Question about Vulcan Species Ability

[Doug Taylor]

I've got a question about the Vulcan Species Ability - Bonus Edge: Skill Focus (Keen Hearing).

The Player's Guide lists it as giving you +4 to Observe (Listen).

Does this mean you:

a) Get the Observe Skill with the Listen specialy at level 4? (this of course would allow you to spend one point later and buy Observe (Spot) as another specialty and you would instantly have it at 4 Skill Levels).

or

b) Get a bonus of +4 when the Vulcan uses his Observe (Listen) Skill?

My hunch is that it's (a), but I see from my notes as I've made my character that I've switched before between one and the other.

Anyone know which way it's supposed to be?

[Tomcat]

Anytime the Vulcan character makes an Observe (Listen) skill check, he gains a +4. So, here is how it would break out based on the following assumed skill levels:

Your Vulcan PC with no skill to Observe makes an Observe (Listen) test:

You'd roll 2d6 and add the +4 racial modifier and -2 penalty for being unskilled.

Your Vulcan PC with a +2 Observe skill rank, but no specialty to Listen:

You'd roll 2d6+2 and add the +4 racial modifier.

Your Vulcan PC with a +2 Observe skill rank, and has the Listen specialty:

You'd roll 2d6+2 plus the +2 specialty mod and add the +4 racial modifier.

[Doug Taylor]

Anytime the Vulcan character makes an Observe (Listen) skill check, he gains a +4. So, here is how it would break out based on the following assumed skill levels:

Your Vulcan PC with no skill to Observe makes an Observe (Listen) test:

You'd roll 2d6 and add the +4 racial modifier and -2 penalty for being unskilled.

Your Vulcan PC with a +2 Observe skill rank, but no specialty to Listen:

You'd roll 2d6+2 and add the +4 racial modifier.

Your Vulcan PC with a +2 Observe skill rank, and has the Listen specialty:

You'd roll 2d6+2 plus the +2 specialty mod and add the +4 racial modifier.

Thanks for answering, Tomcat, but frankly now I'm more confused than before. I think now (after looking at the two Vulcans provided in the Narrator's Guide - Spok and Tuvok) that it more suggests (a) (from my two choices in my question). But your answer looks to me like you're advocating (b) from my earlier question.

You see, I/we don't like to leave things vague and unspecified before you make each Skill roll. Like most published character sheets suggest (even some great ones I think you've provided, Tomcat) we like to list out a TOTAL (once you've incorporated Skill Levels, racial or Edge bonuses, etc.).

So I would always list CODA Skills with two numbers: the first representing the SKILL LEVEL and the second giving the TOTAL. For example:

Spock
Observe (Listen, Spot): 7/11

or

Spock
Observe (Listen): 7/15
Observe (Spot): 7/11

The fact that both Vulcans shown (in the Narrator's Guide) have the same number of ranks (and at least four Skill Levels in Observe) suggests to me that it probably is meant to have Vulcan characters gain Observe (Listen) automatically at 4 Skill Levels, and then they can buy Observe (Spot) - the new specialty - at one pick (or two, depending if it's a Professional Skill or not).

Hope that makes sense (and I hope this didn't come across as not being appreciative of your help; I really do appreciate all of your knowledge and hard work you've put into both CODA games!).

[Doug Taylor]

Tomcat, upon re-reading the entry on "Skill Focus", I now agree with you, that it's supposed to be a BONUS to "Observe (Listen), rather than simply giving 4 Skill Levels to that Skill.

Thanks for bearing with me.

[Tomcat]

Glad I could be of help! There may be others on the forums that were part of the original CODA system production that might be able to further clarify, but that is how I interpret and use the rule.

I, too, am like you - I always break out the entire modifier based on where the mods come from. I am only playing forum-based games anymore, and so it helps both the GM and players alike - well for me it does!

One mod I did not include in my example above would be the attribute mod (if any), so if my Vulcan had a 10 Perception, there would be an additional +2 bonus for his attribute.

Lastly, it was stated a long time ago when the Decipher books first came out and the Decipher boards were around, by the creators, that the skill listings for all exampled characters are their skill ranks ONLY. There are no mods added to the number from any source, so keep that in mind when you are trying to figure out what to do with the pre-made NPC's.

[PGoodman13]

The fact that both Vulcans shown (in the Narrator's Guide) have the same number of ranks (and at least four Skill Levels in Observe) suggests to me that it probably is meant to have Vulcan characters gain Observe (Listen) automatically at 4 Skill Levels, and then they can buy Observe (Spot) - the new specialty - at one pick (or two, depending if it's a Professional Skill or not).

This is incorrect, however. The Bonus Edge: Skill Focus (Keen Hearing) ability of the Vulcans does NOT (and I apologize for over-emphasis, but I am trying to make things extremely clear for the audience) confer the skill Observe (Listen) to a Vulcan character. Tomcat is exactly right in his interpretation.

I see that you figured this out on your own, but I wanted to throw my two bits in as well. Have fun! Play Games! (as a friend of mine used to sign things).

[Doug Taylor]

Thanks, tomcat and Patrick. You're right, I finally figured it out after extensively looking at it.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think it would have sure been nice if Decipher would have listed not only the Skill Levels, but also the Skill Totals, for the characters they worked up (for both Lord of the Rings and Star Trek).

[PGoodman13]

But that would have made too much sense....