WoD Research

Topics

Topic Milestone Benchmarks
A good scale for these is to rank the Topic (the Rank system here is based on Spirit Ranks):
Rank 1: 5 successes Rank 2: 7 successes Rank 3: 10 successes Rank 4: 14 successes Rank 5: 20 successes

Each topic governs some piece of information that isn't commonly known off the top of the head. Each Topic is defined by a number of traits

Skill: This is the Skill used to know about this topic. This determines what Skill is used in a Personal Knowledge Test (see below), and what Library is used in further Research on the topic.
Obscurity: The rarity of the information, and the difficulty finding it. It determines the level of Library in that Skill necessary to research it. Obscurity 0 Topics can be started with Personal Knowledge Tests (see below).
Milestones: All Knowledge Topics are by default extended rolls. The Milestones indicates what is known at different success totals.
- Most Topics should have at least two Milestones, but can have as many as five. A good rule of thumb is to make sure it has a number of Milestones equal to (Obscurity +2).
- Most Topics should likely "cap out" at 20 successes, and even then only if it's a particularly rare and grueling topic. To add additional depth to a Topic, it is best to unlock new successes, rather than load it up with too many milestones.

Personal Knowledge Test: Any Knowledge Topic investigation with an Obscurity 0 should always begin with an appropriate Skill roll to determine what the researcher already knows. This is an Intelligence + appropriate Skill roll, with a penalty equal to the Obscurity of the Topic in question.
- This is an instant action, but does count as the first roll of the research into a Knowledge Topic for the purpose of advancing Milestones, but not for the purpose of how many rolls may be made in Research. Teamwork may not be used in this roll.
Delving Deeper: Once personal knowledge has been exhausted, further exploration into a Topic is handled through either interviews with individuals who might possess the knowledge, or through research.
Interviews: Finding individuals who might know something can be handled through a Skill check, usually Wits + the Skill involved; Contacts and similar Merits may add to this roll. Getting them to agree to talk can be a Social test all on its own.
- Generally speaking, knowledgeable individuals possess an "Obscurity Rating" and a certain number of successes of depth into the topic's knowledge.
- Thus, an amateur folklorist might have Werewolf Lore • (4 successes), while a grizzled werewolf hunter might have Werewolf Lore ••• (12 successes).
- These Traits are shorthand for Storyteller Characters only.
Research: Use the Research Rules to further explore a topic through informational searching.

Topics should be built along a tree structure, with given milestones in the Topic giving information of some kind and unlocking additional Topics as they go.
Basic information (aka "access" to the Topic) is usually rated Obscurity Rating 0 or •, and then the Topics that are unlocked with progress have higher Obscurity Ratings.

Research Roll Results
A good scale for these is to rank the Topic (the Rank system here is based on Spirit Ranks):
Exceptional Success: Add successes gained to the total, and choose one of the following options: Increase the limits on how many rolls can be made using that resource by one. Reduce Interval time by 25% for rest of extended test. Choose one of the following Conditions: Inspired, Informed, Steadfast Success: Add successes gained to the total. Failure: Choose between ending the Research roll or taking a Condition. If the roll is ended, then the character has reached the limits of their ability to perform the research on that topic using those resources. Alternately, choose from the following Conditions: Frustrated, Misinformed. Research may continue, though this roll does count toward the maximum rolls allowed in an extended test. Dramatic Failure: Research ends immediately. Additionally, choose one of the following Conditions: Misinformed, Obsession If you undertake research again on the same Topic, you begin the extended test with the Frustrated Condition.

Extended Roll: Intelligence + Academics. Teamwork may be used in this test.
Skill: This is the Skill that the topic falls under. A character needn't actually have the Skill to research information into it, but must have access to a Library of that Skill to do so.
Equipment: Library Merit (+1-+3)
Interval: The interval of each roll is based on the size of the Library being used for the research.
Obscurity: This determines the rating of Library in the governing Skill necessary.

Sometimes, a researcher does not know the Topic he is searching for information for. An occult investigator that has seen strange phenomena or a medical researcher looking at a series of symptoms both qualify.
Topic Searching is a standard Research roll, at a dice penalty of 2 + Obscurity of the Topic they are seeking.
- If the Obscurity of the Topic in question is two or more points of Obscurity higher than the Library being used, the roll automatically fails.
This penalty is reduced by one per tangible clue the researcher possesses.
- If something is taken as a clue that is not in fact a clue, however, it causes the research to automatically fail the check (though the Storyteller should not announce this to the player making the check, of course.)
On a dramatic failure, the researcher makes too many assumptions and guesses, and is given a Topic that is not the correct one.
On a failure, the researcher discovers nothing.
On a success, the researcher discovers the name of the Topic, and can begin digging appropriately.
On an exceptional success, the researcher not only discovers the Topic, but the results of the Topic Searching test are counted as successes towards researching the Topic itself.