Section III. Library of Skills

Biosocial/Psychosocial Skills

Biosocial skills involve
the behavioral sciences including business, economics, law, life, the
underworld, health and Psycho-Social.

Psycho-Social skills give
a character an advantage when dealing with individuals or groups of intelligent
beings. The skill can be used when dealing with any of the major races as well
as any other intelligent species the character encounters.

Racial Bonuses: Because
Vrusk have the racial ability of Comprehension, they gain +5% on all rolls
involving Psycho-Social skills such as Empathetic Understanding, Communication,
Diplomacy, Persuasion and Psycho-Pathology. Dralasites
get a bonus of +10 when using empathy, because of their racial ability to
detect lies. These modifiers apply only if the character has Psycho-Social
skill.

Academics

Success
Rate: ½
Log + 10% per level

Pr:
N/A

This
skill is a general category for all the academic skills not specifically
mentioned in Star Frontiers.

These
are skills that a character might learn in some institute of higher learning,
such as: Dralasite Literature; Philosophy; Media Production; Office Technology
Systems; etc. The character knows the foundations of his area of study and only
needs to make a skill check if some specific piece of uncommon information is
called for or some particularly challenging action is required. Some examples
of this skill include: Anthropology (in-depth cultural knowledge; gives +10% to
skill checks when taken with archaeology), Economics (explained below),
Linguistics (useful for deciphering alien or ancient languages), Literature,
and Mathematics (explained below).

Acrobatics

Pr: N/A

This
skill involves all the various activities associated with circus acrobats,
including: trapeze, tightrope, jumping and flipping, and other such acts.

In
combat situations, the skill can make the character a more difficult target to
hit, due to the unexpectedly quick movements accomplished by a trained acrobat.
With a successful skill check in melee, the character gains the defending bonus
(-15 to attacker’s chance to hit) without sacrificing her ability to
counterattack. When dodging a ranged attack, the character can move at full
speed on a successful skill check, ignoring the movement penalty of dodging as
listed in the combat rules (the character has to be able to move and be aware
of the ranged attack, however).

The
actual application of the skill in various circumstances is left to the referee's
discretion.

Agility

Success
Rate: Automatic upon selection of techex profession

Pr: TechEx
Profession

When a character chooses the techex profession he automatically
receives this bonus skill. It is assumed that a techex character spent his
youth working with intricate equipment, thus raising his agility above the
average. The character has 7 points that he can now add to his DEX/RS
combination in whatever manner he wishes (e.g., 3 to DEX, 4 to RS).

Alertness

A
character with this skill gets a +15% to his intuition roll for avoiding
surprise. Also, the character may pick up on unusual environmental events
(unusual quiet in the wilderness, a disturbed clearing, an unstable rock fall,
etc.) at the referee’s discretion.

Analyze
Business System/Setting

This
skill is used to identify and assess the inner workings of a business,
including management, communications, worker attitudes, etc. Business
consultation also falls under this heading. Successful application of this
skill allows a character to recommend changes that can increase net profits by
10% x skill level. Benefits gained through a successful skill check last for
six months. This special ability can only be applied to a business successfully
once every six months.

Analyze
Social System

This
skill allows the user to analyze any sort of social system: social strata,
religious organization, cult, sub-culture, native social unit, etc. This skill
adds a +10% bonus to PER checks and other skills (such as diplomacy, bluff,
haggling, etc.) in situations where the character has successfully analyzed a
social system.

Appraisals

This skill allows a character to appraise with worth of rare and
valuable items (artwork, antiques, books, exotic weapons, etc.) to within 10%
of their normal cost.

Archaeology

This skill is the scientific study of the life and culture of
ancient peoples, through examination of excavations of ancient cities, relics,
and artifacts. A successful skill check allows a character to tell the
approximate age of an item, what its use might have been, and what the race was
like who used it.

This is all subject to varying factors, of course, such as the
alienness of the item to the character or cases of extreme antiquity. If an
entire site is being studied, a number of successful checks over a long period
of time must be made to get an overall picture.

Bluff

Success
Rate: ½
Per/Ldr +10% per level

PR: N/A

A bluff is loosely defined as a lie, evasion, or convincing
someone that you are something or someone you are not. Any character attempting
a bluff who does not have this skill uses a roll against their Personality or
Leadership Score with a -30 percent modifier. The more difficult the bluff, the
greater the negative modifier. A character with this skill is smoother and more
confident in his bluff if the bluff is plausible.

