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| guide:skills [2017/11/21 20:13] – added skill icons luca | guide:skills [2023/12/21 17:27] (current) – update to advancement luca |
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| ====== Skills Guide ====== | ====== Skills Guide ====== |
| **Skills** shape a player character's actions and knowledge about the world around them, and how they interact with it. There are six major areas of skill for a character to dabble in, and thirty five individual skills. | **Skills** shape a player character's actions and knowledge about the world around them, and how they interact with it. There are six major areas of skill for a character to dabble in, and thirty five individual skills. From expertise within skills, characters may branch out from the general aspects of it |
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| ===== How Skill Levels Work ===== | ===== How Skill Levels Work ===== |
| Skills are measured on a rank and point scale ranging from Unskilled (0 Points), all the way to Master (16 Points). This represents a character's level of competence with the skill. In each skill level will be what your character is expected to know and do. This is NOT an RPG stat system, this is simply a guideline to provide clarity for actual adeptness. | Skills are measured on a rank and point scale ranging from Unskilled (0 Points), all the way to Master (16 Points). This represents a character's level of competence with the skill. In each skill level will be what your character is expected to know and do. This is NOT an RPG stat system, this is simply a guideline to provide clarity for actual adeptness((Perhaps later we'll make an RPG game with this mechanic?\\ -Luca)). |
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| The skill rankings are: | The skill rankings are: |
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| ==== Advancement ==== | ==== Advancement ==== |
| Characters may improve or modify their existing skills as a result of roleplaying, or pick up and learn new ones with education or experience. | Characters may improve or modify their existing skills as a result of roleplaying, or pick up and learn new ones with education or experience. A guideline for how long it takes to learn enough to advance is as follows, assuming it's all the character's doing besides eating and sleeping. |
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| | ^ Skill Level ^ Time Needed | |
| | ^ Unskilled | 0 Weeks / 0 Days | |
| | ^ Beginner | 1 Week / 7 Days | |
| | ^ Basic | 2 Weeks / 14 Days | |
| | ^ Intermediate | 4 Weeks / 28 Days | |
| | ^ Advanced | 10 Weeks / 70 Days | |
| | ^ Expert | 24 Weeks / 160 Days | |
| | ^ Master | 52 Weeks / 364 Days | |
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| | Consult your GM to work out how your character has been studying up and improving on a skill. |
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| ====== Skills by Area ====== | ====== Skills by Area ====== |
| {{ :guide:skill_handtohand.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_handtohand.png?128|}} |
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| Fighting off someone who can't take no for an answer with a nearby bottle, slipping the punch and landing a sweet counterattack in the ribs, unleashing a flurry of immobilising blows. The Hand to Hand skill covers the use of bare fists, brass knuckles, claws, small knives, garottes, and powered fists. | Fighting off someone who can't take no for an answer with a nearby bottle, slipping the punch and landing a sweet counterattack in the ribs, unleashing a flurry of immobilising blows. The **Hand to Hand** skill covers the use of bare fists, brass knuckles, claws, small knives, garottes, and powered fists. |
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| It also covers the techniques of grappling, wrestling, throwing, tripping, disarming an opponent, and more. Species and characters with natural weapons such as claws, horns, talons, a tail, or a bite can use the Hand to Hand skill can represent skill and proficiency in fighting with them. | It also covers the techniques of grappling, wrestling, throwing, tripping, disarming an opponent, and more. Species and characters with natural weapons such as claws, horns, talons, a tail, or a bite can use the Hand to Hand skill can represent skill and proficiency in fighting with them. |
| {{ :guide:skill_poweredarmour.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_poweredarmour.png?128|}} |
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| Ensuring you don't break the egg or squash the tomato when you pick it up in suit, recognising the suit's ranges of motion and blind spots, flying on hardlight wings and raining hell from above. Powered armour is different from wearing regular armour, since unpowered armour only needs to be worn to be effective. | Ensuring you don't break the egg or squash the tomato when you pick it up in suit, recognising the suit's ranges of motion and blind spots, flying on hardlight wings and raining hell from above. **Powered Armour** is different from wearing regular armour, since unpowered armour only needs to be worn to be effective. Powered armour needs to be //operated// to get the most out of it, and requires training with different makes and models. |
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| Powered armour needs to be //operated// to get the most out of it, and requires training with different makes and models. Simulations can often provide the experiences necessary for basic training, but the rest must come from the field. This skill also covers the specifics of powered armour tactics, fine motor control, reading and decoding the HUD, using integrated thrusters and propulsion systems effectively, aerobatic and air combat manoeuvres, and operating powered armour scale weaponry to the fullest potential. | Simulations can provide the experiences necessary for basic training, but the rest must come from the field. This skill also covers the specifics of powered armour tactics, fine motor control, reading and decoding the HUD, using integrated thrusters and propulsion systems effectively, aerobatic and air combat manoeuvres, and operating powered armour scale weaponry to the fullest potential. |
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| This skill is not necessary for the use of EVAC suits or space suits, as they are made to be readily usable by civilians and civilian-trained operators. Powered armour isn't always person-sized, and pilots powered armour models similar to Frames can benefit from the principles in the **Piloting** skill. | This skill is not necessary for the use of EVAC suits or space suits, as they are made to be readily usable by civilians and civilian-trained operators. Powered armour isn't always person-sized, and pilots powered armour models similar to Frames can benefit from the principles in the **Piloting** skill. |
| {{ :guide:skill_culinary.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_culinary.png?128|}} |
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| Preparing cup noodles and adding a little spice, preparing a hearty meal for a family of six or catering to a cafeteria of fifty, managing a restaurant chain, publishing cookbooks, and yelling. The Culinary skill is used for preparing and serving food and drink. With a higher skill levels, a complex and broad variety of recipes becomes available, with better tasting and better presented food. | Preparing cup noodles and adding a little spice, preparing a hearty meal for a family of six or catering to a cafeteria of fifty, managing a restaurant chain, publishing cookbooks, and yelling. The **Culinary** skill is used for preparing and serving food and drink. With a higher skill levels, a complex and broad variety of recipes becomes available, with better tasting and better presented food. |
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| Recipes and cultural favourite dishes will vary by society and locale, but there are common staples in cooking, along with easily prepared pre-packaged or preserved food in Wandering Star((Or, you can order a pizza...)). | Recipes and cultural favourite dishes will vary by society and locale, but there are common staples in cooking, along with easily prepared pre-packaged or preserved food in Wandering Star((Or, you can order a pizza or get some Billy Boy's Burgers...)). |
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| * **Unskilled:** Cup/packet noodles, microwave meals, prepackaged food, ordering pizza. | * **Unskilled:** Cup/packet noodles, microwave meals, prepackaged food, ordering pizza. |
| {{ :guide:skill_engineer.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_engineer.png?128|}} |
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| Assembling a wind-up toy robot, diagnosing the faulty component in an assembly line's machinery, having the knowledge and gumption to build a suit of powered armour in a cave, with a box of scraps. The **Engineering** skill covers the understanding, operation, and component installation in a given mechanical system. | Assembling a wind-up toy robot, diagnosing the faulty component in an assembly line's machinery, having the knowledge and gumption to build a suit of powered armour in a cave with a box of scraps. The **Engineering** skill covers the understanding, operation, and component installation in a given mechanical system. |
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| This can include the disciplines of gadgeteering, car mechanics, model construction, drone building, automated defences. Engineering can benefit from **Mathematics**, **Construction**, or **Vehicles** depending on career. Enchanters of a technical persuasion lend themselves to engineering, creating 'magitek'. | This can include the disciplines of gadgeteering, car mechanics, model construction, drone building, automated defences. Engineering can benefit from **Mathematics**, **Construction**, or **Vehicles** depending on career. Enchanters of a technical persuasion lend themselves to engineering, creating 'magitek'. |
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| ===== Knowledge ===== | ===== Knowledge ===== |
| These skills concern academic pursuits, research techniques, and the practical outcomes of investigation. | These skills concern academic pursuits, research techniques, and interpreting and applying the practical outcomes of an investigation. |
