Tests and dice pools

[Yagathai]

So let's say I have a Savage Beating skill at B7, and I'm jonesin' for that Difficult test.

Now assuming a ForK or two, I'd have to be attempting things with Obs of 9 or 10 to score a difficult, right? But since difficulty of a test is based off of the number of dice rolled, pre-Artha, and not the actual skill, and since I can always choose not to ForK in other skills, what happens if I'm in a 3-Die lock? Then I'm only rolling 4 dice, and so the Ob of a difficult test drops significantly.

But now, what if I'm trying to pull a counterstrike maneouver, and I funnel six dice into the counter half and only one die into the strike half? Now I'm only rolling one die to strike, and so trying to hit a stationary target while dashing suddenly becomes Difficult.

Or do I have it wrong?

[Kublai]

You have it half wrong. To determine the level of the test for Advancement, compare the real Obstacle to the number of non-artha dice being thrown for that skill.

If you have a skill of 7, and are in a 4 die lock, you are only rolling 3 dice. Therefore, any test requiring an Ob 4 or higher will be considered Challenging.

However, if you have a skill of 7 and are Counter-Striking and Split the dice 6/1, you are still rolling 7 dice total for that test. The test is considered to have two parts and not considered to be two seperate tests.

[luke]

yeah, what he said.

of course, Yag, if you want to squeeze juice from the advancement system...

Go into Defensive Stance and start Striking. If you character doesn't die, he'll likely learn a thing or two.

-L

[Yagathai]

Do you then also add the Obs. of both the incoming blow and the attempt to hit your opponent?

[luke]

Do you then also add the Obs. of both the incoming blow and the attempt to hit your opponent?

I don't understand. Obstacles are factored as normal: base 1 + movement + lunging/fighting distance + defensive maneuvers + wounds + weather/light/footing

[Yagathai]

He's trying to hit me, and I try to counterstrike:

The blocking half of the counter:
Base 1 + 1 for Dash + 2 net successes he rolled + 1 Ob. of wounds = Ob 5

The striking half of the counter:
Base 1 + 1 for Dash + 1 Ob. of wounds = Ob. 3

Now what sort of test do I get against my B7 Savage Beating skill? Kublai indicated that the counterstrike counts as one test, not two seperate tests, so do I get an Ob. 5 + Ob 3 = a Challenging Ob. 8 test?

[Kublai]

I understand his question perfectly.

If, on a Counter-strike, you calculate the Advancement Test upon the total amount of non-artha dice - both the block part and the strike part, then why don't you calculate the Obstacle for Advancement based upon both the strike and block parts?

[luke]

Now what sort of test do I get against my B7 Savage Beating skill? Kublai indicated that the counterstrike counts as one test, not two seperate tests, so do I get an Ob. 5 + Ob 3 = a Challenging Ob. 8 test?

Only the highest Ob counts. One test per skill per conflict.

it's funny math, i know, but it's gotta be to keep it sane and fair
-L