Is Flexibility really that good?

[Dragondog]

Does Flexibility grant +3 to climbing skill at all times?

[PK]

Yep. Unless a bonus is phrased conditionally, just go ahead and apply it right to the skill level, since you'll always be using it.

[Dragondog]

Thanks RPK. That's how I read it, but at only 5 points it seemed really cheep, considering everything else it does too.

[PK]

Originally Posted by Dragondog

Thanks RPK. That's how I read it, but at only 5 points it seemed really cheep, considering everything else it does too.

Honestly, I agree. I'd probably want to nerf it down to +1, myself, if I were redoing the Basic Set. Basically, you're a fool to build a character with 8 points in Climbing, when you could put 1 point in Climbing and spend 5 on Flexibility and come out ahead, both points-wise and effects-wise. But the upshot is that it makes it easier and more affordable to build a cat burglar character, one of the more point-intensive char concepts.

[DouglasCole]

Without disagreeing with what RPK said, you could alternately treat it as a cancellation of penalties due to hard to reach handholds or other difficulties.

So flexibility cancels up to -3 of penalties for hard climbs. It's useless in climbing a knotted rope, for example. As a an Avg technique, a +3 bonus would cost 3pts; having it apply to a few other things make it competitively priced as penalty cancellation, but a point crock as a flat skill bonus.

YMMV.

[aesir23]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Without disagreeing with what RPK said, you could alternately treat it as a cancellation of penalties due to hard to reach handholds or other difficulties.

Good idea. I think that I'll have to adopt that as a house rule!

[LemmingLord]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Without disagreeing with what RPK said, you could alternately treat it as a cancellation of penalties due to hard to reach handholds or other difficulties.

So flexibility cancels up to -3 of penalties for hard climbs.

Bloody brilliant!! Love it!!

[Edges]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Without disagreeing with what RPK said, you could alternately treat it as a cancellation of penalties due to hard to reach handholds or other difficulties.

YMMV.

Yea, it is a good idea.

I've thought Flexibility overpowered too and have reduced it to +2. I prefer DouglasCole's idea.