Skill Scale Down 2021

This skill has been impacted by the Skill Scale Down. The impact of this for this skill is as follows:

• This skill remains.
• All knowledge is left as is.
• For how to deal with XP, please see the page Skill Scale Down 2021 for links, information, and a player guide.
• The scope of this skill has not changed. Please ensure that you take this into account going forward.

Overview

Research is, at its core, the finding of information. That is, however, somewhat simplistic. It is the skill of finding the piece of information you were looking for - or of focusing your search on specific topic(s). The skill of research, on Standing Trials, has two aspects to it.

Research Techniques

The techniques of researching information. There are a number of ways of researching information and this skill covers them all. The most common methods of research include:

• Library Research: includes, but is not limited to; understanding library indexing systems, identifying validity of information, cross-referencing, cross-checking and so on. So, the individual who researches theories of psychology in the library is using this technique.
• Empirical Research: includes, but is not limited to: observations 'in the real world' / 'in the field'. This might be someone - also studying psychology - who observes behaviour in groups, or watches non-verbal communication.
• Experimental Research: includes, but is not limited to: conducting experiments / practical tests to find out information. This may be the person who (as a student of psychology) wants to find out if people perform a well-known task better in familiar or unfamiliar surroundings and so conducts an experiment to find out.

It must be remembered - research is the skill of finding out information. Therefore, how it is done can (and does) vary.

Specialist Study

As people develop in their knowledge and understanding, they may pursue more and more specialist study. This skill allows, at the higher levels, players to develop areas of specialist study. Becoming an "expert in the field" brings kudos with it and allows nerdy bragging-rights.

Arcane Studies

It is possible to focus so much on the study of magic that one can - eventually - learn how to use it. This requires a lot of time, dedication and commitment from the academic mage, but it is possible.

Skill Ranks

Novice (0-25)

Here a researcher is just beginning to realize that learning is a vexing endeavor, marred by false conclusions which throw them off track when it comes to finding the truth of matters. At the earliest levels of a novice, the researcher will often reach incorrect conclusions that lead them astray. They will suffer errors and setbacks that throw them off the trail. At the higher levels of a novice, the researcher will have found some research techniques that keep them from following a false lead too far into error. Their conclusions will prove clipped and brief but generally well-founded enough. It's not until they reach competence, that they will begin to find traction in their search for knowledge.

Competent (26-75)

Competent researchers will have refined their earlier techniques, and are more often coming to conclusions that are sound. They will have devised a methodology for meticulous fact-checking and cross-referencing information to ascertain its veracity. The process of researching is still very time consuming, especially for the deeper and more buried facts and knowledge. They'll find benefit in having access to greater libraries, but will still have to do a lot of legwork in order to refine their information collections. At this level, they will have perhaps begun to devise their own method of recording their findings. Here is where skill in writing and perhaps even teaching becomes increasingly useful and relevant. Having comparable skill levels of either or both skills can make their findings all the more convincing and easier to understand.

Expert (76-150)

At Expert, a researcher will have come a long way in their thirst for knowledge. Their cross-referencing and fact-checking skills are impeccable, and they will often be able to recall by sheer memory facts already taken on board and check their new findings or research materials in order to discern their academic value. The process of researching will have become far less time consuming, and only the rarest knowledge and facts still elude them, despite access to a quality library. They will increase their ability to learn by practical observation. By observing an example of their area of specialization in research, they will be able to acquire knowledge just from the observation, which can then be checked against their increasingly acute memory of the facts they have learned well.

Master (151-250)

There's little in the way of academic knowledge or research that is beyond a Master's skill. Their research techniques are flawless, and they will have such a good memory that they can recall on demand almost any knowledge they've learned throughout their lives, and apply that to practical observations to see how their knowledge really stacks up. With even a mediocre library, insights that are beyond those in the materials they research and the observations they make, can lead them to greater understanding. It seems that by sheer intuition that a master can come to the exact right conclusion about a field of study.

Specialist Knowledge Post-Master Level

Research is unique as a skill in that it affords a benefit once a PC achieves Mastery (151 exp and 33 knowledge). Once this level is reached, the PC may accrue "Specialist Knowledge" in research, which provides academic bragging rights and indicates the level of knowledge in a PC's specialist area. These knowledges still contribute to the grandmaster and capstone knowledge requirements, but also add to their specialty level.

Specialist knowledge requests must be formatted in the following way: Research: (Specialism: Subject): Full knowledge description.

When the PC has 10 Specialism Knowledges in one specialism, they are a Specialist in that. This means that, for example, a PC may have Medicine as a skill. By researching amputation, for instance, they develop their specialist understanding in this.

In the request, the player should request, for example

Research: (Specialism: Medicine - Amputation): Case study history helps provide background.

