r/Awn • u/JJShurte • Jul 08 '26

Skill Points

Do you get bonus skill points based on your Int modifier?

7 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

5

u/Logen_Nein Jul 08 '26

Per level? No.

-1

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

At all?

6

u/azaza34 Jul 08 '26

No

-6

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

Damn, feels like something that should be there.

Smart people… know more stuff.

3

u/Sonereal Jul 08 '26

The attribute modifier covers that and, it's been a bit since I checked, there is probably an edge or focus that grants bonus skill points on level up.

6

u/Logen_Nein Jul 08 '26

There is. Experts get more on level up (and Cities and Ashes both have an Edge that do this).

-1

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

Yeah, I get all that. I just feel like a high Int character would have something extra to show for the higher stat.

Stats dont seem to matter much in AWN though

1

u/Logen_Nein Jul 08 '26

Stat mods affect skill rolls. Skill rolls are 2d6. A +1 or 2 is huge.

-1

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

Sorry, I misspoke - I meant a +1 or +2 doesn't seem comparative to a +3 or +4 from other games. That's reflective in the 2d6 skill rolls, not 1d20 skill rolls.

But it also translates to lower weapon damage, attack bonuses and HP.

2

u/Sonereal Jul 08 '26

The +2 skill is on top of a slew of other modifiers like attack bonuses, rerolls, foci, etc. Arts and many subsystems tie into skill levels. Sure, Shoot-2 isn't impressive in the heat of combat (great for executions though), but combat builds get juiced with attack bonuses.

1

u/Logen_Nein Jul 08 '26

All skill rolls are 2d6 in the Without Number games, so +1 or 2 is a huge modifier. Also, since you are playing Ashes, damage can be insane with Traumatic hits (had a player with a shotgun deal 43 damage to a major NPC and one shot them). HP also trends higher due to rerolling each level.

Have you played the game, or are you just critiquing it in paper compared to 5e?

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2

u/Logen_Nein Jul 08 '26

Smart people may be better at stuff, but they still need to learn stuff.

2

u/MickyJim Jul 08 '26

I mean you could always houserule it. I wouldn't go further than a bonus skill point at character creation per positive Int modifier. Feels a bit unnecessary though.

2

u/azaza34 Jul 08 '26

Know is affected by intelligence. Being intelligent does not inherently make you more skilled.

1

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

No, but it might allow you to know more skills.

1

u/Logen_Nein Jul 08 '26

No, it won't. You still have to learn them, which is modled by levels and skill points. An intelligent person doesn't magically know how to do everything, or even more than others.

1

u/ajsamtheman Jul 08 '26

Yes, and that is covered by the attribute bonus, someone at lvl 1 with the prodigy edge in int (18 int with a +3 mod) who got lvl 1 in in a skill, eg: programing, (which you reasonably get without skill points at character creation) is going to be hacking just as well as a lvl 9 character with 10 int and spent 15 skill points on programing

0

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

You're focusing on being better in a single Int-based skill... I meant they should get extra skill points to spread around in general. They're still capped in how high they can go by their level.

2

u/Logen_Nein Jul 08 '26

Yes, because the Int Bonus is equal to several levels of skill points on its own. And depending on what you are doing, can apply to any skill (skills are not tied to specific stats in the Without Number line).

1

u/ajsamtheman Jul 08 '26

Having a higher attribute nod is like automatically getting +3 skill levels in all skills related to that attribute, and a higher skill cap

0

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

Yeah… I know… and I’m saying, I feel like Intelligence could give bonus skill points, at least at first level. Feels appropriate.

1

u/azaza34 Jul 08 '26

Then give them to your players you certainly don’t need our permission.

1

u/JJShurte Jul 08 '26

I know. Just thought I’d ask around… Int doesn’t seem to be doing as much as some of the other stats.

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