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| ==== Biology ==== | ==== Biology ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_biology.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_biology.png?128|}} |
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| Examining a new strain of plantlife on an unknown planet, assessing the impact of foreign substances on a person's mental state, studying the nature and abilities of an unknown creature. **Biology** is a field responsible for the study and classification of living organisms, such as animals, plants, environments, or people - at a cellular and behavioural level. This skill can also play a role in natural and environment sciences, or make use of data gathered from **Humanities** studies. | Examining a new strain of plantlife on an unknown planet, assessing the impact of foreign substances on a person's mental state, studying the nature and abilities of an unknown creature. **Biology** is a field responsible for the study and classification of living organisms, such as animals, plants, environments or people - at a cellular and overall behavioural level. |
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| For handling living organisms at a living, breathing((And cuddly, you'd hope!)) level rather than studying why they work at a cellular or internal level, see the **Animals** skill! | This skill can also play a role in natural and environment sciences, or make use of data gathered from **Humanities** studies for anthropology. Handling living organisms at a living, breathing((And cuddly, you'd hope!)) and physical level rather than studying why they work at a cellular or internal level, see the **Animals** skill! |
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| * **Unskilled:** //Why is water wet and grass green?// | * **Unskilled:** //Why is water wet and grass green? Are clouds cotton candy?// |
| * **Beginner:** Knows about local plants, animals, and their behaviour or obvious characteristics | * **Beginner:** Knows about local plants, animals, and their behaviour or obvious characteristics. This also includes identifying natural landmarks such as waterfalls, rivers, and changes in elevation. |
| * **Basic:** Studied more on local flora and fauna and understands their ecosystem dynamics, learns scientific techniques, identifies obvious hazards | * **Basic:** Studied more on local flora and fauna and understands their ecosystem dynamics, learns scientific techniques for carrying out some experiments, identifies obvious hazards derived from natural surroundings. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Capable of working on a nature documentary on animals around their area, and familiar with their behaviours and dynamics. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Advanced:** A documentary-level naturalist who can headline a show on a specific species' habits or a habitat's movements, familiar with the behaviour and patterns of wildlife on a providence. |
| * **Expert:** Capable of using cutting-edge lab equipment to carry out extensive examination on plants, creatures, or people; intimately familiar with physiology of a species, | * **Expert:** Capable of using cutting-edge lab equipment to carry out extensive examination and taxonomy on plants, creatures, or people. Intimately familiar with physiology and anatomy of a species, their distribution, overall behaviour, and abilities. Familiar with the wildlife on an entire continent. |
| * **Master:** Responsible for cataloguing entire species of animals or plants, can document ecosystem on an entire continent or moon | * **Master:** Responsible for cataloguing entire species of animals or plants, can document the ecosystem on an entire planet or moons. |
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| ==== Chemistry ==== | ==== Chemistry ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_chemistry.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_chemistry.png?128|}} |
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| Knowing that the acids and the bases do not mix, recalling the components and quantities necessary to create a medical substance, mixing acids and bases together anyway to make a horrid concoction. The **Chemistry** field displays adeptitude in studying the chemical compositions of inert or fluctuating solids, liquids, gasses, plasmas, along with other substances; and combining them safely in controlled conditions. It can also cover material sciences, geology, poison making, radiology, electricity and power manipulation amongst other fields. | Knowing that the acids and the bases do not mix, recalling the components and quantities necessary to create a medical substance, mixing acids and bases together anyway to make a horrid concoction. The **Chemistry** field displays aptitude in studying the chemical compositions of inert or fluctuating solids, liquids, gasses, plasmas, along with other substances; and combining them safely in controlled conditions. It can also cover material sciences, geology, alchemy((with some crossover from Thaumatology.)), poison making, radiology, electricity and power manipulation amongst other fields. |
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| * **Unskilled:** //C'mon, you don't need to wear goggles because- MY EYES!// | * **Unskilled:** //C'mon, you don't need to wear goggles because- MY EYES!// |
| * **Beginner:** Knows not to mix things together unless properly identified; can identify common solids, liquids, gasses, and plasmas. | * **Beginner:** Knows not to mix things together unless properly identified; can identify common solids, liquids, gasses, and plasmas. |
| * **Basic:** Knows safety procedures for working with hazardous materials, can identify uncommon matter and transient states | * **Basic:** Knows safety procedures for working with commonly encountered hazardous materials, can identify uncommon matter and transient states such as plasmas, laser wavelengths, atomics, radiations, and particles. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Understands more relating to the underlying physics behind the materials in their study, such as atomic interactions, and the effects of long-term exposure. Safely works with uncommon substances and matter like radiations, rays. Can identify exotic and alien forms of matter and their regular uses (fusion, fission, dark-matter, etc.). |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Advanced:** Could work as a power technician for a large scale, city-wide power grid. An accomplished materials scientist in a specific field or substance making new discoveries. Able to safely handle exotic and alien matter. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Expert:** Breakthrough-maker for a field of materials studies, or a many-disciplined scientist writing numerous. Familiar with the aspects of large-scale space construction such as Dyson spheres and rings to gather energy from stars. |
| * **Master:** tbd | * **Master:** Could probably eat the sun, which you put in a can? Maybe? |
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| ==== Communications ==== | ==== Communications ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_communication.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_communication.png?128|}} |
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| Ensuring the groupchat is managed properly, setting up network permissions for new users in the closed-loop system, deciphering runes on an ancient tablet. The **Communications** skill is the study of language, communication, and the various mediums and theories - as well as skill in communicating ideas clearly and efficiently. This skill is also used for managing cryptography, decoding and deciphering mundane text, advertising, administration, user management, and countering social engineering. | Ensuring the groupchat is managed properly, setting up network permissions for new users in the closed-loop system, deciphering runes on an ancient tablet. The **Communications** skill is the study of language, communication, and the various mediums and theories - as well as skill in communicating ideas clearly and efficiently. This skill is also used for managing cryptography, decoding and deciphering mundane text, advertising, administration, user management, and countering social engineering. Communication also helps with organising people to run a business or an organisation with some overarching goal. |
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| Characters are assumed to be familiar with civilian-available communications technology, such as telephones, communicators, datapads, social networking, group chats, and other consumer electronics local to their area. Bear in mind that using commercial services may be monitored or tracked in some portions of space, regarding sensitive or illegal content and the prevailing politic. | Characters are assumed to be familiar with civilian-available communications technology, such as telephones, communicators, datapads, social networking, group chats, and other consumer electronics local to their area. Bear in mind that using commercial services may be monitored or tracked in some portions of space, regarding sensitive or illegal content and the prevailing politic. |
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| * **Unskilled:** Bad handwriting, illiterate, clueless, ignorant, minimal to no social network presence | * **Unskilled:** Bad handwriting, illiterate, clueless, ignorant, minimal to no social network presence. |
| * **Beginner:** Can manage informal and recreational groups of peers. Reads and writes native language well enough. average social network presence. | * **Beginner:** Can manage informal and recreational groups of peers and organise simple events. Reads and writes native language proficiently. Average social network presence. |
| * **Basic:** Reads between the lines, expands vocabulary. Reads and writes in native language proficiently. Can maintain noteworthy social media presence or ongoing blog with followers, learns media theories along the way. | * **Basic:** Reads between the lines, expands vocabulary. Native language perfected/rounded out, may know a second language. Can maintain noteworthy social media presence or ongoing blog with followers, learns media theories along the way. Can maintain a presence of tens. |
