in reply to Re^2: BEGIN and END blocks, use strict and scoping
in thread BEGIN and END blocks, use strict and scoping

Now, you move from having an issue with understanding how use and BEGIN work to an issue with how Test::More works. Modify your code as such:
unless ( $trick ) { SKIP: { skip 3, "About to croak!\n"; } croak; } else { # Do your three other tests here. }
You just have to let Test::More know what's going on with regards to your test plan. It's called a plan for a reason.

My criteria for good software:
  1. Does it work?
  2. Can someone else come in, make a change, and be reasonably certain no bugs were introduced?