Tumble and Swimming

[Blake the Boar]

If a swimming system is ever implemented, I suggest a combination of strength and tumble, also a small bonus from classes (the levels) that are more likely to involve swimming, such as barbarians, fighters, etc.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

Why would barbarians swim? -.- but then, I think all classes should have access to AE as a skill at least, cross class perhaps.

[Blake the Boar]

Why would barbarians swim?

Swimming skill, in P&P, is a class skill for barbarians and some other athletic like classes. Why not though? I don't get that ...

[FleetingHeart]

While combination checks (like herbalism and alchemy) make sense sometimes, I'd have to say not here. The idea is to make it a minor bonus. Such that a lightly clad person could swim a bit faster, but without giving people wearing heavy armor much of a bonus.

For example, let's assume the move speed penalty in full plate is 30%. I don't really know off hand... but someone in plate would have to overcome a -7 penalty to tumble to get to 0 tumble. Then they could reduce the penalty by 5% per five points of tumble. So a tumble of 10 with plate would mean they move at -20% underwater.

If you start adding in Character levels and strength scores, it becomes increasingly easy to negate that penalty. For instance, an 20 str level 8 fighter would have +13 straight off the bat. They could easily have 5 points in tumble skiil, plus whatever they have from gear. Let's say another five from gear. That's +23. Subtract 7 penalty from their armor and they get a score of 16. Meaning 15% move speed increase. Nobody should be able to swim quickly in plate unless that is specially designed lightened plate (since the current swim penalty is based on weight, not armor type), but that is what it allows, in essence. Further, if they multiclassed rogue somewhere (say level 8 was a rogue level) They could then have not 5 ranks in tumble but 11. Thus putting their move speed reduction in plate at 10%. Peanuts.

So, if it were to be kept at simply your current tumble skill, modified by armor or whatever, it would be considerably easier to balance and far more fair. That fighter rogue in plate would only have 11 points of 'swim' at level 8. -7 for wearing plate and voila, no move speed increase. He needs to get tumble gear to get any bonus at all.

What this is more for, is to allow lightly armored characters a swim speed bonus. Currently there is absolutely no way to increase your swim speed without magic. You have to have haste, expeditious retreat, or freedom of movement to get it higher. This just doesn't seem right to me. There should be a skill check involved somewhere.

[Blake the Boar]

Check penalty would apply, of course.

[Letsplayforfun]

Make merchants sell life-buoys, imo.

[Snoteye]

oh hey look custom skill system

[FleetingHeart]

ROFL +1
<3 Snoteye