| * **Intermediate:** Learns to debate and come prepared, can identify persuasion techniques, writes well and securely. Understanding social engineering topics. Manages a noteworthy presence/blog or local show. | * **Intermediate:** Can coordinate a small business or company of people. Learns to debate and come prepared, can identify persuasion techniques, writes well and securely. Proficient in two languages or able to pidgin well. Understanding social engineering topics. Manages a noteworthy presence/blog or local show with an audience of hundreds. |
| * **Advanced:** Understands logical fallacies, learns to decode foreign or encrypted texts, can counter social engineering, internet/C-grade celebrity. | * **Advanced:** Able to manage a large company of people. Polyglot who can get ideas across regardless of language. Understands logical fallacies, learns to decode foreign or encrypted texts, can counter social engineering, internet/C-grade celebrity with an audience of thousands. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Expert:** Goes one step beyond, able to organise a whole corporation's worth of people. Language is no barrier. Reaches or analyses an audience of tens of thousands, maybe millions in time. |
| * **Master:** Can coordinate a media franchise, | * **Master:** Can coordinate and guide a multimedia franchise or megacorp which reaches //billions// of viewers or subjects. |
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| ==== Mathematics ==== | ==== Mathematics ==== |
| * **Advanced:** Computation, calculus, accountancy, specialised fields of mathematics. | * **Advanced:** Computation, calculus, accountancy, specialised fields of mathematics. |
| * **Expert:** Esoteric, theoretical, and niche fields of mathematics; unassisted space navigation. | * **Expert:** Esoteric, theoretical, and niche fields of mathematics; unassisted space navigation. |
| * **Master:** Contradictory or alien fields of mathematics, capable of understanding //and correcting// Time Cube, **π**. | * **Master:** Contradictory or alien fields of mathematics, capable of understanding //and correcting// Time Cube, **π**((3.14159265359...)). |
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| ==== Medicine ==== | ==== Medicine ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_medicine.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_medicine.png?128|}} |
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| | Cleanly bandaging up a shallow cut on a limb, extracting a parasite from a patient without killing the host, performing keyhole heart surgery through an interface. The **Medical** skill concerns keeping people alive and breathing, identifying afflictions and diseases, and monitoring the effects of drugs, medicines and other forms of treatment on a patient. |
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| | Some elements of the Medical skill can overlap with **Biology**, **Chemistry** or **Technician**, as medical treatment can be administered through chemical or biological treatments and therapies, or through the use of interfaces for things like keyhole surgery or auto-doc machines. |
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| * **Unskilled:** //I'm a bricklayer, not a doctor!// | * **Unskilled:** //I'm a bricklayer, not a doctor!// |
| * **Beginner:** Familiar with common over-the-counter drugs and medicine, home remedies, recovery position | * **Beginner:** Familiar with common over-the-counter drugs and medicine, home remedies, and putting people in the recovery position. |
| * **Basic:** First Aid, DRABC, CPR, blood flow, med school student | * **Basic:** Can administer First Aid, bandage wounds, knows DRABC((Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation)) procedure, CPR, blood flow, could be a med school student if they tried. |
| * **Intermediate:** , medical intern | * **Intermediate:** Knows which way the blood in arteries and veins go, knows to keep wounds clean and disinfected, a medical intern/graduate. Could install a prosthetic limb with the assistance of an auto-doc. Can provide ongoing care for a handful of patients with some assistance. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd, nurse, doctor, field medic | * **Advanced:** A nurse, trained doctor, field medic. Can install a cybernetic limb without the assistance of an autodoc, or a finer/sensitive organ change (like an eye, lung, trachea, or neural implant) with one. Can provide ongoing care for dozens of people. |
| * **Expert:** tbd, general practitioner, specialist | * **Expert:** tbd, well-rounded general practitioner or specialist, advanced clinical technician. Can install a complex cybernetic object into a patient by hand. Can provide ongoing care for scores of people. |
| * **Master:** tbd | * **Master:** Advanced neurosurgeon, radiologist or pharmacist. Capable of making person more man than machine by hand. The senior doctor in the house responsible for wards of patients. |
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| ==== Research ==== | ==== Research ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_research.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_research.png?128|}} |
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| * **Unskilled:** Yoinked it off the network without citing or verifying it | Hopping on the network and to look up a recipe for apple crumble, poring through a database of records for a research paper on geology, tracking down a hidden grimoire and gleaning knowledge that wasn't meant to be known. The **Research** skill allows characters to undertake work to increase their knowledge by using search engines, stepping through libraries, databases or microfilm archives, interviewing and more. |
| * **Beginner:** tbd | |
| * **Basic:** tbd | |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | |
| * **Expert:** tbd | |
| * **Master:** tbd | |
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| ===== Magic and Psionics ===== | With this, the character can create a report or document which summarises their findings and their intended outcomes to prove, disprove, state a theory or add to an existing body of work. Naturally, this skill has a lot of traction with scientists, boffins, eggheads, librarians, statisticians and clerks. There is some overlap with **Technician**, as a bulk of the universe's knowledge is stored digitally but there are exceptions - knowledge can take many forms - oral traditions, carved upon stone, hand-written, imparted by Weirds, and others. |
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| | There are several forms of research which can be undertaken: scientific, humanities, artistic, economic, social, business, marketing, practitioner research, life, technological, thaumatological, and so on. Overlaps with the other skills can happen as the research demands. |
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| | * **Unskilled:** Yoinked some information off the network without citing or verifying it. Unable to make heads or ends of a database or search engine, lost in the interface. |
| | * **Beginner:** Checks for secondary sources from common networked resources and cites them haphazardly, but cites them all the same. Can get 'close enough' results from a search engine or database. Can compile their findings into a loose document or blog post. |
| | * **Basic:** Familiar with local library and database organisation codes and common search-engines. Familiar with local academic citation methods and models. Can interview a layman or familiar person. Can write an a short, structured essay or report on their findings, suitable for a school assignment or personal blogging. |
| | * **Intermediate:** Familiar with larger libraries of specific information, specialised search engines for things like census data, geological records, or bank statements. Can conduct rigorous interviews with unfamiliar people and glean findings. Can compile their findings into a robust essay or report which could be published in a local newspaper. |
| | * **Advanced:** University level research that's passed around a faculty and reviewed by peers. Can compile their report into something which can be published in an international/galactic news reporting service. |
| | * **Expert:** PHD level research, taking years of interviews, trials and tests; Reading through dozens of libraries and bodies of work, neatly and clearly compiling their findings into a thick, annotated book or file - which if peer-reviewed and successful, will be cited by future researchers for years to come. |
| | * **Master:** Capable of creating a timeless example of findings and research over a decade of knowledge which can define an age or era, such as the industrial revolution, modernisation of the world, or the beginnings of commercially viable space flight. |
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| | ===== Magic and Mental ===== |
| This section covers skills relating to magical and psionic talents, as well as proficiency in other brainpower and senses dependent tasks. | This section covers skills relating to magical and psionic talents, as well as proficiency in other brainpower and senses dependent tasks. |
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| {{ :guide:skill_concentration.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_concentration.png?128|}} |
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| Holding breath as you're dragged underwater by a tentacle, keeping your attention on a quarry as they blend into a crowd, eliminating all possibility of botching the manifestation. **Concentration** is a skill which allows mages and psions to maintain their focus on a casting a spell, manifesting psionics, or withstanding negative effects. Concentration also has benefits for non-spellcasters, as the discipline used can have practical benefits for willpower and mental fortitude. | Holding breath as you're dragged underwater by a tentacle, keeping your attention on a quarry as they blend into a crowd, eliminating all possibility of botching the manifestation. **Concentration** is a skill which allows mages and psions to maintain their focus on a casting a spell, manifesting psionics, or withstanding negative effects. |
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| | Concentration also has benefits for non-spellcasters, as the discipline used can have practical benefits for willpower and mental fortitude. This can include remaining brave in the face of horrific imagery or revelations, resisting interrogation, or staying cool in a highly stressful or dangerous environment, such as bomb defusal. |
