Perception and skills

[BigDogsRunning]

Thinking about perception and trying to figure out where Recon and Investigate fit into it.

Recon seems to be large scale, noticing things or people out of place. It is a pretty specific skill, and isn't available to everyone.

Investigate is described as a forensic and analytical skill, however, the only examples of skill use are of noticing details about things you can closely examine. Also not available to everyone.

How do you handle "perception" checks? Do you require Recon skill, or just an INT check?

Are Recon/Investigate basically the Spot/Search duo, or do you do additional things with it?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

How do you handle "perception" checks? Do you require Recon skill, or just an INT check?

I use INT-check (Recon-check w/o unskilled malus) for basic perception. For actual reconnaissance I would use unskilled malus.

The same for basic searching and Investigate...

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

How do you handle "perception" checks? Do you require Recon skill, or just an INT check?

I don't do perception checks in my games. If there's a noise, the Travellers hear it. If there's something hiding in the dark, the Travellers will see it with lamp/vision gear. If a book has blood-stained pages in it, the Travellers will spot it when they open the book.

 

[Linwood]

I’m pretty much where ShawnDriscoll is (although I like the dea of a straight INT check). I tend to require to notice things that are camouflaged or trying to hide like someone shadowing the PCs. Investigate seems better suited not so much for noticing things but putting them in context.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

If anyone's character in my game can even do a "perception" thing, it would be the psion in the group.

 

[arcador]

In Traveller skills can overlap, which is actually the charm of the system - it encourages improvisation.

We only call for skill check if there are clues, which are very subtle, and will help the narrative/quest line, but are not vital for the progression.

Recon is mostly for spotting things.
Investigate is mostly when there is time and need to analyze the data/info, or when someone is attempting deception.
In some cases, they can overlap.