I was answering a question over at RPG.net and someone who responded had a different take than I did regarding the answer. Both of our answers make sense to me but I was curious if I am just wrong or if others have interpreted the system in a way similar to me. This is my first pen and paper game ever so I am feeling a bit insecure with my interpretation of the book now.
The Question
What do you roll for climbing, swimming, etc. Do you use an Attribute or Skill?
My Answer
You would use an Attribute. I don't believe there is a definitive answer for this in the book. It would depend on the exact situation and how the GM wanted to handle it. For example, say the character had to swim upstream and quickly enough to avoid an enemy boat coming his way. This would likely call upon STR. Now if the water were relatively calm but very cold this could easily be a WIL check. Caught in rapids and doing your best to dodge rocks as you fly downstream? You would probably look to DEX. The system is highly flexible in a way that seems more concerned with what feel right or makes sense for the players game than with having a clear codified answers for any given situation.
Another Posters Answer
For 99% of the time you'd roll Skill. Climbing would proabably come under Thief, and Swimming would come under Scout.
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As I noted in my reply on RPG.net, I'd tend to err on the side of ability over skill as well--but only when training wasn't a factor. So (to give the example I used there) scrambling up a rocky hillside is a STR or DEX check, but climbing a sheer cliff with pitons and ropes is almost certainly a SCOUT or THIEF check. Same for perception checks: roll against LOG to see if you notice the ambushers in the bushes, but roll against SCOUT if you want to find the track leading to their camp.
I'm sorry I hadn't checked the RPG.net post since before you posted. Your answer makes perfect sense to me. It definitely extends what I had understood previously and I like this a lot more. I think the importance of each SKILL representing a slew of training and experience in its own right had evaded me. I'm tempted to read through the book again but I'm just dying to sit down and run through Maidens of Moordoth with the wife =D
Maltese Changeling has it correct. The pitons and ropes example could also be attempted as an unskilled attempt in either skill.
Running, swimming, jumping, etc., should all be simple ability checks, until the day a specialization in such is needed, in which skill should be required.
But swimming is also a skill, and requires training, and can also be perfected, and is definitely something a Scout would be good at.
Unless there are hard and fast rules here, I think it is easier to first look at the most applicable skill, and if there really isn't one, go with an ability. Likewise, if the action you are attempting falls under more than one skill, you can use the one most favourable to the character, which is a good bit of advice promoted in the book.
That way the game is used to one of its main strengths, the awesome idea of classed as skills.
In short, always try to find a skill first, and if there really isn't one, use an ability.
YMMV of course
Swimming is like riding a bike. You can learn it, but it doesn't mean your particularly skilled in it at all. To me skill represents more than just knowing, but having a proficiency in it. You know how to swing a sword and even cleave an arm off, but that doesn't make you proficient with a sword. Also, "doesn't know how to swim" would make for a decent Descriptor.
Sometimes you just have to do what keeps the game rolling. I assume all my players can swim, or read, unless they have a descriptor that says otherwise. If swimming is important to the setting, say if you were running a pirate themed setting, then make it a skill. If you need a skill, add it, but if it isn't going to add anything significant to the game, skip it.
These are great suggestions. Reminds me of a character I made, she was afraid of water (a negative Descriptor). The GM made me make a WIL check to cross a stream even though I had Scout primary at level 3. lol