Bulletproof Blues 3e EN:Skills: Difference between revisions

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<div style="color:maroon;">'''(NOTE: This is a work in progress.)'''</div>
Skills allow a character to apply their attributes to solve a specific problem or accomplish a specific task. Skills cost one character point each. Expertise in a skill costs an additional character point. We suggest spending about 10 character points on skills.


Skills allow a character to apply their attributes to solve a specific problem or accomplish a specific task. Skills cost one character point each. Expertise in a skill costs one additional character point, and it grants the character a bonus die to rolls pertaining to that skill.
==Skill Dice==


Note that skills are quite broad. For example, Science covers everything from Acarology to Zymology. However, just because a character ''could'' do everything encompassed by a skill does not mean that they ''should''. For example, a character with the Tradesman skill could, in theory, do everything from repairing a television camera to designing a bridge. That doesn't mean it makes sense for them to do so. A character who is a whiz with masonry does not necessarily know how to rebuild a truck engine, even though both tasks use the same skill, Tradesman. It's up to you as the player to know what makes sense for your character and what doesn't, and to communicate that information to the GM.
If the character has the needed skill, the player rolls 2d6. If the character has Expertise with the needed skill, re-roll any 1s and 2s until all dice have a 3 or higher. This applies to any bonus dice, as well.


==Action Value==
A character may attempt a task in which they have no skill, if the GM says it is possible. For example, anyone can tell a lie, but it takes a skilled woodworker to make a mortise and tenon joint. If a character attempts a task in which they have no skill, the player rolls one die instead of two. For example, if a character is attacked by an enemy with a knife, but the defender does not have the Hand-to-hand Combat skill, the defender rolls 1d6 and adds their Brawn.


The action value of a character attempting a skill is equal to one of the character's attributes (Brawn, Agility, etc.) plus the rating of any equipment or tools being used, if any. For example, attempting to break into a safe would require a Finesse roll, and the character's action value would be equal to their Agility. If they had a set of safecracking tools with a rating of 2, their action value would be equal to their Agility + 2. Simple or multipurpose equipment, such a Swiss army knife, generally has a rating of 1. Ordinary equipment, such as a reasonably complete box of tools, would have a rating of 2. Special-purpose or very high quality equipment, such as a device designed specifically to bypass a particular model of lock, would have a rating of 3.
Making skill rolls is covered in the [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions|Actions]] chapter.


The player rolls 2d6 and adds their action value. If the player's roll equals or exceeds the target number set by the GM, the character succeeds at the task in a completely satisfactory manner: the clue is found, the language is translated, or the engine starts.
==Typical Skills==
 
Most skills are associated with a specific attribute (Brawn, Agility, etc.). However, which attribute is relevant when using a skill might change depending on the circumstances. For example, a character with Agility 4 whose combat style involves flips and somersaults would roll 2d6 + 4 when making a Gymnastics roll to flip over a villain, swing from a railing, and land behind them ready to fight. If the same character has Reason 3 and is judging a gymnastics competition, they would roll 2d6 + 3 when scoring the performance of the gymnasts.
 
===Being Unskilled===


A character may attempt a task in which they have no skill, if the GM says it is possible. For example, anyone can attempt to fire a pistol, but not everyone can make sense of the inside of a television set. If a character attempts a task in which they have no skill, the character's attribute is not added to their action value: their action value is equal to the rating of the equipment they are using, if any.
''Bulletproof Blues'' divides skills into broad disciplines. This list of skills is not exhaustive, nor is it objective: skills are divided by their usefulness in a game, not by any objective taxonomy. This is why "Culture" is a very broad skill, while "Deception" is relatively specific. A character may have a skill not listed here, subject to GM approval. However, any new skills should be approximately as useful as these skills in order to maintain a sense of fairness with other characters.


==Typical Skills==
Most skills are quite broad. However, just because a character ''could'' do everything encompassed by a skill does not mean that they ''should''. For example, a character with the Engineering skill could, in theory, do everything from repairing a television camera to designing a bridge. That doesn't mean it makes sense for them to do so. It's up to you as the player to know what makes sense for your character and what doesn't, and to communicate that information to the GM.


