Knowledge Skills, Which ones can't you do without? Options

[Tyro]

See title. Feel free to insert qualifications, such as "for magical characters" or "comes in really handy for a bug hunt".

For example, I would think that UCAS law, corporate law, and Native American Nations (spec. Laws) would be invaluable in a typical Seattle-based game for a character with high Logic. It's good to know when you're breaking the law and the best ways to get away with it.

[BnF95]

[Location] Underworld Politics
[Location] Safehouses
[Local Police Provider] Procedures

[chic sheik]

Unless your characters maintain legitimate identities while engaging in shadowrunning activities that skirt the boundaries of legality, I would say that law-based knowledge skills aren't essential. The common activities of most shadowrunners (using fake IDs, carrying illegal weapons, theft, breaking and entering, murder, kidnapping, etc.) are flagrantly illegal and wouldn't require a knowledge skill test to determine their illegality. Since most shadowrunners don't have real SINs, they are unlikely to receive a fair trial (or any trial) if captured, so it is probably better to know security and law enforcement procedures to help prevent capture in the first place.

[Tyro]

I see your point. What about corporate security procedures/security systems?

[Draco18s]

At least one person should have Paranormal Critters.

[toturi]

From published Knowledge Skills -

For shadowrunners or anyone wanting to stay under the radar - Covert Ops Protocol.

[Method]

[Location] Smuggling Routes
[Location] Area Gun Dealers (or whatever your character is likely to need)
[Location] Johnson's / Fixers
[Location] Gangs

[Degausser]

I always give my characters either Knowledge (Major Corperations) or Knowledge (Current Events) so that they know which corps are on top and who is hiring at any given time. If you know Aztech is hurting this quarter, then chances are that big datasteal job from Ares that you have lined up is bankrolled by them.

[Dream79]

Security Procedures is my number one. Since runners often go where they don't belong.

Some useful ones that haven't been mentioned yet.
[location] corporate politics
[location] black market/ crime malls
[location] data havens
[location] shadow clinics
matrix security procedures
magic security procedures
[location] shadow banks
[location] extraterritoriality

[ElFenrir]

I usually run with:

AK: City of Origin/Current Play(the latter if it makes sense that he'll have it.)
Safehouse Locations(this one's a biggy.)
Shadowrunner Haunts(this one's come in handy, as well.)
If magic, they often have Magic Background, some higher than others.
Occult has come in handy, though it's pretty character-specific.
My characters all have some kind of Music Knowledge.

[Medicineman]

Area knowledge
Magic Theory
Lone Star Procedures

HeyaJa HeyaJe
Medicineman

[crazyconscript]

For a social character, i usually run with
-knowledge of the local nightclubs/bars/other places you are likely to meet johnsons
-Street gossip/rumours
-Strip-clubs. This comes in quite handy a lot of the time for greasing the wheels.
-Fashion


Other than that, i dont really have any set ones.

[Oenone]

[Location] Underworld Personalities. - Great for knowing when the people making threats are big fish you have to worry about or small fry you can get away with killing.

[kanislatrans]

For a social character, i usually run with
-knowledge of the local nightclubs/bars/other places you are likely to meet johnsons
-Street gossip/rumours
-Strip-clubs. This comes in quite handy a lot of the time for greasing the wheels.
-Fashion


Other than that, i dont really have any set ones.

Strangely, our team spends a lot of time in adult performance and recreation venues,also. Must be the coconut oil. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

The knowledge skills I have noticed we use the most are:
1)security procedures
2)safe house locations
3) current events
4)locations,gang turf
5) corporate politics
6)locations, noodle shops.
7) smuggling routes

[Nexushound]

Some Knowledge skills I have seen my PC's use a lot include

1.) Gang Identification. Always helps to know whos turf your on.
2.) Politics (Spec: Organized Crime) Whos who in da Bizness.
3.) Weapons Identification. Good for general ID on distant gunfire, Helps when performing recon on the opposition.
4.) Drug Sales. Is it good? How much should it sell for? Are we getting pinched? Where to get the best mindbenders.

Heres a new one our drone Rigger came up with. He was an exterminator before hitting the shadows.

Professional Knowledge
1.) Infestation Identification. He rolls a drone into an abandoned building, Sewer tunnel, whatever and looks for signs of infestation. Has saved the PC's hoops when he spotted signs of a Ghoul infestation. You know, gnawed bones, chunks of decaying flesh and an abnormal absence of every other type of living creature.

[Tyro]

<snip>
The knowledge skills I have noticed we use the most are:
1)security procedures
2)safe house locations
3) current events
4)locations,gang turf
5) corporate politics
6)locations, noodle shops.
7) smuggling routes

WTF?

[FlakJacket]

Seattles Roads / Shortcuts - From an ex-PC that worked part time as a taxi driver, still useful for riggers in general though.