When the PC has 10 knowledge in this specialism (Medicine - Amputation) they are a specialist. It doesn't make them better at performing amputations, as it denotes a theoretical understanding. However, it adds to academic credentials as an 'expert' in a field. Also - if an amputation is happening - someone with 40 knowledge specifically in it is more likely to be called - and / or to remember the odd case where "this" happened - and so it adds to the narrative for the PC. These knowledges still apply to the Research Skill only (and do not also count as medicine knowledge) - but they show that the PC is focusing their study. The knowledges per specialism are unique and specific to that specialism only, so the specialism can not be too broad.

This continues to accrue in the following way.

10 Knowledge = Specialist L1 - PC can claim +10 Renown on the review where this is gained or PSF to backdate it if that's missed.

20 Knowledge = Specialist L2- PC can claim +10 Renown on the review where this is gained or PSF to backdate it if that's missed.

40 Knowledge = Specialist L3- PC can claim +10 Renown on the review where this is gained or PSF to backdate it if that's missed.

Every 50 knowledge thereafter the PC gains a new Specialist level. The +10 renown only happens for the first three levels as, after that, only fellow nerds and uber-geeks know you.

This applies equally to non-skills (eg: Immortal Studies, Arcane Theory, History) as skills as it indicates theoretical knowledge.

Arcane Research

It is, as previously stated, theoretically possible to learn magic from this skill. There are rumours (as yet unsubstantiated) of entire schools of magic which can only be learned by the academic study of tomes and grimoire.

For the individual who wishes to study the theory of magic only, they may do so. However, there are those who wish to learn the secrets of ether and ephemera in practice, alongside theory. These individuals can, eventually, learn magic through Research, but it is a long process.

In order to unlock a specific magic via research, the individual has to take three steps.

1. The individual must study the general theory of magic. Once they have accrued at least 10 named knowledges labelled "Research: Arcane Research" and detailing what they've learned, this step is completed. Please note that, once this is done, it applies to all magics and so does not have to be duplicated.
2. The individual must study a particular type of magic (eg: Defiance, etc) from either a book or tome available in libraries (including Higher Education libraries) throughout Idalos or through empirical research via indepth academic interviews of mages currently practicing the magic. Once they have accrued at least 10 named knowledges labelled "Research: <name of magic>" and detailing what they've learned, this step is completed. Please note that these knowledges are specific to the magic school and so much be repeated for each type of magic.

1. The individual must study a particular type of magic (eg: Rupturing, etc) from a book or tome or resource (which may include a practitioner) only available through IC story means . Finding out about this book / tome / grimoire / resource and obtaining it should be threaded out in a manner which is rich in story and provides genuine challenges / opportunities for growth for the PC - we expect the player to make a storyline in which the character tests the mental limits of their researching ability This is demonstrated by the accruing of a total of 10 named knowledges labelled "Research: Arcane Specialism: <name of magic>:" a maximum of three of which may be about acquiring the tome - the rest must be what is found in it. In this step, specifics are learned and the soon-to-be mage must undertake an IC plot which challenges and stretches them. This may include making their own tome / grimoire, etc - but this must be a challenge in terms of their research skills. If the PC tries to make a tome / grimoire / resource which would allow others to learn this magic, that must be pre-approved (before commencing the threads) via the PSF and will need to have a tracker.

1. 1. Finding out about and acquiring the tome / book / etc must be at least one thread. This counts as 1 "step" when the book / tome / grimoire / is acquired.

Learning Magic Through Research. A Few Practicalities

• Because this is still new and we're trialling it, PCs are requested to be very clear in their review requests (let the peer reviewer know that you are following an Academic Mage route, which knowledges are specifically for this, etc). It will help us to make sure that we're applying the rules fairly and consistently.

• When you have completed your journey to being a Book-Mage - post your final thread up for review and post in the PSF, linking to that thread and showing the whole journey (links for the three steps above, basically). A staffer will confirm the result. Again, this is just so that we're clear what we're doing, and we'll stop it once we've got it straight.

• As a non-spark mage, you need to be clear on the restrictions and differences in the process. Non-Spark Magic

• Learning another magic is as simple (or as complex) as repeating steps 2 and 3 above. However, we expect these to be genuinely challenging.

Credits: Faith & Rakvald

Progressing Research

• Capstones
• Grandmasters
• Tier 2 PCs

Research Knowledge

The collapsible below has examples of Skill Knowledge for this skill. If you are unsure of what Knowledge is, please check the Knowledge Primer for details. Please remember that our Peer Reviewers will be checking to make sure that your Knowledge claim is appropriate to what you have learned in the thread and ensuring that you are not duplicating knowledge.

A guide to knowledge can be found here (this link takes you to the site) and the person reviewing your thread will do so following the steps laid out in the Peer Reviewer Guide. If you wish to use one of these knowledge in your request, please ensure that it is appropriate to your thread.