Topic: RMSS - Hold Breath and Talents

[Gilmeneldil]

Here I am with my questions (studying mode still on).

I was wondering, how long a man (without any talent) can hold breath?
I suppose 40-60 sec.

In Talent Law, pag. 25, there is a talent I do not understand: Strong Lungs.
The time you can hold breath depends by Co bonus. I do not understand if I have to
multiply the Co bonus by minutes or by 10 seconds and how this differs from someone
who hasn't that talent.

+5 Co bonus gives 1 min and 50 sec OR 5 min and 10 sec?
+0 Co?

As usual, ty for your help

[jdale]

School of Hard Knocks (under Swimming) says you can hold your breath for a number of rounds equal to your constitution stat divided by 10. So that would be the base.

Talent Law (and RMFRP Character Law) has the Strong Lungs talent which lets you hold your breath for a base of 10 seconds (1 round) "plus 1 minute per Co bonus (minimum of 10 seconds)". If your Co bonus is +3, that would mean you can hold your breath for the base 10 seconds plus 3 additional minutes. For someone with a Co bonus of +0 or less, they would only hold their breath for the base 10 seconds.

There is a funny crossover here because a stat of 50 with a bonus of +0 with Strong Lungs limits you to 10 seconds, but the rule for everyone in SoHK would let you hold your breath for 5 rounds = 50 seconds, so you are worse off with the talent.... Strong Lungs is only advantageous if you have a Co bonus. That's probably because the two rules were written without any knowledge of each other, but I think it's fair to assume that no one should take Strong Lungs unless they have a good Constitution.

[Gilmeneldil]

First of all ty, Grand Vizier.

I suppose it could be thought as "min 10 sec more than normal".
In this way a 50 stat should be 1 min (50 sec w/o talent) and a 20 stat (if can move…) 30 sec. (20 sec w/o talent).
A 70 stat should have 2 min and 20 sec (1 min and 10 sec w/o talent).

Am I completely wrong?

[Xarxus]

Reading the rules, RM use the way "at least as high as" (i.e.: potential stats) so Gil idea seems coherent to me

[craggles]

I would also go with Gil on this and use the talent in addition to the standard amount you can hold your breath.

Wait a second... did you just out rule the Grand Vizier?!?! 

[jdale]

I suppose it could be thought as "min 10 sec more than normal".
In this way a 50 stat should be 1 min (50 sec w/o talent) and a 20 stat (if can move…) 30 sec. (20 sec w/o talent).
A 70 stat should have 2 min and 20 sec (1 min and 10 sec w/o talent).

Am I completely wrong?

I don't think that's what they meant but it is a completely reasonable rule, probably more reasonable than what is written.  

Also for the record, in RMU breath holding if you are prepared is 12 rounds (at 5 seconds each that = 1 minute) plus your constitution bonus in rounds. So if you have a +3 bonus, that's a total of 15 rounds, after which you have to make a roll every round. There is a breath holding talent which increases this to 1 minute/lvl so there is also a crossover issue at extremely low levels.

[Gilmeneldil]

Ty guys, and ty Grand Vizier!