''Bulletproof Blues'' divides skills into broad disciplines. This list of skills is not exhaustive, nor is it objective: skills are divided by their usefulness in a game, not by any objective taxonomy. This is why "Science" is a very broad skill, while "Computing" is relatively specific. A character may have a skill not listed here, subject to GM approval. However, any new skills should be approximately as useful as these skills in order to maintain a sense of fairness with other characters. For example, having a new skill called "Commando" which does everything that "Athletics", "Stealth", and "Survival" do would not be fair.
The attribute typically associated with a skill is listed here, but keep in mind that the relevant attribute might change depending on the circumstances. Also note that the same task might be accomplished in more than one way. Climbing a tree might be an exercise in Athletics (Brawn), but it might also be accomplished with the proper application of Survival (Brawn).


The attribute typically associated with a skill is listed here, but keep in mind that the relevant attribute might change depending on the circumstances. For example, using Stealth to follow someone through a crowded marketplace might depend on a character's Agility, while moving silently through a darkened building might call for extraordinary Perception. Similarly, finding a clothing fiber at a crime scene might call for a Perception-based Investigation roll, while analyzing that fiber back at the lab would call for a Reason-based Investigation roll. Also note that the same task might be accomplished in more than one way. Climbing a tree might be an exercise in Athletics, but it might also be accomplished with the proper application of Survival.


 
{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" class="wikitable zebra"
{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1"
|+Table: Typical skills
|+Table: Typical skills
|- class="h1row"
|-  
! class="alignleft"|Skill
! class="alignleft"|Skill
! class="alignleft"|Attribute
! class="alignleft"|Attribute
! class="alignleft"|Examples
! class="alignleft"|Examples
|- class="oddrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Athletics
| class="alignleft"|Athletics
| class="alignleft"|Brawn
| class="alignleft"|Agility or Brawn
| class="alignleft"|Climbing, gymnastics, riding, running, scuba, swimming, throwing objects
| class="alignleft"|Climbing, gymnastics, riding, running, swimming, throwing objects
|- class="evenrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Close Combat
| class="alignleft"|Brawn
| class="alignleft"|Axes, clubs, knives, spears, swords, unarmed strikes, whips; close combat powers
|- class="oddrow"
| class="alignleft"|Computing
| class="alignleft"|Computing
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Artificial intelligence, forensics, forgery, hacking, programming, security systems
| class="alignleft"|Artificial intelligence, forensics, programming, security systems, sensor operation
|- class="evenrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Culture
| class="alignleft"|Culture
| class="alignleft"|Perception
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Art, fashion, history, music, philosophy, politics, popular media
| class="alignleft"|Art, fashion, history, music, philosophy, politics, popular media, religion
|- class="oddrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Deception
| class="alignleft"|Deception
| class="alignleft"|Will
| class="alignleft"|Presence
| class="alignleft"|Bluffing, distracting, lying, sales
| class="alignleft"|Bluffing, disguise, lying, sales
|- class="evenrow"  
|-
| class="alignleft"|Diplomacy
| class="alignleft"|Presence
| class="alignleft"|Carousing, conversation, etiquette, negotiation, streetwise
|-
| class="alignleft"|Engineering
| class="alignleft"|Engineering
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Architecture, cartography, demolitions, electronics, mechanical engineering
| class="alignleft"|Architecture, carpentry, cartography, cooking, demolitions, electronics
|- class="oddrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Finesse
| class="alignleft"|Finesse
| class="alignleft"|Agility
| class="alignleft"|Agility
| class="alignleft"|Explosive ordnance disposal, lockpicking, pickpocketing, sleight of hand
| class="alignleft"|Disabling a trap, forgery, lockpicking, pickpocketing, sleight of hand
|- class="evenrow"  
|-
| class="alignleft"|Gambling
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Card games, dice games, dominoes, formal combat, races, sporting events
|-
| class="alignleft"|Hand-to-hand Combat
| class="alignleft"|Brawn
| class="alignleft"|Axes, clubs, hand-to-hand powers, spears, swords, unarmed strikes
|-
| class="alignleft"|Investigation
| class="alignleft"|Investigation
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Analyzing evidence, collecting evidence, eavesdropping, searching
| class="alignleft"|Analyzing evidence, collecting evidence, identifying clues
|- class="oddrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Manipulation
| class="alignleft"|Manipulation
| class="alignleft"|Will
| class="alignleft"|Presence
| class="alignleft"|Bribery, conversation, interrogation, leadership, seduction
| class="alignleft"|Bribery, interrogation, intimidation, leadership, persuasion, seduction
|- class="evenrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Medicine
| class="alignleft"|Medicine
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Cybernetics, diagnosis, pharmacology, surgery
| class="alignleft"|Diagnosis, field medicine, pharmacology, surgery
|- class="oddrow"  
|-
| class="alignleft"|Mental Combat
| class="alignleft"|Presence
| class="alignleft"|Defending against mental attacks, phantasms, mind control, telepathy
|-
| class="alignleft"|Occult
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Analyzing artifacts, remembering obscure lore, deciphering ancient texts
|-
| class="alignleft"|Perception
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Eavesdropping, identifying an odor or taste, noticing a tail
|-
| class="alignleft"|Performance
| class="alignleft"|Performance
| class="alignleft"|Will
| class="alignleft"|Presence
| class="alignleft"|Comedy, dancing, music, singing, theatre
| class="alignleft"|Comedy, dancing, music, singing, theatre, writing novels, writing poetry
|- class="evenrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Piloting
| class="alignleft"|Piloting
| class="alignleft"|Agility
| class="alignleft"|Agility or Reason
| class="alignleft"|Aircraft, automobiles, drones, heavy machinery, mecha, motorcycles, spacecraft, watercraft
| class="alignleft"|Aircraft, drones, ground vehicles, heavy machinery, spacecraft, watercraft; navigation
|- class="oddrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Ranged Combat
| class="alignleft"|Ranged Combat
| class="alignleft"|Agility
| class="alignleft"|Agility
| class="alignleft"|Bows, crossbows, pistols, rifles, shotguns, thrown weapons; ranged powers
| class="alignleft"|Bows, crossbows, pistols, ranged powers, rifles, shotguns, thrown weapons
|- class="evenrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Science
| class="alignleft"|Science
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Anthropology, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, nanotechnology, physics, psychology
| class="alignleft"|Anthropology, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, psychology
|- class="oddrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Social
| class="alignleft"|Will
| class="alignleft"|Carousing, diplomacy, etiquette, negotiation, streetwise
|- class="evenrow"
| class="alignleft"|Stealth
| class="alignleft"|Stealth
| class="alignleft"|Agility
| class="alignleft"|Agility
| class="alignleft"|Hiding, shadowing, sneaking
| class="alignleft"|Hiding, shadowing, sneaking, stalking
|- class="oddrow"
|-
| class="alignleft"|Survival
| class="alignleft"|Survival
| class="alignleft"|Perception
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Foraging, hunting, orienteering, tactics, tracking
| class="alignleft"|Foraging, hunting, orienteering, scavenging, tracking
|-
| class="alignleft"|Warfare
| class="alignleft"|Reason
| class="alignleft"|Command and control, guerrilla warfare, logistics, military doctrine, strategy, tactics
|}
|}