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| * **Unskilled:** //Look, a butterfly!// | * **Unskilled:** //Look, a butterfly!// |
| * **Beginner:** tbd | * **Beginner:** Able to focus on simple tasks, character is able to understand the basics of their mental state - understands when something's not right. |
| * **Basic:** tbd | * **Basic:** Staying focussed on a simple task with extenuating circumstances, or a complex task with no major complications, like reassembling a ship in a bottle. Can put on a brave face against interrogation, but will crack within minutes. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Can stay concentrated on a complex task in complicated circumstances, such as spellcasting during a natural disaster. Can catalogue their mental state and assess problems or flaws in their mental state with some time and discussion. Can resist interrogation for a few hours. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Advanced:** Can stay concentrated on a complex task with deadly consequences, such as defusing a bomb. Capable of resisting interrogation for at least a couple of days. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Expert:** Can stay concentrated on a complex task with deadly consequences for failure, like defusing a bomb under enemy fire or with less than a minute remaining. Completely aware of current mental state and its ails by oneself. Can resist interrogation for a week. |
| * **Master:** Mentally immovable object, immune to minor mental effects - or able to resist for a prolonged period | * **Master:** Mentally immovable and unflappable object, immune to minor mental effects - or able to resist torturous interrogation for a prolonged period. |
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| ==== PSI ==== | ==== PSI ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_psi.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_psi.png?128|}} |
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| zap | Meditating on a problem to find another way to solve it, grabbing and flinging an object without touching it, projecting oneself onto another mind to 'eyejack'((A portmanteau of Eye and Hijack, wherein a psionic hijacks a person's sight.)) them. The **PSI** skill represents aptitude in using [[guide/psionics|Psionics]] and related technology and equipment. It can represent the experiences of ascetic meditation and contemplation, an evolutionary trait of a species of creatures, or formalised training with implants to unlock a mind's potential. |
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| * **Unskilled:** tbd | //[[guide/psionics#psionic_phenomena|For more detail on Psionics and how they operate, consult the guide.]]// |
| * **Beginner:** tbd | |
| * **Basic:** tbd | * **Unskilled:** Not a Psionic practitioner in any capacity, or biologically incapable of harnessing/feeling Psionics. Cannot take advantage of psionics-enhanced equipment, implants, or the like. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Beginner:** Capable of the basic breathing and meditation routines which serve as a precursor to harnessing the waveforms of psionics. Knows about the feelings and sensations associated with psionics. Can take some advantage of a psionic-operated implant. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Basic:** Can 'grab' and freely manipulate a small, unattended object with the power of the mind. Can recognise the presence of common [[guide/psionics#psionic_phenomena|psionic phenomena]] such as Matter, Cancellation, and Noise. Can manifest minuscule effects, like indistinctly spooky noises, a lighter-sized flame, minor itches and slight feelings. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Can 'grab' and manipulate a larger object or make fine operations upon it with some precision, like a keyboard computer. Can use a digital psionic interface to compute psionically instead of manually. Can manifest a minor effect, like a puff and spark of fire, gout of cold air, a simple image, a loud and recognisable noise, or a ranged slap or punch. Can get a hunch about someone's mood by touch. |
| * **Master:** tbd | * **Advanced:** Can counteract intrusive psionic effects. Can disassemble a simple object or solve a rubiks cube with the mind. Can identify exotic forms of psionic phenomena, such the effects of space-folding, mind dimensions, dreamscapes and the like. Can manifest medium effects, like bolts of fire or force, simple weapons, moving afterimages, intrusive thoughts. Can observe the surface level thoughts of another creature by touch. |
| | * **Expert:** Can manifest major effects. Can disassemble a complex object like a handgun or car engine with the mind. Can scour through a week or so of a person's thoughts, or through major events over the last few years. |
| | * **Master:** Can manifest **massive** effects! Can disassemble an object at a level unseen to the naked eye, and put it back together differently. Can read the lifetime of, or deepest current subconscious thoughts of another creature by touch. |
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| ==== Senses ==== | ==== Senses ==== |
| Having a gut feeling about the cave you're walking into, feeling the presence of a ghost in an old house, tracking down the lair of a Phasma terrorising the land by following the wisps. The **Senses** skill is a reflection on the character's connection to magic or psionics, and how they recognise different spells, manifestations, or other effects cast around them. | Having a gut feeling about the cave you're walking into, feeling the presence of a ghost in an old house, tracking down the lair of a Phasma terrorising the land by following the wisps. The **Senses** skill is a reflection on the character's connection to magic or psionics, and how they recognise different spells, manifestations, or other effects cast around them. |
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| This skill also allows spellcasters and psions to feel and identify presences, such as dispelling fields, haunting, consecration, distortions, or Witchspace. With advanced Senses, it becomes possible to accurately pinpoint the locations of magical and psionic phenomena, and visualise them if they aren't visible with some concentration. Non-spellcasters with access to the Senses skill are prone to 'gut feelings' when danger or weird phenomena occur. | This skill also allows spellcasters and psions to feel and identify presences, such as dispelling fields, haunting, consecration, distortions, non-simply connected space, Weald, or Witchspace. With advanced levels of Senses, it becomes possible to accurately pinpoint the locations of magical and psionic phenomena, and visualise them if they aren't visible with some concentration. |
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| * **Unskilled:** tbd | Non-spellcasters with access to the Senses skill are prone to 'gut feelings' and hunches when danger or weird phenomena occur - reacting to protect themselves before they have thought about what's happening. |
| * **Beginner:** tbd | |
| * **Basic:** tbd | * **Unskilled:** Unobservant to magical or psionic phenomena. Sees illusions as is. Can identify spellcasters by asking them as directly as possible. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Beginner:** Gets gut feelings and hunches when magic or psionic phenomena are present, but doesn't know what these sensations are formally. Might see through an outlandish and highly improbable illusion, but will be confused at seeing an illusion laid bare. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Basic:** Can identify obvious spellcasters with some observation of their habits and behaviour. Can get a hunch when someone is weaving a spell into words or music. Can make out obvious illusions for what they are. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Can identify spellcasters or psions with a glance. Can perceive 'auras' around people and get a read on their emotional and mental state. Can understand when something or somewhere is 'not right' and can act accordingly, can 'feel' magical fields. |
| * **Master:** tbd | * **Advanced:** Aware of reality distorting spells or perception-changes, familiar with large-scale illusions such as mirage terrain or non-simply connected space. Can soundly identify if magic is woven into speech or musical performance. Can identify magical fields. |
| | * **Expert:** Can see through lesser forms of reality warping and illusory terrain, and navigate through non-simply connected space without incident. Potentially overstimulated by what they see, but sees and hears the world around them for what it is. |
| | * **Master:** One with the world around them. Hyper-aware without being overstimulated by all the input. |
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| ==== Thaumatology ==== | ==== Thaumatology ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_thaumatology.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_thaumatology.png?128|}} |
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| Reading the runes on an old magic scroll in the library, recalling the sigils and incantations necessary to communicate with a Weird Thing, writing a thick grimoire of forbidden knowledge using exotic inks. Thaumatology concerns the study of magic as a science((Literally, 'the study of miracles'.)), and its practical applications. | Reading the runes on an old magic scroll in the library, recalling the sigils, incantations and offerings necessary to communicate with a Weird Thing, writing a thick grimoire of forbidden knowledge using exotic inks. Thaumatology concerns the study of magic as a science((Literally, 'the study of miracles'.)), and its practical applications. |
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| This skill area covers spellcasting in general, and practitioners can specialise in different traditions and disciplines. These include, but aren't limited to alchemy, enchanting, binding, summoning, dispelling, necromancy, divination, weirdology, druidism, theology, and many others. Thaumatology may also make use of Fabrication and Knowledge skills. | This skill area covers spellcasting in general, and practitioners can specialise in different traditions and disciplines. These include, but aren't limited to alchemy, enchanting, binding, summoning, dispelling, necromancy, divination, weirdology, druidism, theology, and many others. Thaumatology may also make use of **Fabrication** and **Knowledge** skill trees for further applications. |
