Converting D20 DC to RQ2 Difficulty

[ryhopewood]

This table compares skill difficulty class (DC) in D20 games with skill difficulty in RQ2. I have used DC 10 (average) from D&D Player's Handbook Revised (3.5) and RQ Routine difficulty as a reference point. This is a rough guide (and is not based on actual probabilities).

RQ2 difficulty	Skill Modifer (%)	        D20 Difficulty Class	                D20 difficulty
Very Easy	              +60		                NO EQUIVALENT
Easy	                   +40	                          0	                        Very Easy
Simple	                 +20	                          5	                        Easy
Routine	                +0	                          10	                        Average
Difficult	              -20	                         15	                        Tough
Hard	                   -40	                         20	                        Challenging
Very Hard	              -60	                         25	                        Formidable
Formidable	             -80	                         30	                        Heroic
      NO EQUIVALENT		                                40	                        Nearly Impossible

 

[ryhopewood]

The table below compares the qualitative descriptions of skill competencies in RQ2 with the meaning of skill ranks in Mutants and Masterminds Second Edition, a D20 based game.

RQ2 competency	Skill Range (%)	      D20 Skill Ranks	       D20 competency
Novice	        01 – 25	              1 – 4	                 Basic level of training, familiarity
Competent	     26 – 50	              5 – 8	                 Professional level, primary skill for job
Professional     51 – 75                 5 – 8                    "		
Expert           76 – 100	             9 – 12	                Expert and recognised as such
Master           101 – 125	           13 – 15	                Virtual mastery of the skill
Grand Master     125+	                15+	                    Amazing skill, one of the best in the world

 

[ryhopewood]

This is my table for skill conversions between D20 (D&D 3.5) and RQ2.

C = Common Skill, A = Advanced Skill, AM = Advanced Magical Skill

D20 skill                             RQ skill(s)
Appraise                              Evaluate (C)
Balance                               Acrobatics (A)
Bluff                                 Influence (C), Insight (C), Seduction (A)
Climb                                 Athletics (C)
Concentration                         Persistence (C)
Craft                                 Art (A), Craft (A), Lore (A)
Decipher Script                       Language (A), Lore (A or AM)
Diplomacy                             Courtesy (A), Influence (C), Seduction (A)
Disable Device                        Mechanisms (A)
Disguise                              Disguise (A)
Escape Artist                         Escape Artist (A)*
Forgery                               Craft (A)
Gather Information                    Streetwise (A)
Handle Animal                         Drive (C), Lore (specific Animal, C or A)
Heal                                  First Aid (C), Healing (A)
Hide                                  Stealth (C)
Intimidate	
Jump                                  Athletics (C)
Knowledge                             Engineering (A), Lore (C or A)
Listen                                Perception (C)
Move Silently                         Stealth (C)
Open Lock                             Mechanisms (A)
Perform                               Dance (C), Oratory (A), Play Instrument (A), Sing (C)
Profession                            Boating (A), Commerce (A), Craft (A), Lore (C or A), Shiphandling (A), Teaching (A)
Ride                                  Ride (C)
Search                                Perception (C)
Sense Motive                          Insight (C)
Sleight of Hand                       Sleight (C)
Speak Language                        Language (A)
Spot                                  Perception (C)
Survival                              Streetwise (A), Survival (A)
Swim	                               Swim (C)
Tumble                                Acrobatics (A)
Use Rope                              Lore (C)

D20 saving throw                      RQ skill
Fortitude                             Resilience (C)
Reflex                                Evade (C)
Will                                  Persistence (C)

Escape Artist is a new advanced skill.


Escape Artist (DEX+INT)
This skill enables an Adventurer to slip out of bonds or manacles, wriggle through tight spaces, or escape a grapple in combat. An attempt to escape from rope bonds is an Opposed Skill test versus the person who tied the knots (usually Lore [Knots] but the GM may allow other skills). An attempt to slip out of manacles is modified by their design and quality (an average set is at least a Very Hard [-60%] test but a well made set would be a Formidable [-80%] test). An attempt to move through a tight space where your head fits but your shoulders don’t is a Very Hard [-60%] test. If the space is long, such as a chimney, the GM may call for multiple tests. It is impossible to fit through a space that your head does not fit through. This skill can also be used as a substitute for Unarmed skill to break free from a grapple (see RQ2 Core Rules p. 92).

 

[Exubae]

RQ2 competency Skill Range (%) D20 Skill Ranks D20 competency
Novice 01 – 25 1 – 4 Basic level of training, familiarity
Competent 26 – 50 5 – 8 Professional level, primary skill for job
Professional 51 – 75 5 – 8 "
Expert 76 – 100 9 – 12 Expert and recognised as such
Master 101 – 125 13 – 15 Virtual mastery of the skill
Grand Master 125+ 15+ Amazing skill, one of the best in the world

Unsure of what your getting at with this table - shouldn't each point of the d20 indicate a 5% increment in skill?
i.e. 25% would be a skill rank of 5
Or if you apply the standard penaty 25% would be a skill rank of 7.

Mmm a MRQ2 version of M&M now thats a cool concept

 

[Mugen]

RQ2 competency Skill Range (%) D20 Skill Ranks D20 competency
Novice 01 – 25 1 – 4 Basic level of training, familiarity
Competent 26 – 50 5 – 8 Professional level, primary skill for job
Professional 51 – 75 5 – 8 "
Expert 76 – 100 9 – 12 Expert and recognised as such
Master 101 – 125 13 – 15 Virtual mastery of the skill
Grand Master 125+ 15+ Amazing skill, one of the best in the world

Unsure of what your getting at with this table - shouldn't each point of the d20 indicate a 5% increment in skill?
i.e. 25% would be a skill rank of 5
Or if you apply the standard penaty 25% would be a skill rank of 7.