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Generally, an athletic competition is simply a matter of who has the highest relevant attribute. In the case where two competitors in a sport have the same attributes, the winner would be decided with a roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]]. In some sports, the difference between the winner and second place may be as little as one one-hundredth of a second.
Generally, an athletic competition is simply a matter of who has the highest relevant attribute. In the case where two competitors in a sport have the same attributes, the winner would be decided with a roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]]. In some sports, the difference between the winner and second place may be as little as one one-hundredth of a second.


Athletics typically requires a Brawn or Agility roll.
Athletics typically requires an Agility or Brawn roll.
 
''Examples:'' Climbing, gymnastics, riding, running, scuba, swimming, throwing objects
 
===Close Combat===
 
The Close Combat skill covers the myriad ways that humans have found to hurt, maim, and kill one another in hand-to-hand combat. Any form of hand-to-hand combat is covered by the Close Combat skill.
 
Close Combat typically requires a Brawn roll.


''Examples:'' Axes, clubs, knives, spears, swords, unarmed strikes, whips; close combat powers
''Examples:'' Climbing, gymnastics, riding, running, swimming, throwing objects


===Computing===
===Computing===
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Computing typically requires a Reason roll.
Computing typically requires a Reason roll.


''Examples:'' Artificial intelligence, forensics, forgery, hacking, programming, security systems
''Examples:'' Artificial intelligence, forensics, programming, security systems, sensor operation


===Culture===
===Culture===
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The Culture skill covers the wide range of largely useless information that fills magazines, the World Wide Web, Twitter, and most television networks. It also includes more serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific tidbits of information, such as the name of the fifth President of the United States or the origin of Play-Doh.
The Culture skill covers the wide range of largely useless information that fills magazines, the World Wide Web, Twitter, and most television networks. It also includes more serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific tidbits of information, such as the name of the fifth President of the United States or the origin of Play-Doh.


Culture typically requires a Perception roll, but it could require a Reason roll for particularly highbrow topics.
Culture typically requires a Reason roll.