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| * **Unskilled:** //Klaatu... Beratta... **Achoo!!**// | * **Unskilled:** //Klaatu... Beratta... **Achoo!!**// |
| * **Beginner:** Can tell the difference between a magic missile and a bolt of ice. | * **Beginner:** Can tell the difference between a magic missile and a bolt of ice. Knows the most common types of safe Weirds. |
| * **Basic:** Able to inscribe and read rudimentary runic writings. Can imbue items with a fractional amount of power. | * **Basic:** Able to inscribe and read rudimentary runic writings. Study into the Weald and Weirds begins to expand. Can imbue items with a miniscule amount of power. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd. Can enchant items with a minor amount of power. | * **Intermediate:** Becomes proficient in runic arcane writings, with syntaxes from their native/taught traditions. Is able to make contact with the Weald and bargain a contract with a well-understood type of Weird Thing. Can enchant items with a minor amount of power. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd. Can ensorcell items with a moderate amount of power. | * **Advanced:** An accomplished writer of arcane languages, or proficient in several traditions/dialects. Begins to understand common phrases within Weird Speech without the assistance of a contracting spell and becomes aware of more dangerous Weirds. Can ensorcell items with a moderate amount of power. |
| * **Expert:** tbd. Can bind items with a major amount of power. | * **Expert:** Basic may be considered a second language for the user's intimate understanding on arcane writing styles. Understands many different phrases, commands, and other actions in Weird Speech. Can bind items with a major amount of power. |
| * **Master:** tbd. Can seal items with a **maximum** amount of power! | * **Master:** Their third eye is open, the user is in tune with the arcane without effort. Is able to get the ear of an Elder Weird, can understand Weird Speech without impediment. Can seal items with a **maximum** amount of power! |
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| | ==== Weald/Occult ==== |
| | {{ :guide:skill_weald.png?128|}} |
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| | Knowing the identity of that thing in the corner of your vision who keeps offering you magic (at a cost), knowing what to do and how to answer a strange being calling your name, travelling comfortably in the ever-shifting bright and terrible realities of the Weald. The **Weald/Occult** skill imparts the burden of knowledge that not only is space a place where alien life exists, but different dimensions of being where creatures who are even stranger to behold and unpredictable to interact with roam, obeying different rules. |
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| | This skill also helps identify [[/weird_things]] of all sorts, whether they are creatures, places, or objects. Spell casters and psionics are expected to have a surface level (Basic) understanding of the Weald and Weird Things since the practices of magic and psionics often get the attention of, or are bestowed by Weirds. |
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| | * **Unskilled:** Whether your subconscious papers over the oddities presented by the Weald's incursions, or you choose to be ignorant to them, they're still there; And they can still affect you. When they do affect you, you won't have an answer for why, pushing you towards seeking answers without knowing where to look. |
| | * **Beginner:** You've heard that there's realms beyond the Here and Now, and occasionally creatures incur on this reality or are summoned into it via spellcasters - usually. You can identify Weirds and phenomena that most people are expected to know about in the local area, whether this knowledge is passed down via family, community, or granted by organised education. |
| | * **Basic:** You know there's places beyond the Here and Now, and a few of the common entities from it. At this point, someone interested in the Weald would be able to identify most of the low-rank classifications of Weird native to their area and surroundings, and interact safely with controlled weirdness. In an academic context, this is where most students would end learning about the Weald unless they pursue higher education in the subject. |
| | * **Intermediate:** At this point, you're capable of reaching out and communicating with the places beyond the Here and Now and making an offer with the lower ranked classifications of Weird Things, confidently laying out your capabilities and offerings to the entities beyond. When dangerous Weirds descend upon the neighbourhood, you know what to do in order to deal with the Weirds or who to call if the problem's beyond your scope. |
| | * **Advanced:** You've got some 'travel guides' written about places in the Weald on your reading list - the promise of exotic and strange knowledge to behold and well-written travelogue prose draw you into the idea of visiting the Weald yourself someday soon. You can confidently identify common Weirds and know enough about the higher classifications of Weirds to try making deals with them: Their boons and prowess are worth the risks. |
| | * **Expert:** At this point, around four years into your fervent study you've crossed the threshold between worlds, and didn't fall apart on impact with the new and unknown horizons. You have the ear of a strange and terrifying entity older than your family tree's most primordial roots - they lend their knowledge and skills to you, along with asking favours or tasks of you that risk life, limb, and mind. |
| | * **Master:** You are more comfortable traversing the Weald than the Here and Now, moving through the myriad pocket dimensions with ease, and multiple safe havens scattered thoughout over several years of heartache. You have //several// strange and terrifying entities on speed dial, and they call frequently with favours to call in and offers to be made on //you//; Heck, sometimes they just want to chat. |
| ===== Mobility ===== | ===== Mobility ===== |
| Mobility Skills concern character movement. Whether it's on foot, in a vehicle, in a spacecraft, or across hostile terrain. | Mobility Skills concern character movement. Whether it's on foot, in a vehicle, in a spacecraft, or across hostile terrain. |
| Good Fitness can also have positive effects on spellcasing, psionics, and innate abilities. Consult your GM. | Good Fitness can also have positive effects on spellcasing, psionics, and innate abilities. Consult your GM. |
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| * **Unskilled:** No ball, out of shape, sedentiary lifestyle, poor diet | * **Unskilled:** No ball, out of shape, sedentiary lifestyle, poor diet. |
| * **Beginner:** Aware of the ball, takes the stairs, jogs occasionally, reasonable diet | * **Beginner:** Aware of the ball, takes the stairs, jogs occasionally, reasonable diet. |
| * **Basic:** School footballer, weekend warrior, gym attendee, healthy/balanced diet | * **Basic:** School footballer, weekend warrior, gym attendee, healthy/balanced diet. |
| * **Intermediate:** Local football club player, athlete/cyclist, gym regular | * **Intermediate:** Local football club player, athlete/cyclist, gym regular. |
| * **Advanced:** State/National footballer, marathon runner/cyclist, specialised/targeted diet | * **Advanced:** State/National footballer, marathon runner/cyclist, specialised/targeted diet. |
| * **Expert:** Olympic/Worldwide bootballer, triathlon runner/cyclist, vigorous bodybuilder | * **Expert:** Olympic/Worldwide bootballer, triathlon runner/cyclist, vigorous bodybuilder. |
| * **Master:** Dream Team footballer, herculean physique and endurance, all gains! | * **Master:** Dream Team footballer, herculean physique and endurance, all gains! |
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| {{ :guide:skill_piloting.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_piloting.png?128|}} |
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| Performing takeoff and landing procedures in a spacecraft, shaking a bogey off the ship's tail, do aerobatics and put on a show. The **Piloting** skill is used to operate one or two manned craft in a fine manner, including shuttles, fighter craft, interceptors, and large mecha. Simulations can provide up to Basic experience, | Performing takeoff and landing procedures in a spacecraft, shaking a bogey off the ship's tail, do aerobatics and put on a show. The **Piloting** skill is used to operate a one or two manned aerospace-craft in a fine manner, including shuttles, fighter craft, interceptors, helicopters, and large mecha. |
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| For managing the operation of a larger vessel which isn't capable of swift, quick movement, and coordinating the underlying strategy for pilots rather than the tactics, use Starship Operation. | Simulations usually serve as a starting point for learning Piloting whether its a aerospace-craft, aircraft, mecha, or otherwise. This includes sims used to train recreational pilots at local flight schools - they can provide up to Basic experience, and commercial piloting simulations with rigorous instructors and accreditation can provide up to Intermediate experience. There are also civilian grade, video game flight simulators, which if mastered can provide up to Beginner experience((Playing an open world game with aircraft in it doesn't quite mesh with the intricacies of flight, though.)). |
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| * **Unskilled:** tbd | For managing the operation of a larger vessel which isn't capable of swift, quick movement, and coordinating the underlying strategy for pilots rather than the immediate tactics, use **Starship Operation**. |
| * **Beginner:** tbd | |
