Research Talent

Discussion on game mastering Earthdawn. May contain spoilers; caution is recommended!
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Baravakar
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Research Talent

Postby Baravakar » Sun Mar 15, 2015 9:43 pm


Telarus_KSC
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Re: Research Talent

Postby Telarus_KSC » Mon Mar 16, 2015 12:35 am

Hours, days, or weeks. Depending on resources at hand and obscurity of the information sought. I'd like to see the new difficulty number guidelines in the GM's guide (now that we don't have the result table to reference) to really answer that.

evil
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Re: Research Talent

Postby evil » Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:38 pm

also how well you roll may shorten the time needed to research

Baravakar
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Re: Research Talent

Postby Baravakar » Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:47 pm

The success level determines how much information is obtained. The suggested difficulty numbers are listed in the description. (General 5, Obscure 11)

Since the difficulty number is determined by the type of information sought, it should not also affect the time it takes to find the information, IMO.

Additionally, I don't feel the variety of ways it can be used, matters. Seeking the key knowledge for a magic item. looking for information for a lost city, wanting a new cookie recipe would all be valid things to research. But these factors are used to determine the difficulty number. Cookie Recipe = General information.

Failing the talent test means the standard amount of time has passed and nothing was discovered. This would not prevent another test from being made. just wasted the time used. Passing the test means the information was found in the standard (X) amount of time. But this X amount of time has not been defined.

I really just want to know how long it would take to make one test. I do think that the quality of the library could influence how long it takes to find useful information. But what else can factor into the time needed to perform a test?

Sometimes, the quest for knowledge requires travel to obscure sources to discover the information needed. A common library might not have direct information but could provide information on where to look. This would depend on when the GM wants to reveal the information. Sometimes, the answer will ruin plans of the adventure but providing an additional breadcrumb to follow can be the information revealed by the test.

Take The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
It took the supercomputer Deep Thought, 7½ million years to find the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything was 42. They had to find another researcher to find the question for that answer.

Telarus_KSC
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Re: Research Talent

Postby Telarus_KSC » Tue Mar 17, 2015 11:05 pm

Yes, exactly. Other things can factor into the Timescale variable. Think of it as a "dial" that the players can influence to their benefit or determent . The GM should have a firm idea of whether the current data-store has the information sought. Roll some dice, if it comes to that. ;)

For example, are you tackling a huge, jumbled library on your own and the old librarian's notes are encrypted in a cipher you don't know? And it's haunted? And you botched your social rolls the first time the ghost showed up? Timescale = Weeks->Months.

After winning the favor of Master Merrox, Head Librarian of Throal in some clever riddle-contest last week in court in front of the King? And you brought him lunch today? Here, have 2 scribes and a page-boy. Timescale = Hours->Days.
Last edited by Telarus_KSC on Sun Mar 22, 2015 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Baravakar
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Re: Research Talent

Postby Baravakar » Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:39 am



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