For example, an Ifshnit saying he is really a magically
transformed Osakar is just plain silly. But an adventurer telling a member of a
secret society that he is also a member of the society may work. The referee
should modify the bluff based on other factors (unknown information, passwords,
etc.).

Charisma

Success
Rate: Automatic upon selection of Explorer Profession

Pr: Explorer
Profession

When a character chooses the explorer profession he automatically
receives this bonus skill. It is assumed one of the reasons the character chose
the explorer profession is because he has leadership qualities and a
personality that is above average.

The character has 7 points that he can now add to his PER/LDR
combination in whatever manner he wishes (e.g., 2 to PER, 5 to LDR).

Chef

Pr: N/A

A character who selects this skill has an unusual knowledge of
fine cuisine and how to prepare it. If he desires, the player can roll 1d100
(ignore anything under 20 and over 90) to rank himself against other galactic
chefs. Not only can this character how cook a gourmet meal, providing him with
a good alternate source of income, but he can also estimate the worth of
culinary rarities (spices, cooking utensils, cookbooks, exotic foods, etc.)
within 10% of their retail costs.

Communication

Success rate: ½ Log/Int + 10% per
level + racial modifier

Pr: N/A

This
skill can be used when a character must communicate with a creature whose
language he does not speak or understand. If the character uses this skill
successfully, he can communicate using very simple messages. The referee might
force players to use simple messages by restricting them to two-word phrases.
Vrusk possessing this skill receive an additional +10% modifier when using it.

Diplomacy

Success Rate: ½ Per/Ldr +10% per
level

Prerequisites:
Persuasion
1, Politics 1

This
skill allows a character proficient in it to negotiate on a grand scale (with
corporations, governments, alien races, religious groups, powerful individuals,
etc.). Setting up embassies, establishing treaties, negotiating trade, and
arbitrating a cease-fire agreement are all examples of the kinds of activities
a trained diplomat can engage in.

The
diplomat is considered skilled in all the fundamentals of negotiating and is
assumed to have researched whatever diplomatic situations she might be engaged
in beforehand. A skill check is required any time a tense situation arises in
the diplomatic process or any time that a character hasn’t had time to
adequately prepare.

This
skill also provides a +10% modifier per level to skill checks during diplomatic
interactions (PER checks, bluff, haggling, persuasion, etc., in the
aforementioned settings).

Disguise

Success Rate: ½ Per +10% per level

Pr: Bluff skill of at
least the same level

This
skill teaches the character the proper use of disguise for the purposes of
bluffing. When bluffing while using a disguise, use the Disguise success rate.
The level of the Disguise skill for this purpose cannot exceed that of the
Bluff skill.

For
example, a Star Lawman is trying to pass himself off as a hood to gain the
confidence of a known felon. He has Bluff Level 3 and Disguise Level 2;
therefore he uses the Disguise Level 2 as his success rate to bluff. If he had
a Bluff Level 2 and a Disguise Level 3, he still would use a Disguise Level 2
success rate, because you cannot disguise yourself to bluff higher than the
Bluff skill. Only when both the Bluff and Disguise Levels are 3 can the
character use the Skill Level 4 success rate.

The
Disguise skill includes the proper use of makeup, artificial hair, prostheses,
and costumes.

Dramatics

Success Rate: ½ Per +10% per level

The
use of the Dramatics skill is similar to that of the Disguise skill. A character
with Dramatics, combined with the Bluff and Disguise skills of at least the
same level as the Dramatics skill, can increase his chance of bluffing another
character or a group into believing he is someone else. When attempting this
type of bluff, the character will use the Dramatics skill success rate.

Furthermore,
if the character also has a Persuasion skill of at least the same level as his
Dramatics skill, he uses a success rate of Dramatics Skill with a +20%
modifier.

Economics

This
skill gives the character an understanding of economics, micro and macro. This
skill is essential to those who wish a business to flourish and grow. This
skill can also be used to modify the results of investment growth (+10% bonus
to rolls). See “SF4: Mission to Alcazzar” for an example of an investments
table.

