Search Skill

[Solaghar]

A question relating to the search skill. As someone who builds areas and quests on occasion, I'd like to add searchable options to some areas, however the relatively high level (30) at which the search skill becomes available ends up meaning that it limits the options available for low-level quest areas. In D&D, there's no equivalent skill to search, if you want to look somewhere in a room, you can do it. What would the benefits and disadvantages be for moving the search skill to a lower level, say below level 10 a character would be able to train search?

[Raona]

Is it really that high a level? I recall getting it relatively early on...but I guess you are right!

I'm all for making it lower level...and employing it more!

[Keltorn]

Is it really that high a level? I recall getting it relatively early on...but I guess you are right!

I'm fairly certain that the search skill, like many skills, is available at different levels for different classes. 30 for warriors, 20 for rogues, and 24 for priests and wizards, yes? Of course, they can be trained five levels before those numbers, so a dedicated rogue can have it as soon as level 15.

As someone who builds areas and quests on occasion, I'd like to add searchable options to some areas, however the relatively high level (30) at which the search skill becomes available ends up meaning that it limits the options available for low-level quest areas.

Well, for soloing warriors, sure. Rogues are specialists in many things, including finding that which is meant to stay hidden. If you're looking for something, consider bringing one along instead of going alone.

I've seen the search command come up a few times in quests, but they don't use the skill. You just type SEARCH and you find whatever you're supposed to find. I'd really like to see the skill itself getting more use like you're describing.

I'd also like to see the search skill have a chance of detecting hidden stuff in the room that you would otherwise have to manually look for. I've found it really bizarre that someone with a GMed search skill can still get stuck in a quest just because they can't figure out the LOOKable keyword they need to continue.

In D&D, there's no equivalent skill to search, if you want to look somewhere in a room, you can do it.

Actually, the D&D skill called search has some remarkable similarities. The search skill is not for simply looking around. It represents a much more focused, up-close examination of an area.

Quick example, if you look around and see a desk, that's just LOOKing (spot in D&D). If you open the desk drawers and rifle through them for anything of value (or better yet, a hidden compartment), that's a search.

What would the benefits and disadvantages be for moving the search skill to a lower level, say below level 10 a character would be able to train search?

Hmm, good question. I'd guess they'd be the same as when changing the level for any other skill. We would need to hear from one of the developers to know why they decided to keep some skills for later levels instead of making them all immediately available. D&D doesn't have anything similar to compare to; D&D gives you all the skills right away but caps your skill level in them until you level up more. That's not an exact comparison, but it's close enough to give the non D&D players an idea of how it works.

I'm ambivalent on whether or not to lower the level requirement for the search skill, personally. However, I do feel that rogues should get to maintain their edge by getting it faster than the other classes.