Skill

**Skills** represent the character's ability to perform non-attack actions. These skills can be used in or out of combat and in a variety of ways. They are used by rolling a d20  and adding various modifiers to meet a DC or opposed to another creatures roll. A character's competence in a given skill is measured in "Skill Ranks" and modified by ability scores, conditions, equipment, and other influences. At each level, a character gets skill points from their class (plus (Int) Modifier) that are used to buy skill ranks.

To make a skill check, roll:

To succeed at a skill, the roll total must either equal or exceed a target number (Dice Check; DC) or be compered to another skill roll (opposed check). In some cases, players may choose to forgo the roll and take a 10 (adding a flat 10 to their skill modifier) or take a 20 (adding a flat 20 to their skill modifier), but there are special circumstances that must exist before this can be done.

**Skill Ranks:** A character's ranks in a skill is based on the number of skill points the character has invested in the skill. Some skills can be used even if the character has no ranks in the skill; doing this is known as making an untrained skill check.

**Ability Modifier:** The ability modifier used in the skill check is the modifier for the skill's key ability (the ability associated with the skill's use). The key ability of a skill is noted in its description.

**Miscellaneous Modifiers:** Miscellaneous modifiers include bonuses provided by feats and class features, and penalties such as the ones associated with the nonproficient use of armor, among others. Remember, only one of a type of bonus can be applied to a given roll except where noted in Modifier Types and Stacking.

## Skill Ranks

Ranks indicate how much training or experience a character has with a given skill. Each skill has a number of ranks, from 0 (for a skill in which a character has no training at all) to 23 (for a 20th-level character who has increased a class skill to its maximum rank). Characters gain ranks by leveling up in Classes where they are given a certain number of '**skill points** to spend + their (Int) modifier every level. At level 1, a character will also start with the listed number in the class + their (Int) modifier and multiply it by 4:

`(class points + (Int) Mod) * 4.`
### Class Skills

**Class Skills** are indicated in the class description. Once a character takes a level in a class, the class skills will remain such permanently for the purpose of maximum ranks, but not for the cost of skill *points* for skill *ranks*.

If the character buys a **Class Skill**, she gets 1 rank in the skill for each skill point spent. The maximum ranks in a class skill is equal to character level + 3. Skills selected from Occupations are always class skills for point cost and maximum ranks.
If the character buys a **Cross-Class skill**, she gets 1/2 rank per skill point. Half ranks are rounded down when making a skill check. The maximum ranks in a cross-class skill is one-half of character level + 3, that is:
`(Character Level + 3) / 2.`
The rules assume that a character can always find a way to learn any skill. However, the GM can impose limits depending on circumstances and a given situation.

## Skill Checks

Unlike with attack rolls and saving throws, a natural 20  on the d20 is not an automatic success when making a skill check, and a natural 1  is not an automatic failure.

Skill checks are made in two ways: against a **difficulty class** (pre set target number) or **opposed** to another roll.

All Skill checks involve time. Sometimes this only takes a move action, sometimes it will take hours. Many checks (especially Crafting) also involve cost or materials to be used up. Failing these checks often means the cost must be made again or material is wasted and must be acquired again.

Some skills can be used only if the character is trained in the skill while others allow anyone to use them any time.

### Difficulty Class

Some checks are made against a Difficulty Class (DC). The DC is a number set by the GM (using the skill rules as a guideline) that a character must attain to succeed.

### Opposed Checks

Some **skill** checks are opposed checks. They are made against a randomized number, usually another character's skill check result.

For ties on opposed checks, the character with the higher key ability score wins. If those scores are the same, roll again.

### Trying Again

If a character fails on a skill check, he or she can sometimes try again. Check the skill description to find out if, and under what circumstances, a character can try again. Many skills, however, have natural consequences for failing that must be accounted for. Some skills can't be tried again once a check has failed for a particular task.

If the use of a skill carries no penalty for failure, a character can take a 20 and assume that he or she keeps trying until he or she eventually succeeds, but with increased costs and time.