Empathetic
Understanding

Success rate: ½ Int + 10% per
skill level (Dralasites +10% modifier)

Pr: N/A

Empathy
can be used by a character only once per encounter to get a general impression
of the mood and intentions of individuals or groups. In order to use this
skill, the specialist must be able to see or hear the individual or group.

The
information that a character gains by using this skill is very vague and non-specific.
The referee should use descriptions like hostile, curious, cautious, helpful,
neutral, etc.

If
two characters in the group have empathetic understanding, they can both use it.
Dralasites possessing this skill have a +10% modifier.

Entertaining

Pr: N/A

Note:
1d100 roll establishes character's entertainment level Each time this skill is
taken it allows a character to either learn one entertainment skill (singing,
dancing, playing a musical instruments, juggling, etc.) or improve a skill he
has already selected.

When
an entertainment skill is first selected, the character must roll 1d100 (ignore
any rolls below 10 or above 90). This is his proficiency with this form of
entertainment. One-tenth of this proficiency (rounded down) is his
entertainment level. The entertainment level is used for comparison with other
entertainers in the same field, for deciding how much the performer is paid,
and as a skill level to distract others (if the entertainment level check is
made, the characters are distracted, if only for a moment).

Entertainment
skills can be used as cover identities for characters. If the player is good
enough, it can also provide him with optional employment.

Someone
with Entertaining gets an automatic level 1 when performing other entertainment
skills such as Acrobatics, Escape Artistry, Stage Magic (Sleight of Hand),
General Lore (Storytelling) and Gambling. To go beyond level 1 in these skills,
however, they must be purchased separately.

If
the initial proficiency roll does not provide an entertainment level as high as
the player would like it, he can choose the same entertainment skill again and
again. Each time the skill is chosen it increases the entertainment skill level
by one. Each time the skill is chosen after the initial choice it should be
treated as the second level, third level, fourth level, up to a maximum of
eighth level, for purposes of skill costs.

Escape
Artistry

This
skill is the art of thwarting various types of personal restraints (such as
handcuffs and rope) by means of contorting the body and/or picking small locks.
If the restraint system is secured by a complicated electronic locking
mechanism, the use of Security Systems: Open Locks must be used in conjunction
with this skill to gain release (in other words, the character must
successfully pass an open locks check, then successfully pass an escape
artistry check; as always, this is at the referee’s discretion). The success
rate may be adjusted up or down by the referee depending upon the complexity of
the restraint and the availability of necessary tools.

Etiquette

This
skill makes an individual proficient in all the social niceties associated with
Frontier life. Dining out at an elegant restaurant, entertaining amongst the
well-to-do, knowing what conversation to engage in in social circles, and being
up on the latest fashions are all within the range of the character’s
experience. A skill check is required only when the character is thrust into an
unusual situation (first contact with an alien species, being invited into a
fairly secretive society, etc.). Characters with this skill gain a +10% to PER
checks in the above-mentioned social situations.

Finance

Pr: N/A

This
skill selection gives the character a chance to know the past and present
history of mega-corps, their subsidiaries and holdings, to be able to read and
prepare financial records and credit ratings, to know how to manipulate credit
and financial investments. If the character does not know the information
himself, he knows where he can do research to find out, though this can do
research to find out, though this can sometimes take months of study. This
information includes knowledge of mega-crop bigwigs, underlings, and what
private company policies exist.

Fine Arts

This
skill is similar to the Zebulon’s Guide skill of Entertaining except that it
pertains to skill in one of the various fine arts (painting, holosculpture,
poetry, etc.). Characters proficient in any fine art have a strong foundation
in their area and some basic understanding of the other fine arts.

Forgery

Pr: To forge requires
proper tools and materials.

This
skill gives a character a chance both to forge passports, signatures, and
documents, and detect forgeries. If this skill is combined with the Finance
skill, the character also adds currency and stocks and bonds to the list. If
this skill is combined with an Entertainment-Artist skill, the character also
adds artwork to the list.

