Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

In the terms of Character gen, whats the difference when something gives you a +1 skill and an Advantage +1 in a skill?

Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

Is there a universal language? Or should PC's take linguistics and learn a similar language?

Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

You are correct. Downing a glass of drano is contraindicated - it is a poison with no food value. But berries with food value that are also mild poisons, rotten mean that would sicken a normal person, rye with ergot, or rotten milk are all inside of the meaning of this ability. The game master can choose to allow the adventurer with this racial ability to ignore some of the effects of mild poisons, as long as the poisons would otherwise be nutritious. Death Caps may be out of bounds, but indian corn and puffers are probably in.

Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

A +1 skill is permanently attached to the skill and is limited by the adventurer's level and attribute score. A +1 advantage operates at a given time and place but is not affected by skill level limited.

Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

There is no universal language, although trade, a pidgin with limited syntax, is very common. It is probably good for any group to either have access to a nice range of languages, but also make sure there is a group language. Hired hands can be invaluable as translators.

Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

Can you explain what background is according to spell target?

Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

Background is how "thick" the magical environment is. A tree covered valley has a background of 5 or 6. A desert with little or no life may have a background as high as 9. If the adventurers where somehow transported into space, the background could be as high as 20.

Background can be raised or lowered by magical circumstances. Temples have lower background counts for people who are consecrated in the temple. Likewise a Druid's grove or a magical circle will provide a lower background to beings associated with it.

Some creatures thrive on lower background counts because they literally consume or live on magic - the very nature of fey creatures. At the same time, some creatures like undead and dragons consume magical potential and can cause background count to raise very high around them - making it harder to cast spells on the environment.

Background does not effect spell casting on individual creatures. A spell listed as attack a creature's Spirit for example does not go through the background.

Re: Welcome to Game Mastery
 

When do players get to level their attributes?