[piotrus]

Two years ago I compiled a list of knowledge skills referenced in the Core Rules. I dug it out from the depths of my hdd, and I am reposting it here, with my notes from that time - may you find it useful (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Did you know you can take knowledge skills specializations...? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Academic (I): Biology, Medicine, Magic Theory (specialization of magic?), Politics (note there is Corporate Politics and others - they probably mean Political Science), Philosophy, Poetry (specialization of Literature?), Literature (by region, period, type - Sci-Fi, Poetry, Fiction, Romance), History (spec. listed: by era - Ancient, Medieval, Roman, Modern by region - continent), Music, Ancient Egyptian Magic (why not interest? quite specialized), Military History (specialization of history?), Parazoology (specialization of Zoology?), Magic Background (not really clear what this background is... history?), Finances (also Corporate Finances), Chemistry (spec. listed: Industrial, Organic, Inorganic, Pharmaceuticals), Astral Researching, Engineering (can also be prof.), Megacorp Law (can also be prof. or even interest), Corporate Finances, Political History, Cyberware Research, Magic, Economics (spec. listed: micro, macro), Biology (spec. listed: micro, anatomy, parazoology, physiology), Ares Macrotechnology (why street? can be prof or interest... spec listed: Damien Knight (founder), AresSpace, Ares Arms, Seattle Operations),

Professional (I): Journalism, Business, Military Service, Aztechnology Business Practice (seems rather limited, specialization of specific org and further, aspect of its operations?), Arms Manufacturers, UCAS Military (specialization of military organizations?), Lone Star Procedures (can also be street knowledge? specialization of specific org and further, aspect of its operations?), Number Running (huh? accounting? any different from Finances?), Auto Mechanics (can also be academic), Spirits (also, academic or interest), Data Haven, Matrix Theory (matrix. spec?), IC Identification (IC - ICE? Why not just Ice?), Architecture (spec. listed: Commercial, Residential, by style - Baroque, Bauhaus, German Ghotic), Business (Finance, Distribution, Manufacturing, Megacorp, Retail, Small Business), Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Nuclear), Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coastal Guard, Special Forces), Security Procedures (spec listed: by company), Security Design (spec: corporate, magica, matrix, military, physical, private home)

Street Knowledge (L): Gang Identification (specialization in general gang knowledge?), Criminal Organizations (looks broader than Gang Identification, unbalanced?), Smuggling Routes (specialization of smuggling?), Fringe Cults (specialization of cults?), Seattle Talismongers (specialization of talismongers?), Seattle Street Gangs (specialization of street gangs? spec. listed: per name of gang), Seattle Safehouses (note there is also Safe Houses, specialization of?), Seattle Syndicates (Criminal Organizations limited to Seattle? Seattle specialization), Crook Hangouts (hangout specialization?), Mercenary Hangouts (hangout specialization?), Safe Houses (note there is also Seattle Safehouses), Local Junkyards (specialization of Local?), Gang Turf (gang specialization? note: not 'street gangs', not 'Seattle'...), Mafia Politics (another Politics specialization? or Mafia spec.?), Mafia Safe Houses (Mafia or Safe Houses Spec.?), Underworld Politics (consider: wouldn't Mafia Politics be a subgroup of that?), Local Area Knowledge, Radical Groups (can also be interest of academic), Border Patrol Tactics (quite similar to Corporate Security Tactics...), Smuggler Safe Houses (another related to smuggling and safe houses), BTL Dealers (dealers or BTL spec.?), Gang ID (same as Gang Identification?), Local Charity Shelters, Public Transportation Routes, Hong Kong Triads (spec. listed: Yellow Lotus, Red Dragons, etc.), Security Companies (spec. listed: Lone Star, Knight Errant, Hard Corps, Seattle Sec Corps), UCAS Politics (why street? spec. listed: Congressional, Presidential, by state, by lobby group, by party)

