(Answered) Significant amounts of time and the patient trait

[Labyr]

The patient trait (AToW p.121) says that you get a bonus on any complex action that takes a significant amount of time. There is a little bit of ambiguity involving defining what is a significant amount of time. I would say that a one round complex action does not represent a significant amount of time, while taking a week to fix a Mech's gyro would be significant. I've heard it argued though that this trait applies to all complex actions. So where would you recommend we put the tipping point for the patient trait to activate, a minute, an hour, a day or something else?

[HABeas2]

Hello,

The ambiguity is deliberate, but considering that a round of action in A Time of War is all of 5 seconds, that might not be what anyone calls a significant amount of time.

Thanks,

- Herbert Beas

[Labyr]

Hello,

The ambiguity is deliberate, but considering that a round of action in A Time of War is all of 5 seconds, that might not be what anyone calls a significant amount of time.

Thanks,

- Herbert Beas

A munchkin would call one round a significant period of time. Would you agree that a significant amount of time is at least but not necessarily something like a minute?

[HABeas2]

Hello,

It's up to your GM to contain the munchkin. We stopped trying to put in all kinds of extra controls and extra hard rules in the role-playing game when we realized it would triple the size of the book, and only thwart a handful of rules lawyers.

Just remember that what benefits a player-character can also benefit a hostile NPC, so if your munchkin thinks he can be special by using his Patient Trait on any old 5-second Skill check, so can the enemy spotter lining artillery up with his head.

Thanks,

- Herbert Beas

[Labyr]

That's a good response, I'll make sure our group keeps it in mind. Thank you.