''Examples:'' Art, fashion, history, music, philosophy, politics, popular media
''Examples:'' Art, fashion, history, music, philosophy, politics, popular media, religion


===Deception===
===Deception===


The Deception skill is used to convince someone of the truth of a given statement or situation, usually with the aim of getting them to act on it. Deception could be used to convert someone to a religion, sell someone a car, or simply win an argument. It is not necessary for the deceiver to actually believe their own statements, but if they do they gain a bonus die -- nothing is as convincing as genuine sincerity. If the person being deceived is predisposed to believe the deceiver, the GM may allow the task to succeed without rolling. If the character is trying to persuade someone to believe a patent absurdity (from the target's point of view), the GM might impose a penalty die, or even declare the attempt an automatic failure for truly outrageous lies.
The Deception skill is used to convince someone of the truth of a given statement or situation, usually with the aim of getting them to act on it. Deception could be used to convert someone to a religion, sell someone a car, or simply win an argument. It is not necessary for the deceiver to actually believe their own statements, but if they do they gain a bonus die -- nothing is as convincing as sincerity. If the person being deceived is predisposed to believe the deceiver, the GM may allow the task to succeed without rolling. If the character is trying to persuade someone to believe a patent absurdity (from the target's point of view), the GM might impose a penalty die, or even declare the attempt an automatic failure for truly outrageous lies.


A failed Deception roll usually means that the subject simply does not believe the lie, but it could mean that the attempt has backfired, firmly convincing the subject of the opposite of what the character was trying to convince them of.
A failed Deception roll usually means that the subject simply does not believe the lie, but it could mean that the attempt has backfired, firmly convincing the subject of the opposite of what the character was trying to convince them of.


Deception typically requires a Will roll.
Deception typically requires a Presence roll.
 
''Examples:'' Bluffing, disguise, lying, sales
 
===Diplomacy===


''Examples:'' Bluffing, distracting, lying, sales
The Diplomacy skill is used to adapt to one's social environment. It enables a character navigate through red tape, know the proper manners for a given environment, or survive an excursion to the dark side of civilization. A Diplomacy roll might be required to circumvent a bureaucratic obstacle, to socialize with a group without offending them, or to get the word to the Mafia that the shipment of guns at midnight is a set-up.
 
A failed Diplomacy roll could result in the character being snubbed by polite society, or possibly in being maimed by a coarser crowd.
 
Diplomacy typically requires a Presence roll, and is sometimes opposed.
 
''Examples:'' Carousing, conversation, etiquette, negotiation, streetwise


===Engineering===
===Engineering===


Engineering is the relevant skill whenever a character attempts to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, or materials. An Engineering roll might be required to repair a damaged suspension bridge, modify a hadron collider to be a singularity cannon, or construct a containment suit for a being made of electromagnetic radiation.
Engineering is the relevant skill whenever a character attempts to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, or materials. An Engineering roll might be required to design a bridge, to hot-wire a car, to modify a hadron collider to be a singularity cannon, or to construct a containment suit for a being made of electromagnetic radiation.


Failing the Engineering roll might indicate that the device simply does not work, or that it will fail catastrophically during use.  
Failing the Engineering roll might indicate that the device simply does not work, or that it will fail catastrophically during use.  
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Engineering typically requires a Reason roll.
Engineering typically requires a Reason roll.


''Examples:'' Architecture, cartography, demolitions, electronics, mechanical engineering
''Examples:'' Architecture, carpentry, cartography, cooking, demolitions, electronics


===Finesse===
===Finesse===


Finesse covers the skills which require a delicate touch and fine control of the hands and fingers. A Finesse roll might be required to slip a note to an ally, to pick someone's pocket, or to pick the lock on a pair of handcuffs.
Finesse covers the skills which require a delicate touch and fine control of the hands and fingers. A Finesse roll might be required to slip a note to an ally, to pick someone's pocket, to disable a trap, or to pick the lock on a pair of handcuffs.


Failing a Finesse roll indicates that the deception is easily spotted by the casual observer, or that the lock resists the attempt to pick it.
Failing a Finesse roll indicates that the deception is easily spotted by the casual observer, or that the lock resists the attempt to pick it.
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Finesse typically requires an Agility roll.
Finesse typically requires an Agility roll.


