1. no, they dont develop more skill, but they chance of success increase in THIS case (test).
But the characters do develop more skill in your examples. The increase in probability comes from increasing the character’s skill score (albeit temporarily). In addition, it negates the negative influence that an opposed roll should present against the character’s skill. If a character is working under less than ideal conditions, regardless of how lopsided, probability-wise (and probability is always unforgiving), the chances of success decrease, not increase.
f.ex.
Im trying to hide, and i dont know how to do it and im very clumsy = skill 5. BUT I'm trying to hide from my blind and deaf grandma who has scouting 2.
skill 2 = +8. My chance of hiding from grandma is 5(my skill) + 8(modifier from my poor grandma skills) = 13 (65%) . Sounds very reasonable to me.
This is one convoluted example. But I’ll bite. The clumsy character possess a limited amount of sneaking skill. They may not know how to distribute their weight. Pace themselves, etc… Their ability to successfully sneak is 25% in the best of conditions. Most likely, both characters fail their skill checks. So the clumsy character doesn’t make it across the room. But grandma is pretty much unable to stop them. So I ask, where are the stakes? Why even make this an opposed roll?
But let me counter your convoluted example with one of my own:
You are a terrible cook. Don’t worry, I’m an even worse cook. We enter a cooking contest. You may make a better meal than me. But statistically, we’re both going to make something inedible. You don’t objectively become a better cook just because you’ve engaged in opposition to someone less talented. You need to have some talent to begin with.
f.ex.2
You are the master of shadow, guild master assassin. Sneak skill 18. You are trying to hide from my grandma (scout 2. mdf=10-2=+8). 18+8=26.
My grandma has no chance to find you, unless you roll 20. 5%.
Yes, your skill are absolute overkill, and waste of your time. Because you only risk your reputation if you roll 20.
I dig this example a lot more. But it’s still the same thing as before. You’ve turned Master of Shadows skill from an 18 to a 19. Heck, Master of Shadows may have been better off being Middle Manager of Shadows (say skill 14-16?) and sticking to opponents they outclass. At least that way they’re not being robbed of temporary skill increase point.
But, let’s try this a different way. If Master of Shadow so outclasses grandma, give them a Boon to the roll. Now MoS’s chance of success goes to approx. 90%. If it’s that important to you to have a failure only occur on a 20 (instead of a 19 or 20) then house rule the skill max to 19.
Same results, less math at the table.
yes, you have an easier time succeeding if your enemy NPC has skill below 10 (below 50%. 50% chance of success is rubbish).
Your character only has an easier time of succeeding b/c you’re turning an enemy’s lack of skill into a skill boost for the character.
2. yes, if your skill is 18 (and game cap it at 18 - i didnt know that, wizard has 19 Will f.ex), you gain no benefit from fighting with poor, unskilled opponents (below 10).
Skills and Attributes are two different things. Skill cap is listed on p5 of the Quickstart. Attributes are on p4.
3. goblin has sword skill 12 [ -2 ] - it reduces the chance of success.
PC with skill 14 (top of example characters) will have 14 -2 = 12 (60%) of success. NOT 90% (im not even sure how you get to the 90%, even if you understand me idea wrong as 14+2=16 = 80%).
Gonna skip this one since combat isn’t opposed rolls.
p.s.
I played with this system in my custom rule set. It works and It's easy to apply.
This is entirely subjective. But I’m glad that you’re having a good time and creating something. It can be a lot of fun to talk about the pros & cons of various approaches and mechanics. How about next time you do that w/out starting off the conversation by calling thing “dumb?”
GM need to tell PC the stats of monster, so instead of telling them Goblin has 12 sword skill, he just tell them you have -2 to your parry. And player just making normal roll, for him there is no difference between normal test and opposing one. Except this one modifier to add (subtract).
GM rolls for NPC. Player rolls for character. GM tells the player if opposed roll was successful (or not). No need to tell the player the NPC’s skill.