·
To
forge = ½ Dex +10% per level

·
To
detect forgery = ½ Int +10% per level

Gambling

Characters
skilled in gambling are knowledgeable of the various games of chance in the
Frontier. This skill works like the entertainment skill printed in Zebulon’s
Guide in that each time the character buys this skill she can specify which
game of chance to be proficient in. The character is proficient enough in these
games to be considered an expert. A successful skill check means the character
gets a payoff (roll d100 and multiply this number times the character’s bet.
Alternately, a referee may develop their own games and rules). If the character
fails, she loses her bet. If the character rolls a 98-00, she loses everything
that she owns and may even be in trouble with the gambling establishment
(referee’s discretion).

General
Lore

Description:
This
skill covers in depth knowledge of any general area of knowledge (the more
trivial the better!).

An
example of this would be sports trivia. Sports trivia experts would be familiar
with all known general sporting events. Characters know not only rules and
regulations, but also famous figures from the sport, histories of famous games
and figures, training procedures, common illegalities concerning the sport, and
common strategies.

Characters
taking this skill can opt to have general knowledge only, or to have an
in-depth knowledge of certain areas (such as sports).

Haggling

Pr: N/A

This
skill gives a character a chance to haggle the price of an item or service down
if he is buying or up if he is selling. The normal cost increase or decrease is
10%. If 01-02 is rolled, the increase or decrease is 20%. If 96-00 is rolled,
the haggling has exactly the opposite result and the price goes against the
character by 20%.

Hypnosis

Pr: N/A

In
order to hypnotize a character, the hypnotist must be able to speak to the
subject in a common language without a translator. If the person being hypnotized
is willing, this is the only requirement. If the subject does not realize he is
being hypnotized, he is allowed an Intuition check.

For
example, if the hypnotist is a Sathar, his skill level is eighth, but an
unwilling victim is allowed a Logic check in addition to the normal Intuition
check. This change applies as it is now widely known that Sathar can hypnotize.
If he passes the check, the subject realizes what is happening and cannot be
hypnotized during that encounter. If he fails the check, he can be hypnotized
normally.

No
one can be hypnotized against his will if he realizes he is being hypnotized.

A
character may try to hypnotize only one subject at a time. Hypnotizing someone
takes 1d10 minutes. The hypnotist can try to hypnotize a willing subject a
second time if the first attempt fails. If the subject is unwilling, the
hypnotist has only one chance to hypnotize him.

Hypnosis
can be used to give a character a +10% modifier on all melee combat rolls. This
effect lasts one hour, and can be used on a character only once per day.
Hypnosis can also be used as an anesthetic. A wounded character who is
hypnotized can receive 5 more points of damage than normal before going
unconscious. These extra points must be healed normally.

A
hypnotist's most powerful ability is suggestion. A hypnotized subject believes
almost anything the hypnotist tells him if it is phrased in terms believable to
the subject. The hypnotized character will not do anything that is against any
strong moral or religious beliefs that he has, but he can be tricked into doing
things that he would not normally do. The hypnotist must give the subject a
good reason to do something unusual, or convince him that the situation is not
exactly as it seems.

For
example, a guard will not let unauthorized persons into a restricted area. A
successful hypnosis skill check could convince the guard that the hypnotist is
an authorized person but has forgotten his pass. The guard would believe that
and let him in.

Interrogation

Characters
skilled in interrogation are knowledgeable of the many techniques and forms of
interrogation. On a successful skill check, an interrogated character must make
a 1/2 stamina check or confess some important information to the interrogator.
PCs using interrogation can choose either non-invasive techniques (rigorous
cross-examination, hypnosis, telol) or invasive techniques (torture, hard
drugs) to extract information.

Non-invasive
techniques are resolved at normal success rates. Invasive techniques carry a
+20% bonus to succeed but on every attempt the victim suffers 2d10 points wound
damage and must subsequently pass a STA check or go into shock. Victims must be
revived using Medical Treatment: Wounds 2 before proceeding. A character can
attempt interrogation a number of times per day equal to his skill level. The
exact methods of NPC interrogations are left to the imagination of the referee.

Investigation

This
skill allows the skilled character to know where and how to look for
information pertaining to any sort of informal/formal investigation.

For
example, the character might know information about a society that the player
does not – Taanik the Dralasite is trying to identify a murder suspect. Id
knows that the suspect placed a call to the victim the night of the murder. With
the Investigation skill, Tannik might know (with a successful skill check) not
only that the telecom company keeps those records, but where they keep them,
and the most effective ways of sneaking a peek at them – even if the player
doesn’t know them (the referee would let her know Taanik’s knowledge).

