Prestidigitation

Prestidigitation
Use: Unskilled
Use penalized.
Sample specializations:
Stage
magic, card tricks, pick pocketing, concealing items 
This
is the ability to manipulate small items with slight-of-hand without attracting
any attention, frequently through the use of misdirection to distract the
target. Pickpockets and stage magicians commonly have high skill values in prestidigitation. Prestidigitation uses
the target’s Perception for
the difficulty number, or the target’s find
skill if she is on the alert.
Situational modifiers should be applied by the gamemaster as appropriate, some examples
are provided in the following chart:
PRESTIDIGITATION CHART
Situation Modifier
Watchful
target ready to catch the prestidigitator +4
Suspicious
target +2
Confused
or distracted target -3
Oblivious
target (such as someone who’s asleep) -5
Difficult
act (picking a zipped pocket, concealing a large or bulky object) +1 to +5
Easy
act (palming a small object, sliding a hand into one’s own pocket unnoticed) -1
to -5
The
success level of the prestidigitation total
determines how well the character did. If the prestidigitator earns a minimal or average success,
she successfully conceals or gains hold of the item, but is noticed by the
target. If she has a good success,
the item has been successfully concealed or taken without immediately alerting
the target. With a superior or
spectacular success,
the target will remain unaware for some time about what has happened. All failed
prestidigitation attempts automatically alert the target without acquiring the
item. Prestidigitation may
also be used in place of the trick skill
in situations where the trick involves slight-of-hand. For example, a character
that is cheating at cards could roll on his prestidigitation
skill instead of trick.