I've played a few sessions with Only War, and there are a few things we didn't really understand.
1) What is an "extended test"? It says I need multiple successes (number decided by GM), but what does that mean? So if I need 8 successes, roll 7 then miss my last roll, did I fail entirely?
2) How do you actually use the Chymistry crafting? As a medic, you have access to the skill neccessary, but it seems like you need a lot of rolls.
Let's say I'm on a new planet, but in a forest.
First roll would be Scholastic (Chymistry) to see if I know what ingredients I need and if I can get them. If they're avaliable, I would need to gather them (probably not a roll, just time needed?)
Then, I need to roll an extended test with (~4) successes to actually create it.
- This goes into my previous question, do I fail completely if I fail a single roll? If I'm making a synthetic poison, I would need 8 successes, and let's face it, one of these is going to fail...
Then the last roll is to actually apply the poison correctly, which is a Medicae roll.
It just seems like it's easier to just request poison at the base and hope for a lucky roll than to create one myself, and if that's the case, what do I need the skills for (unless I spend a massive amount of exp on them)?
Oh and I would also need some form of lab. Tt says on p.115 that I need some form of lab or tools. But there is no indication whatsoever what kind of rarity they are and if I can carry the neccessary tools with me. How would I go about to do it?
3) How specific do you have to be with measurements? A few rules are very specific in regards to meters (such as the talent Catfall). Is the GM just supposed to make up a number each time? For example, if you're using a Flamer, you need to be pretty specific with degrees and range to see who gets hit. How do you play this the easiest way? Do you play with a grid? How do you do it?
4) How do you play with a high ranked officer (Commissar or Sergeant) in a squad? We found that is gets strange since they would have absolute say in how to handle each situation. The other guardsmen would naturally have to turn to them for everything they do. Some players could potentially abuse their power over the others, or some players would just not dare to speak/act as they want when a commissar is watching over them all the time.
5) If you're only allowed to use one first aid per character per 24h, does this mean that a character being shot, gets first aid, then gets shot again at a different location doesn't get another first aid?
6a) Can you, technically, request unlimited items in your logistics test? For example, can I request a Best Craftsmanship Laspistol and a Good Craftsmanship Laspistol in hopes to get at least one?
6b) And when it comes to modifications, can you request for example a red-dot laser sight, a grenade launcher, a melee attachment, extra grip and an overcharge pack for a single weapon? I would only assume you can't have items that share space, such as a red dot sight at the same time as a telescopic sight. I may be a bit of a hoarder, but is there a reason I shouldn't do this as a player?
6c) Can I request illegal/extreme items? Examples would be certain drugs, force fields or rare weapons I don't even have training in.