Of
course this skill can’t be used to generate knowledge of things that aren’t
there; if there really is no way for Taanik to get a look at those records, a
successful skill check would yield “Sorry, you just can’t do it.” Note that
this skill may require an additional successful check of the skills, Politics,
Theology, or even Underclass, depending on what the investigator is
investigating–this is up to the referee’s discretion.

Additionally,
the character skilled in investigation has an in-depth knowledge of the tools
of investigation, including the knowledge of legal and police networks,
fingerprint analysis, DNA analyses, use of specialized databases, limited
surveillance techniques, etc.

Iron Will

Iron
Will is a skill by which the character learns various ways in which to fortify
his mind against mental attacks. Psionic disciplines suffer a –10% penalty when
used against the character if the character successfully passes a skill check
and is actively trying to shield his mind. In addition, a character with Iron
Will can make a full Stamina check against interrogation if a skill check is
passed. This skill is one non-Mentalist skill that Mentalists are allowed to
specialize in.

Languages I

This
skill allows characters to learn languages in addition to their native tongue
and Pan-Gal. At 1-2 level, a character has a passable vocabulary and is able to
speak the language reasonably well. Native speakers will recognize the individual
as a foreigner. At 3-5 level, the character is fluent and may be able to hide
her accent if attempting to pass herself off as a native (skill level check).
At 6th level, the character can speak the language as expertly as a native
speaker can.

Languages
II

This
is a more in-depth language skill for those players and referees who find
Languages I to be too limited.

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Table
6. Cost and Consequence of Language Skill Levels
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Level
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Cost
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Comprehension
Notes
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1
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7
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33%
Basic comprehension and vocabulary.
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2
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5
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66%
Better understanding; increased vocabulary.
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3
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4
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80%
Understanding of structure.
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4
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3
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90%
Uses language correctly, but accent is still detectable.
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5
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3
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100%
Native speaker.
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6
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4
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100%
Studied the language/Expert.
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Languages
come in 6 levels of mastery. The cost of language levels is unlike ordinary
skills as the table indicates.

The
first level is more expensive because basic comprehension of a new language is
not easily gained. From there, new levels cost less or the same as the previous
level until advanced levels of the language are gained. A beginning character
starts with level 2 in their racial language and level 2 in Pan-Gal, with 15 +
2d10 more points which may be used to purchase language levels. These points do
not HAVE to be spent on language, and half of the 2d10 can be used towards
racial abilities. A character of a certain race may not be able to physically
speak all languages.

Language
Options: Racial
languages listed most common first.

·
Dralasite;
High – This is the language in which Dralasite use to speak of intellectual
topics. Dralasites learn both High and Common as a single language.

·
Dralasite;
Common – This is the base language in which a Dralasite uses to speak of
mundane subjects.

·
Human;
Modern – The most common human language.

·
Human;
Sub-Cult – The language used by the fashion, legal, and illegal undergrounds.

·
Human;
Archaic – This is a virtually dead human language, somewhat like Latin.

·
Human;
Ancient – This is a dead Eastern equivalent.

·
Osakish
– This language is so complex that so far, only Osakar have been able to speak
it.

·
PanGal
– This language was created by PGC, which quickly became the most common
language of all Frontier races.

·
Yazirian;
Argonian – The official language of the Family of One.

·
Yazirian;
Gnarsh – Language of dissidents from the Family of One on Yast (Athor).

Proficient
Languages: Certain
languages are easy for other races to adapt to. These languages can be spoken
by a race beyond 4th level. Dralasite is still only verbal; thus, an accent is
detected when in person.

·
Human:
Dralasite, Humma, Ifshnit, Yazirian

Unspeakable
Languages: Due
to physical limitations, certain races are unable to replicate all of the
sounds necessary for a language. The written form of a language is not limited
by such constraints. Each race’s limitations are:

·
Sathar:
Able to speak Human, Yazirian, PanGal

Law

Pr: N/A

This
skill gives the character complete knowledge of the laws of the planet on which
he lives. It also allows him a skill check on all civilized planets to know
their laws. Characters who are members of Star Law are completely briefed on
planetary laws before they are sent on a mission. Law Level 4 or higher allows
the character to legally represent himself or other characters in a UPF court
of law.

