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Skill Checks Rules

In the Perilous Adventures Warbands Guide (PAWG), skill checks are how you test your abilities—whether you’re sneaking past a guard, healing a wound, or convincing a merchant to lower a price. This section is for everyone—new players learning the basics and seasoned gamers mastering the system. We use the d100 system: roll two ten-sided dice (one for tens, one for units) and aim to get equal to or under your target—lower is better! Using our example characters—Torren, Lira, Eryn, Kael, and Veyra—we’ll break it down with examples and math. The next page covers combat specifics—here, we focus on skill checks outside the fray. Roll that d100, and let’s see what you can do!

Skill Check Basics

  • What It Is: Roll d100 under your skill value (or adjusted target) to succeed. Skills start at their linked attribute (e.g., Stealth = DEX) and grow with your 90 points, backgrounds, and distinctions.
  • Success: Roll equal to or under your target—you do it!
  • Failure: Roll over—you don’t, and something might go wrong (GM decides).
  • Margin of Success: Target - roll (if successful)—shows how well you did, adding bonuses (e.g., faster crafting).

Newbie Tip: Roll low to win—it’s like hitting a bullseye with your skills!

Making a Skill Check

  • Standard Check: Roll d100 under your skill vs. a Difficulty (GM sets):
  • Easy (20): Spot a obvious clue (Perception).
  • Moderate (40): Climb a rough wall (Athletics).
  • Hard (60): Recall rare lore (Knowledge).
  • Math Example: Kael (Survival 90) tracks a deer (Difficulty 40). Target = 90 - 40 = 50. Rolls 30 (success)—finds the trail. Margin = 50 - 30 = 20—quick work!
  • Critical: 01-05 = crit success (e.g., extra info); 96-00 = crit failure (e.g., stumble into danger).

Example Character: Veyra (Persuasion 100) haggles (Difficulty 50). Target = 100 - 50 = 50. Rolls 20 (Margin 30)—gets a discount and a smile!

Opposed Checks

  • How It Works: Two characters roll skills against each other—highest Margin wins (or success vs. failure if one fails).
  • Math Example: Lira (Stealth 100) sneaks past a guard (Perception 40). Lira rolls 30 (Margin 100 - 30 = 70). Guard rolls 20 (Margin 40 - 20 = 20). Lira wins—slips by unseen!
  • Tie: If both succeed, higher skill wins; if tied, GM breaks it (e.g., DEX tiebreaker).
  • Example Character: Torren (Intimidation 80) stares down a thug (Resilience 50). Torren rolls 40 (Margin 40), thug rolls 30 (Margin 20)—thug backs off.

Details: Lira’s 100 + 20 (Night’s Embrace) in dim light = 120 target—guards rarely spot her!

Modifiers

  • Adjusting Target: GM adds bonuses or penalties:
  • +20: Easy conditions (e.g., bright light for Perception).
  • -20: Tough conditions (e.g., rain for Survival).
  • Math Example: Eryn (Knowledge: Arcana 100) deciphers a rune (Difficulty 60) in a quiet library (+20). Target = 100 - 60 + 20 = 60. Rolls 40 (Margin 20)—unlocks its secret.
  • Example Character: Kael (Stealth 70) hides in a storm (-20). Difficulty 40, target = 70 - 40 - 20 = 10. Rolls 30 (fail)—spotted!

Newbie Note: Modifiers tweak your odds—check the scene with your GM!

Untrained Checks

  • No Skill Points: Use the linked attribute alone if you didn’t spend points.
  • Math Example: Torren (Survival 0, WIS 50) forages (Difficulty 40). Target = 50 - 40 = 10. Rolls 20 (fail)—no food today.
  • Details: Boost key skills—attributes alone are risky!

Teamwork and Assistance

  • Helping: Roll a skill (e.g., Leadership, Difficulty 40) to give an ally +20 to their check (Standard Action).
  • Math Example: Veyra (Leadership 100) aids Torren’s Athletics (70) to lift a gate (Difficulty 60). Veyra rolls 30 (target 60)—success, Torren’s target = 70 - 60 + 20 = 30. Rolls 20—lifts it!
  • Example Character: Eryn (Investigation 100) helps Kael (Perception 80) search (Difficulty 50). Eryn rolls 40 (target 60)—Kael’s target = 80 - 50 + 20 = 50, rolls 30—finds a clue.

Pro Tip: Team up—Veyra’s 100 Leadership turns tough checks into wins!

Example Characters in Skill Checks

  • Torren (Human Warrior): Melee Weapons 100—cuts through foes. Intimidation 80—scares off trouble. Endurance 90—outlasts exhaustion.
  • Lira (Duskborn Rogue): Stealth 100 (+20 Night’s Embrace)—ghost in the dark. Sleight of Hand 100—steals with ease. Acrobatics 90—leaps gaps.
  • Eryn (Embermarked Scholar): Knowledge: Arcana 100—decodes mysteries. Craft: Blacksmithing 90—forges gear. Spellcasting 90—heals or blasts.
  • Kael (Human Mystic): Spellcasting 100—casts reliably. Survival 90—navigates wilds. Perception 80—spots danger.
  • Veyra (Windrunner Leader): Persuasion 100—wins allies. Leadership 100—rallies the band. Athletics 70—climbs fast.

Math Examples (Simplified)

  • Torren’s Intimidation: Difficulty 40, target 80 - 40 = 40. Rolls 20 (Margin 20)—foe flees. Rolls 50 (fail)—they stand firm.
  • Lira’s Stealth: Difficulty 50, +20 dim light, target 100 - 50 + 20 = 70. Rolls 30 (Margin 40)—vanishes. Crit 05—grabs a key too!

For Experienced Players

  • Tactics: High skills (100) + bonuses = big Margins—Lira’s 120 Stealth (post-creation) beats most Perception. Crits (01-05) add flair—Eryn’s Knowledge might reveal extra lore.
  • Modifiers: Stack +20 (e.g., tools, teamwork) for tough checks—Kael’s Survival 90 + 20 = 110 target in good conditions.
  • Synergy: Torren’s Intimidation + Veyra’s Leadership = social control. Eryn’s Craft + Spellcasting = arcane smithing.

That’s skill checks in PAWG! They’re your chance to shine—pick your strengths, roll that d100, and shape the tale.