 Obscure Specializations, How many are there? |
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 May 26 2004, 06:51 PM
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#1
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Running Target  Group: Members Posts: 1,362 Joined: 3-October 03 From: Poway, San Diego County, CA, USA Member No.: 5,676  |
As I understand it, some specializations are so uncommon that you need to specialize in them for full effect, and you get a +2 TN modifier if you just have the base skill. Which skills are these? I know stealth(pick pockets) and electronics(electronic warfare), but what are the other ones?
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May 26 2004, 06:52 PM
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#2
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Chicago Survivor Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 5,079 Joined: 28-January 04 From: Canton, GA Member No.: 6,033 |
What's the reference for this?
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May 26 2004, 06:54 PM
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#3
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Sorry, I can't sayas I've ever heard of that either Panzer.
-Siege |
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May 26 2004, 06:58 PM
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#4
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,138 Joined: 10-June 03 From: Tennessee Member No.: 4,706 |
As far as I know, there are no tests which require a specialization. The test is listed as the specialization as shorthand, but you can always use the base skill for the test at full effect.
As far as "obscure" specializations go, there are a few that you probably don't notice your first time through the rulebook. Electronics (maglocks) is important for hotwiring maglocks. Negotiations (fast talking) is another important one that sometimes gets overlooked. Stealth (alertness) is somewhat counter-intuitive, as well. Computer (hardware) helps deckers with SOTA. Launch weapons (Spotter) is another specialty often overlooked. |
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May 26 2004, 07:03 PM
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#5
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
These dinnae exist. If it's obscure enough to warrant the effects you state, it's a whole new skill.
~J |
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May 26 2004, 07:04 PM
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#6
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,901 Joined: 19-June 03 Member No.: 4,775 |
It's never explicitly stated in canon, but this is similar to GMs forcing you to take a specialization in Etiquette because all the archetypes have one. It's not a viewpoint I agree with, however. Just make the TN harder for everyone; if you have more dice, you should be fine.
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May 26 2004, 07:12 PM
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#7
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Actually, in 1st and 2nd edition, Etiquette was specialized by default.
Only recently have they grouped Etiquette into a general skill. Both "The Face" and "The Investigator" have Etiquette skills without a specialization. -Siege |
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May 26 2004, 07:27 PM
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#8
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,901 Joined: 19-June 03 Member No.: 4,775 |
Wasn't aware of either of those, actually. That's just what my GM told me, and I never really checked it out.
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May 26 2004, 07:29 PM
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#9
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 360 Joined: 24-May 04 Member No.: 6,354 |
As previously mentioned, when the rules make reference to something like Electronics (Maglocks) it's just telling you which standard specialization is involved, thus if you did specialize in that field, you get your higher Skill Rating instead of your base Skill Rating.
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May 26 2004, 08:09 PM
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#10
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Target Group: Members Posts: 27 Joined: 20-January 03 Member No.: 3,936 |
Someone with the book please double-check me on this (going from memory), but the mentioned case of electronics(e-warfare) is an exception to this rule. In Rigger3's e-warfare section it states that the MIJI test is made with electronics(e-warfare) and that defaulting to electronics is a +2 TN. But I will be prefectly fine with my memory being off the mark. |
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May 26 2004, 08:17 PM
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#11
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 214 Joined: 8-June 03 Member No.: 4,696 |
I don't see the +2, but I just did a quick scan.
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May 26 2004, 09:42 PM
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#12
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,138 Joined: 10-June 03 From: Tennessee Member No.: 4,706 |
I, also, can't find that in R3 anywhere... I did a fairly thorough scan, but I might still have missed it.
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May 26 2004, 10:10 PM
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#13
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 403 Joined: 27-August 02 From: Scotland Member No.: 3,175 |
I'm pretty sure there are no skills which demand a specialisation in order to make the test without penalties extra, but there ARE some pretty damn obscure (and mostly useless) specialisations in canon books. Let's see what we can come up with shall we..
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May 26 2004, 10:16 PM
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#14
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,066 Joined: 5-February 03 Member No.: 4,017 |
The one case i can recal that supports the claim at the start of this thread was a quotefile entry. A troll had apparently specialized his clubs skill to "Municipal Property" (not a normally acceptable specialization) to avoid penalties such as would be associated with using parking meters as melee weapons.
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May 26 2004, 10:22 PM
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#15
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 403 Joined: 27-August 02 From: Scotland Member No.: 3,175 |
In that case I'd just let him roll more dice, due to the specialisation, but slap the modifiers on just like with anyone else.
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May 26 2004, 10:35 PM
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#16
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,065 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Fayetteville, NC Member No.: 3,916 |
Well, to be fair and a little silly, if the troll makes a conscious effort to learn how to use parking meters as weapons, he should be able to use them without the improv penalty.
But since an uprooted parking meter is nothing more than a giant mace, I don't see the problem. -Siege |
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May 26 2004, 10:58 PM
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#17
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
Maybe if he puts a good grip on that parking meter.
~J |
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May 26 2004, 11:03 PM
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#18
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,138 Joined: 10-June 03 From: Tennessee Member No.: 4,706 |
There's a difference between an uprooted parking meter that you just grabbed and one that you've had for a while and been able to polish the edges on, as it were. If you just picked it up, you should still have penalties because it's probably quite damaged and poorly balanced ;)
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May 26 2004, 11:09 PM
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#19
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 334 Joined: 17-November 03 From: Texas Member No.: 5,828 |
They should petition for the TDA (Trolls with Disabilities Act) to have ergonomic grips attached to the parking meters, for trolls with special needs. |
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May 26 2004, 11:27 PM
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#20
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 973 Joined: 3-October 03 Member No.: 5,677 |
:rotfl:
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May 26 2004, 11:43 PM
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#21
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 360 Joined: 24-May 04 Member No.: 6,354 |
Such a specialization just means the troll has done this enough times that his skill level is significantly improved compared to his skill (or more correctly, experience) at fighting with, say, an extendable baton. That doesn't give him any special bonuses while fighting with a parking meter, just a higher skill rating while doing so.
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May 27 2004, 12:25 AM
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#22
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Immortal Elf Group: Members Posts: 11,410 Joined: 1-October 03 From: Pittsburgh Member No.: 5,670 |
as a side note, don't bother with electronics (maglocks). get electronics (security systems); as of SOTA:63, this skill covers maglocks as well as other security thingies.
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May 27 2004, 02:46 AM
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#23
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The back-up plan Group: Retired Admins Posts: 8,423 Joined: 15-January 03 From: San Diego Member No.: 3,910 |
Panzer--I think you have the dynamic backwards.
Simple example: Runner A has Electronics (Maglocks) 5 (9) and Int 6 When he needs to do any electronics test with maglocks, he is nigh unstoppable rolling 9 dice. For all other electronics he gets 5 dice. Now Runner A meets his very first computer. Since Runner A doesn't have Computers he has 3 options. He can default to intelligence at a +4 ( 6 dice TN 8) He can default to Electronics at a +2 (5 dice TN 6) He can default to a specialization at a +3 (in this case Maglocks thus 9 dice at TN 7) |
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May 27 2004, 08:38 AM
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#24
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,685 Joined: 17-August 02 Member No.: 3,123 |
Funny you guys started talking about ripping up parking meters; I watched Cool Hand Luke just last night. :)
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May 27 2004, 08:44 AM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 152 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 2,074 |
TN 8) is usually too high for my characters, I'm more comfortable with TNs of maybe :( , :eek: , or :D
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