Lip Reading

The
character with this skill is able — on a successful skill check – to follow a
spoken conversation by reading lips as long as he is within eyesight and the
person is generally facing in his direction. Any conversation can be
interpreted as long as the individual has some means of seeing the individual
(using magnigoggles, seeing someone on a video camera, etc.) and he can
understand the language being spoken.

Management

Pr: N/A

This
skill gives the character the ability to manage others in some sort of business
structure. It also gives the individual in-depth knowledge of management
practices and theories. A character with this skill gains a +10% bonus to
certain checks (persuasion, bluff, PER checks, etc.) when dealing with individuals
in a business environment.

Occult
Knowledge

Characters
skilled in occult knowledge are aware of all of the various cults and cadres of
the Frontier, understand Frontier mythology and supernatural beliefs, and are
generally up-to-date on the bizarre and unusual. A skill check is required any
time a character tries to dredge up knowledge of rare occurrences, tries to
understand the supernatural beliefs of an alien culture, or any other similar
instances.

Personality
Restructuring

Success
Rate:
½ Log/Int + 10% per level

This
skill allows an individual knowledgeable in the above-mentioned prerequisites
to attempt to completely change an individual’s personality. New personality
traits, suggestions, or behavior patterns can be imprinted upon an individual
given ample time and proper conditions (for example, hospital facilities and
several weeks to months of work with a willing subject).

Skilled
individuals can attempt to subvert willing or unwilling subjects and change
behavioral patterns, imprint subliminal messages, condition phobias,
obsessions, or compulsions, etc. in a number of hours equivalent to the
person’s intuition or logic (whichever is higher) divided by 10 (rounded up).
This sort of brainwashing, however, is not without its flaws given the
shortened time frame. Every standard day, a character is allowed a one-quarter
LOG/INT check to recognize the tampering. Although the tampering cannot be
fixed without further personality restructuring or intensive psychotherapy, the
afflicted individual can fight off the effects of the brainwashing with a
successful LOG/INT check.

Persuasion

Pr: N/A

Persuasion
lets a character try to convince a person or group to follow a reasonable
course of action suggested by the character. The character must explain his
plan to the group or person being persuaded. If the character must use a
translator, he has a -10% modifier. A character can try to persuade a group or
individual only once. If the character misses his roll by 30 points or more, his
audience will get mad and might try to do something that is the opposite of
what the character wanted. See the Dramatics skill for further use of
Persuasion.

Photography

Pr: N/A

Any
character can use photographic and holo-vid equipment, but when a difficult
shot is needed this skill is a must. It includes knowledge of most types of
photographic equipment: lenses, filters, lights, etc., how to care for and
clean the equipment, and how to set up remote and timed shots.

Difficult
photographic shots are not just made by reporters tracking down celebrities;
they are also made by private investigators and Star Lawmen who need
photographic evidence. Any character who wants to be a reporter needs this
skill, as most Federation and Frontier reporting is in a visual medium.

Pick
Pockets

Pick
Pockets allows the character to successfully steal from another individual,
palm items, and generally pilfer small articles on a successful skill check. If
the character knows what she is looking for and knows its location, a
successful skill check is all that is required. A failed check means the object
is not found or successfully lifted (and an opposing INT check of the target is
called into play to see if the pilfering attempt is noticed). On a roll of
96-00, the character is automatically caught in the act. If the character does
not know where the object is or just wishes to blindly search, the searched
individual notices the attempt on any failed roll (no INT roll needed).

Politics

Pr: Persuasion 1,
Dramatics 1

This
skill selection gives the character a chance to know the history and due
process of federation and planetary politics. This includes knowledge of
political bigwigs, their aids, and how honest they all are. It also gives
knowledge of the finer arts of political maneuvering, the basics of speech
making, and allows the character a skill check on local politics after he has
spent at least one day on a planet.

Psycho-Pathology

Pr: N/A

Psycho-pathology
lets the character try to help other characters or creatures that are
psychologically disturbed. Extreme fright, isolation, or even unusual air or
food chemistry can seriously affect a character's mental condition. A
psycho-pathologist can help characters recover their confidence or forget their
traumatic experiences. This skill also helps to determine what will reassure or
frighten a primitive. When a character has this skill and the Exobiologist
skill he can even determine what might frighten or reassure an alien (use the
lowest skill level of the two for a skill check).

