Regarding Cooperative skill rolls (this may not really be worthy of it's own thread, but I didn't want to clog Jason's "Typo's" thread in this critical and no doubt highly stressful weekend):
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Tar
A quick query about the Cooperative skill rolls on pg.173.
The benefit of having someone help you is that it adds 10% to your roll (or 15/20% for special/critical success).
However, that means somone with a very low skill level, let's say 5%, who is aiding you could be adding 10% or even 20% to a score.
This seems wrong to me. Intuitively, I'd argue that someone with virtually no skill is probably a hinderance to someone with skill. "Will you stop trying to help me?! You're just getting in the way!"
Would it not be wiser to say that only someone with a reasonable amount of skill (say minimum of 10%) can potentially aid in a cooperative skill roll. If they get a critical success and add 20%, that's just a fluke that should be allowed as it will rarely happen.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Durall
The assumption is that the higher-skilled character is essentially saying to the relatively unskilled character "Okay... you don't have much skill... but here's exactly what you need to do if you want to help me."
It could also be regarded as offloading "busywork", enabling the higher-skilled character to focus on execution of the primary task at hand. For example, a master chef might ask for unskilled assistance chopping or performing some routine task while he or she works on the stuff requiring a high degree of expertise.
The low chance of a character with a skill of 10% or under successfully being able to contribute to a cooperative task is the balancing factor.
If the GM feels it's not plausible, then he or she is free to rule that a character without an appreciable skill cannot aid in a cooperative task, as is stated in the first sentence of that section.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atgxtg
I would figure most things would benefit from another set of hands. Even if it is just "Hold theses screws; don't loose them", or "put pressure here."
BTW, Is there a penalty if the assistant fumbles? I could see that too.
"I thought I told you not to loose the screws"
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If they're both doing it, why can't they just
both roll? Two chances to succeed (and fumble...), in proper proportion to their skill.
Alternatively, the lower-skilled could just be at a disadvantage (i.e. skill x1/2).