Intelligence.
Research in the Gamma Age is much different and more difficult than in the modern age. The primary difference exists in the medium: modern research assumes the presence of an internet, as well as carefully catalogued libraries and other archives. It is rare for a Gamma World character to have access to either, though some archivists’ communities possess intranet computer systems and vast amounts of carefully collected data. Outside of these rare instances, characters using the Research skill find themselves rooting through incomplete and often heavily damaged community and personal libraries.
The lack of proper information sources increases both the difficulty and the time required to use the Research skill. The DCs for accessing various types of information presented in d20 Modern are increased by +5 (this increase is already included in the table below). The modifiers listed under the
Knowledge skills apply to Research as well. In addition, the base time for using the Research skill is increased from 1d4 hours to 2d6 hours.
Check: Researching a topic takes time, skill, and some luck. The GM determines how obscure a particular topic is (the more obscure, the higher the DC) and what kind of information might be available depending on where the character is conducting his or her research.
Information ranges from general to protected. Given enough time (usually 2d6 hours) and a successful skill check, the character gets a general idea about a given topic. This assumes that no obvious reasons exist why such information would be unavailable, and that the character has a way to acquire restricted or protected information.
The higher the check result, the better and more complete the information. If the character wants to discover a specific fact, date, map, or similar bit of information, add +5 to +15 to the DC.
* Usually requires access to a restricted information source, such as a secure computer system or a private archive, before a check can be made.
Action: A Research check takes 2d6 hours.
Try Again?: Yes.
Special: A character can take 10 or take 20 on a Research check.
A character with the
Studious feat gets a +2 bonus on all Research checks.