### Untrained Skill Checks

Some skills can be used only if the character is trained in the skill. Skills that require training will be marked with a T (SkillT). A character is trained if they have one or more ranks in that skill. If training is required, the character cannot attempt any checks. Some skills may have a mix of checks: some that required training and some that do not. All Knowledge checks required training.

Skills that do not require training will not be marked with a may be attempted normally. If a character attempts to use a skill he or she doesn't have any ranks in, the character makes a skill check normally, but the character's skill modifier doesn't include skill ranks because the character doesn't have any, or bonuses that come from synergies, or aid another. The character does get other modifiers, though, such as the ability modifier for the skill's key ability, conditions, and equipment bonuses.

### Favorable and Unfavorable Conditions

Some situations may make a skill easier or harder to use, resulting in a bonus or penalty to the skill modifier or a change to the skill check's DC.

The GM can alter the odds of success in four ways to take into account exceptional circumstances:

1. Give the skill user a +2 circumstance bonus to represent conditions that improve performance, such as having the perfect tool for the job, getting help from another character, or working under conditions that are significantly better than normal.
2. Give the skill user a -2 circumstance penalty to represent conditions that hamper performance, such as being forced to use improvised tools or possessing misleading information.
3. Reduce the DC by 2 to represent circumstances that make the task easier, such as having a friendly audience when making a Perform check or searching for information on an extremely well documented topic with a Computer Use check.
4. Increase the DC by 2 to represent circumstances that make the task harder, such as making a Perform check in front of a hostile audience or searching for information on a very poorly documented topic with a Computer Use check.

Conditions that affect a character's ability to perform the skill change the character's skill modifier. Conditions that modify how well the character must perform the skill to succeed change the DC. A bonus on a character's skill modifier or a reduction in the DC of the check have the same result-they create a better chance for success. But they represent different circumstances, and sometimes that difference is important.

### Time and Skill Checks

Using a skill might take a round, several rounds, or even longer. It might take no time at all. Types of actions define how long activities take to perform within the framework of a combat round (6 seconds) and how movement is treated with respect to the activity. See the skill description for specifies on how long a skill takes to use.

In general, using a skill that requires concentration while in close combat is dangerous. Nearby opponents can make attacks of opportunity against a character when he or she lets his or her guard down.

### Tools

Some skill applications require the use of tools. If tools are needed, the specific items required are mentioned in the skill description. If the character doesn't have the appropriate tools, he or she can still attempt to use the skill, but the character takes a -4 penalty on his or her check.

A character may be able to put together some impromptu tools to make the check. If the GM allows it, reduce the penalty to -2 (instead of -4) for using impromptu tools. It usually takes some time (several minutes to an hour or more) to collect or create a set of impromptu tools, and it may require a skill check as well.

## Checks without Rolls

A skill check represents an attempt to accomplish some goal, usually in the face of time pressure or distraction. When rolling skill checks, there is no auto confirm for rolling a natural 20  or auto failure for rolling a natural 1 . There are times that a character either does not have enough bonus to hit the minimum DC even on a natural 20 or they have enough bonus to the roll that the minimum is greater than the DC even on a natural 1. Sometimes, though, a character can use a skill under more favorable conditions and eliminate the luck factor. Action Points cannot be used to improve the result when taking 10 or 20.

### Taking 10

When a character is not being threatened or distracted, he or she may choose to take 10. Instead of rolling 1d20 for the skill check, calculate the result as if the character had rolled a 10 (an average roll on a d20). For many relatively routine tasks, taking 10 results in a success.

Distractions and threats make it impossible for a character to take 10. A character also can't take 10 when using a skill untrained, though the GM may allow exceptions for truly routine activities.

### Taking 20

Taking 20 is the equivalent of attempting the check over and over again until the character gets it right. Taking 20 takes twenty times as long as making a single check (2 minutes for a skill that can normally be checked in 1 round). Instead of rolling 1d20 for the skill check, calculate the result as if the character had rolled a 20.

