Hey,

One of my players is interested in buying a skinning knife for his Big Game Hunter. Now I'm debating whether I should let him buy a combat knife and call it a skinning knife, or if a skinning knife should be a utility item and not a weapon. It seems a bit small to do the same amount of damage as a combat knife, but it feels weird to reduce its damage to +0.

So, anyone have a suggestion on how a skinning knife should be handled? Maybe let him add a boost die (or 2) to determine what the quality of the pelt will be?

I'd probably just make it a combat knife and call it a skinning knife.

Maybe if he was able to get a good roll on his Negotiation, like a few advantages or a Triumph, I might give him one that could add a Boost to survival rolls on skinning beasts.

Same as combat knife except:

Crit 4, automatically grants 1 Advantage when rolling Survival to recover natural resources from dead animals.

Hah, so simple... I love it!

One question though, for future reference, how do you decide between adding a boost die versus giving an automatic advantage?

Adding a boost die is from the Accurate special quality. An automatic Advantage is from the Superior special quality.

Use Combat Knife but per Improvised Weapons on page 212, also add a Disadvantage to any combat check?

I would personally do what Ghost said, making it a new weapon (why not?), but would also add the automatic Disadvantage to attacks.

So it's basically an Inferior combat knife then: -1 damage + auto-threat. I like it, but I'm also thinking that the knife could add an auto-advantage (or boost die) to Survival checks as per what Ghost said.

So it's basically an Inferior combat knife then: -1 damage + auto-threat. I like it, but I'm also thinking that the knife could add an auto-advantage (or boost die) to Survival checks as per what Ghost said.

That would sort of work.

Most skinning knives I've owned in the past are just a short 3-4inch broad blade with either a curve to it or a sharp hook on the tip facing back towards the handle used to slice through skin in a long, even stroke.

They're more of a tool than a weapon really, you wouldn't want to be stuck with one anymore than say a chisel or screwdriver, there's no quillions or anything to protect the hand like you'd find on a fighting knife or dagger.

For Boost vs. Advantage I just think about the endgame I'm going for.

Boost Dice have a chance of doing nothing, improving the odds of success, or improving the quality of a success or failure.

An automatic advantage just increases the odds of improved quality.

A hunting knife isn't designed for stabbing really.. so lower crit. It is still a sturdy knife, often of decent size... so no damage adjustment. It won't give someone with no survival skills a better chance at guessing right... so not boost die. But it is more purpose built and improves their chances of coming away with a better quality product... so Advantage.

Excellent, that was exactly what I wanted to read!

Gives me a frame to work with in the future, so I don't need to come running back here (at least, not all the time) for help on creating custom items.