Mmm a MRQ2 version of M&M now thats a cool concept

Not really, as d20 ranks do not incorporate characteristics modifiers whereas MRQ2 skill does.

Let's compare average, untrained men in both systems in a skill where no initial training is needed :

In d20 : This man has 0 ranks and +0 characteristics
In MRQ2 : The equivalent man has skill base of 21 to 24.

So, the right formula is something like :

Skill = (Base skill) + Ax(Rank).

Base Skill being computed following MRQ2 rules, and Rank being the d20 Rank

For advanced skills or skills requiring a training, the equivalent would be :

Skill = (Base skill) + Ax(Rank-1).

I would compute A according to "Grand Master" level.

Say a rank of 15 is equivalent to a skill 126 to 130.

Therefore, using our formula above :

(126-130) = (21-25) + A*15

Therefore :

A = 105/15 = 7.

So, the right formula is something like :

Skill = Base + Rank *7.

 

[ryhopewood]

RQ2 competency Skill Range (%) D20 Skill Ranks D20 competency
Novice 01 – 25 1 – 4 Basic level of training, familiarity
Competent 26 – 50 5 – 8 Professional level, primary skill for job
Professional 51 – 75 5 – 8 "
Expert 76 – 100 9 – 12 Expert and recognised as such
Master 101 – 125 13 – 15 Virtual mastery of the skill
Grand Master 125+ 15+ Amazing skill, one of the best in the world

Unsure of what your getting at with this table - shouldn't each point of the d20 indicate a 5% increment in skill?
i.e. 25% would be a skill rank of 5
Or if you apply the standard penaty 25% would be a skill rank of 7.

Mmm a MRQ2 version of M&M now thats a cool concept

M&M is great for understanding how D20 elements are put together and Warriors and Warlocks is a great supplement for S&S.

In the table above I have matched qualitative descriptions between the two systems. In M&M, a skill rank of 5 - 8 is described as a professional skill level. In RQ2, this is a skill range of 51 - 75%. So, if I have a D20 character with 7 ranks in Ride skill then I know a converted character should have a Ride skill in the range 51 - 75% (and probably nearer 75 than 50). There are so many complicating factors in determining the probability of succeeding at similar tasks between the two systems that I decided to work on the "the feel" and what characters are qualitatively expected to achieve. In this way, two characters can do similar things in their respective systems even if the underlying mechanics are different.

 

[ryhopewood]

Not really, as d20 ranks do not incorporate characteristics modifiers whereas MRQ2 skill does.

Let's compare average, untrained men in both systems in a skill where no initial training is needed :

In d20 : This man has 0 ranks and +0 characteristics
In MRQ2 : The equivalent man has skill base of 21 to 24.

So, the right formula is something like :

Skill = (Base skill) + Ax(Rank).

Base Skill being computed following MRQ2 rules, and Rank being the d20 Rank

For advanced skills or skills requiring a training, the equivalent would be :

Skill = (Base skill) + Ax(Rank-1).

I would compute A according to "Grand Master" level.

Say a rank of 15 is equivalent to a skill 126 to 130.

Therefore, using our formula above :

(126-130) = (21-25) + A*15

Therefore :

A = 105/15 = 7.

So, the right formula is something like :

Skill = Base + Rank *7.

Nice work! I admire your mathfu. However, there appears to be a problem at low skill ranks. A character with a novice competency has a skill range up to 25 (equivalent to base skill) without any skill ranks being added in. So in D20, a base level of training of 1 - 4 ranks would equate to a skill range of up to 50% (which would make them professionals in RQ).

 

[Mugen]

Nice work! I admire your mathfu. However, there appears to be a problem at low skill ranks. A character with a novice competency has a skill range up to 25 (equivalent to base skill) without any skill ranks being added in. So in D20, a base level of training of 1 - 4 ranks would equate to a skill range of up to 50% (which would make them professionals in RQ).

I did not really care with those descriptions, actually, and prefered to stick with numbers

Plus, I do not agree that characters with skill 26 to 50 can be described as "competent", and I think 65% is a minimum to be seen as a "professional".

 

[ryhopewood]

Nice work! I admire your mathfu. However, there appears to be a problem at low skill ranks. A character with a novice competency has a skill range up to 25 (equivalent to base skill) without any skill ranks being added in. So in D20, a base level of training of 1 - 4 ranks would equate to a skill range of up to 50% (which would make them professionals in RQ).

I did not really care with those descriptions, actually, and prefered to stick with numbers

Plus, I do not agree that characters with skill 26 to 50 can be described as "competent", and I think 65% is a minimum to be seen as a "professional".

I do see what you mean about being professional. Given that a routine task has no modifier, I'm not sure I would be happy with a dentist that only succeeded half of the time in fixing a filling! I had assumed that even in the classical or medieval world on which most fantasy settings are based that they would not have accept a much lower standard of professionalism than we do today. Of course, the other factor to consider is that in D&D (and I think RQ2 as well), the GM should not make the character roll for every use of the skill. You roll only in situations under pressure and for dramatic or narrative effect. If you have a professional level of skill as a GM I would hand wave quite a lot of skill use otherwise the players would rapidly lose heart.