Art: This is the skill of creating art. There are several different types of Art skill (painting, sculpture, woodcarving, mosaic, etc.). The player must specify one sort of art his character practices; a character can take the skill several times and be proficient in several different forms of art. Art skill can be used to improve the reaction of NPCs to the party; if the artist can present an NPC with a portrait or sculpture of that person (and make his Art roll), the artist receives a + 2 to reaction. The player can choose for his character’s Art skill to be based on Wisdom instead of Intelligence.
🎨 Racial Variants #
| Variant | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarven | Subtractive Perfection | (Sculpture/Jewelry) Dwarves believe the art is already inside the stone; they just remove the excess. Their work is incredibly durable and “honest.” They can use Strength for the roll if working with heavy stone. |
| Elven | Ephemeral Weaving | (Painting/Sculpture) Elves often use living materials—vines that grow into shapes or paints made from bioluminescent pollen. Their art “breathes,” and its beauty changes based on the time of day. |
| Halfling | The Domestic Miniaturist | (Woodcarving/Needlepoint) Halflings specialize in small, portable, and comforting art. A Halfling’s “gift” (like a carved pipe or embroidered handkerchief) feels so personal it can turn a Hostile reaction into Neutral instantly. |
| Orcish | Scarification / Totemism | (Body Art/Woodcarving) Orcish art is visceral and often involves bone or hide. It is designed to tell a story of conquest. To an Orc, a portrait isn’t a likeness; it’s a record of the subject’s “spirit-beast.” |
🗺️ Regional Variants #
- The High-Court Portraitist (Metropolitan/Urban)
In the capital, art is about Flattery.
- Specialty: The Gilded Lens. They know how to paint a noble not as they are, but as they wish to be seen. On a successful roll, the +2 Reaction bonus is permanent with that specific NPC, as they will cherish the flattering likeness forever.
- The Cave-Wall Chronicler (Wilderness/Indoors)
In the dark, art is a Warning or a Guide.
- Specialty: Narrative Murals. They create vast, sprawling stories on walls. These can be used to explain complex plans to non-literate NPCs or to record the party’s deeds for future generations of adventurers.
- The Mosaic Architect (Desert/Religious)
In the burning sun, art is about Order and Geometry.
- Specialty: Mathematical Harmony. Their art is based on perfect symmetry and color theory. This style is so universally “correct” that it provides a +1 bonus to Persuasion checks made within a room they have decorated.
- The Figurehead Carver (Coastal/Maritime)
On the docks, art is for Protection.
- Specialty: Superstitious Craft. They carve objects intended to ward off bad luck (like ship figureheads or lucky coins). Sailors and merchants are particularly susceptible to this art; the reaction bonus increases to +4 when dealing with maritime NPCs.
🧠 Wisdom vs. Intelligence #
As per the rules, the player can choose. Here is how that looks in practice:
- Intelligence-Based Art: Focuses on technical precision, perfect anatomy, and expensive pigments. It’s the “Science” of art.
- Wisdom-Based Art: Focuses on the “Soul” of the subject. It might be abstract or messy, but it captures an emotion or a truth that a technical drawing misses.
Design Tip: If an Artist character uses their skill to “Study” an NPC before creating the art, they can identify one of that NPC’s Vices or Virtues, giving them a +2 bonus to the subsequent Art roll.
