I think he means like while survival would allow you to make a pointy stick that works ok, bowyer/fletcher would allow you to make a kick ass native americanesque bow.

I sorta like the idea. Off topic...Hmm come to think of it maybe it's just me but haven't the native american nations been pretty much ignored lately? I mean there was SoNA and all. Or maybe I've just been ignoring them. Probably the latter.

Use the Survival Test success to flesh-out how well the improv "dousing rod" or "makeshift" compass worked in your survival instead of creating a ton of rules. Maybe just grant bonus dice for tools specifically created for that sort of survival and in their possesion (that is, quality manufactured devices, else just consider makeshift attempts part of the Survival Test).

Except that the OP has already differentiated between the Survival and Armorer Skills ... and others. The Skill list he included should be sufficient to cover almost any eventuality.

This is a good idea, as there are already rules in place that can be used for this type of thing.

This is very, very wrong. Our every technological advance was made by someone who did not have the tools yet.

If all you have is wood, fibre and and rocks, for example, you can still make an excellent bow if you have the knowhow.

The tools the survival check would give you would be the bare minimum: sharpened stick, deadfall trap, plastic bag pancho, etc. These would help you survive, but certainly not thrive. The B/R skills and Artisan skills would allow you to craft tools that were almost as good (or mayber better, depending on your roll) that those your character could buy in the store.

You obviously want Artisan. I can't tell whether Artisan is a great catch all skill that covers all crafting ever, or whether each specialization there is really an independant skill. I favor the latter interpretation. You'd want carpentry, ropes and knots, Maybe pottery and mithing, depending. You also want armorer with a specialization in bows or maybe melee weapons. Survival of course, but don't neglect first aid.

He'd also want the entire athletics skill group, and perception, bot honestly what Runner doesn't?

I saw that one. Is that the one without the engine so he uses tied on missiles instead?

I think only the Swiss Army knife part is McGyver. I'd say the wrecked car -> tank thing is actually the A-Team

That was my guess as well.

QFT !

We're good like that.

Umm ... my best answer is ... I dunno! Personally I would just make the crap up at the time, given that there are so many variables that it is impossible to cover everything in a formulaic manner. So, in other words ... wing it.

Your original post was all about survival so we were happy to oblige.

Check the software programming chart for some basic ideas to jump off with. It's very much up in the air.

Few ways I do it. Take the timeframe they need to complete the task in (2 hours until it gets dark chummer!) and divide my Threshold. So 2 hours / Threshold=4 (Difficult) would be 30min intervals.

With that rough guide, you can play with the numbers: 2 hours with T=8 gives 15min intervals or 2 hours with T=16 give 7min (5min per SR4).

Constant Timeframe with more Threshold makes the test more dramatic, the tide of success and failure comes and goes.