Searching Action: Compound Skill
Characters use the search action to find a specific item or type of item in a specific location within arm’s reach of the character. An observation check is used for finding things at distance. Searching is done within arm’s reach.
If characters are trying to find something in a broader location, say looking for a specific tool in a barn. They would use observation checks to detect specific locations the item could be and then move to those locations and use Searching actions to find the item once there.
Searching is also used to find an item in a chest, sack or other storage area when combines with other items in the same container. This could be a easy check compared to finding a tool in a barn.
Searching may also occur using the Trail Craft or Street Smarts skills. The mechanics are the same as a physical search, but the character skill level is based on their Trail Craft or Street Smarts level.
Trail Craft and Street Smarts searches are done to find water or game in the wilderness or vendors, people or locations in a city or human settlement.
Prerequisites:
- Location is in a square adjacent to the character
- A specific target or class of thing is declared
Buy-In:
- Low: 1T
- Mid-Expert: None
Character Cards:
- Low: 1
- Mid: 2
- High: 2
- Expert: 3
Skill Break:*
| Difficulty | Break |
| Inane | 15 |
| Simple | 18 |
| Moderate | 25 |
| Hard | 30 |
| Difficult | 35 |
Resolution:
- Under Break: No action points gained
- Make Break: 1 Action Point
- Over Break 1-3: 2 Action Points
- Over Break 4-9: 3 Action Points
- Over Break: 10-15: 4 Action Points
- Over Break 16+: 5 Action Points
How complex and cluttered the search area is will define the number of action points needed to find what they are searching for or determine that it isn’t present. This is defined by the scenario and the table below is a general guideline:
Seach Complexity:
| Complexity/Clutter | Action Points |
| Minimal | 1 |
| Low | 3 |
| Moderate | 8 |
| High | 15 |
| Extreme | 21 |
Variation: Paranormal Searching
Functions like Seach, except it can find paranormal attachments, curses or invisible paranormal items or entities.