A player can only take 20 when:

1. The character has plenty of time (20 times longer than the standard check)
2. Is faced with no threats or distractions
3. The skill being attempted carries no penalty for failure

## Aiding Another

In some situations, characters can cooperate to accomplish a given task. One character is designated as the leader in the effort, while the others try to aid the character in his or her efforts. A character aids another by making a skill check (DC 10). This is an attack action unless the skill would take longer, and the character can't take 10 or 20 on this check. If the check succeeds, the character's ally gains a +2 circumstance bonus to apply to his or her skill check to complete the task.

In many cases, a character's help won't be beneficial, or only a limited number of characters can help at the same time. The GM limits aid another attempts as she sees fit for the conditions.

## Skill Synergy

Sometimes, the GM may decide that having one skill provides a bonus when a character uses another skill in certain situations. The character must have at least 5 ranks in the related skill to gain this synergy bonus, and the GM must agree that the two skills can complement each other in the given situation. In such cases, the character receives a +2 synergy bonus on the skill check.

## Ability Checks

Sometimes a character tries to do something to which no specific skill applies. In these cases, the character makes an ability check: Roll 1d20 and apply the appropriate ability modifier. The GM assigns a DC, or sets up an opposed check when two characters are engaged in a contest using one ability against another. In some cases, a test of one's ability doesn't involve luck. When two characters arm wrestle, for example, the stronger character simply wins. In the case of identical scores, make opposed Strength checks.

## Modifier Types and Stacking

A modifier provides a bonus (a positive modifier) or a penalty (a negative modifier) to a die roll.

Bonuses with specific descriptors, such as "equipment bonus," generally don't stack (combine for cumulative effect) with others of the same type. In those cases, only the best bonus of that type applies.

The only specific bonuses that stack are dodge bonuses, synergy bonuses, and sometimes circumstance bonuses. Circumstance bonuses stack only if they're provided by differing circumstances; if two circumstance bonuses caused by similar circumstances apply, they don't stack.

Specific bonuses that don't stack include competence, cover, equipment, morale, natural armor, and size.

If the game setting includes magic or other supernatural effects, there can also be deflection, enhancement, enlargement, haste, inherent, insight, luck, profane, resistance, and sacred bonus descriptors. None of these bonuses stack.

Any bonus without a descriptor (such as simply a "+1 bonus") stacks with other bonuses.

All penalties stack, regardless of their descriptors.

## Skill Descriptions

Skills are presented in alphabetical order, in the following format. Entries that do not apply to a particular skill are omitted in that skill's description.

The skill name line and the line beneath it include the following information:

**Key Ability:** The ability whose modifier applies to the skill check.

*Exceptions: Speak Language and Read/Write Language have "(None)" given as their key ability because the use of these skills never requires a check.*
**Trained Only:** If "Trained Only" appears on the line beneath the skill name, a character must have at least 1 rank in the skill to use it. If "Trained Only" is omitted, the skill can be used untrained. If any particular notes apply to trained or untrained use, they are covered in the Special section (see below). Skills that require training will be noted with a "T" next to them. SkillT

**Armor Penalty:** If "Armor Penalty" appears on the line beneath the skill name, apply the armor penalty for the armor the character is wearing to checks involving this skill. Skills that apply Armor Penalties will be noted with am "AP" next to them. Skill AP

**Check:** What a character can do with a successful skill check, and the check's DC.

**Try Again?:** Any conditions that apply to repeated attempts to use the skill for a particular purpose. If this entry is omitted, the skill check can be tried again without any inherent penalty other than taking additional time.

**Special:** Any particular notes that apply, such as whether a character can take 10 or take 20 when using the skill.

**Untrained:** Any details about using a skill untrained. If this entry doesn't appear, it means the skill works the same even when used untrained, or that an untrained character can't make checks with this skill (true for skills that are designated "Trained Only").

**Time:** How much time it takes to make a check with this skill.