| * **Basic:** tbd | * **Unskilled:** Plane Crash. Cannot fly a plane/light spacecraft correctly in a simulator. Should not be trusted with aerospace craft. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Beginner:** Is learning how to fly via a commercial-grade or high-end civilian recreational flight simulator, going for piloting license in the future. Mecha Pilot enthusiast/collector. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Basic:** Can perform basic takeoffs and landings in a aerospace-craft safely. Familiar with flight radio operations and contact protocols. Can read a HUD to get an idea of how their vessel is handling. Learning awareness and pursuit curves in dogfighting. Learning how to operate Mecha and learning of the six-axis discipline. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Can perform takeoffs and landings in poor weather/visibility and/or at night time, or on a constrained runway. Learning dogfighting moves like the Immelmann Turn, Chandelle, Break, and Split S among others and becoming familiar with their craft's energy and momentum. A student of the six-axis discipline of Mecha combat. |
| * **Master:** Ace pilot | * **Advanced:** Can land on a moving platform or carrier, following control tower procedures. Becoming familiar with the basics of dogfighting and branching into advanced techniques, like Cobra Turns, the Kulbit Loop, and High and Low Yo-Yos. An experienced practitioner of the six-axis discipline of Mecha combat. |
| | * **Expert:** Can land on a constrained, moving object in space. Able to undertake death-defying moves such as Pugachev's Cobra or Herbst Manoeuvre without breaking a sweat, and intimate with a craft's use of energy, momentum, thrust and lift. Comfortable and deadly in any of the six-axis of Mecha combat. |
| | * **Master:** Ace pilot or Mecha operator, terror of the skies and space in __seven__-axis combat. |
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| ==== Starship Operation ==== | ==== Starship Operation ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_starship.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_starship.png?128|}} |
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| Handling yourself in zero gravity, placing navigation coordinates into the computer, being captain of the fleet. The **Starship Operation** skill lets you get by on spacecraft, starting with the general daily operation of a spacecraft, then leading a crew as a work leader or captain, and graduating into being able to coordinate strategy and movement for a fleet. | Handling yourself in zero gravity, placing navigation coordinates into the computer, being captain of the fleet. The **Starship Operation** skill lets you get by on spacecraft, starting with the general daily operation of a spacecraft, then leading a crew as a work leader or captain, and graduating into being able to coordinate strategy and movement for a fleet. As with **Piloting**, a common starting point for learning Starship Operation is with simulated scenarios in recreations of common starship layouts. |
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| For the finer operation of a smaller, space capable vehicle like a craft, shuttle, or fighter, use the **Piloting** skill. | For the finer operation of a smaller, space capable vehicle like a craft, shuttle, or fighter, use the **Piloting** skill. For land-based, terrestrial vehicles. |
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| * **Unskilled:** Maybe knows where the emergency exit is | * **Unskilled:** Maybe knows where the emergency exit is. A starship passenger or traveller. |
| * **Beginner:** Knows where the escape pods, EVAC suits, and countermeasures are located | * **Beginner:** Knows where the escape pods, EVAC suits, and countermeasures are located. A frequent passenger for space travel, or perhaps living in space. |
| * **Basic:** Sailor, can handle oneself in Zero-G, knows how to use EVAC | * **Basic:** A sailor who can work as a crew, can handle oneself in Zero-G, knows how to use EVAC suits, operate airlocks and safely deal with common hazards. |
| * **Intermediate:** Accomplished sailor, head of engineering | * **Intermediate:** Accomplished sailor with an extended role in the ship's operation, may oversee a team within a large crew or manning weapons, sensors and/or communications. |
| * **Advanced:** NCO, bridge crew, quartermaster, communications officer | * **Advanced:** Non-commissioned officer with oversight of one of the starship's main functions. |
| * **Expert:** Captain of a vessel | * **Expert:** Captain of a vessel, able to coordinate and oversee the state of a ship and pivot its overall movement tactically. |
| * **Master:** Captain of a fleet | * **Master:** Captain of a fleet. |
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| ==== Stealth ==== | ==== Stealth ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_survival.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_survival.png?128|}} |
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| Finding clean water and food, setting up animal traps, living comfortably in a log cabin beside the heart of the forest. **Survival** allows characters to survive in natural environments, enabling them to locate resources, navigate, read and create maps, cook on an open fire, and construct shelter. Higher levels of the skill | Finding clean water and food, setting up animal traps, living comfortably in a log cabin beside the heart of the forest. **Survival** allows characters to survive in natural environments, enabling them to locate vital resources, navigate, read and create maps, cook on an open fire, and construct shelter. Higher levels of the skill allows for the creation of more complex and secure lodgings and finer tools from the world around the character, crossing over with **Craft** and **Construction**. |
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| * **Unskilled:** //These berries taste funny. Why are my hands so big?// | * **Unskilled:** //These berries taste funny. Why are my hands so big?// |
| * **Beginner:** tbd | * **Beginner:** With some assistance, can light a fire in the wild and cover oneself from the wind. Understands not to eat/drink random foods or from unidentified bodies of water. |
| * **Basic:** tbd | * **Basic:** Can erect a civilian grade tent and light a campfire which will burn until morning, warm from the cold ground. Can cut a small tree down, and gather easily identifiable, edible plants. Knows how to find relatively safe to drink running water. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Can identify game trails and set up a trap, then field dress small game and catch fish, cooking them safely over a campfire. Can cut a medium sized tree down and use it for wood and gather vines and cane for building, and undertake simple earthworks to make your campsite drain the rain and other fluids away safely. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Advanced:** Can build a permanent campfire oven with rocks and clay, sheltered from the elements and burning very hot. Can create hotter-burning charcoal from wood using a little ingenuity. Can field dress, skin, and cut the meats from a larger animal, and preserve them with salt and smoke drying. Can build a semi-permanent shelter or hut. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Expert:** The character could build a cabin in the woods with an indoor firepit, smoker and larder, living comfortably for months off the land. The same can be said for surviving on a desert island with a jungle. When carving a creature, the character can use every organ and muscle of a creature they have stripped, so absolutely nothing goes to waste. |
| * **Master:** You could probably figure out a way to breathe in space! | * **Master:** You could probably figure out a way to breathe in space! But seriously, a character with this level of skill has a good chance of existing in many environments comfortably. |
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| ==== Vehicles ==== | ==== Vehicles ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_vehicles.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_vehicles.png?128|}} |
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| Getting a driver's license test on the first try, winning a drag race at the traffic lights, making a firetruck drift sideways around a tight corner. The **Vehicles** skill concerns the use of traditional vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, busses, trucks, boats, tanks, submarines, and other forms of transportation. High skill levels in Vehicles allow stunt coordination and planning. | Getting a driver's license test on the first try, winning a drag race at the traffic lights, making a firetruck drift sideways around a tight corner. The **Vehicles** skill concerns the use of traditional vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, busses, trucks, boats, tanks, submarines, and other forms of transportation. High skill levels in Vehicles allow for stunt coordination and planning, and characters who make a living doing stunts often have abilities relating to Vehicle handling. |
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| * **Unskilled:** Can't ride a bike, unable to get driver's license | * **Unskilled:** Can't ride a bike, unable to get driver's license. Cannot use a boat or a jetski well and will bail in a hilarious fashion. |
| * **Beginner:** Can ride a bike, has driver's license and commutes | * **Beginner:** Can ride a bike, has driver's license and commutes to work. Can ride a motorcycle in controlled conditions. Can row a boat or use an outboard motor in a placid lake or calm seas. |
| * **Basic:** tbd | * **Basic:** Experienced commuter with good driving sense to avoid accidents and move with traffic efficiently whether in a car or on a bike. Can ride a motorcycle. Can use an outboard motorboat effectively on calm to moderate waters, or jetski fancy free with abandon. |
| * **Intermediate:** Can operate as tank crew, | * **Intermediate:** Capable driver with knowledge of their vehicle's ins-and-outs, and begins learning stunts like drifting, specialised turns, and other defensive driving skills. Can be trained to operate a multi-user or specialised vehicle, such as a cargo truck, tank, personnel carrier or a fire truck. Can sail a yacht, drive a boat, commandeer a powerful speedboat in moderately choppy waters, or serve as a sailor on a large ship or submarine. |
| * **Advanced:** Can operate as tank commander, | * **Advanced:** Can operate as the leader of a multi-user/specialised vehicle. Capable of executing stunts and chases on land or sea. Can serve as the captain on a private yacht, cruise ship, or submarine. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Expert:** Capable of operating strange, exotic vehicles such as land-crawlers, rolling balls, deep-sea submarines or water platforms. |
