Insight Bonus to Encounters

[zedturtle]

I've seen mention of this idea before and wanting to know what people's preferences for implementation were. Right now, I'm thinking +1 to all rolls for the character on an ordinary success, a -2 to the TN (just for that character), and both benefits for an extraordinary success. Of course, this is a simple +1/+2/+3 in other guise. I'm hoping that it encourages more use of social skills, since it's a steady bonus to all attempts.

Is there a better system already out there?

[Rich H]

Like the Battle roll at the beginning of combat, roll Insight at the beginning of an Encounter, on an ordinary success you get 1 success die to use later in the Encounter, a great success gives 2 success dice, and an extraordinary success gives 3.

You could also go with something nifty with regard to setting the TN of the Insight test depending on the 'terrain' of the Encounter... Maybe something along the lines of scaling the TN based upon the Tolerance of the Encounter, for example:

Tolerance of 1 - 2, sets Insight TN of 18
Tolerance of 3 - 4, sets Insight TN of 16
Tolerance of 5 - 6, sets Insight TN of 14
Tolerance of 7+, sets Insight TN of 12

(Working from memory; can't remember if you can get a Tolerance of zero).

[zedturtle]

Yeah, my thought on the the bonus dice was that Lore for Journrys works differently than Battle for combat; I was trying to come up with a third way that fit with those two.

I do like your terrain idea; I was going to adjust TN based on cultural match but basing it on tolerance is a better idea.

[Andrew]

Francesco posted something similar on his blog a few years back...

[Rich H]

Yeah, my thought on the the bonus dice was that Lore for Journrys works differently than Battle for combat; I was trying to come up with a third way that fit with those two.

It will be interesting to see if those Lore rolls are altered in the Revised Rules to align to Battle and if Insight is added as well.

I do like your terrain idea; I was going to adjust TN based on cultural match but basing it on tolerance is a better idea.

I (occasionally) have my moments of inspiration. Glad you like it though.

[Rich H]

Francesco posted something similar on his blog a few years back...

Interesting. Wonder if during that time he's decided to add them to the RAW. Care to confirm or deny, Andrew?

[Andrew]

No.

[Rich H]

No.

Bugger. Can't blame us for asking!

[Andrew]

It was shorter than typing, "keep an eye on the website - we'll be revealing more in the coming weeks."

Oh now look what you've made me do.

[Rich H]

It was shorter than typing, "keep an eye on the website - we'll be revealing more in the coming weeks."

Oh now look what you've made me do.

... Thought I'd 'Sauroned' my Persuade test, but I'll take that as an ordinary success!