In capelastegui/sfrpg: Square Fireballs RPG

Skills

Skills are the system used to resolve game interactions that are not directly related to combat. From climbing a steep cliff, to sneaking past the guards or negotiating a treaty with a foreign representative, there is a wide variety of actions that are handled with skills.

There are 12 Skills in the game. Each skill has an associated ability modifier

Skill | Ability | Summary -- | -- | --- Athletics | Strength | Sprinting, Climbing, Swimming Authority | Strength | Intimidation, Leadership, Military Concentration | Constitution | Study, Craftsmanship, Art Endurance | Constitution | Stamina, Wakefulness, Survival Finesse | Dexterity | Balance, Tumbling, Lockpicking Stealth | Dexterity | Hiding, Secrets, Ciphers Perception | Wisdom | Observation, Empathy, Memory Nature | Wisdom | Flora, Fauna, Environment, Healing Diplomacy | Charisma | Rethoric, Etiquette, Politics Trickery | Charisma | Lying, Gossip, Forgery Arcana | Intelligence | Magic, Science, Cosmology Lore | Intelligence | History, Geography, Law

Using a Skill

Using a skill in the game takes the following steps: - During the game, the GM describes a challenge that the PCs need to overcome, or a PC states an action that they want to take. - The GM can decide that the problem is trivial for the PCs. In this case, they automatically succeed without need for a Skill Check. - Otherwise, the GM sets a base Skill Check Difficulty for this task. - PCs explain how they plan to handle the task, and negotiate with the GM which Skills they will use and whether this will take one or more checks. Depending of the proposed solutions, the GM may choose to adjust the Skill Check Difficulty - A PC rolls a Skill Check. See the [Skill Checks] section below for details on how to resolve this, and how to manage successes and failures.

**Tip:** Even when a situation does not call for a skill check, you can still have fun with it. Players are encouraged to narrate and roleplay their PCs handling routine tasks, if they wish.

**GM Tip:** GMs should be flexible and open to innovative ideas. The purpose of the Skill system is not to have players guess the GM's preferred solution to a given problem, but to generate interesting situations for the characters and provide some uncertainty and excitement about outcomes. GMs should encourage and reward players who come up with unexpected solutions, as long as they make sense. That said, if a player proposes something that clearly won't work, it is fine to raise the difficulty or tell them that they can't succeed this way.

Skill Training

Some actions are only available to characters with an appropriate level of training in a skill. These are the levels of training that a character can have in a skill:

• Untrained. This the level that most characters have with a skill. Untrained characters have not received any formal training with a skill, but they can still attempt basic tasks associated with it, and succeed with a bit of luck and natural talent.
• Trained. Characters Trained with a skill have spent significant time practicing it, and can be considered experts in the area. Trained characters rarely make errors on mundane tasks related to their skill of choice, and with effort and luck, they can even succeed on advanced actions out of the reach of amateurs.
• Master. Skill Masters are individuals of extraordinary talent who have become famous for their prowess with a particular skill.
• Grandmaster. Very few mortals ever reach this level of proficiency. The feats that Grandmasters can achieve are the stuff of legends.

**Tip:** Typically, the Master category is only available for characters of Paragon Tier or higher, and the Grandmaster category for Epic Tier characters.

Skill Check Difficulty

The following table shows the Skill Check target value (also known as DC, or Difficulty Class) associated with each difficulty level:

For a detailed description of the [Ability Skill Bonus], see the Character Building chapter

Abreviation | Check level | DC | Req. Training | Morale cost -- | -- | -- | -- | -- R | Routine | - |   |   E | Easy | 8 |   | 1 on Failure M | Medium | 13 |   | 1 on Failure H | Hard | 18 |   | 1 on Failure VH | Very Hard | 23 | Trained | 1 on Failure I | Legendary | 28 | Master | 2 on Failure I | Impossible | 33 | Grandmaster | 2 on Failure

The Req. Training column shows the minimum Skill Training level required to attempt a check at that difficulty.

The Morale Cost column shows the amount of Morale that is lost on a failed check.

The Skill Difficulty levels are described as follows: - Easy - Anyone can do it, but an untrained character may sometimes fail this or require extra time or help - Medium - Non-trivial effort for untrained characters, trained characters will handle it most of the time. - Hard - This is the most an individual without special training can achieve, with luck. Requires effort even from experts. - Very Hard - Experts can sometimes accomplish this, with luck. - Legendary - Something only the best in the world could do, on a good day. - Impossible - Normally considered out of reach for mortals.

**Tip:** Typically, Skill Difficulty goes up to Very Hard for Heroic Tier characters, up to Legendary for Paragon Tier characters, and up to Impossible for Epic Tier characters.

Skill Checks

To resolve a Skill Check is to roll a d20, add the character's bonus to that check (if any) and any modifiers that apply, and compare the result with a target number. If the result is equal or greater than the target number, the check is a success, otherwise, the check is a failure.