''Examples:'' Explosive ordnance disposal, lockpicking, pickpocketing, sleight of hand
''Examples:'' Disabling a trap, forgery, lockpicking, pickpocketing, sleight of hand
 
===Gambling===
 
Gambling is the wagering of something of value (or "the stakes") on an event with an uncertain outcome, with the intent of winning more than you risked. Gambling thus requires three elements: the stakes, a risk, and a prize. A character with Gambling knows where to play, when to play, and with whom to play, in order to win more often than they lose.
 
Gambling typically requires a Reason roll.
 
''Examples:'' Card games, dice games, dominoes, formal combat, races, sporting events
 
===Hand-to-hand Combat===
 
The Hand-to-hand Combat skill covers the myriad ways that humans have found to hurt, maim, and kill one another in hand-to-hand combat. Any form of hand-to-hand combat is covered by the Hand-to-hand Combat skill.
 
Hand-to-hand Combat typically requires a Brawn roll.
 
''Examples:'' Axes, clubs, hand-to-hand powers, spears, swords, unarmed strikes


===Investigation===
===Investigation===
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Investigation typically requires a Reason roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]].
Investigation typically requires a Reason roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]].


''Examples:'' Analyzing evidence, collecting evidence, eavesdropping, searching
''Examples:'' Analyzing evidence, collecting evidence, identifying clues


===Manipulation===
===Manipulation===


The Manipulation skill pertains to eliciting cooperation or information from others by using flirtation, threats of violence, or just casual conversation. Interrogation usually hinges on convincing the subject that hope is futile and that resistance will only make things worse, while seduction can sometimes be successful even if the target is aware that they are being seduced.
The Manipulation skill pertains to eliciting cooperation or information from others by using flirtation, threats of violence, or just verbal trickery. Interrogation usually hinges on convincing the subject that hope is futile and that resistance will only make things worse, while seduction can sometimes be successful even if the target is aware that they are being seduced.


Failure of a Manipulation roll could result in the subject of interrogation convincingly giving false information, or in the target of a seduction finding the would-be seducer pathetic.
Failure of a Manipulation roll could result in the subject of interrogation convincingly giving false information, or in the target of a seduction finding the would-be seducer repugnant.


Manipulation typically requires a Will roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]].
Manipulation typically requires a Presence roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]].


''Examples:'' Bribery, Conversation, interrogation, leadership, seduction
''Examples:'' Bribery, interrogation, intimidation, leadership, persuasion, seduction


===Medicine===
===Medicine===


A knowledge of Medicine can be very useful in the violent world of ''Bulletproof Blues''. Any medical procedure, from taking a person's temperature and splinting broken limbs, to performing open-heart telesurgery and administering nanotherapy, is covered by the Medicine skill. Knowledge of Medicine also gives the character familiarity with common drugs and toxins, and a competent knowledge of their effects on human physiology. Simple procedures, such as diagnosing and treating mild infections, are usually within the ability of a character with the Medicine skill. Extensive and difficult medical procedures, such as re-attaching a severed limb or performing brain surgery, are generally better left to characters with experience in those areas.
A knowledge of Medicine can be very useful in the violent world of ''Bulletproof Blues''. Any medical procedure, from taking a person's temperature and splinting broken limbs, to performing open-heart telesurgery and administering nanotherapy, is covered by the Medicine skill. Knowledge of Medicine also gives the character familiarity with common drugs and toxins, and a competent knowledge of their effects.


Medicine typically requires a Reason roll.
Medicine typically requires a Reason roll.


''Examples:'' Cybernetics, diagnosis, pharmacology, surgery
''Examples:'' Diagnosis, field medicine, pharmacology, surgery
 
===Mental Combat===
 
The Mental Combat skill covers mental and psychic combat. Any form of mental combat is covered by the Mental Combat skill.
 
Mental Combat typically requires a Power Level roll when attacking, and a Presence roll when defending.
 
''Examples:'' Defending against mental attacks, phantasms, mind control, telepathy
 
===Occult===
 
The Occult skill allows the character to identify occult objects, recall obscure magical lore, and decipher ancient arcane manuscripts.
 
Occult typically requires a Reason roll for academic use.
 
''Examples:'' Analyzing artifacts, remembering obscure lore, deciphering ancient texts
 
===Perception===
 
The Perception skill pertains to noticing subtle things, identifying sensory input, and generally being aware of one's surroundings. Perception can reflect the keenness of one's senses, one's powers of observation, or both.
 
Perception typically requires a Reason roll.
 
''Examples:'' Eavesdropping, identifying an odor or taste, noticing a tail


===Performance===
===Performance===
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The Performance skill is used to entertain an audience, making them forget their worries for a brief while.
The Performance skill is used to entertain an audience, making them forget their worries for a brief while.


