How high should a skill go?

[zrbialk]

In terms of skill checks, what would be the max value that I put into a skill? I currently have Inland Empire and Empathy (my critical skills) at seven. Is it worth dropping any more points in there?

[Burdpal]

7-8 seems like the soft spot. Add clothing and/or use drugs and the points can easily exceed 9-12.

Checks that say Godly, Impossible, Legendary, etc. require you to do more than just talk with the person in question. Basically, it's the game encouraging you to explore and interact more with the world to add modifiers for those tough checks. So, I wouldn't feel bad if you can't succeed a check even with a high investment in certain skill lines.

For example, the Sealed Container in the Harbor requires a pretty intense Rhetoric check. I had 9 Rhetoric my first time walking through there and I couldn't succeed it. I waited a couple in-game days and the modifier went up to 50~%.

[War]

With clothes and drugs you probably can do most white checks with 8.
AFAIK, pasive rolls are your skill lvl + 6, so if you have 8 with one skill you roll 14, which is a nice number.

[Crom]

My empathy was 15 :)))

[SoundsOfNight]

I had Perception at 12 one playthrough and found a really sweet jacket...on the next playthrough had it at 8, and couldn't find it. So I'd say 10 or above for your favorite skills (I had Logic, Conceptualization, Visual Calculus, and Inline Empire at 10 on my latest, most productive playthrough).

[kelticpete]

how hi? HARDCORE!!! MEGA YEAAGGH!!!

[ExploitedPuma]

Originally posted by DragonSoundxSG:

I had Perception at 12 one playthrough and found a really sweet jacket...on the next playthrough had it at 8, and couldn't find it. So I'd say 10 or above for your favorite skills (I had Logic, Conceptualization, Visual Calculus, and Inline Empire at 10 on my latest, most productive playthrough).

i got a hint about the jacket from shivers, but where did you find it? i cant seem to find it with perception 10 or 11. is it locked at 12?

[Iacus]

At what level do you start to see the bad effects of high skills?

[The Legend]

Originally posted by Iacus:

At what level do you start to see the bad effects of high skills?

Skills dont really have bad effects per se for the most part, the negative aspects of skills usually result in the passive checks throughout the game simply giving bad or harmful tips/info to the player, there are no gameplay related buffs/debuffs. However, the majority of bad info starts happening when skills get around double digits.

[Iacus]

Originally posted by The Legend:

the negative aspects of skills usually result in the passive checks throughout the game simply giving bad or harmful tips/info to the player, there are no gameplay related buffs/debuffs. However, the majority of bad info starts happening when skills get around double digits.

By non-gameplay related you mean that there are no bad consequences even if the player acts on those harmful tips?

[MeldinX2]

Originally posted by Iacus:

Originally posted by The Legend:

the negative aspects of skills usually result in the passive checks throughout the game simply giving bad or harmful tips/info to the player, there are no gameplay related buffs/debuffs. However, the majority of bad info starts happening when skills get around double digits.

By non-gameplay related you mean that there are no bad consequences even if the player acts on those harmful tips?

If some skills are very high it might push you into choices you might not really want. It's not always ''bad'' but it kinda forces your hand or give you bad advice.

For example having very high authority will sometimes demand it when a character slights you in a small way. Even though you as a player might not mind what that character said about you.

[MeldinX2]

Originally posted by MeldinX2:

Originally posted by Iacus:

By non-gameplay related you mean that there are no bad consequences even if the player acts on those harmful tips?

If some skills are very high it might push you into choices you might not really want. It's not always ''bad'' but it kinda forces your hand or give you bad advice.

For example having very high authority will sometimes demand respect when a character slights you in a small way. Even though you as a player might not mind what that character said about you.

[Douchebag Extraordinaire]

Sometimes, they might pull off red herrings that may make the player choose options that hurt skill checks.

[ultrablue]

The highest check I've seen for a passive skill was 14 (8 skill + 6 base) for volition, shivers, empathy, and logic iirc. Anyone see anything higher?

[Burdpal]

There's a passive 20 Reaction Speed check for the D. Mullen book, when the pages fly out near the end of the book due to weak glue. Having 20 on Reaction Speed just removes the dialogue of Reaction Speed, though - the pages will still fly out, regardless.