Matrix Games Forums

In the image the pre-roll difficulty was 99. However, the outcome reports a difficulty of 61.

Is the difficulty value reported before the roll only an estimate? (The answer is yes--it is the average value of the opposing roll that must be overcome.)

As an aside, I gave Wilkinwright a shadow spy prior to the roll.

"A master Spy is temporarily attached to this leader. Next Special Ops Skill Roll the Leader will get a +40 bonus. This is a one-use feat."

It appears the Shadow Spy was not used for the roll. The feat remains in the character sheet.

When is "Special Ops" used for skill rolls? (it's used for Secret Service Council Director tasks at every turn... it will increase the rolls done for "Active Field Operations", "Spy Operations", and "Internal Security" which ultimately result in those respective card points. These rolls have a Relation Bonus and a Covert Ops Skill Bonus)

As we suggested elsewhere, it might be useful to players to see the applicable skills used for rolls. (it was right there and I missed it)

Use mouse over on the Strat. for more info.

Also the Skill used (Personal Combat) is shown just above "EXECUTE STRAT" button.

It should repeat in the pop-up message though. noted and agreed!

best wishes,
Vic

Understood. I totally missed the "Personal Combat" text there. That's a non-grouped skill; not always on the character sheet. Makes sense.



Apparently also used in conducting the assassination stratagem.

Another assassination card test.

So the difficulty of 100 is only an estimate.

The difficulty is 50 + a roll of the target's personal combat skill. His personal combat skill roll is 1d100+0 according to the character sheet. So ultimately the difficulty test is 1d100+50. An average of 100.

It seems odd, because if I see a specific target number (like 100), I assume that number is a fixed target to beat, not the opponents average roll--unless it states average.

Her Personal Combat skill is 1d100+14 according to her character sheet. This stratagem test indicates 1d100+33.

So does this only succeed on a critical success? At face value, it implies that. I wouldn't think it would be necessary to write, "A success will result in the successful execution of the task." -- if you must, "A success or critical success results in an assassination of the target."

Totally fine with it being an estimate but I concur it should be displayed as an average because it's misleading.
Just putting 'Avg.' in front of the 100 works.

ORIGINAL: GodwinW

Totally fine with it being an estimate but I concur it should be displayed as an average because it's misleading.
Just putting 'Avg.' in front of the 100 works.

Assuming it's a normal distribution.

It's a little sloppy to use a specific formula for "Rolls", but then provide an average for "Difficulty". There is no mention of the opposing skill used either.

I personally don't believe in conventions, but I do believe in patterns. For example, a player should not need to be experienced with the game (or the game's series) to understand a meaning or subtext of the UI. However, the game should use consistent patterns (e.g. symmetry) in the format and composition of information.

Using RPG's "1d6" is a convention. Using "1d6" in both Difficulty and Rolls is a consistent pattern. At least by using the pattern, the player only needs to learn one convention.

Given the differences in the character sheet and the Execute Stratagem dialog, other modifiers are present as well.

Given the tooltip on the card, you would think this stratagem would provide a new resource.

Nothing on the card indicates despite success, only if one is hidden.

The tooltip.

Also, conflicting text. Normally executed by the player's Economic Council Director, however, notice the effect text.

That could imply the Governor is making a Prospecting skill roll for a difficulty of 75. A roll, however, would not be a set value.

In the above assassinate card tooltip the pattern is different--despite being helpfully verbose. The requirements tell me who is actually making the check roll. In effects, difficulty and the check roll are described on different lines--separated.