Topic: RMSS - Sense Awareness

[aarcc]

I take it that "listen" as a skill comes under Sense Awareness and not Observation.

[markc]

IIRC yes there is a skill for each "Sense". ie sight, hearing, touch/feel, taste and smell.


 I use it a bit differently in that I use "Sense" Awareness for special senses of PC's that are more then human. So a werewolf might have a superior smell and Smell Awareness skill, a werespider might have Trimmer Sense Awareness  and some other creature might have Sense Air Currents Awareness. But for normal superior senses I just provide a bonus to Observation. This is a House Rule and not RAW.


Does that make sense and or help?
MDC

[arakish]

To me it does because that is how I handle it.  If your listening, I say you are either Observing or Surveilling with your ears.

For Sense Awareness, I use it similarly to your method.  However, I also use the normal senses Sense Awareness skills to add partial or whole bonuses to a person's Perception skill.  In other words, if there is a sound that members of the party may hear, I have them roll Perception, then if they have any Auditory Awareness skill, I'll add 0% to 100% of that skill bonus depending on how loud, strange (meaning out-of-place), etc. the sound may be.

Does that make sense?

rmfr

[bpowell]

I like using the skill bonus to the Perception check.  Currently, I am using a double roll.  It slows the game down, especially since both of my "Sensor" character have developed it.

[Kristen Mork]

I use it a bit differently in that I use "Sense" Awareness for special senses of PC's that are more then human. So a werewolf might have a superior smell and Smell Awareness skill, a werespider might have Trimmer Sense Awareness  and some other creature might have Sense Air Currents Awareness. But for normal superior senses I just provide a bonus to Observation. This is a House Rule and not RAW.

I really like this and am likely to steal this idea for my game.

[bpowell]

I use it a bit differently in that I use "Sense" Awareness for special senses of PC's that are more then human. So a werewolf might have a superior smell and Smell Awareness skill, a werespider might have Trimmer Sense Awareness  and some other creature might have Sense Air Currents Awareness. But for normal superior senses I just provide a bonus to Observation. This is a House Rule and not RAW.

I really like this and am likely to steal this idea for my game.

I am glad I am not the only idea thief here.

[markc]

 As a general rule I do not give the full bonus to Observation for the "other" sense. For example if the race has superior hearing talent that provides a bonus of +25, I provide a bonus to Observation of +10-15 depending on the world rules (house rules for game world). The same also works for spells that dull senses or provide for a negative modifier to a sense.


 It seems to work very well and the players like it as it reduces the skills a bit, adds some bonuses to observation skill as well as provides for a mechanism for special races or other special senses.


MDC

[bpowell]

I like the ability to make special races have an additional bonus.  Many time folks take a race that is looked down on and get the "short end of the stick".  This would allow for a bonus for them.

[providence13]

Good ideas here, thanks.

I take a cue from the Animist Base List Nature's Movement/Senses.
If it only involves one sense, then the bonus is greater, but information is more limited.
If multiple senses are used, the bonus is less, but more info can be obtained.
Assume 5 senses are the norm and the minimal bonus using multiple senses is +10.
Using only one sense on that List caps at +50.

With this in mind, I use +10% to +50% of the Sense(s) Awareness skill bonus added to the roll, depending on how many senses you try to use.
This and the examples from SoHK works for me.

[VladD]

When I call for observation, I call for: Observation/ sense sight (or some other relevant sense), Sense ambush/ awareness, or surveillance (which is more like observing an area for a longer time, say 5 minutes)

Using the individually developed senses, you wouldn't be subjected to the "general penalty" of -20, which you would get with observation if it pertains to senses other than sight, so sense sight = observation, otherwise use relevant sense, or observation -20.

The sense ambush/ awareness roll is for detecting imminent danger. That is why they both have limited development.

The surveillance roll is for staking out a place, or guarding a place, or following a subject that is unaware of your interest.

[Ynglaur]

Increasing/decreasing maneuver difficulty by +-2 levels works well, too, and provides a bit of a sliding scale.  At lower levels, the it amounts to the flat +-20.  At greater levels of difficulty, it makes a bigger difference.

[aarcc]

Great ideas, thanks all.

aarcc, UK