Research

Research is a Common skill, and is modified by your Intelligence. Research is a character’s ability to gather, analyze, and interpret information from a wide range of sources, whether poring over ancient texts, studying the stars, or unraveling complex societal systems. This skill encompasses a variety of disciplines, including Ancient History, Astronomy, Engineering, Higher Powers, Geography, and Local Politics, making it a versatile and essential tool for uncovering knowledge.

A character with the Research skill is adept at piecing together clues from archives, libraries, or oral traditions to solve mysteries, understand historical events, or navigate intricate political landscapes. The Research skill thrives in both roleplay and exploration. Characters may use it to decipher ancient glyphs, chart safe courses using celestial navigation, or uncover the machinations of local rulers. Research can also reveal the hidden workings of the world, from understanding the mechanics of a forgotten invention to identifying the influence of divine or otherworldly entities in mortal affairs.

As your skill in Research grows, you will gain additional benefits from it.

Increased Affinity: When you first attain a new title in Research (Initiate or Apprentice), you gain a 25%  Affinity increase in either the Astronomy, Engineering, Geography, Higher Powers, Local Politics, or Research Skills. You can gain this affinity even if you did not have a previous Affinity Bonus or Ranks in the chosen skill.

Initiate (Ranks 10-19):
“Um, Actually…”: Once per game, when you or an ally that can hear you makes knowledge or Research check and dislikes the result, you can instead roll another Research check (or related subskill of Research) and substitute the new roll for the previous one.

Apprentice (Ranks 20-34):
Base Knowledge: Once per game, if you roll a Research check (or any of its subskills) and do not like the result, you may choose to make the base roll 75 (before any bonuses), possibly modifying the result of the roll.

All of these bonuses are cumulative.