Defaulting & Aiding Skill Checks

Defaulting Skill Checks

Characters have the ability to forgo rolling a check on certain skill check, and instead Default to a set number. Defaulting can only be done when a character can not receive negative consequences from failing, such as setting off a trap with Manipulate Device. If a characters bonus to a skill would make it so that even on a one they cannot trigger negative effects, such as failing by 10 to disable a trap, and they have identified the DC in character they can Default the skill check. Some checks such as attacking, spellcasting, saves, attribute checks, and most checks in combat or stressful situations can not be defaulted. When Defaulting a skill check the character treats it as if they rolled their skill rank bonus in the skill before adding any modifiers. Defaulting a skill check causes the check to take five times as long to perform. In some cases the GM may allow characters to Default to an automatic success, if they have enough situational or roleplay bonuses. In these cases the check takes ten times as long.

Aiding Skill Checks

At times, characters will attempt to assist each other in a task. To ‘aid another’, requires a basic action with a DC equal to the DC of the action attempted to be assisted -10. Some tasks such as harvesting, crafting, attacking, or spellcasting require a set DC to be hit to aid. These special types of aid actions will have their DC listed in their respective rules. If successful, the character performing the action will receive a bonus, equal to half skill rank bonus of the aiding character, to their final result. Depending on the task, certain tasks cannot have aid (as it would not be beneficial) or limits the number of characters that can aid (item size, room constraints, or duration of task). At base only two characters can assist on any given task. It is also possible that the task being performed requires specialized knowledge and training to be able to assist.
Characters may have access to spells, items, or abilities that can be used in conjunction or to bolster Aid on a character performing an action. In order to gain bonuses from any of these (including other characters), they must be present for the duration of the action requiring a check.