Some practice questions

[Mickeroo]

Can you practice a skill that you are trying to learn? I mean, can you get, say, a routine practice test for a skill and count it towards aptitude? Also, would there be any limitations to this? For example, a character in my game wants to learn the Elvish language. Can he do this on his own, with help of a book or something?

Also, as a sort of comic relief, how would you describe someone practicing Ugly Truth? My group thinks they might just stand on the street corner yelling things like, "You're fat!" "I"m drunk!" for a couple of hours a day. Which brings me to another question, are there negative effects of practicing, perhaps only with certain skills?

[yeloson]

Hi,

I'd probably decide on a case for case basis about what skills you need instruction for. Obviously to speak elven- you'd definitely need some help, whereas just reading it might be something possible if you had a hardcore guide on translation and lots and lots of time...

As far as Ugly Truth- it seems more like a "personal perception" thing, like being a good judge of character. I'd probably rule it a test anytime the player points out a situation in the bare facts... "Well, he says he'll pay us, but look at what he's asking us to do. No, we're a diversion, no one in their right mind puts that kind of trust in strangers- and especially for just money?!?"

Chris

[luke]

Can you practice a skill that you are trying to learn?
yes, of course.

I mean, can you get, say, a routine practice test for a skill and count it towards aptitude? Also, would there be any limitations to this? For example, a character in my game wants to learn the Elvish language. Can he do this on his own, with help of a book or something?

yes, so long as it makes sense to the players.


Also, as a sort of comic relief, how would you describe someone practicing Ugly Truth? My group thinks they might just stand on the street corner yelling things like, "You're fat!" "I"m drunk!" for a couple of hours a day. Which brings me to another question, are there negative effects of practicing, perhaps only with certain skills?

i dunno about this one. it sure doesn't make sense to me. but it does sound funny. Ugly Truth is notoriously hard to test. I wouldn't let your players off easy by allowing them to test it in a safe place. It's an inflammatory skill -- i'd force them to use it in situations where they might get into trouble.

[Viper]

Or, for Ugly truth, they could get on stage at ye olde laugh shoppe, and perform some medieval stand-up comedy...

[emukt]

i dunno about this one. it sure doesn't make sense to me. but it does sound funny. Ugly Truth is notoriously hard to test. I wouldn't let your players off easy by allowing them to test it in a safe place. It's an inflammatory skill -- i'd force them to use it in situations where they might get into trouble.
But we're talking about practicing not testing. When you practice your sword skill you are not in a dangerous situation. You're in a yard with wooden or dull blade.

I'd say he'd just have to constantly tell people like it is. Friends, family, random strangers - doesn't matter.

"Dad, where'd you get that shirt - off a dead guy."

When he does get into a situation where it has consequences it would count as a test.

"Sir, you may be strong, but you are also very ugly."

[Mickeroo]

Ahh...Abzu must be right...but nerdnyc has such a good point...I think I'm going to have to go with the latter.

As for medieval stand-up, I can hear it now..."Elves are like that, but Dwarves are like THIS! Oh, it's funny because we're dfferent."

[Redoid]

Also, as a sort of comic relief, how would you describe someone practicing Ugly Truth? My group thinks they might just stand on the street corner yelling things like, "You're fat!" "I"m drunk!" for a couple of hours a day.

Watching Sir Rowan Atkinson playing Edmund Blackadder in the show of the same name would count as practicing Ugly Truth.

Note: if you don't know who Blackadder is, you're missing something immensely funny.

[yeloson]

Hi,

I see Ugly Truth primarily as being about recognizing it for yourself more than simply speaking it out loud. That is, there are glaring cases where the Emperor has no clothes, but then there's more subtle cases that people often overlook as part of social conditioning ("I know he SAYS he loves you, but why does he only say it when you're about to leave?"). Most of the time, it's not that no one's willing to say it, its that most people just don't recognize it as the real situation.

From my personal experiences, I'd say practicing Ugly Truth probably would lower your Circles by 1... regardless of what circles you roll with. People prefer to hear agreement rather than truth.

Chris

[Mickeroo]

But while people like to hear greement rather then truth, I think that in the long run, they realize who their real friends are. However, if there is no long run, and someone is just insulting random strangers, then that's a different story.

[yeloson]

Hi,

I don't know, I think of the sheer amount of manipulative or abusive relationships(including the dominating parent/child one) and can say that people like pretty pictures more than truth, or realizing who they're friends are. Just think of everytime you, or a friend, got together with someone you just know was bad...

The thing is, for the most part, it is easier to recognize stuff when there isn't any emotional investment clouding the issue. Once you start applying emotional investment("But he loves me", "He's an elder of the community!") people start forgetting to see what's really going on. That's where Ugly Truth becomes really helpful.

Chris