| * **Master:** tbd | * **Master:** You are __the__ Driver. |
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| ===== Social ===== | ===== Social ===== |
| Drafting quick cartoons and infographics to visually display complex information, painting a vivid picture of a reclining woman with oil paints, rendering and directing the ceiling of a chapel with a hardlight display. **Arts** governs the use of artistic skills such as painting, drawing, music composition, 3D modelling, sculpting, photography, directing, acting, visual programming, storytelling, art-oriented hardlight manipulation, writing, and other mediums of self expression. | Drafting quick cartoons and infographics to visually display complex information, painting a vivid picture of a reclining woman with oil paints, rendering and directing the ceiling of a chapel with a hardlight display. **Arts** governs the use of artistic skills such as painting, drawing, music composition, 3D modelling, sculpting, photography, directing, acting, visual programming, storytelling, art-oriented hardlight manipulation, writing, and other mediums of self expression. |
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| * **Unskilled:** Stick figures, chicken scratch, poorly drawn depictions of genitalia in a toilet stall, kid with a recorder, crap mobile phone recordings | * **Unskilled:** Stick figures, chicken scratch, poorly drawn depictions of genitalia in a toilet stall, kid with a recorder, crap mobile phone recordings. |
| * **Beginner:** Cartoons, basic diagrams and models, scrapbooking, writes occasionally, good with a communicator's camera, do-re-mi-la-so-fa-ti-do | * **Beginner:** Cartoons, basic diagrams and models, scrapbooking, writes occasionally, good with a communicator's camera, do-re-mi-la-so-fa-ti-do. |
| * **Basic:** Idea visualisation, traditional artwork, painting programs, web animation and video director, sprites, expresses opinions through writing, poetry, and prose; learning an instrument | * **Basic:** Idea visualisation, traditional artwork, painting programs, web animation and video director, sprites, expresses opinions through writing, poetry, and prose; learning an instrument. |
| * **Intermediate:** 3D modelling, 2D animation, clay modelling, writes for local press or magazines, web miniseries or video blog, composing and playing an original song at a local venue | * **Intermediate:** 3D modelling, 2D animation, clay modelling, writes for local press or magazines, web miniseries or video blog, composing and playing an original song at a local venue. |
| * **Advanced:** 3D animation, oil based paints and custom pigments, sculpture, fashion, art-oriented hardlight displays, directs a local TV show, writes for big name magazines or reader's digests, playing in a convincing cover band | * **Advanced:** 3D animation, oil based paints and custom pigments, sculpture, fashion, art-oriented hardlight displays, directs a local TV show, writes for big name magazines or reader's digests, playing in a convincing cover band. |
| * **Expert:** Live hardlight displays, speed sculpting, directs feature length movies, writes and gets novels published, playing an original song as the preshow for a bigger act | * **Expert:** Live hardlight displays, speed sculpting, directs feature length movies, writes and gets novels published, playing an original song as the preshow for a bigger act. |
| * **Master:** Mass coordinated dances, opera singer, multi-blockbuster film director, writes novels which get adapted into films, playing a smash hit at a sold out stadium | * **Master:** Mass coordinated dances, opera singer, multi-blockbuster film director, writes novels which get adapted into films, playing a smash hit at a sold out stadium. |
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| ==== Domestic ==== | ==== Domestic ==== |
| Keeping the apartment tidy, being responsible for keeping an office floor clean and stocked on refreshments, overseeing and coordinating the catering for a royal ball. The **Domestic** skill covers a character's ability to keep house, as well as serve as a retail, custodial, or janitorial figure for an organisation or workplace. This can also extend into other service options, such as acting as a personal assistant, retailer, or a butler or maid. This also extends into following the protocol dictated for carrying oneself with punctuality, dignity, and grace((Dry wit is permitted.)) when performing duties, and keeping a stiff upper lip at various messes. | Keeping the apartment tidy, being responsible for keeping an office floor clean and stocked on refreshments, overseeing and coordinating the catering for a royal ball. The **Domestic** skill covers a character's ability to keep house, as well as serve as a retail, custodial, or janitorial figure for an organisation or workplace. This can also extend into other service options, such as acting as a personal assistant, retailer, or a butler or maid. This also extends into following the protocol dictated for carrying oneself with punctuality, dignity, and grace((Dry wit is permitted.)) when performing duties, and keeping a stiff upper lip at various messes. |
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| * **Unskilled:** Can't keep an apartment tidy, can't keep life organised((If you can't organise yourself, how can you hope to keep someone else organised?)) | * **Unskilled:** Can't keep an apartment tidy, can't keep life organised((If you can't organise yourself, how can you hope to keep someone else organised?)). |
| * **Beginner:** Can keep an apartment or house tidy and clean, can keep self organised | * **Beginner:** Can keep an apartment or house tidy and clean, can keep self organised. |
| * **Basic:** Can keep a family house tidy and clean, can work as a janitor for a small business | * **Basic:** Can keep a family house tidy and clean, can work as a janitor for a small business. |
| * **Intermediate:** Hospital janitor, phone-in housekeeper or nanny, motel housekeeper | * **Intermediate:** Hospital janitor, phone-in housekeeper or nanny, motel housekeeper. |
| * **Advanced:** Skyscraper window washer, live-in housekeeper or nanny at a mansion, hotel housekeeper | * **Advanced:** Skyscraper window washer, live-in housekeeper or nanny at a mansion, hotel housekeeper. |
| * **Expert:** Butler/maid for a noble or the idle rich, crime scene cleaner | * **Expert:** Butler/maid for a noble or the idle rich, crime scene cleaner. |
| * **Master:** Peerless butler/maid fit for royalty, **The** Cleaner | * **Master:** Peerless butler/maid fit for royalty, **The** Cleaner. |
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| ==== Entertainment ==== | ==== Entertainment ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_entertainment.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_entertainment.png?128|}} |
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| Telling a bawdy tale while playing a guitar at the pub, designing and programming a computer game, performing a rock concert to a packed stadium. The **Entertainment** skill represents a character's ability to rock an audience through performance or media presence. Depending on how your character chooses to entertain their key audience, abilities or skills in fields like **Arts**, **Technician**, or **Communication** to name a few can factor into a character's performance. | Telling a bawdy tale while playing a guitar at the pub, designing and programming a computer game, performing a rock concert to a packed stadium. The **Entertainment** skill represents a character's ability to rock an audience through performance, media presence, gambling, and games of skill and chance both physical and digital. Depending on how your character chooses to entertain, perform or play for their key audience or peers, abilities or skills in fields like **Arts**, **Technician**, or **Communication** to name a few can factor into the specifics of a character's performance. |
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| This skill also governs topics like applying makeup, rehearsal, scheduling, stagecraft, maintaining stage presence, onscreen persona, staying in character((So you're a person, playing as a character, who in turn is playing as //another// character...)), and stamina; reading the audience, and a sense of timing. | This skill also governs topics like applying makeup, rehearsal, scheduling, stagecraft, maintaining stage presence, onscreen/online persona, staying in character((So you're a person, playing as a character, who in turn is playing as //another// character...)), stamina, reading the audience players, and a sense of timing. For use of the skill in playing games or gambling, it can represent familiarity with games, their rules and variants, recognising and working strategies, mind games with other players, and more. |
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| * **Unskilled:** Bad slapstick, fart jokes, bad dad jokes | * **Unskilled:** Bad slapstick, fart jokes, bad dad jokes. A total sucker in gambling. Eats the pieces of a board game. Can't play video games. |
| * **Beginner:** Tells tall tales, okay dad jokes, can do charades, plays a few video games | * **Beginner:** Tells tall tales, okay dad jokes, can do charades, could get roped into a school play. Knows basic card games like Poker, Hold 'Em, and Fish. Familiar with children's board games or commonly played ones in a family, like checkers. Plays a few video games, results vary but they enjoy themselves. |
