Target Numbers and the Single Scientist

In the detailed after action report of my recent Moon Soldiers Must Die! adventure, I mentioned that I used a "Declare Facts" rule to great effect. What I meant by this is that I employed a mechanic to allow characters to use "scientific" (knowledge) cliches to declare previously unknown facts about the setting, which could be used to the character's immediate benefit. In another post back in January, I discussed this at length and mentioned that Spirit of the Century, Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies, and similar games inspired me to try this in Risus. Of the two possible mechanics that I proposed in that January post, I ultimately settled on the one that didn't require Lucky Shots or Questing Dice. I figured that almost any character could put this rule to good use and that limiting it to characters with non-standard options was probably being overly restrictive.

Target Numbers and the Single Scientist
(Inspired by the "Target Numbers and the Single Showoff" section of the Risus Companion)

Scientists, Sages, and Fusty Old History Professors are more than just a mouthpiece for the GM - revealing details of a meticulously created fantasy world like some crazy bearded prophet just back from the burning bush. In Risus, they can be more like deputy godlings, inventing the Truth to the betterment of themselves and their companions with nothing but a Target Number roll against a cliche that implies knowledge of persons, places, or things.

Minor Fact (TN5): New information adds color to the scene and might provides the character with a small benefit (e.g. "The desert nomads of Gargalahar are known to export a particularly potent spirit produced from over-ripe pucker-fruit pouches"). This includes the creation of minor characters that have little game impact.

Moderate Fact (TN10): A moderate fact provides a definite mechanical benefit such as helping to deal with one small obstacle (e.g. "It's a little known fact that a strong brew of beezelnut pressings can counteract the effects of all  but the most potent of pucker-fruit spirits. He should be sober in no time."). Minor characters created may offer some assistance in a scene.

Major Fact (TN15): Information of this nature actually allows a character to single-handedly overcome most of the challenges in a scene (stealing the spotlight from the other characters in the process) (e.g. "I can diffuse the situation with the suspicious desert nomads because I used to drink pucker-fruit spirits with Chief Dakon the Inebriated"). Significant recurring characters can be introduced that may assist the character or party on an occasional basis.

To the above Target Numbers, add a modifier based on how likely it is that the cliche implies knowledge of that setting detail: +5 if the cliche implies a secondary knowledge, +10 if the cliche implies marginal familiarity, and +20 if the cliche is completely unrelated to that setting detail.