Another theoretically simple area of the game, hopefully with really simple answers.
Q1) If I face a check and choose my XYZ skill as the basis for the check, is xyz to that check as a trait?
Q2) If My XYZ skill = ABC + 2 (e.g. MELEE = STR + 2), does using XYZ as the basis for the check add BOTH xyz and abc to the check as traits?
Some real world examples:
If I use Seoni's power to use ARCANE for a combat check, does the check gain the Arcane trait? I think it does.
If I use Valeros's MELEE skill for a combat check, does the check gain the Strength and Melee traits? I think it does.
These were H4ppy's questions from the Melee based combat thread.
Fundamentally, what counts as a Melee combat check?
a) A melee-skill based combat check (i.e. rolling your Melee die)
OR
b) A combat check with the "melee" trait (e.g. using a weapon with the melee trait)
What we discovered was that both a and b count as Melee based combat check.
So, if a and b exist independently then traits and skills are separate. If a and b are seen as a/b, meaning that there is not a separation between traits and skills, then they are the same.
I cannot find any reference to traits being the same as skills in the rulebook, so my assumption is that they are two separate keywords, and should be treated separately until we hear otherwise.
I'm not sure what the designer's intent is here, but if they ruled that they are the same hopefully it will be in the FAQ, or only a handful of people following these threads are actually going to know the correct rules.
Not quite. I know that cards which buff "Strength checks" apply in the situation you mentioned, but some effects say "a check with the xyz trait" instead.
So: I'm asking if the Strength and Melee traits are added to the check you mentioned.
E.g. in the Seoni example - when she uses her power, does it add the Arcane (and Charisma) traits to the check? This is relevant for interaction with other cards, e.g. the Thassilonian Dungeon location.
Just bumping this back up since it never got clarified in the last round of Vic posts.
Or was this settled somewhere else?
I've not seen it settled yet. I take it as a kind of weird compliment that we're asking complex questions that even Mike and Vic don't agree about the answers to.
I imagine they're having an arm-wrestle at the moment to decide whose version of the rules to make official... :-D
Variants of this question have been asked many times on BoardGameGeek and people's opinion has uniformly been that check-wise, any Melee attack automatically contains both strength and melee traits in one.
But obviously, if one needed to use a strength check, with no mention of melee, one can't use melee. :)
@nkorppi - are any of the comments you mention from Mike or Vic? If so, I'd appreciate some links.
It's important to note that I'm asking about the traits here. I know that a MELEE (skill) check is also a STR (skill) check but does it have the Strength trait as well?
In particular does Seoni's power add the Arcane trait to the check when she uses it?
I personally believe that any used skill also lends the identically named trait to the check. (But if one uses a d4, due to not having the skill listed on the character sheet, then the trait is not applied? Ah, but the trait might still be applied, because to use an unlisted skill, one must first be using a card that mentions that skill. The trait will be borrowed from the traits list of that item/weapon, if it happens to be listed in the card traits?) But we'll have to wait for the official word.
I've not seen it settled yet. I take it as a kind of weird compliment that we're asking complex questions that even Mike and Vic don't agree about the answers to.
I imagine they're having an arm-wrestle at the moment to decide whose version of the rules to make official... :-D
We are indeed working on a comprehensive set of clarifications. No arm-wrestling matches have been scheduled.
Mike
Really hope this is confirmed by Thursday next week...... As I'm running this game 4 player..... Please please hurry lol
Seems like a lot of other questions are being ironed out,
Did the topic of this thread get answered somewhere else or are we we still waiting for a reply?
I think Paizo are furiously working on it to try and come up with a clear and concise ruling that will keep us all happy (and quiet)!
And for future adventures that we haven't already produced.