Combat- Why not contests of skills?

[stilleon]

Originally Posted by Kromm

No, wrong. See Base Skill vs. Effective Skill (p. B171). Almost all skills work at +4 or better outside of adventuring situations. This is why an ordinary Joe can get a job with skill 10-12, and why most people really have only default level at most of the things they do.

I don't even give a die roll for most of these situations. Much like the take 20 rule in the d20 system I assume that if you have a lot of time, it is not apressure situation and the desired result of the skill is average or better you just do it. However, under pressure or working on something difficult or unknown I would give the roll. This way, a doctor skill level 10 treats the common cold all the time with no real chance of critically failing, while if he encounters a disease that is not common or has to work on battlefield conditions then you roll.

I just like to get away from rolling everything and concentrate on story.