Skill use in Sacrifice 2e
Hello, everyone! I'm back with a quick design question. As you know, during my free time I'm working on Sacrifice 2e, and one of the things that I was wondering about is whether to allow PCs to use a skill even if they don't have it trained. So my gut reaction was to say simply no, you can't use it. But I was thinking this could be a bit harsh and also unrealistic, since everyone might get lucky and make a lucky guess while picking plants, for example. So my solution to this would be to allow PCs to use skills they aren't trained with, but they would make the check with Disadvantage. Remember, Sacrifice uses a D20 ruleset, so this would mean rolling 2D20 and choosing the worst result, trying to hit a Target Number.
So what do you guys think would be best? Please let me know your reasoning in the comments section!
Comments (10)
I just picked ”can use at a disadvantage”, because I always thought it seemed realistic the way “Traveller” used skills…. But I’m okay either way…. Since one of the unique things about TTRPGs is that you can change something if it works better for you to do it another way🤔
Yeah it's obvious that most think you should be able to use an untrained skill, so that's what I'm going for!
I have voted for “chars cannot use untrained skill”. Usually, for trivial/simple operation i dont even use a skill check! Example is: to give water to a tomato plant i do not need to be a gardener! As a general rule for my game session, as a gm or solo player, i ask for skill checks only if the task is not very simple or out of common knowledge.
Yes, that's the approach I like as well. This would be for things like Stealth, or whatever. You might get lucky and just happen to hide on the right spot. Thanks for the feedback!
i have never been trained in playing a hurdy gurdy, but by golly if i got one, i'd try... and yes, very likely make an atrocious racket. but then, mebbe not... i didn't screech when first picking up a violin. i'd lean with a disadvantage. or even a severe disadvantage for very difficult/specific skills, like brain surgery. i can open up someone's head, and scoop out stuff i don't think looks right, but odds are more likely i'd make a mess than me playing a hurdy gurdy somewhat correctly the first time. :D
Haha yeah, I might need to do this on a skill by skill basis.
I think it would be more realistic if PCs were unable to use skills they haven't learned. Maybe there could be a mechanic that allows them to try anyway, but with a severe disadvantage or a hefty penalty to reflect their lack of expertise.
Yeah, that's what I'm leaning towards. With the exception of some skills that regardless of how much luck you have you wouldn't be able to use.
It seems sensible to allow the use of untrained skills, albeit there could be a specific set (lore or knowledges) that could require training to even try.
That's a nice compromise, yeah!