Psychotherapy

Success
Rate:
½ Log/Int +10% per level

This
skill allows a character knowledgeable in psychopathology to treat individuals
afflicted with mental illnesses. The individual is skilled in various treatment
techniques and is aware of the latest developments and treatments in Frontier
healthcare.

Recognize
and Use Spy Gadgets

Spies
are familiar with many types of gear that are not what they appear. This is the
chance that a spy will recognize and be able to use (separate rolls) an
unfamiliar covert gadget.

Once
a spy has used a new gadget successfully, he can operate that gadget anytime
unless it has been modified.

Recreation/Sports

This
skill is identical to the Entertaining skill outlined in Zebulon’s Guide,
except it relates to indoor and outdoor recreational activities and sports (billiards,
table tennis, skiing, surfing, boating, skydiving, etc.).

Situational Awareness

Success
Rate: Special
(Int)

This skill represents the spy’s hyper sense and sharply honed
intuition that allows him to avoid danger. It provides three benefits; it
allows him to:

·
add ½ his skill level, rounded up, to is Initiative Modifier (IM)

·
add 10% per skill level to surprise checks

·
attempt to read a situation for danger using ½ Intuition (INT) +
10% per skill level.

Society

Success Rate: ½ Per/Ldr +10% per
level

This one-time skill selection gives the character a chance to know
the social elite on a federation, planetary, or local scale. This includes
knowledge of the rich and famous (including celebrities), what their status in
society is, where they are located, what their interests and backgrounds are,
social graces and maneuvering, and major social activities.

The skill can be invaluable when working undercover or on a
specific case. The skill must be taken for every different society, except for
the player character's own society, which is automatic when he first takes the
skill. The referee may also decide that it can be a positive modifier when bluffing.

Stage Magic
(Sleight of Hand)

This
is the ability to perform large-scale illusions. A successful skill check means
a character has seen a trick performed or read how it works, knows how the
illusion is created, and can, given enough time and the proper equipment,
recreate it. In addition, a successful skill check allows the character to
perform simple illusions on the spur of the moment (sleight of hand tricks,
card tricks, smoke & mirror variety ploys).

Surveillance

Characters
with this skill are capable of observing others at a distance, using a variety
of electronic tools. The character can design, install, and monitor such
equipment, as necessary. Characters skilled in surveillance have a ½ skill
check success rate of being able to detect if they are under surveillance
themselves if actively searching.

Theology

This skill gives a character detailed information on one of the
thousands of religions and beliefs practiced in the federation and on the
frontier. This includes knowledge of gods and pantheons, taboos, clerical
organizations, and the type of structures they use for worship, if any. This
skill might add a positive modifier to an attempt to bluff.

Trade

Success
Rate: (Varies)

Encompassing the various supporting professions in an advanced
society, trade is a catch-all category. For every skill level advancement, a
character can learn a new trade skill.

‘Blue-collar’
professions (agriculture, masonry, cosmetology, etc.) usually require DEX as a
main attribute, while ‘white collar’ professions (Teaching, Brewing, Interior
Decorating, Fashion, etc.) usually require LOG/INT as main attributes.

Exact
details of each profession are left to the individual referee and player, but
players are assumed to have specialized knowledge of their area of expertise as
well as a basic knowledge of related disciplines.

Some
examples of trades include: Agriculture, Construction, Fashion, and Teaching (a
possible use of this skill might allow a teacher – on a successful skill check
– to impart between 1-4 skill points to a student for application to skills the
teacher is proficient in).

Underclass

The
more limited the scope of the knowledge, the more information the character
will have, including criminal contacts. The wider the range of criminal
activity (for example, the activities of the Malthar in the Dramune System),
the less specific information the character will have.

Ventriloquism

This
skill allows a proficient character to throw her voice, making sounds appear to
originate from someone or something as much as 5 meters away. A failed check
means the ventriloquism attempt didn’t work — anybody listening knows where the
sound came from. Even a successful ventriloquism attempt isn’t foolproof:
Suspicious listeners get a ½ Log check to see if they detect the deceit.

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