Basic Skills

While skill points are indeed the most direct and straightforward way to increase the likelihood of succeeding with your various skills, it is certainly not the only approach available to you. There are many different factors and elements within the game that can apply beneficial modifiers to your skills, which can significantly enhance and further boost your overall likelihood of achieving success during your adventures. Upon character creation, you will likely obtain notable permanent modifiers to specific skills based on your chosen Race. This mechanic is designed to represent something intrinsic that your Race excels at, showcasing their unique strengths. Much like the skill points you receive from your Class, these racial modifiers serve as helpful suggestions regarding how to allocate your skill points if you are aiming to min/max your characters effectively. By utilizing these modifiers wisely, this is how you can achieve a remarkable +10 skill bonus at an early level in the game, setting your character up for success.

Not all modifiers are positive good, however. A “modifier” is an adjustment, and there is no limit to the number of modifiers a character can possess. When determining what your skill bonuses are, you will add together the total number of skill points you have invested in the skill to all positive and negative modifiers that apply to that skill.

For example. If you have 8 skill points in Investigation with a +2 modifier, a +4 modifier, and a -2 modifier, you skill bonus for Investigation would be 11 (8+2+4-2=12).

Many modifiers are often temporary or situational in nature. Some may originate from equipment, while others could stem from spell effects, and there are even instances where a modifier is applied simply because the GM said so. Regardless of the source, it is important to keep things clear and understandable, so to avoid any potential confusion during gameplay, you should diligently write this information down in the “Modifiers” section on your character sheet, directly alongside the corresponding skill it relates to. This way, everyone will be on the same page.

There will likely be moments during your exciting adventure where your character may feel inclined to lend a helping hand to one of their teammates while utilizing a particular skill. This helpful act is known as assisting. Whenever one of your team members attempts to use a skill nearby and is prompted to make a skill check, you can confidently declare that you are going to assist them in their endeavor. When you do, your Game Master (GM) will likely ask you to elaborate on how you intend to assist. This inquiry is primarily for the sake of engaging in roleplay, and the detailed description you provide about how you are assisting can influence the outcome of the skill check result. After this has been established and confirmed, the Player who was originally asked to make their skill check will proceed to do so. Once they have rolled their d20 and added all applicable modifiers to the result, they will then further add an amount to their total, which is equal to 1/2 of YOUR skill bonus for the specific skill that is currently being tested. This ensures that the final outcome accurately reflects their character's proficiency and potential in the given situation.

For example, let's say your ally begins diligently searching a room, and they are asked to make an Investigation skill check to uncover any hidden clues. Your character is nearby, so you excitedly relay to the GM that your character is going to assist their ally with the search to increase the chances of success. Since your skill bonus for Investigation is a solid 12, your ally will get to add an additional +6 modifier to this crucial Investigation check. If the check is successful, your Game Master may thoughtfully narrate the scene as follows: “Annalia, with Scelletum's valuable help, you were able to find very faint footprints, barely visible in the thin layer of dust, leading towards the bedroom window.”

Assisting

Skill checks are used to test your character's ability to effectively utilize the designated skill in the current scenario or situation at hand. When a skill check is prompted, your Game Master (GM) will determine a Required Roll (RR) for that particular skill check and then ask you to make a skill check of a specified nature. For example, the GM might say, “Make an Investigation skill check,” indicating that it's time to engage your character's investigative prowess. You will then roll one 20-sided die, and add your “skill bonus” to that roll. The total of this combination will be your final result for the skill check. If your result is greater than or equal to the RR set by your Game Master, then your character succeeds in what they were attempting to do. If not, unfortunately, then the skill attempt is deemed unsuccessful.

If your character fails a skill check, then this means that, under the current circumstances, they cannot successfully complete the task at hand. To put it simply, you cannot just repeat skill checks over and over again until you magically succeed. In order to re-attempt a skill check, something significant and impactful enough must occur within the scenario to persuade your GM that you should be allowed the chance to try again. This could be a change in conditions, new information, or even unexpected help from an ally.

For example, you might find yourself failing an Investigation skill check while meticulously searching a shadowy room for important clues. Your character, alas, failed to uncover anything of significance, and unfortunately, you cannot simply repeat that check right away to try again. However, since the room is enveloped in darkness, your trusty Priest steps up to cast the Light spell, which brilliantly illuminates the space. This illuminating spell would significantly boost the visibility of the entire room. With the newfound light now flooding the area, your character can see things much more clearly, creating an opportunity to retry their Investigation skill check with much greater chances of success this time around.