Interests (L): Woodworking, Urban Brawl Teams (specialization of Urban Brawl?), Sci-Fi Sims (specialization of Sims?), Elven Wine (specialization of Wine?), Ancient Mythologies (why not academic? specialization in mythologies?), North American Arms Dealers (specialization in Arms Dealers? Compare to common 'Seattle specialization', this is rather better. hould be rather street anyway...), Global Conflicts (specialization of conflicts?), Cop Trids (specialization of trids?), Urban Brawl Odds (I'd say Gambling with specialization in Urban Brawl or the other way around...), Fine Cuisine (Cuisine specialization? Can also be professional), Modern Literature (Literature specialization, can easily be academic), Computer Background (history?), Pirate Trid Broadcasts (spec. of Trids?), Racing Odds (another gambling specialization?), Fine Restaurants (restaurants specialization?), Urban Brawl Schedule (great, a third Urban Brawl specialization, like just 'Urban Brawl' is too good? sigh), Combat Bike Schedule (what's wrong with combat bike?), Firearms Design, Firearms History (so, why not just take Firearms with two specializations? seems more logical and hardly game breaking, but of course you can take History specialized in Firearms to cheat if needed, sigh). Hong Kong Action Movies (Movies specialization...), Conspiracy Theories, Corporate Matrix Security Procedures (specializations somewhere, certainly), Matrix Chatrooms, Operating Systems, Urban Brawl Statistics (mercy, fourth Urban Brawl specialization? Look me in the eye and tell me they are any different...), Zen Meditation, Goblin Rock (but Music is broader...), Comic Books (spec. of Literature?), Blade Design, Gun Trivia (why not Firearm...), Sim-Starlets, Seattle Troll Throttle Metal Bands,(sigh), Club Music (spec. listed - Goblin Rock, Powernoize, Rockabilly, Sintcore, WizPunk), Matrix Games (Dawn of Atlantis, Dark Eye, Grand Larceny, Killing Floor, Paranormal Crisis), Sports (Baseball, Combat Biking, Football, Hockey, Soccer, Urban Brawl, Wrestling), Street Drugs (BTLs, Cram, Deepweed, Novacoke, Spike), Wines (California Wines, Elven, French, Vineyards)

Not sure (never clarified): Poison Antidotes, Corp Security Tactics (can be P, S, I, Security Tactics with specialization in Corps? Or Corps with specialization in Security Tactics?), Corporate Politics (note we have also Politics...), Security Systems (why not Corp?)

Academic and Interests have a lot of skills that can be switched around (almost anything, ex. Music, Ancient Magic, Military History) - this means you can pick your better attribute (Logic or Intuition) and go with that alone. To a lesser extent, professional and street knowledge also seem switchable (albeit more depending on character history). Exploit?

Non-native languages: how many points is 'enough'? Shame so many players and GMs tend to forget not the entire world speaks English... Also, what good are 'lingos' (language specializations), really? They sound cool but mechanic wise look utterly useless (should give some bonuses, to social skills?) Lingos from book: hackers, mages, lawyers, corp wage slavers, tribes, street gangs, cityspeak/ Others specs: read/write, speak, by dialect. See language skill table, p.129). Charisma skills and language - p.130. Is the base attribute logic?

[Tyro]

I like replacing the Native rating for languages with (Logic + Intuition) / 2, round up.

[kanislatrans]

WTF?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ic.gif) Ya gotta eat,Chummer and knowing which noodle shops have the best food is a necessity. Ya don't want to end up getting a case of the sprawl squirts in the middle of a run,do ya? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) (or worse, having your Troll buddy who is sitting next to you have the EBB's (exploding Barrens Bowels) .)

[Tyro]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ic.gif) Ya gotta eat,Chummer and knowing which noodle shops have the best food is a necessity. Ya don't want to end up getting a case of the sprawl squirts in the middle of a run,do ya? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) (or worse, having your Troll buddy who is sitting next to you have the EBB's (exploding Barrens Bowels) .)

Reminds me of an axiom common to thieves: "Don't eat onions before a job".

This also applies to garlic.

[Iota]

Hey all!

Some were already mentioned, but I decided to post the whole list anyway.

Street Knowledge Skills
Appraising
Area Knowledge (General)
Area Knowledge (Specific)
Arms Dealers
BTL Dealers
Chop Shops
Corporate Finances
Corporate History
Corporate Personas
Corporate Politics
Corporate Research
Corporate Rumours
Corporate Security
Corporate Special Forces
Criminal Organizations
Data Havens
Lone Star Tactics
NAN Border Patrol tactics
Organised Crime Establishments
Organised Crime Finance
Organised Crime History
Organised Crime Personas
Organised Crime Territory
Ork Underground
Seattle Street Gangs
Security Companies
Shadowrunner Teams
Smuggler Routes
Torturing techniques

Academic Knowledge Skills
Elven Society
History
Law
Magic Background


Professional Knowledge Skills
Desert Wars
Forensics
Military Units
Military Tactics
Money Laundering
Police Procedures
Security Devices
Security Procedures
Security Systems


Interests Knowledge Skills
BTL Effects
Magical Artifacts
Dragons
Gambling Card Games

[Hagga]

Spirits, magical theory, magical threats, magical background, magical phenomenon, parazoology, material sciences.

You know, just so even with a runner so mundane he's the next thing to a cyberzombie that I know what wants to EAT ME.

[Crusher Bob]

Forensics, Chemistry, Architecture, Military Science, Accounting.

[Chrysalis]

Sex shops, venereal diseases, sex toys, and cheap motels.