Savage Tide : Out Of Character

[Mardoc]

What does it mean when one of you take "X" to do "Y"?

That refers to skill checks. Normally, when you want to do something skillful, like hide or notice someone or bluff or pick a lock, you roll a 20-sided die, and add your skill points to it. So for instance, Himo is good at Spot, when he's looking for things he can roll 1d20+9.

However, that's meant to represent a quick try, under stress, with consequences. You only get one chance to pass your forgery off, and it either works or doesn't. When you are without stress and risk, you can assume an average roll of 10, which is what 'take 10' means. For instance, a really dextrous character can just assume he can walk across an icy patch of ground. In combat, you're normally not allowed, there's a chance that dodging arrows while on ice makes you unlucky enough to fall when normally you wouldn't. Or...normally, listening to a conversation is a DC 0 check, which means characters with a penalty would have to have 1 in 20 or 1 in 10 sentences repeated. But a game gets silly if you require checks for everything all the time.

Similarly, 'take 20' represents spending the time to really do something right. In a situation where you could just keep trying until you get a maximum roll, rather than having you actually roll dice 20 times in a row until you get your 20, you just assume that eventually you get there. So...a normal Spot check is a quick glance around, takes a couple seconds and you roll the dice to see if you notice anything important or are unlucky. Taking 20 on a spot check represents spending a bunch of time to look carefully and systematically. Taking 20 on a Craft (woodworking) check means that you either get a perfect bowl, or you toss it in the scrap heap and start over, until you end up with one you're happy with. Never allowed to take 20 in combat or in a situation where failure has immediate consequences. If I try to climb a cliff, and I slip, I fall - I don't get to just ignore it and try again.

Those are the only two. Basically they're simplifying the bookkeeping for situations where rolling the dice would just be silly.

@Sian: Oh, right, it is basically time. So we'll stroll up closer per the plan. After that, let's give Moshka a chance to find the harbormaster while the rest of us go rent a boat, then meet up and pay the ship a visit. Skip the Himo-surveillance part.

[Sian]

Well ... unless you grab a boat theres ~4800ft ( +/- 100/200, guesstimate from the map in the booklet) to Islaran Manor, as you have to go via Sunrise district (and for Moshka, a Halfling with speed 20, it would take some 15 minutes moving at a 'not-quite-running'), where you'd except him to be, but don't really except him to recieve at this point of day (outside 'office hours')

Boats (of size rowboat/Gondola at least) can be rented pretty much all over the city (although no doubt, the biggest retailer in boat renting, is Eve's Boat Rental's in Cudgel). Its first when we get up to seaworthy stuff that you'd have to go to Azure district or, if you don't mind browsing the grey or secondhand market, Shadowshore

[Bacchus]

Ok, if we are set on doing it this very night, then Moshka will pass up on the harbormaster.

[TheHumanHydra]

I had actually somehow got it in my head that we were doing this 'the next day' - ie. it's morning or afternoon right now and we have to 'kill time' till nightfall. Obviously I have confused myself greatly. But just going ahead and doing it 'this very' night is fine too.

[Sian]

thats what i got that some people thought that you were doing as well ... also why i'm stepping on the break not pushing forward ... everyone need to be sure that they argee what to do before i move forward ... if it takes a couple of posts in here in OOC to make sure, then so be it

[Mattimeo]

I'm good to head out tonight.

[dtay]

[TheHumanHydra]

I'm good too, was just confused.

[Sian]

okay then ... moving towards Shadowshore to grab a boat?

[Bacchus]

Yep.