Every character is equipped with specific, trained Skills that give them a +5 bonus to attempt an action out of combat. For example, a bard might be trained in Performance, allowing them to gain a +5 bonus to attempts made to put on a show for a crowd. The Character Skills page explains what skills are available to players in more depth, and this page explains how skills are used logistically to resolve out of combat encounters.
Normally, the DM will simply call for a Skill Check appropriate to a situation. For example, to swim across a creek, the DM might ask for a Strength Check. The player should roll a d20, add a +5 bonus if they’re trained in Swimming, and their Strength modifier to get their total. The DM compares that total against a set DC. The Three Golden Rules page explains what DCs are in more depth.
Skill Challenges
A skill challenge is a special type of encounter. It is used when characters attempt something complicated that requires multiple steps or multiple contributors. Tasks like taming a wild animal, searching the wilderness for tracks, or figuring out a complicated clockwork machine are all examples of skill challenges.
The practice of running a skill challenge is simple in the Ilisara RPG. The DM will decide a certain number of successful skill checks must be completed before a certain number of skill check failures. These skill checks might occur all at once, or over a period of time.
Here is an example: A character wants to tame a wild baby bear. The DM asks for the character to make 5 Animal Handling skill checks, with a DC of 15, over the course of 5 days. The character rolls a d20 each day and adds their modifiers. They must succeed three times before failing three times in order to make the baby bear a willing ally or companion. If the bear was fully-grown, the DC might be 20. If the beast was a mythical gryphon, the DC might be 25. It all depends on the context of the skill challenge and just how difficult the DM believes the task should be.
A common, standard skill challenge requires 3 successes before 3 failures, with a DC of 15. Refer to the Three Golden Rules page for an explanation of the relative difficulty level of DCs.
This article on the [Critical Hits] blog has plenty of extra strategies and advice for how to run skill challenges.
Stealth
Stealth is such an important part of the Ilisara RPG that it deserves a section of the rules dedicated to it. First of all, any character can attempt Stealth checks, even if they are not trained in the skill. Stealth allows character to conceal themselves from enemies, slink past guards, slip away without being noticed, and sneak up on people without being seen or heard. This skill is used against a DC set by the DM, or against another creature’s Perception. All Stealth Checks are rolled using a character’s Dexterity modifier.
Becoming Hidden
You can make a Stealth check if you’re outside an enemy’s line of sight. If the enemy is aware of your presence, roll with a -5 penalty.
- Success: You are hidden, which means you are silent and invisible to the enemy. Attack rolls against you have disadvantage, and and your attack rolls have advantage.
- Failure: You can try again with a -2 penalty.
Remaining Hidden
You remain hidden as long as you meet these requirements:
- Keep Out of Sight: Stay behind cover. You don’t need to stay outside line of sight, but you do need some degree of cover to remain hidden. You can’t use another creature your size (or smaller) as cover to remain hidden.
- Keep Quiet: If you speak louder than a whisper or otherwise draw attention to yourself, you don’t remain hidden from any enemy that can hear you.
- Don’t Attack: If you attack, you don’t remain hidden.
- Enemy Activity: An enemy can try to find you on its turn. If an enemy makes a Perception check and beats your Stealth check result (don’t make a new check), you don’t remain hidden from that enemy.
Social Interaction
As a general rule, character-to-character interaction does not require skill checks. Roleplaying your character influences the opinions of other characters, and relationship development is not dictated by the roll of dice.
However, social interactions with NPCs are a large part of the Ilisara RPG. Every time you engage with an NPC, you can use social skills related to Charisma to try and gauge their opinions and motives. You can also try to seduce, woo, gain favor, or intimate NPCs. Shopkeepers, princes, soldiers, and any other NPCs can be influenced by the roll of the dice. Sometimes the DM may ask for a skill check when you’re interacting with an NPC. If not, feel free to ask if you can use one of your skills to try and influence NPCs — odds are, the DM will encourage it!
Some complex interactions, like a negotiation for a peace treaty between two warring factions, might warrant a Skill Challenge related to Diplomacy.