Performance typically requires a Will roll.
Performance typically requires a Presence roll.


''Examples:'' Comedy, dancing, music, singing, theatre
''Examples:'' Comedy, dancing, music, singing, theatre, writing novels, writing poetry


===Piloting===
===Piloting===
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Piloting typically requires a Reason roll to chart a course for a craft, and an Agility roll to control it.
Piloting typically requires a Reason roll to chart a course for a craft, and an Agility roll to control it.


''Examples:'' Aircraft, automobiles, drones, heavy machinery, mecha, motorcycles, spacecraft, watercraft
''Examples:'' Aircraft, drones, ground vehicles, heavy machinery, spacecraft, watercraft; navigation


===Ranged Combat===
===Ranged Combat===
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Ranged Combat typically requires an Agility roll.
Ranged Combat typically requires an Agility roll.


''Examples:'' Bows, crossbows, pistols, rifles, shotguns, thrown weapons; ranged powers
''Examples:'' Bows, crossbows, pistols, ranged powers, rifles, shotguns, thrown weapons


===Science===
===Science===
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Science typically requires a Reason roll.
Science typically requires a Reason roll.


''Examples:'' Anthropology, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, nanotechnology, physics, psychology
''Examples:'' Anthropology, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, psychology
 
===Social===
 
The Social skill is used to adapt to one's social environment. It enables a character navigate through red tape, know the proper manners for a given environment, or survive an excursion to the dark side of civilization. A Social roll might be required to circumvent a bureaucratic obstacle, to socialize with a group without offending them, or to get the word to the Mafia that the shipment of guns at midnight is a set-up.
 
A failed Social roll could result in the character being snubbed by polite society, or possibly in being maimed by a coarser crowd.
 
Social rolls typically require a Will roll, and are sometimes opposed.
 
''Examples:'' Carousing, diplomacy, etiquette, negotiation, streetwise


===Stealth===
===Stealth===
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Failing the Stealth roll indicates that the furtive prowler is easily spotted by a casual observer.
Failing the Stealth roll indicates that the furtive prowler is easily spotted by a casual observer.


Stealth typically requires an Agility roll, and is usually opposed by a Perception roll by the person the character is hiding from.
Stealth typically requires an Agility roll, and is usually opposed by a Perception (Reason) roll by the person the character is hiding from.


''Examples:'' Hiding, shadowing, sneaking
''Examples:'' Hiding, shadowing, sneaking, stalking


===Survival===
===Survival===


The Survival skill pertains to living off the land, coping with adverse environments, and finding one's way based on landmarks, the stars, and dead reckoning. The difficulty is dependent upon the terrain, temperature, and availability of food and shelter, and how well equipped the character is for the particular area. Survival in a temperate environment with available sources of food and water would require a challenging roll (difficulty 3). Harsh, hostile environments, such as the Gobi Desert or the Antarctic, would have a higher difficulty (frustrating 6, or nigh-impossible 9) depending on how prepared the character is. Surviving in very mild environments, such as the woods just outside of town, would not require a roll at all.
The Survival skill pertains to living off the land, coping with adverse environments, and finding one's way based on landmarks, the stars, and dead reckoning. The difficulty is dependent upon the terrain, temperature, and availability of food and shelter, and on how well equipped the character is for the particular area. Survival in a temperate environment with available sources of food and water would require a moderately difficult (DV 3) Survival (Reason) roll. Harsh, hostile environments, such as a desolate wasteland or an icy tundra, would have a higher difficulty, depending on how prepared the character is.


Failing a Survival roll once might mean that the character has caught a cold, lost the trail of their prey, or eaten a plant that has made them sick. Failing numerous Survival rolls could be lethal.
Failing a Survival roll once might mean that the character has caught a cold, lost the trail of their prey, or eaten a plant that has made them sick. Failing numerous Survival rolls could be lethal.


Survival typically requires a Perception roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]].
Survival typically requires a Reason roll, or perhaps a [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Extended_Tasks|series of rolls]].
 
''Examples:'' Foraging, hunting, orienteering, scavenging, tracking
 
===Warfare===
 
Warfare covers every aspect of large numbers of combatants to attain your goals. A common focus of warfare is the defense and capture of defined strategic points, but it also includes the overall plan beyond the current battlefield, as well as the supply chains and communications required to support your forces.
 
Warfare typically requires a Reason roll.