For each skill, the associated Skill Bonus is generated as follows:

Skill Bonus = Ability Skill Bonus + Skill Training Bonus + Armor Penalty + Other Modifiers

For a detailed description of the [Ability Skill Bonus], see the Character Building chapter

Armor Penalty: Some types of armor have an Armor Penalty value (typically -1). This penalty applies to Skill Checks for Athletics, Endurance, Finesse, and Stealth. See the [Armor] section in the [Character Building] chapter for details on the Armor Penalty associated with each type of armor.

The d20 roll may be replaced with a [roleplaying die roll], as explained below.

Skill Check Modifiers

The following modifiers apply to a Skill Check

Description | Modifier --- | -- Character previously failed same check | +1 DC Allies previously failed same check twice | +1 DC Advantage | +2 Demoralized | -2 Escalation Die | -Die Value

A character is Demoralized when reduced to 0 Morale.

Escalation Die in Skill Checks

Even in a non-combat encounter, the GM should keep track of player actions. When all PCs have taken an action (or decided not to), a new round starts. At the start of the third round, the GM takes a special d4 called the Escalation Die and sets it to 1. This value increases on each turn thereafter. When taking a Skill Check, apply a penalty equal to the value of the Escalation Die. This represents increased pressure on the characters due to urgency or weariness.

See [Escalation Die] in the [Introduction] chapter for more details.

Skill Check failure

The main outcome of a failed Skill Check is that the character fails to achieve whatever they were trying to do. Depending on the situation, they may try again with some penalty or by trying a different approach, or that path may be closed to them altogether. When a party has exhausted other options, they may use the [Fail Forward] action (explained below) to move on from a failed challenge, at a cost

Another consequence of failing a Skill Check is the loss of Morale. Morale is a limited resource that PCs have, related to the use of skills, that is replenished by resting. Characters running out of Morale suffer penalties and may lose Stamina if they fail further Skill Checks. See the [Adventuring] chapter for more details.

• Morale rules summary:
• Recover all Morale when taking a Short Rest, Long Rest or Full Rest.
• Characters with 0 Morale gain a -2 penalty to Skill Checks
• Lose 1 Morale when failing a Skill Check.
• Spend 1 or more Morale when performing a Ritual.
• Some types of Skill Check have an additional Morale cost. See skill description for more details.
• If at any point a character would spend or lose Morale but has no Morale left, they take a Morale Saving Throw for each point of Morale lost. For each failure, they lose 1 Stamina.

Roleplaying die roll

With the GM's consent, players participating in a Skill Check that involves interaction with other characters, or where planning is important may replace the usual method of resolving Skill Checks with a Roleplaying Die Roll.

In a Roleplaying Die Roll, instead of rolling a D20, have the players describe in detail the actions the carry out to solve the problem. The GM then judges their performance based on the quality of the solution, and modifies the result based on roleplaying considerations.

Roleplaying Die Roll = Solution Score + Roleplaying Modifier

Solution Score: Use the following values instead of the check d20, based on the GM's judgement:

• Terrible: The described solution fails to address the challenge: Automatic failure
• Below Average: The described solution only addresses the challenge partially, or under specific conditions: 6+1d4
• Good: The described solution fully addresses the challenge: 11+1d4
• Excellent: The described solution fully addresses the challenge, in a particularly imaginative or effective way: 16+1d4

Roleplaying Modifier: Apply the following modifiers based on the GM's judgement of the role playing:

• The described solution is out of place for the character, given their background and personality: Automatic failure
• The described solution slightly conflicts with the character’s background or personality: -2
• The described solution matches the character’s background and personality: +0
• The described solution provides new and relevant insight about the character’s background and personality: +2

Once the Roleplaying Die Roll is resolved, add the Skill Bonus and compare with the target difficulty as usual:

Skill Check (with Roleplaying Die) = Roleplaying Die Roll + Skill Bonus

**Tip:** Roleplaying Die Rolls are completely optional - use them if your group enjoys them, and ignore them otherwise. All skill checks involve describing the characters' actions to some degree, so in the end, it is up to the GM to decide when to allow this method. That said, we recommend the following guidelines: - Default to d20 rolls, and use roleplaying die rolls only at a players' request. - Roleplaying die rolls are best suited for social interactions, but can be used in other situations when the GM agrees that they make sense. - If the GM perceives that a particular player makes excessive use of this system, it is fine to limit its use per game session.

