Contacts question

[Mister Andersen]

Re: Shrewd & Journalist. Fair enough.

But it also means that the average 1st level fixer who hasn't gotten a basic skill feat and a "* contacts" feat is no better than any other 1st level character at using contacts, which should be their central schtick. The Hook Up is worthless for Associate and Acquantaince grade contacts due to the DCs involved, and if they use their contact levels due to Networking to buff a contact from an origin to a point where it does, they've lost those 2 grades forever.

I assume that the bonus contacts from the Fixer's C ability work like the contact grades gained via Networking increases rather than contacts gained via origins?

[Morgenstern]

Re: Shrewd & Journalist. Fair enough.

But it also means that the average 1st level fixer who hasn't gotten a basic skill feat and a "* contacts" feat is no better than any other 1st level character at using contacts, which should be their central schtick.

Too bad about them having "flawless" Networking and Streetwise to play with while they build up their contacts . The fixer, surprisingly enough is not a one-dimensional contact machine. He actually is kinda expected to talk with people who aren't at his beck and call. Like the Hacker, he's designed so he can't just "sit in the van" and not participate. Contacts are one thing he could focus on and if he does so he'll be better at them than anyone else.

The Hook Up is worthless for Associate and Acquantaince grade contacts due to the DCs involved, and if they use their contact levels due to Networking to buff a contact from an origin to a point where it does, they've lost those 2 grades forever.

Because Networking only has the Contact check, and hell, Streewise doesn't do anything at all . Not to mention is is an ability that matures over time, improving incrementally every single level you stick with the class. If you think it's worthless, don't play it, but I tend to see some value there myself . In fact, I think you've already scared Psion with it a little. It's still a first level ability and a damn good one.

I assume that the bonus contacts from the Fixer's C ability work like the contact grades gained via Networking increases rather than contacts gained via origins?

Let's look.

Slick: At Levels 3, 7, 11, 15, and 19, you gain 2 additional acquaintance-grade contacts or 1 Style feat.

Each time a character gains a new contact (e.g. from an Origin option, a feat or class ability, etc.), it establishes a new contact of the indicated grade. Because a player may choose the order in which benefits are gained when creating a character or rising in level, the free Networking skill focus a character initially receives may be used to improve the relationship with a contact provided by the character’s Origin options. Further, when a character gains a new contact and a new Networking focus at the same time, he may immediately apply the new focus to improving his relationship with the new contact.

My interpretation would be no.

[Mister Andersen]

Bugger.  That's that long-term plan ruined. 

Two questions. Can contacts pick up core abilities? (I seem to recall they can't). And is there a class that has the "don't fail" ability for Science and/or Profession skill checks?

[Morgenstern]

Bugger.  That's that long-term plan ruined. 

Check my new notebook entry. The process did suggest a new feat .

Two questions. Can contacts pick up core abilities? (I seem to recall they can't).

No.

And is there a class that has the "don't fail" ability for Science and/or Profession skill checks?

Designer nomenclature is "flawless" because the revised, 2.0 version of Flawless Search was the first of the new breed .

Explorer: Athletics & Cultures
Fixer: Networking & Streetwise
Hacker: Computers & Falsify
Scout: Survival & Tactics
Sleuth: Investigation & Sense Motive
Snoop: Analysis & Search

Lawman might have one (don't immediately recall). There might be one master class in edits that has a new 'flawless' skill pair, but it's not leaping directly to mind. Over all it leaves room for as many as 9 more unique combinations...

[Mister Andersen]

Can I have a Specialist with a flawless ability apply it to a Consultant's skill check with one of the aplicable skills?

[Crafty_Alex]

And is there a class that has the "don't fail" ability for Science and/or Profession skill checks?

Designer nomenclature is "flawless" because the revised, 2.0 version of Flawless Search was the first of the new breed .

Explorer: Athletics & Cultures
Fixer: Networking & Streetwise
Hacker: Computers & Falsify
Scout: Survival & Tactics
Sleuth: Investigation & Sense Motive
Snoop: Analysis & Search

Lawman also has Type A, which gives flawless Intimidate and Bureaucracy 

[Morgenstern]

Lawman also has Type A, which gives flawless Intimidate and Bureaucracy 

Or as I like to think of it, he gets flawless bad cop and worse cop .

[Morgenstern]

Can I have a Specialist with a flawless ability apply it to a Consultant's skill check with one of the aplicable skills?

Hmm. Its a neat idea I'm not immediately opposed to, but it probably doesn't hold up under the general guidelines. I'm gonna have to say no, the summoning charater needs to make the attempt, and then the contact's coaching keeps him from failing if the DC is low enough + the roll is not an error. The DC thresholds would be Acquantance (DC 26), Associate (DC 28), Confederate (DC 30), and Partner (DC 32).

[Mister Andersen]

There's nothing specifically mentioning that a specialist can't coach someone else you direct them to. Afterall, if they've answered the contact's request to show up at a place and time to work their mojo I don't think they're going to get too picky about who they work it with, and the person who ultimately benefits - the player - remains the same in either case.

Because if I'm going to to go to the (considerbly greater than it was last night) effort of building up a Partner level contact, I'd really like them to be the best, say, Business manager possible, building up my organisation with flawless Science (Economy) checks while I go out and somehow obtain all the money that's going to make it possible.

[Morgenstern]

There's nothing specifically mentioning that a specialist can't coach someone else you direct them to.

Other than the triffling detail that the guidelines do say the ability works as if the summoning character had the class ability . And since the 'flawless' abilities can't be shared, the specialist version shouldn't be either.

Mostly there is just zero chance I want to go down that dark path and have an entire team worth of characters focus all their specialists through one team member for a scene. That way lies madness.

Your business advisor still works - you just need to have at least a rank or two in Science with the economy focus so you don't completely misinterpret his instructions or otherwise botch things up. You roll, fail-but-don't-error, and his value takes over from there. All good. The other alternative is call in a consultant to make the check for you, who probably has a far, far better range of results (TL + 20 + 1d20 = 'Hell yes'). What you don't get to do is have your cake and eat it too. You want big numbers? Take a chance and roll. Want decent numbers almost all the time? Flawless it. Want big numbers and to never fail? Not happening - unless you provide the big numbers part personally.