''Examples:'' Foraging, hunting, orienteering, tactics, tracking
''Examples:'' Command and control, guerrilla warfare, logistics, military doctrine, strategy, tactics





Latest revision as of 17:23, 15 December 2021

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Skills allow a character to apply their attributes to solve a specific problem or accomplish a specific task. Skills cost one character point each. Expertise in a skill costs an additional character point. We suggest spending about 10 character points on skills.

Skill Dice

If the character has the needed skill, the player rolls 2d6. If the character has Expertise with the needed skill, re-roll any 1s and 2s until all dice have a 3 or higher. This applies to any bonus dice, as well.

A character may attempt a task in which they have no skill, if the GM says it is possible. For example, anyone can tell a lie, but it takes a skilled woodworker to make a mortise and tenon joint. If a character attempts a task in which they have no skill, the player rolls one die instead of two. For example, if a character is attacked by an enemy with a knife, but the defender does not have the Hand-to-hand Combat skill, the defender rolls 1d6 and adds their Brawn.

Making skill rolls is covered in the Actions chapter.

Typical Skills

Bulletproof Blues divides skills into broad disciplines. This list of skills is not exhaustive, nor is it objective: skills are divided by their usefulness in a game, not by any objective taxonomy. This is why "Culture" is a very broad skill, while "Deception" is relatively specific. A character may have a skill not listed here, subject to GM approval. However, any new skills should be approximately as useful as these skills in order to maintain a sense of fairness with other characters.

Most skills are quite broad. However, just because a character could do everything encompassed by a skill does not mean that they should. For example, a character with the Engineering skill could, in theory, do everything from repairing a television camera to designing a bridge. That doesn't mean it makes sense for them to do so. It's up to you as the player to know what makes sense for your character and what doesn't, and to communicate that information to the GM.

The attribute typically associated with a skill is listed here, but keep in mind that the relevant attribute might change depending on the circumstances. Also note that the same task might be accomplished in more than one way. Climbing a tree might be an exercise in Athletics (Brawn), but it might also be accomplished with the proper application of Survival (Brawn).


Table: Typical skills
Skill Attribute Examples
Athletics Agility or Brawn Climbing, gymnastics, riding, running, swimming, throwing objects
Computing Reason Artificial intelligence, forensics, programming, security systems, sensor operation
Culture Reason Art, fashion, history, music, philosophy, politics, popular media, religion
Deception Presence Bluffing, disguise, lying, sales
Diplomacy Presence Carousing, conversation, etiquette, negotiation, streetwise
Engineering Reason Architecture, carpentry, cartography, cooking, demolitions, electronics
Finesse Agility Disabling a trap, forgery, lockpicking, pickpocketing, sleight of hand
Gambling Reason Card games, dice games, dominoes, formal combat, races, sporting events
Hand-to-hand Combat Brawn Axes, clubs, hand-to-hand powers, spears, swords, unarmed strikes
Investigation Reason Analyzing evidence, collecting evidence, identifying clues
Manipulation Presence Bribery, interrogation, intimidation, leadership, persuasion, seduction
Medicine Reason Diagnosis, field medicine, pharmacology, surgery
Mental Combat Presence Defending against mental attacks, phantasms, mind control, telepathy
Occult Reason Analyzing artifacts, remembering obscure lore, deciphering ancient texts
Perception Reason Eavesdropping, identifying an odor or taste, noticing a tail
Performance Presence Comedy, dancing, music, singing, theatre, writing novels, writing poetry
Piloting Agility or Reason Aircraft, drones, ground vehicles, heavy machinery, spacecraft, watercraft; navigation
Ranged Combat Agility Bows, crossbows, pistols, ranged powers, rifles, shotguns, thrown weapons
Science Reason Anthropology, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, psychology
Stealth Agility Hiding, shadowing, sneaking, stalking
Survival Reason Foraging, hunting, orienteering, scavenging, tracking
Warfare Reason Command and control, guerrilla warfare, logistics, military doctrine, strategy, tactics


Athletics

The Athletics skill covers the entire spectrum of non-combat sports, as well general feats of athleticism such as running, jumping, climbing, swimming, and throwing.

Generally, an athletic competition is simply a matter of who has the highest relevant attribute. In the case where two competitors in a sport have the same attributes, the winner would be decided with a roll, or perhaps a series of rolls. In some sports, the difference between the winner and second place may be as little as one one-hundredth of a second.

Athletics typically requires an Agility or Brawn roll.

