Jul 6, 2016 2:29 pm
This thread can be used to keep track of our interpretation of specific rules within the system. And to kick it off Ezeriah has asked about how Vigilance and Perception shall work. I'll just paste his comments below;
This change between EoE and F&D clearly intends for Perception to be actively looking for details and clues whereas Vigilance now acts like a passive ability to notice clues. I'm not jockeying for either as a favorite (both my Vigilance and Perception are equal anyways) but I do like the added value for Vigilance, and it would seem the change was made to give Vigilance a little more value as perhaps Perception was a little OP. Besides, if you Perceive the ambush, who needs Vigilance anyway?
To me it seems Vigilance would be great for noticing passively, whereas the advantage would then go to Perception as far as discerning details out of what could be noticed. For example:
Vigilance Success: The character notices the npc on the rooftop. Triumph / high advantage Success: The character notices the npc handling some kind of gear he can't quite make out.
(pc then succesfully applies Perception)
Perception Success: The character further discerns that the npc is setting up a tripod mounted sniper rifle. Triumph Success: The character sees the Red Talon gang sign on the npc's jacket.
The main reason for my inquiry is this: if Vigilance is used for initiative only, I may not invest points in it, and so would need a ruling from you to decide how important Vigilance is.And my answer to him was that we will use the F&D version of the stats. So Vigilance will be a passive stat for when you are not actually looking for something, Perception will be a kind of investigation check; if you are studying something or actively looking we will use this stat.
Ezeriah says:
in EoE Perception was described as "constant, passive state of awareness" whereas Vigilance seemed only useful as a initiative/preparedness skill. In F&D, the Perception skill "represents the character making an active attempt to study his surroundings" in addition to being used "when actively seeking them (clues) out." Similarly, Vigilance has changed and now reads "...character may have a chance to notice small but important details in his surroundings while not specifically looking for them." This change between EoE and F&D clearly intends for Perception to be actively looking for details and clues whereas Vigilance now acts like a passive ability to notice clues. I'm not jockeying for either as a favorite (both my Vigilance and Perception are equal anyways) but I do like the added value for Vigilance, and it would seem the change was made to give Vigilance a little more value as perhaps Perception was a little OP. Besides, if you Perceive the ambush, who needs Vigilance anyway?
To me it seems Vigilance would be great for noticing passively, whereas the advantage would then go to Perception as far as discerning details out of what could be noticed. For example:
Vigilance Success: The character notices the npc on the rooftop. Triumph / high advantage Success: The character notices the npc handling some kind of gear he can't quite make out.
(pc then succesfully applies Perception)
Perception Success: The character further discerns that the npc is setting up a tripod mounted sniper rifle. Triumph Success: The character sees the Red Talon gang sign on the npc's jacket.
The main reason for my inquiry is this: if Vigilance is used for initiative only, I may not invest points in it, and so would need a ruling from you to decide how important Vigilance is.