Skills
New and Modified Skills
Knowledge
Failed Knowledge checks that miss the DC by less than 10, while they still do not indicate the precise information that would normally be revealed by the Knowledge check, do reveal where this information could likely be found (what libraries or repositories of knowledge might contain the needed information, what individuals or groups might have access to such knowledge, what steps might be taken to seek it out, etc.).
Poisonmaking
Poisonmaking is a new skill in Beyond Ragnarok. See the Poisonmaking skill description page for details.
Passive Skills
Several skills may be used “passively”, i.e. without rolling a skill check. For each of these skills, a passive skill score is calculated for a character (which is equal to the character’s skill modifier plus some fixed number). This score is then compared to some relevant skill check DC. If the character’s passive score is equal to or greater than the DC, then the character gains some benefit from the skill.
Passive skill uses are automatic; they need not be declared, and are simply assumed to be always operative in the appropriate circumstances. The DM informs the player whenever the character gains some benefit from the passive skill use; the player is not required to do anything in order to gain this benefit.
Gather Information
A character’s passive Gather Information score is equal to 1 + the Gather Information modifier. Whenever the character conducts any business in a locale, such as purchasing spell components, selling treasure, seeking out or keeping a watch on a person of interest, or any other activity that takes at least several hours and involves interacting with, or at least spending time near, the local populace, the character naturally picks up snippets of conversation, observes people’s behavior, and otherwise gets a sense of the current events and general state of the locale in question. This use of the Gather Information skill generally does not yield information that is specific or that concerns narrow topics of interest; only general rumors and current affairs are gleaned. No special action is required to make use of the Gather Information skill in this way; it is an automatic benefit.
Knowledge
A character’s passive Knowledge skill score is equal to 1 + the Knowledge skill modifier, and represents knowledge that the character definitely has, without needing to check; that is, the character knows all facts and concepts which have a Knowledge DC equal to or less than the passive score. The DM informs the player of any relevant knowledge his character has, whenever the situation calls for it.
Listen
A character’s passive Listen score is equal to 10 + the Listen skill modifier. It is used as the character’s Listen result whenever the character is not actively taking an action to carefully listen for sounds of interest—which is most of the time. A character’s passive Listen score is also the DC for opposed Move Silently checks made by any creatures attempting to sneak in the character's vicinity.
Sense Motive
A character’s passive Sense Motive score is equal to 10 + the Sense Motive skill modifier. It is used whenever the character engages in conversation or similar interaction with another character. The “hunch” and “sense enchantment” uses of the Sense Motive skill use the character’s passive Sense Motive score. Likewise, Bluff checks are usually opposed by a character’s passive Sense Motive score. (In each of these cases, if the character declares that he is suspicious of his interlocutor, the DM makes a Sense Motive roll for the character in secret and informs the player of the result. Note, however, that failure on a Sense Motive check can generate either a false positive or a false negative result, depending on the situation.)
Spot
A character’s passive Spot score is equal to 10 + the Spot skill modifier. It is used as the character’s Spot result whenever the character is not actively taking an action to carefully look around, or look at something or in some direction—which is most of the time. A character’s passive Spot score is also the DC for opposed Hide checks made by any creatures attempting to sneak in the character's vicinity.