One use of the augment system that occurred to me was to have an
ability whose primary purpose was to be an auto-augment countering a
penalty. For example, Harvar has "sword and shield combat." He
wants to be able to fight without his shield more effectively, but
buying up a whole separate ability would be prohibitive. Instead, he
learns the "fight without shield" ability. Then when he wants to use
his "sword and shield" without having a shield, he would suffer the
usual no shield penalty, but could augment with 1/10 of the "fight
without shield" ability, partially or fully making up the difference.
Another example (and the one that brought the idea to mind
originally) is thief with dagger combat, who has "fight against
longer weapons." When fighting someone with a weapon longer than a
dagger, he could use this ability as an auto-augment.
I would generally let someone use such an ability `for free' (no
action needed to use it), but of course it would only apply in
certain situations.
Does anyone see any reason this would not be a reasonable use of the
rules?
--Bryan