Skill Actions

The following actions are available to PCs on Skill Encounters:

• Simple Skill Check
• Standard Action
• Check: Choose a relevant Skill, and make a check using the Base DC for the challenge.
• Success: Gain +1 Progress for this challenge
• Option: With the GM's approval, the PC may increase DC by 1 to gain an additional +1 Progress on a successful check.
• Partial Skill Check
• Standard Action
• Check: Choose a relevant Skill, and make a check using the Base DC for the challenge minus 1.
• Success: For each 3 successes in a Partial Skill Check, gain +1 Progress for this challenge.
• Special: This can be attempted multiple times per encounter, and the same Skill may be reused, but each attempt needs to focus on a different part of the problem
• Skill Assist
• Standard Action
• Check: Choose a Skill Check that a character will make this encounter, and a relevant Skill different that the one that will be used for that check. Make a check using the Base DC for the challenge minus 1.
• Success: The next character to make the chosen Skill Check gains Advantage (+2 to the Skill Check).
• Skill Recovery
• Standard Action
• Check: After an ally has failed a Skill Check, choose a relevant Skill not used on that check, and make a check using the Base DC for the challenge minus 1.
• Success: Choose one of the following:
  • Choose one of the characters that made the failed check. If that character lost Morale in that check, they recover 1 Morale.
  • Ignore the failed check for the purposes of determining check penalties the next time a character attempts that check this encounter.
• Gain time
• Standard Action
• Check: Choose a relevant Skill, and make a check using the Base DC for the challenge minus 1.
• Success: Prevent any increases of the Escalation Die next turn.
• Special: This can be attempted multiple times per encounter, but a different Skill must be used each time
• Gather Information
• Standard Action
• Check: Choose a relevant Skill, and make a check using the Base DC for the challenge minus 2.
• Success: Gain clues for challenge, or find out about new options to solve problem.
• Option: This may be taken as a Minor Action by increasing its DC by 1.

Fail Forward

There is also a special action that can only be used if all participating PCs agree: - Fail Forward - The Skill Challenge ends. Each participating PC spends 1 Stamina to have a Short Rest - At the GM's discretion, the challenge is overcome or a new path presents itself so that the characters can progress. The characters suffer a minor loss in the context of the story. - Minor loss examples: Wasted time, lost equipment, displeased NPCs, embarrassment, inconveniences.

Players are encouraged to use Fail Forward once other options have been exhausted, or once all characters become Demoralized.

Skill Challenges

Some times, a GM may present PCs with a complex non-combat scenario that requires several skill checks to succeed - we call this a Skill Challenge. The GM describes the situation and explains one or more problems that need solving, and the PCs attempt Skill Checks. To succeed in a Skill Challenge, a party needs to reach a certain amount of Progress points: an encounter starts at 0 Progress, the party increases their progress by succeeding at Skill Checks, and the encounter ends when the party reaches a set amount or progress, or gives up.

The table below shows appropriate encounters by party level:

Level | Challenge Tier | Required progress | Skill Difficulty - | -- | - | -- 1 | Basic | 3 | Normal 3 | Basic, Long | 5 | Normal 6 | Heroic | 3 | Hard 11 | Heroic, Long | 5 | Hard 16 | Paragon | 3 | Very Hard 21 | Paragon, Long | 5 | Very Hard 26 | Epic | 3 | Legendary 31 | Epic, Long | 5 | Legendary 36 | Impossible | 3 | Impossible

Adjustments by party size:

• Assumption: Default party size is 4 to 6
• 1 PC: Required Progress of 3 becomes 1, and 5 becomes 2.
• 2-3 PCs: -1 Required Progress
• 7-8 PCs: +1 Required Progress

Partial success: If the players achieve more than half the required Progress for the encounter, they should achieve partial success (determined by the GM). Any negative consequences due to Fail Forward should be mitigated if partial success is reached.

Roleplaying die roll

With the GM's consent, players participating in a Skill Check that involves interaction with other characters, or where planning is important may replace the usual method of resolving Skill Checks with a Roleplaying Die Roll.

In a Roleplaying Die Roll, instead of rolling a D20, have the players describe in detail the actions the carry out to solve the problem. The GM then judges their performance based on the quality of the solution, and modifies the result based on roleplaying considerations.

Roleplaying Die Roll = Solution Score + Roleplaying Modifier

Solution Score: Use the following values instead of the check d20, based on the GM's judgement:

• Terrible: The described solution fails to address the challenge: Automatic failure
• Below Average: The described solution only addresses the challenge partially, or under specific conditions: 6+1d4
• Good: The described solution fully addresses the challenge: 11+1d4
• Excellent: The described solution fully addresses the challenge, in a particularly imaginative or effective way: 16+1d4

Roleplaying Modifier: Apply the following modifiers based on the GM's judgement of the role playing:

• The described solution is out of place for the character, given their background and personality: Automatic failure
• The described solution slightly conflicts with the character’s background or personality: -2
• The described solution matches the character’s background and personality: +0
• The described solution provides new and relevant insight about the character’s background and personality: +2

Once the Roleplaying Die Roll is resolved, add the Skill Bonus and compare with the target difficulty as usual:

Skill Check (with Roleplaying Die) = Roleplaying Die Roll + Skill Bonus 

capelastegui/sfrpg documentation built on June 13, 2022, 1:38 a.m.