Balance Check on Houserule [Archive] - Wizards Community

Balance Check on Houserule [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Hooper
04-23-08, 03:57 PM Do you feel that this houserule we use is decently balanced? If not, suggestions:

New Feat:

Multitasker - Combine your skill ranks in 'Hide' and 'Move Silently' into the new skill 'Stealth' and combine your skill ranks in 'Spot' and 'Listen' into the new skill 'Perception.' After adding these ranks, if you have more than your maximum skill ranks allow at your current level, you may spend the leftover points as if free skill points (but they must be spent immediately). The new skills can make checks in place of all checks that required their two old skills.
StevenO
04-23-08, 07:25 PM I would just simplify the whole matter and just use a Stealth skill in place of Hide and Move Silently and a Perception Skill in place of your Spot/Listen.

If you are familiar with the new StarWars Saga Edition it takes many of the old skills and combines them into a much smaller set of skills. To keep things balanced you'd need to reduce the skill alotment for some classes a little but otherwise it would work fine.
ToastedAmphibian
04-23-08, 10:09 PM You should note that, either way, you swing the statistcal balnce more in favor of the sneaker than the perciever. Normally, to move undetected, you need to win 2 opposed checks. All things equal, that a 1/4 chance of sucessfully moving past unnoticed. Now they only need to succed on one check. Now, aginst an equally skilled opponnent, they have a 1/2 chance of sucess.

I think the way it normally is handled gives an intentional bonus to the observer, to balance iout the fact that specializing in an active skill, sneaking, is alot more fun and usefull than specializing in a passive skill, noticing things. The sneaker gets to do things, the noticer gets to notice that other people are doing things. Which one do you think more people will specialize in?

Also, if you try to sneak past people often, in RL, youll notice that chance tends to favor the people your trying to sneak past more than it favors you. I think the current system reflects this as well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Hooper 04-23-08, 03:57 PM	Do you feel that this houserule we use is decently balanced? If not, suggestions: New Feat: Multitasker - Combine your skill ranks in 'Hide' and 'Move Silently' into the new skill 'Stealth' and combine your skill ranks in 'Spot' and 'Listen' into the new skill 'Perception.' After adding these ranks, if you have more than your maximum skill ranks allow at your current level, you may spend the leftover points as if free skill points (but they must be spent immediately). The new skills can make checks in place of all checks that required their two old skills.
StevenO 04-23-08, 07:25 PM	I would just simplify the whole matter and just use a Stealth skill in place of Hide and Move Silently and a Perception Skill in place of your Spot/Listen. If you are familiar with the new StarWars Saga Edition it takes many of the old skills and combines them into a much smaller set of skills. To keep things balanced you'd need to reduce the skill alotment for some classes a little but otherwise it would work fine.
ToastedAmphibian 04-23-08, 10:09 PM	You should note that, either way, you swing the statistcal balnce more in favor of the sneaker than the perciever. Normally, to move undetected, you need to win 2 opposed checks. All things equal, that a 1/4 chance of sucessfully moving past unnoticed. Now they only need to succed on one check. Now, aginst an equally skilled opponnent, they have a 1/2 chance of sucess. I think the way it normally is handled gives an intentional bonus to the observer, to balance iout the fact that specializing in an active skill, sneaking, is alot more fun and usefull than specializing in a passive skill, noticing things. The sneaker gets to do things, the noticer gets to notice that other people are doing things. Which one do you think more people will specialize in? Also, if you try to sneak past people often, in RL, youll notice that chance tends to favor the people your trying to sneak past more than it favors you. I think the current system reflects this as well.