Skill Checks — Advanced Old School Revival

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Rolling a Skill Check

Roll + Attribute+ Skill(vs TN)

A skill check is a type of attribute check where you add a +2 if you have a skill that applies to the roll. Roll a d6, add your related attribute score, then add a +2 for the skill. The related attribute score in this case is determined by the skill. For example, Lore checks have Deft as their related attribute. These checks may also be referred to by the skill they entail, so in our example the GM might call for a Lore check.

Adjacent Skills

Each skill has a related attribute. For example, the skill Influence is related to the Mighty attribute. This means when you roll a skill check for Influence, you use Mighty as the attribute. In special contexts, the GM may rule that you can use a skill with an unrelated attribute.

However, if you are proficient in an adjacent skill, you can use skills with unrelated attributes. For example, if you are proficient in the skills Domain Knowledge (Diplomacy) and Influence, you can use Smart as your related attribute when making an Influence check because Domain Knowledge is a Smart skill.

Example of a Skill Check

Zed is trying to pick a safe, which is particularly complicated. The guards are right around the corner, and he’s running out of time.

Zed: I’m going to take out my tools and get to work.

GM: Got it. The safe is of Arcanese design and it’s very expensive. It was built specifically to keep expert thieves like you out, so it has multiple layers of security. (The GM determines this is a hard check.) I’ll need an 11 on Deft.

Zed: (rolls d6) All right, I’ve got Domain Knowledge (Lockpicking) and Reflexes, so I’m going to use Smart instead. (The GM assents.) Yikes, I rolled a 2. My Smart is 6 and I have a +2 from Lockpicking, so that’s 10.

GM: Sorry Zed, you know you can beat this lock, but there’s just not enough time. The guards turn the corner and are about to spot you! What do you do?

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