 June 29, 2009 - 10:50am | I just happened to be reviewing the alternate EXP rules in that issue and re-read the skills article as well. Since I'm now running a AD ruled game the skill specialization rule really grabbed me. To summarize: you pay a one time exp fee and get a +10 on one subskill of a skill in your PSA. The author felt that martial arts didn't really qualify for this but martial arts has 3 subskills Tumbling (-1damage/ level), defensive throws (automatic damage equal to punching score when breaking a grappling hold plus knocking the opponent down), and nerve combat (expands the chance to knock out an opponent with an unarmed hit) Ok so I could apply the specialization rule to these subskills however adding +10 for defensive throws to the punching score seems high though in a game with lasers how often do PCs get grabbed? or increase the nerve combat knock out range by 10 though that seems a bit high too. I suppose that the problem is that the skill specialization rule as written only increases the chance of success but applying it to the martial arts skill increases the effects not the chance of success which is why it seems unballanced to me to try to apply it to martial arts. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Its only an issue because I'm running a significant NPC in my game who is a yazerian priest styled after David Carridine in Kung Fu and I was thinking that specialization in nerve combat would fit the character concept well. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 June 29, 2009 - 2:36pm | The damage for their Defensive Throwing equals their punching score. Their skill level modifies their punching score with +1 damage per level. So the specialization should add +1 as well. Similarly, regarding Tumbling and Nerve Attacks, I would calculate the specialization as an extra skill level, so -1 for Tumbling damage and +1% for Nerve Attacks. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
June 29, 2009 - 2:44pm | The damage for their Defensive Throwing equals their punching score. Their skill level modifies their punching score with +1 damage per level. So the specialization should add +1 as well. Similarly, regarding Tumbling and Nerve Attacks, I would calculate the specialization as an extra skill level, so -1 for Tumbling damage and +1% for Nerve Attacks. so would you say the specialization applies to the whole martial arts skill giving an extra +1 lvl to calculating subskill effects for all its subskills as opposed to say specialization in bypassing computer security which would get a +10 for just that one subskill? that would seem doable for martial arts and not to overballancing but how long till players want that for all other skills. I do like it though. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
June 29, 2009 - 2:55pm | That's up to the Referee to control. I think whatever the upper limit of leveling is in one's campaign, the specialization should always be 1 level above that and should always only apply to a single skill. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
June 29, 2009 - 5:16pm | By the way, I also think Specialization should only apply to a skill in the character's primary skill area. It doesn't make sense to have a PSA and then specialize in something unrelated to it. View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
