18 are always a critical fail.
This is the same in 3e and 4e. An effective skill of 16 means you only critically fail on an 18, and fail normally on a 17. You also critically succeed on a 6.

The benefit of skills over 16 is that you can take penalties to the skill roll and still have a good chance of success. For Archery, where you'll normally be taking range penalties, high skill is very useful. For example, at 10 yards, quite close range, the range penalty is -4, so with skill 16, you'll be rolling against 12. But if you have skill 18, you'll be rolling against 14, which significantly reduces the chance of missing.
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Old 06-06-2016, 03:24 PM   #3
(E)
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Default Re: [3e] Another Question - Skills above 16 ?

Penalties are the reason for skills above 16. Archery for example, in poor light (-2) at vitals (-2) at range x (-6) unsuspecting target (+4) results in a penalty of 6 points off the roll to hit. Skill 16 needs to roll a 10 or lower to hit.
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Old 06-06-2016, 03:54 PM   #4
DouglasCole
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Default Re: [3e] Another Question - Skills above 16 ?

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Originally Posted by (E) View Post
Penalties are the reason for skills above 16. Archery for example, in poor light (-2) at vitals (-2) at range x (-6) unsuspecting target (+4) results in a penalty of 6 points off the roll to hit. Skill 16 needs to roll a 10 or lower to hit.
Yeah, this. I have a post on my blog that shows what you can and can't do with ranged weapon skills at various levels. It's 4e, but the basic theory holds, even if the values are off.
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