From:	Marc A Renouf <jormung@*****.UMICH.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Snake (Speed Samurai)
Date:	Mon, 25 Sep 1995 13:38:10 -0400

On Mon, 25 Sep 1995, Gurth wrote:

> > From: Marc A Renouf <jormung@*****.UMICH.EDU>
>
> > Yeah, until you get a character who has a special skill in
> > observation that's *higher* than his Intelligence. Then you have to be
> > really specific as to what you're asking for.
>
> I have always managed to avoid players getting skills like Observation or
> Awareness or similar things with different names. I think it
> half-contradicts the SR game system -- Intelligence is used to notice
> things, and if you make it a skill you are effectively replacing an
> Attribute with a skill.

While perception-type skills can be increased (reflecting
training to become more aware of your environment), the increase of said
skills does not change the other facets of the Intelligence attribute,
namely the ability to just figure stuff out ("cipherin'") and one's
powers of recall.
If the players are stuck on something they can't figure out, I'll
occasionally call for an Intelligence check, reflecting the fact that
character may know things that the player doesn't or may have had
learning experiences that the player has not (or may be quicker on the
uptake than the player :). Also, any memory checks come off of the
Intelligence attribute itself.
Also, the use of an observation or awareness skill is an active
thing. If somebody sneaks up on you when you're not paying attention, or
not active observing things, the default number of dice you roll is your
Intelligence. So while you can up an observation skill, it doesn't
"replace" the attribute at all.

Marc