Skinning is going to be changing in multiple ways in the next couple of days (or sooner).

The most important is: it now has the support needed for Tanning. However, while that support was being written and added, some other areas that needed attention got a good...polishing. Along with that, a few entirely new things got added.

One of the 'new' things has to do with the tool you use to skin. Previously, you could use just about anything sharp. You still can, but now your choice of skinning implement is going to impact your chances of success. If you really want to try using a double-bladed battle axe to skin with, you're welcome to. Along the same lines, you could certainly try to peel an orange with a shovel. Your skill with a given weapon in a combat situation will not mitigate this factor. If you want to know what the best tool to use for skinning is there's two things to do: ask a professional skinner and/or use your head and think logically. Yes, even the Togs out there should try it.

Another 'new' thing is support for 'exceptional' successes and failures. There is a strong random factor for these 'exceptional' performances, and they will be relatively rare, but you do have a great deal of control minimizing or maximizing the chances for both. Both have their own special messaging; both have their own special...perks. We're not going to spoil the surprises, so you'll all have to rely on each other to spread the word.

Along with the support for Tanning comes new messages. By and large, these new messages are reserved for skinning via the use of arrange.

A large change has gone into the experience awards for FAILED skinning attempts. Experience for SUCCESSFUL skinning is unchanged.

Up to this point, there was no penalty for attempting to skin far, far beyond your abilities. If you had 10 ranks of skinning and were trying to skin something that would require a minimum of 150 ranks for success, you'd still learn quite decently (not as well as succeeding, though). This made it easy for people to learn skinning by utterly, utterly failing. It would be like trying to take on a rock guardian at 5th circle; you don't have a prayer of success, but you learn like the dickens. Except with skinning, you wouldn't die and lose the absurd amounts of experience you'd dumped into your pools.

No more.

To learn skinning well, you're going to have to succeed. Or at least be close to success. Attempting to skin way, way beyond your abilities isn't going to be nearly as rewarding. So take note and adjust accordingly.

The ranger bonus (when in good shape) and the use of arrange will both work to allow more leeway with the failure threshold. This buys the rangers some more room, but doesn't negate the 'way, way over your abilities' clause completely.

Before you start screaming--I know some of you are already--consider the logic of the change. And consider that you've been learning very well from failure up to this point. Failure was never meant to be as rewarding as it was before these changes. Success is still quite rewarding--as it should be. You just need to pursue success more diligently now.

Commentary on these changes should be posted here on the boards in the "Abilities, Skills & Magic" folder, "General Discussions" subfolder. Bugs should be reported via the BUG command within the game.

Please do not assist to offer your feelings to the GameHosts or the GMs either way; they will simply direct you to the boards.

And one last thing...if you like the system, send your kudo's to Taejun, he did the work, and he did it very well. If you're upset, send your blasts my way. I was the one that OK'd these changes going in.

Treveri Worksmaker
Senior GameMaster
DragonRealms