Introduction

Here on Standing Trials, we have skills which help to flesh out your character and which determine what your character can / can’t do. You’ll hear a lot about playing to your skill level, and the levels are explained in each write up. However, this guide is about helping you to understand the “playing” aspect of playing your skill. There are different types of skill (each one dealt with below) and there are issues of overlapping skills, specialist vs general skills and skill scope. All are dealt with here.

A Note on Magic, Marks & Alchemy

Magic skills fall outside the realm of what exists within our everyday world in real life. Skills such as Alchemy and Ensorcelling do have some real world relevance, but are uniquely adapted to and have a different application and representation within Idalos. They concern phenomenon that are outside the ordinary, generally speaking.

Skills such as Becoming and Defiance are considered Domain magics, and have their own progression and play rules that are tightly regulated and watched by peer-reviewers and staff. Knowledge and knowledge types play an important role in the advancement of magic. Specific knowledge of techniques are required for the use of those magical techniques, where it regards Alchemy traits and also techniques unique to each Domain Magic. If a PC does not have the knowledge or does not discover the use of an ability during the course of a thread, it won’t make much sense for them to be able to perform those techniques/abilities.

Due to the specific nature of Magic, Ensorcelling & Alchemy, they are not covered by this guide. Please refer to the guides and primers specific to them which are linked above.

Types of Skill

Please note: many skills fit into more than one category.

Combat Skills

Covered by the Combat skill write up.

Physical Skills

Non-combat skills which are concerned with the physical body. Strength and Endurance are both examples of this, but so is, for example, Resistance.

Mental Skills

Here we’re talking about skills such as Discipline and Meditation. Internal skills which focus on the PC.

Crafting / Trade Skills

Skills which are about creating things with your hands, from Sculpting to Needlecraft, these are skills for the creative types. It also includes skills which one can use to make a living such as Medicine or Torture.

Business / Planning Skills

These are skills such as Business Management and Appraisal, or Logistics.

Performance Skills

Sometimes, a PC might be a performer. Here, we have skills such as Acting and Singing. These are skills which allow a PC to perform in front of an audience.

Outdoor / Wilderness / Survival Skills

Survival skills range from Hunting and Field Craft to Seafaring and Animal Training. Outdoor skills might include Gardening.

Social Skills

These are the kinds of skills that are used in interpersonal interaction with various NPCs and PCs. Their utility and intention is varied from those that help bolster relationships such as Socialization to those that are more meant to conceal a character’s true nature or intentions, such as Deception.

Whatever the skilled’s intention, these skills tend to govern one’s interpersonal rapport and appeal, with varying levels of scope.

Academic Skills

These are skills that are used to both teach others such as Teaching, as well as in learning Research and the recording of information, such as Writing.

Overlapping Skills

One of the most common questions we get asked as staff is “What skill do I need to do…. ?” and there is rarely one answer! Many of our skills overlap each other, and that’s just fine. Rather than taking the viewpoint that there is only one way to do something, think instead about what you want to achieve and what skills there are which can achieve that.

Examples of Overlapping Skills

Even if you have Cooking, a basic level of cooking is included in the Fieldcraft skill.

There are examples of skills which overlap on Standing Trials. The takeaway message is that you just need to know how your PC does (or does not!) achieve an outcome. A different PC might achieve the same thing in an entirely different way, and that’s fine. As long as you are not overplaying your skill level, and it makes sense that you can do something with that level of that skill, that’s what matters. .

General vs Focused Skills

We have a number of skills which are very “general”. A good example here is Fieldcraft. These skills encompass a lot, and that’s great.

We also have specialist skills which are very focused. For example, Teaching. These are very specific to a particular thing.

Some skills have a broader application than others. Fieldcraft is broadly defined as a skill that can help one to survive in the wilds of Idalos. While one can build a suitable shelter that can help one survive a night or even a few, Engineering will go a ways toward making something that’s more lasting and impressive.

Skill Scope

How far does a skill go? Again, we come back to the idea that it’s all about the story. As long as it makes sense for a skill to be able to do that, then it can.

At the time of writing this guide, the skill Brewing was not written up. One PC is using that skill to make artisan teas - and that’s entirely reasonable. However, that doesn’t mean that is all brewing does! Another pc might use it to brew beer or ale. Those two pcs have the same skill and they’re using it in different ways.

The same can be said of skills which do have a write-up. Remember that the function of a write up is to try and cover as much of the skill as possible - but no write up should be considered absolutely comprehensive. If your PC has the Psychology skill, for example, they are not limited to only what is written in that write-up. If you have Endurance you are not limited to the write up description of: “Endurance as a skill fundamentally brings two aspects; the ability to perform for longer and the ability to endure pain, hunger and tiredness for longer.” If you use that skill in a different way which MAKES SENSE, then it’s fine.