| * **Basic:** Local comedian or jokester, good dad jokes, school play actor, knows a few party tricks, avid video gamer, has online presence | * **Basic:** Local comedian or jokester, good dad jokes, local college actor, knows a few party tricks. Familiar with casino games like Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and complicated card/board games like Chess, Bridge, Rummy, Go, Durak, Mahjong, or Baccarat to name a few. Can play tabletop roleplaying games. Avid video gamer with a circle of friends. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Garage band member, self publishing music/audio online or physically to their local area or playing at local or school venues. An understudy for a stage/entertainment company or a regular extra for a TV show. Stage magician who has mastered the basic party tricks and card shuffles. Regular player of casino games who comes away with slim profits from their efforts. Regular chess player or Double-Digit Kyu Go player(([[wp>Go_ranks_and_ratings|Go Ranks and Ratings]])). Avid tabletop roleplayer learning game mastery, or player of a complex wargame with lots of pieces. A video gamer with a notable online presence and skills to match. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Advanced:** Could work in a for-hire band, playing popular [[wp>Standard_(music)|standards]] and other popular songs depending on the venue. An actor in stage plays or television, working basic roles with a handful of lines. Stage magician who can captivate an audience with the basics and some of their own flourishes. Casino regular with a few tricks up his sleeve and some intuition to come away with modest winnings - may even be learning how to count cards. Chess tournament regular or Single-Digit Kyu Go player. An accomplished game master and player of a tabletop game, or a half-crazed wargamer who can keep track of battles going on for //weeks//. A potential candidate for an E-Sports team with their video gaming skills. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Expert:** A member of a successful band which regularly publishes songs with an audience - done themselves or via a record label. Actor with regular roles in stage or on a television show. Stage magician who can keep the attention of distracted children((A much tougher audience than willing, paying customers.)). Card counting gambler with an intimate knowledge of a broad range of casino games and supplement their income with their gambling. Chess Master or 1 Dan Professional Go player. Writer and publisher of content for a popular tabletop roleplaying or war game. An E-Sports video gamer officially recognised by a game's developers/publishers. |
| * **Master:** tbd | * **Master:** A centrepiece soloist and/or pianist for a prestigious galaxy-travelling orchestra, or the lead singer or guitarist of a wildly popular rock band with multiple hit songs. The actor responsible for carrying a three hour play, every weekend for a month, with the heaviest script to memorise - or a television show actor for a long-running series. Chess Grandmaster or 9 Dan Professional Go player. Inscrutable and successful gambler able to live comfortably off their winnings alone - possibly banned from a few casinos or monitored. A veritable video gaming master and curator endorsed by developers and a wider community to provide their insights. |
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| ==== Humanities ==== | ==== Humanities ==== |
| {{ :guide:skill_humanities.png?128|}} | {{ :guide:skill_humanities.png?128|}} |
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| Knowing the customs, manners and ideas of a culture; fostering positive relations with a new group of arrivals, brokering a contract between two corporations. **Humanities** is the study of reading the customs, language, culture, and attitudes of a society, company, or other group of people. Characters are //usually// considered to know the customs of their local area without needing the **Humanities** skill. Exceptions are lone travellers and amnesiacs. | Knowing the customs, manners and ideas of a culture; fostering positive relations and finding common ground with a new group of arrivals, brokering a contract between two corporations. **Humanities** is the study of reading the customs, language, culture, and attitudes of a society, company, or other group of people. |
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| It can also represent study in the metrics of a society, such as birth rates, death rates, census data, polling, and other information gathering. It is most often used by politicians, diplomats, interpreters, translators, aid workers, and government officials((You'd hope they put it to good use if they ARE using it, anyway.)). | Characters are considered to know the customs of their local area without needing the **Humanities** skill. Exceptions include lone travellers, refugees, amnesiacs, and the very alien who perceive and interpret the world around them entirely differently to the local population. |
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| * **Unskilled:** Unfamiliar with local ideas and customs, clueless tourist | The Humanities skill can represent study in the metrics of a society, such as birth rates, death rates, census data, polling, and other information gathering. It is most often used by politicians, diplomats, interpreters, translators, aid workers, and government officials((You'd hope they put it to good use if they ARE using it, anyway.)). |
| * **Beginner:** Familiar with local ideas, customs, and general mindset | |
| * **Basic:** Understands recent world situation and their place within it | * **Unskilled:** Unfamiliar with local ideas, customs and important people. A clueless tourist in a loud shirt and a louder mouth. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Beginner:** Familiar with a local area's ideas, customs, and general mindset. Aware of what is considered definitely acceptable or brazenly offensive all-around - ie: casual murder is not okay, sociable eye contact is okay. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Basic:** Understands recent world situation and their place within it, as well as the cultural ideas which have shaped it. Aware of what's acceptable and what's not, and aware of common exceptions or 'small things'. |
| * **Expert:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Could work as a statistician, census worker, aid worker. Studied the ideas of the people who have created the world around them, and of the '-isms and '-cies which have governed them; Or in the process of actively gathering and learning these facts. |
| * **Master:** Intimately understands the world around them and the events which shaped it | * **Advanced:** Could work as a translator or interpreter towards another society, or a government worker. Familiar with obscure customs within their society, which while not practised commonly are greatly appreciated when performed with tact. |
| | * **Expert:** Could work as a blue-ribbon diplomat, working on behalf of a society, or a minister/senator in a government. A curator for a society's database of cultural information, arts, and ideas. Aware of counter-intuitive or alien mannerisms within the world. |
| | * **Master:** Intimately understands the world around them and the events which shaped it. |
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| ==== Leadership ==== | ==== Leadership ==== |
| Taking charge of a tough situation and persevering, assessing and managing a group of unfamiliar allies, marching and leading an army into battle. **Leadership** is a quality present in many successful captains, commanders, governors, and company owners. | Taking charge of a tough situation and persevering, assessing and managing a group of unfamiliar allies, marching and leading an army into battle. **Leadership** is a quality present in many successful captains, commanders, governors, and company owners. |
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| To be effective, Leadership requires having a 'whole picture' of information to make informed decisions, a charismatic persona, and the trust and loyalty of those assigned to the character. Most often, Leadership is for leading or directing non-player characters through dangerous or risky situations, and assessing their abilities so they can be best used for the situation. | Most often, Leadership is for leading or directing non-player characters through dangerous or risky situations, and assessing their abilities so they can be best used for the situation. Experience in this skill for non-leading characters can be used for navigating the protocol and etiquette of a hierarchical organisation. |
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| | To be effective as a leader however, Leadership requires having a 'whole picture' of information to make informed decisions, a charismatic persona, values, vision, and the trust and loyalty of those assigned to the character. Relevant skills in the Social, Knowledge and Fabrication (or Combat!) areas can also be useful depending on the situation. |
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| * **Unskilled:** //Who the hell are you guys?// | * **Unskilled:** Unable to lead others or work as part of a team, unless curated throughout the project or autonomous in function. |
| * **Beginner:** tbd | * **Beginner:** Can work as a team-mate in an office, receptive to leadership's positive outcomes and the good qualities of a leader. |
| * **Basic:** tbd | * **Basic:** Can manage a project in a small organisation which takes a couple of weeks. Can act as a contributing member of a fire-team in a fighting force. The owner and leader of a share house((Such as the barracks-like home arrangements of a Maidenhand Posse.)) or neighbourhood project. |
| * **Intermediate:** tbd | * **Intermediate:** Can manage a project in a medium-organisation which can take a couple of months. The sergeant of a squad of soldiers in a fighting force. A leader of a family or community driven organisation, council member or local civic project manager. |
| * **Advanced:** tbd | * **Advanced:** Can manage a long-term project in a large organisation. The mayor of a town or municipality of a city, an elected senator, or a statewide civic project manager. A non-commissioned officer responsible for a platoon in a fighting force. Able to bring a large family unit or ideological group spread across a city together for a common cause, known throughout the planet. |
| * **Expert:** Captain, colonel; vastly influential figurehead, state governor, president | * **Expert:** A vastly influential figure in an organisation, on the board of directors. A state governor, president or prime minister. The captain of a platoon of soldiers in a fighting force. A planet-spanning family cabal or ideological masthead, embedded in the public lexicon even beyond their home planet. |
| * **Master:** Admiral, field Marshal, sky captain; a corporation's driving force of personality, world leader | * **Master:** A corporation's driving force of personality who shapes their overall strategic vision. The field marshal responsible for orchestrating the strategy of an entire front of a fighting force. A world leader who embodies the ideals and values of their society to the galactic community at large. |