Is Perception too powerful?

[Effex Seven]

(A companion thread of "Is Mechancial too weak?")

I've felt for some time that Perception is too powerful. It has four major functions in the game:

1. Basis for "alertness" type skills (Search, Hide, Sneak, etc.)
2. Basis for "interaction" type skills (Bargain, Con, Persuade, etc.)
3. Determines initiative
4. Used to resist some Force powers

I'm considering splitting it into two stats: Perception (which covers 1 and 3) and Presence (which covers 2 and 4.) As an aside, I'd move the skills Intimidate and Willpower from Knowledge to Presence, and Willpower would be used to resist Force powers.


Thoughts?

(I couldn't decide if this should go in the Official Rules or House Rules forum, but now that I think of it, probably the latter.)

[Kayle Skolaris]

I've honestly never had a problem with Perception or its related skills, but I can see how some would.

[Gry Sarth]

I have to agree with you that Perception does gather a lot of uses that are used all the time. My group has a running joke that whenever one is in doubt on what he should roll, he invariably should roll Perception. So it's like:

- "Uh, wait... what should I roll for this?"

- "Uh... don't know... just roll Perception and be done with it."

However it's not something that's really a problem for the game. Even though your Presence attribute makes sense, I wouldn't ammend such an important part of the system.
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"He's Gry Sarth, of course he has the stats for them."

[Ankhanu]

Likewise, I've never had issues with the "power" of Perception. There are relatively few skills covered under the attribute, though most are fairly useful. With the current setup, I've never seen or had problems with overpowering when people stat their characters according to the character's concept...

Your idea does make some sense, I certainly won't argue. However, adding a seventh attribute would require alterations to the Attributes/Attribute Dice allocations of every single species in the game... which could be a bit of a nuisance. Personally I find the simplicity of the current system is streamlined and comprehensive; and fully operational. With proper skill allocations, I find there is little reason for misgivings with Perception.

Additionally, I don't find that any given attribute is too powerful or too weak. All are important for a well balanced character; let any one of them fall too far out of view and your character/game will suffer.

[Effex Seven]

[garhkal]

[Ankhanu]

Hmm, yeah, I don't think we've ever had a character with 5D perception in our games... or if we did, they probably rolled like me (no matter how many dice you have, you're still going to roll terrible ).

[cheshire]

I think that's interesting. Usually Dexterity was our usual dump attribute. It really aids in combat. However, a few players have really been bitten in the butt because they aren't perceptive enough to make rolls to notice something happening aroud them.

I'm wondering if this isn't a matter of something just within your group. You may adjust some of the types of checks players have to make accordingly with different types of plot hooks or different monkey wrenches you throw at them.

[garhkal]

Depending on the type of character i am going for, perception is either the second or third highest attrib for me... even a techie/pilot imo needs a high perception.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Endwyn]

Well, any attribute is the "best" under the right circumstances. Strength can be insane on a high strength character wielding a STR +3D weapon.....especially under a force point (2x Str+ 3D).

A heavy space game, mechanical and technical rock for obvious reasons. (MEC more than TEC.)

I find that the GM usually makes an attribute too powerful, not the system.
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And Leia is your sister!
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And the Empire will be destroyed by..EWOKS!
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The Force? Bacteria called midichlorians.
If you don’t take this seriously I'm out.

[Grimace]

[Tupteq]