Be warned that your Game Master may decide to increase the Required Roll (RR) of a skill check if you have already failed it, particularly in situations where you are attempting to use your Persuasion and Deception skills. Continually trying to influence non-player characters (NPCs) over and over again may not just irritate them, but it could also ultimately make them significantly less likely to trust you going forward. Additionally, there are some scenarios where failing a skill check can directly influence your environment, creating obstacles that make it even more challenging for either yourself or your party to achieve success. Just because you are being given the opportunity to retry a skill check, do not assume that the Required Roll will be the same.

Making a Skill Check

There is no limit to the number of modifiers you can accumulate on any given skill, but there are limits to the total number of skill points you can have in each of your skills. This limitation is determined by the level of your character, which reflects their overall experience and expertise. As your character's level increases, so too does their proficiency with skills. Every 10 character levels, your maximum allowable skill points will increase, according to the chart below.

You cannot have more skill points in any single skill than your current skill point maximum allows. You will gain skill points as your Adventurer Class level increases. The skill points that you obtain through leveling up can be strategically allocated to any skills you desire, allowing for personalized customization of your character’s abilities. However, it's essential to remember that this allocation must be done during the level-up process in which you obtained them. Different Adventurer Classes gain skills at different rates, leading to exciting variations in gameplay and character development.

Try to get some delightful variety with your skills, especially if you are a Class that receives a generous amount of skill points. However, it is recommended that you remain cautious and avoid making yourself too varied, as the age-old saying “Jack of all Trades, master of none” can definitely become a significant factor in your gameplay. Think carefully about what you want your character to excel at, and thoughtfully distribute your skill points accordingly to optimize your character’s strengths and capabilities.

Skill Point Maximum

Brewing

When your character tests their knowledge of alchemy or brews their own alchemical items, they use the Brewing skill. The Required Roll (RR) for checking this skill will be set by your Game Master (GM) based on the situation. If your character is brewing something specific, the RR will depend on what they are trying to create. Each item in the rule book has a preset RR that your GM will use. If the item isn't listed, the GM will decide the RR.

Having a brewing kit will significantly improve your character's ability to make alchemicals, but it's not strictly necessary. If you try to make something without a kit, your Game Master might ask, “What are you using to create this potion?” To mix powders and liquids, you'll need heat and proper containers. Your GM needs to know you have these basics; without them, you can't make the potion. Also, making alchemical mixtures without a brewing kit will give you a -8 penalty on your Brewing skill check. Luckily, brewing kits are usually easy to find in shops or markets in the game.

Gathering brewing materials in the wild is the easiest way to get them. These materials usually include herbs and liquids found in nature. To collect them, you need access to a forest or jungle and spend at least 1 hour searching. After your hunt, your Game Master will have you roll for luck.

• Roll 10 or less: find 1d6 Basic Materials.

• Roll 11-20: find 2d6 Basic and 1d4 Quality Materials.

• Roll 21-30: find 3d6 Basic, 2d4 Quality, and 1 Rare Material.

• Roll 30 or more: find 4d6 Basic, 3d4 Quality, and 2 Rare Materials.

These amounts are collected for each hour spent hunting.

Crafting

This skill is used to create non-magical items and structures. If you're crafting something listed in the rulebook, there will be a set Required Roll (RR) and a materials list provided. Your Game Master will check this information. For something new and original, your Game Master will decide the RR. You can also use this skill to test your knowledge of what can be crafted.

Having a tool kit will help your character make various items, but it’s not strictly required. If you try to create something without one, your Game Master (GM) might ask, “What are you using to make this item?” You’ll need some basic tools at least. Your GM wants to see that you have something to use; otherwise, you can’t create the item. Also, if you create something without a tool kit, you will take a big -8 penalty to your Crafting skill check. Luckily, tool kits are usually easy to find at shops or markets in the game.

Building something complex is a special task. It usually needs hundreds or thousands of materials and cannot be done with just a toolkit. The time it takes for this craft is decided differently. You will talk with your Game Master (GM) about what you want to make, and they will estimate how long it will take. The crafting process is split into parts, and the total materials are divided by the hours needed. Each time you work on it, you must provide the required materials. After you work for the day, the GM will have you roll a skill check. If you fail, the time to finish increases by half the hours you worked that day. Rolling a natural 1 means no progress, while a natural 20 means your progress counts as double the hours worked.