how skills work?

lompo · #1 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 08:27 AM

Maybe is everything in the manual, but I still don't have IWD2 and i'm curious:
how is calculated the chance that a skill perform succesfully (n° of skill points, ability modifiers, racial modifiers etc)?
Which is the optimal number of skill points to be assigned to each skill so to have it really effective without wasting skill points?
Thanks

HighLordDave · #2 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 08:41 AM

Under the D&D3 rules, whenever you want to perform a skill, you have to do a skill check against the difficulty rating (called DC; I forget exactly what it stands for) the GM decides.

For instance, let's say you want to crack open a safe or lock (using the disable device skill). Depending on the type of safe, the DC will vary. If it's a typical home safe such as the kind you might find on a filing cabinet, it may only have DC of 20. A store safe may have a DC of 30 and a bank vault may have a DC of 40. You roll a d20 then add your skill points, ability skill modifiers, racial modifiers and other miscellaneous modifiers (such as a penalty for being under fire from police) and if you're number is higher than the DC rating, you succeed.

As for what the optimal number is, that varies by the difficulty of the dungeon you're in. As you rise in level, the difficulty of locks and hidden doors goes up. I make a habit of maxing out the skills that are important for the character in question, regardless of level.

baileyatbrats · #3 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 10:39 AM

I think there's a base ten for Difficulty checks.
(just like armor class)(It stands for difficulty check by the way, I think)

Also D7D 3rd Editions rules allow for a character "taking 20" to try a skill.
FOr example if you lost the key to your own safe in your own home, the game allows for you to eventually pick the lock. I don't know if IWDII has this feature, but I suspect it might. As will all Black Isle games, if it won't let you pick the lock it will tell you. (i.e. You need the green key from the monster you elected not to fight yet to open this door.)

Skill points should be assigned according to your character's class(es)

HighLordDave · #4 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 10:59 AM

NWN defaults to "taking 20", but I don't think this is a feature of IWD2, just as attacks of opportunity aren't in the game either.

baileyatbrats · #5 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 11:20 AM

I can't play NWN yet. Too much video ram required.

The lack of attack of opportunity has saved me already in IWDII.

HighLordDave · #6 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 02:20 PM

::waves hand hypnotically in front of baileyatbrats::
You need to go buy an nVidia GeForce4 Ti video card. You deserve it. You need it. It's only a couple hundred bucks . . . get the card . . .

::pockets check from nVidia::

baileyatbrats · #7 (**permalink**) 09-25-2002, 02:41 PM

You see, it's like this.
The newest good machine is the Thinkpad.
It only has 4 megs of video ram and is not upgradeable.
The newer Linux machine is all ready to go, but I think it only has 16 megs. I will upgrade when the need arises.
So, yes. thank you. I will. Just need to finish IWDii (only on chapter 1 right now.)