Question about some harrow abilities

[gold_penguin]

Hi, I don't see anyone else asking this, so I suspect it must be totally obvious, but...

Some cards have an ability that looks like this (I'm using one of Hakon's role powers as an example):
"On a local check that has a trait matching the adventure's harrow suit..."

What is a "trait matching the adventure's harrow suit"?

I'm currently playing Adventure 3, and the suit is books. Does that mean I only get the benefit if the check has "books" (the suit)? Or if it has "intelligence" (the corresponding attribute)? Also, why does it say the check "has a trait"? I thought it should be something like "invokes" instead?

Thanks for your help!

[eddiephlash]

Each suit corresponds with one of the six skills. So in your example, yes, all non-combat INT checks get an additional d4.

[gold_penguin]

Sorry, I'm still finding that confusing. Why is it limited to non-combat checks? That restriction is part of the adventure rule for Adventure 3 (which adds 1d4 for non-combat INT checks).

[wkover]

p. 3 in the CotCT rulebook has more explicit info:

Each has the Harrow trait and a Suit trait that corresponds to a specific skill: Hammers (Strength), Keys (Dexterity), Shields (Constitution), Books (Intelligence), Stars (Wisdom), and Crowns (Charisma).

So, I think you're correct. It's only the skill that matters for the power. Being combat/non-combat doesn't enter into it - unlike the bonuses in the campaign itself.

I honestly don't know what "has a trait matching the harrow suit" means in this instance. It may be an oddball technical reason, or it could be a template error. Perhaps "has a skill..." was meant instead?

[gold_penguin]

I've had a bit more of a proper look at the rulebook now, and I think I've figured it out. Although there's no specific wording to support it, I think that the phrase "matching the adventure's harrow suit" implies that it's the matching skill for the harrow. Otherwise they'd just say "on a local check that has the trait of the adventure's harrow suit" or something.

I think the check "having" the trait, means that it has to be a trait from your check, rather than a trait of the thing you are checking against (although I think in most cases, due to the "matching" trait being one of the STR/DEX/CON/INT/WIS/CHA skills, that will be immaterial, I can't think of a counter example off the top of my head). So if it "invoked" the trait, that would mean it either has or is against. So they are specifically excluding the "against" part. Though once again, can't think of an example why that's restricted.

[skizzerz]

wkover wrote:

p. 3 in the CotCT rulebook has more explicit info:

Each has the Harrow trait and a Suit trait that corresponds to a specific skill: Hammers (Strength), Keys (Dexterity), Shields (Constitution), Books (Intelligence), Stars (Wisdom), and Crowns (Charisma).

So, I think you're correct. It's only the skill that matters for the power. Being combat/non-combat doesn't enter into it - unlike the bonuses in the campaign itself.

I honestly don't know what "has a trait matching the harrow suit" means in this instance. It may be an oddball technical reason, or it could be a template error. Perhaps "has a skill..." was meant instead?

The type chosen for the check, the skill you're using for the check, and all skills referenced by that skill are added as traits to the check. So, trait is the correct wording here. Using "skill" would not encompass the same set of things.

[gold_penguin]

Thanks Skizzerz. Pretty sure I understand that bit of it now.

So remaining questions/comments (not really important):

- "matching the adventure's harrow suit" seems imprecise. Particularly if the CotCT book says they "correspond". However, there doesn't really seem to be any other way of reading it. *shrug*
- any reason to not use the "invokes" wording?
- Has anyone picked and found good use for this skill? And other similar harrow boons? I haven't found the individual adventures to be particularly heavy in terms of checks for their corresponding skill. I feel like I'd rather have a power or boon that gives me something more consistent as a bonus.

[skizzerz]

A check invokes a trait if the check has the trait or is against a card with the trait. "Matching the adventure's harrow suit" cares only whether or not the check has the trait. You don't look at what traits the card you're making the check against has for this, unlike invokes. In practice, it's effectively the same thing since no boons or banes currently in existence have the Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma traits.