Collated Errata + FAQ queries

I see the confusion. The Perform skill instructs you to choose a focci. the implication of this is that you can make perform checks with that focus. However, the Skill Foci section on page 107 says:

A character with levels in a skill may make use of all of its Foci.

However, Speak Language has its own special section that says that each language is tracked separately. Perform does not. So I’d be inclined to let you use your perform ranks on any of the individual foci. (As ridiculous as it may sound to say that ranks in Perform(Dance) would carry over into Perform(Wind Instruments).)

A very interesting catch. Looking back at First Edition, it looks as though Perform foci should work exactly like the Trained Knowledge focus from Scholarship, with each “focus” being a specific field of study.

Scott, I’m not so sure I’d be so willing to treat them as standard foci, no more than I would let Scholarship (Biology) overlap with Scholarship (Politics). It would depend greatly on the character and the campaign. I think the special condition for Trained Knowledge should apply here too. It seems to be a much easier solution than disallowing any overlap whatsoever.

At least, that’s what I’m going to do in my home game.

Tom

So what skill function where each Focus requires it’s own ranks?

Perform
Scholarship

Any other skills?

Thanks Eric.

During creation, if you have gain the same focus twice, I’m assuming the second one does nothing?

Do mean like from your Background and your Order? If so, then you only get the Skill Rank unless if it something like Trained Knowledge where you can pick.

Can I make a suggestion? Assuming someone wanted to be a cheese master they could save their survival points until after their first few adventures and get attributes and skills above 4 very early.

I think the errata or campaign guide should say that you can’t have an attribute or skill above four before using a minimum of 400 survival points. Or 300 maybe, but then someone with flaws can hoard their 100 points.

I think Devin is suggesting that by not spending, say 150 or 200 survival points from character creation that you could get to a 5 stat relatively early in your adventuring career. If my understanding of the issue is accurate, then I submit that this is not a problem. The benefit of going from a 4 attribute to a 5 is, in my opinion, not as important as the opportunity cost. In order to do that, you give up having a significant number of skill ranks and/or talents. And those forgone skills and talents are worth more, in my opinion, than the extra die or higher limit that you get from having a 5 attribute.

I wouldn’t worry about it. I don’t see it as abusive or broken. In fact, I think it sets you back on the power curve. The opportunity cost of a 5 attribute (like the rent) is just too d@#^ high.

Scott
(wonders if anyone will get the reference.)

Wow… I didn’t know that someone made a song out of it. In hindsight, I should have expected it. But like the Spanish Inquisition, it just took me by surprise. Thanks!

Scott

I worked hard to get many Attributes to 3-4 at character generation, but can’t see the benefits of trying to get many 4’s or 5’s early on. Your skills won’t be high enough for a long time to truly take advantage of them. 3 seems to be a sweet spot and having a 2 in an attribute really seems to be a limiting factor for any skill you plan to use regularly.

This did mean starting with fewer skills and talents, but accumulating SP to buy those will happen faster than raising attributes, particularly at 5-10 SP a game.

John