Disconnect between Birth Augur and Luck Score

[rabindranath72]

It seems lots of the descriptions of the Birth Augur table would match only a bonus due to Luck score. Unless I am missing something (i.e. only bonuses apply, not penalties) e.g. "Speed of the Cobra" seems to imply a positive effect, not a negative one.

[bholmes4]

That's how I play it. You receive a minimum of +1 to +3 based on your luck score (thus if you have a 0 modifier to luck or less it equals +1). This is also a constant score in my campaign and does not fluctuate with your luck score.

[finarvyn]

Yeah, we ran into that very problem in playtest. One of my players happened to have 3 level-0 characters each with negative modifiers to luck. He got some great Birth Augur rolls but was stuck with ugly negatives.

We never came up with the perfect solution to this puzzle. Saying that the modifiers would default to zero wasn't a good solution, either, since it just reinforced in him that he didn't get the cool bonus.

The best thing we could come up with was the notion that only characters of 13+ luck would be allowed to roll on the Birth Augur table. Perhaps only the lucky ones would get something cool for it, but other characters would simply get nothing.

[JediOre]

We've been playing if one has poor luck, they are cursed under their augur and use the negative.

If, as Mr. Goodman has made mention of, luck scores can rise as the PC adventures, I don't see this as a permanent curse.

[rabindranath72]

I agree there are many workarounds, but I was interested in the "official" position (i.e. will it be fixed in the game?)

[smathis]

Our group kept forgetting about the Birth Augur. It would be easier if it was a straight +1. Especially considering it eliminates any bookkeeping from Luck fluctuating up and down.

[mythfish]

We've been playing if one has poor luck, they are cursed under their augur and use the negative.

If, as Mr. Goodman has made mention of, luck scores can rise as the PC adventures, I don't see this as a permanent curse.

This. Under the description of the Luck stat:

roll on table 1-2 to determine what rolls are affected by the character’s Luck modifier. This “lucky roll” is always modified by the character’s Luck score (for good or bad) in addition to all other normal modifiers.

But I kind of like the idea of just making it a flat +1 regardless of Luck score. It completely separates the birth augur from Luck, but as smathis said it'd be a lot easier to remember and bookkeep.

[rabindranath72]

Another point to clarify: it might well be that once you get a Birth Augur bonus (or penalty) it stays frozen at the initial Luck score. It would make sense, and I would probably go this route.

[finarvyn]

Another point to clarify: it might well be that once you get a Birth Augur bonus (or penalty) it stays frozen at the initial Luck score. It would make sense, and I would probably go this route.

Absolutely. Having the Birth Augur bonus change as play continues would really be a pain.