Equally - if you don’t have the Cooking skill, for example, but your background is that you’ve lived alone and fended for yourself, then it makes sense that you can boil an egg. If you start producing gourmet food, then our Peer Reviewers will pick it up as skill overplay. But, the same thing goes - if it makes sense in the story, then you are generally fine. This is, of course, an extreme example, and any issues of overplay of almost always because the player is unsure of the "difference" between two skill levels. In the less obvious cases of overplaying, it is up to reviewers to decide; they will let you know if they feel that you have overplayed a skill this will be in the form of a friendly reminder.

A Note on Science and Maths

It is perfectly fair to assume that your PC can do basic Mathematics in their head, that they can understand some very rudimentary science (eg: acid burns). The Science skill is about theory. You could have Engineering without knowing about Physics, for example. You’ll be able to construct a very beautiful archway with construction, and will know that you have to put a keystone in the center of the arch, but not understand why. Someone with the Science skill will be able to tell you exactly why, and what purpose it serves, how it distributes weight, etc - but they won’t be able to use their skill to build it.

Skill Levels

Our skills have levels - from Novice to Tier 2 Mastery. Let’s take a look at what that means - in a general sense.

Remember, throughout this we are talking in a general way. No skill exists alone - you might be very bad at riding a horse, for example, but have a very good acrobatics skill. Acrobatics won’t give you riding, but it’ll mean that you can keep your balance longer - and not get hurt as much if you fall off!

Novice

At Novice, the PC is learning the skill and isn’t yet very good at it. That might be shown by taking a long time to do simple things, or by failing at the task they’re doing. PCs with Novice in a skill are very unlikely to be able to do complicated things with this skill unless there’s a very good reason for it.

Competent

Here, the clue is in the name. You are competent at this skill - it usually works and you can use it without too much difficulty. While you may not be “above the norm”, you have a good grasp of this skill.

The majority of business owners or people who earn a living using a particular skill are competent at it. You might take a really long time to do more complicated things, or they might be beyond you currently, but either way, this is the “can do” level for skills.

Expert

This is someone who has gone above the norm in a skill. Maybe it’s pure talent, or maybe hard work, but this person is good at it! This might be someone who is high up in their field - certainly above average at what they do.

Master

Upon reaching mastery of a skill, the PC is truly among the best of the best. They are top of their fields and would be sought out by those who can afford only the best. Master level of skills means you can use this skill with ease, and in a way which is far superior in outcome to almost anyone.

Grandmaster

To the naked eye, a Grandmaster is not massively different to a Master of a skill. However, the difference comes in the Capstones which the Grandmaster has. These are focused abilities in the skill where the PC has developed their mastery to the point which seems impossible. Focused, specialist capstones are the defining feature here.

Tier 2

If the Grandmaster appears to have broken the laws of physics with their capstone - the PC with Tier 2 actually does it. This is a level of skill which can be gained after a PC has accrued 2,500 or more experience points (see the above link for exact details), and takes a previously Grandmaster skill beyond the usual boundaries of mortal ability. While this is a skill level very few will ever reach, it allows non-magical skills to have equally powerful effects. The PC who has Tier 2 in a skill is noticeably different in the way they perform this skill.

Playing To Your Skill Level

We expect you not to overplay your skills - this is important. Sometimes, people deliberately choose to underplay a skill with a PC and that’s fine.

However, if you’re not sure of how you are playing your skill level with a specific skill - put a note on your review request and ask the reviewer to comment on that. Please don’t ask for feedback on all skills, but if you’re concerned about one in particular - ask!

What Does Over / Under Playing Look Like?

Over playing your skill means assuming success or achieving something which is beyond your current skill level in the situation your PC is in. The situation is important here, because while your PC might - for example - be able to hit a target accurately if they had time to aim, were standing still and could see clearly. However, at night, in the heat of battle, or trying to fire your bow while running would all make a difference. In that example, a PC who is Competent with a Ranged Weapon would almost certainly achieve in the easy situation - but in the harder one? It becomes more unlikely.

Under playing is the reverse of over playing. It’s assuming failure when your PC would probably succeed. This can be done on purpose (for example, because it’s good story, because your PC is distracted by the pretty ithecal, whatever it may be) and that is fine. However, we want to make sure that players don’t underplay their skills because they’re worried about over playing them. If there is an issue, your Peer Reviewer will note it, and that’s fine. It’s only if there become persistent, repeated issues that we impose consequences.

A Note On Setting

We are in a fantasy setting. Magic happens. We have Immortals who attend parties and give blessings and curses. Even if the skill is something which happens in the real world, you should always keep in mind that we are in a fantasy setting and, therefore, we don’t have to adhere to what is “realistic” - we have to adhere to site lore.

Skill Write Ups

Incomplete Write Ups

If there’s a skill which isn’t written up - consider writing it!?

New Skills

Until all existing skills are written up, we are not accepting new skills. Once such a time comes, we’ll accept new skills only as they are written up, so that they may be reviewed for consistency and balance purposes. Until a skill appears on the wiki, no pc is allowed to put points into it or claim knowledge in it.