Examples: Climbing, gymnastics, riding, running, swimming, throwing objects

Computing

Computing allows the character to write new programs, take apart old ones, and follow data trails across networks. It also allows a character to create or circumvent computer security programs and protocols. If a character is extremely familiar with the program in question, the GM might decide that the attempt is automatically successful. If the character is attempting to break into a computer system, the GM may assign a difficulty of 6, or perhaps even higher, since these programs are designed to prevent interference.

Failing a Computing roll might mean that an attempt to circumvent a computer security system is simply unsuccessful, or it may mean that the character has set off an alarm or left a "trail" which may be followed back to their location.

Computing typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Artificial intelligence, forensics, programming, security systems, sensor operation

Culture

The Culture skill covers the wide range of largely useless information that fills magazines, the World Wide Web, Twitter, and most television networks. It also includes more serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific tidbits of information, such as the name of the fifth President of the United States or the origin of Play-Doh.

Culture typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Art, fashion, history, music, philosophy, politics, popular media, religion

Deception

The Deception skill is used to convince someone of the truth of a given statement or situation, usually with the aim of getting them to act on it. Deception could be used to convert someone to a religion, sell someone a car, or simply win an argument. It is not necessary for the deceiver to actually believe their own statements, but if they do they gain a bonus die -- nothing is as convincing as sincerity. If the person being deceived is predisposed to believe the deceiver, the GM may allow the task to succeed without rolling. If the character is trying to persuade someone to believe a patent absurdity (from the target's point of view), the GM might impose a penalty die, or even declare the attempt an automatic failure for truly outrageous lies.

A failed Deception roll usually means that the subject simply does not believe the lie, but it could mean that the attempt has backfired, firmly convincing the subject of the opposite of what the character was trying to convince them of.

Deception typically requires a Presence roll.

Examples: Bluffing, disguise, lying, sales

Diplomacy

The Diplomacy skill is used to adapt to one's social environment. It enables a character navigate through red tape, know the proper manners for a given environment, or survive an excursion to the dark side of civilization. A Diplomacy roll might be required to circumvent a bureaucratic obstacle, to socialize with a group without offending them, or to get the word to the Mafia that the shipment of guns at midnight is a set-up.

A failed Diplomacy roll could result in the character being snubbed by polite society, or possibly in being maimed by a coarser crowd.

Diplomacy typically requires a Presence roll, and is sometimes opposed.

Examples: Carousing, conversation, etiquette, negotiation, streetwise

Engineering

Engineering is the relevant skill whenever a character attempts to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, or materials. An Engineering roll might be required to design a bridge, to hot-wire a car, to modify a hadron collider to be a singularity cannon, or to construct a containment suit for a being made of electromagnetic radiation.

Failing the Engineering roll might indicate that the device simply does not work, or that it will fail catastrophically during use.

Engineering typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Architecture, carpentry, cartography, cooking, demolitions, electronics

Finesse

Finesse covers the skills which require a delicate touch and fine control of the hands and fingers. A Finesse roll might be required to slip a note to an ally, to pick someone's pocket, to disable a trap, or to pick the lock on a pair of handcuffs.

Failing a Finesse roll indicates that the deception is easily spotted by the casual observer, or that the lock resists the attempt to pick it.

Finesse typically requires an Agility roll.

Examples: Disabling a trap, forgery, lockpicking, pickpocketing, sleight of hand

Gambling

Gambling is the wagering of something of value (or "the stakes") on an event with an uncertain outcome, with the intent of winning more than you risked. Gambling thus requires three elements: the stakes, a risk, and a prize. A character with Gambling knows where to play, when to play, and with whom to play, in order to win more often than they lose.

Gambling typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Card games, dice games, dominoes, formal combat, races, sporting events

Hand-to-hand Combat

The Hand-to-hand Combat skill covers the myriad ways that humans have found to hurt, maim, and kill one another in hand-to-hand combat. Any form of hand-to-hand combat is covered by the Hand-to-hand Combat skill.

Hand-to-hand Combat typically requires a Brawn roll.

Examples: Axes, clubs, hand-to-hand powers, spears, swords, unarmed strikes

Investigation

The Investigation skill covers most of the tasks involved in solving mysteries and researching obscure topics. This includes searching for clues, collecting and analyzing evidence, sifting through police reports and bank records, and so on.

A failed Investigation roll might mean that the character hits a dead end in the investigation, or it might mean that they seize on a red herring and draw the wrong conclusion from the evidence.

Investigation typically requires a Reason roll, or perhaps a series of rolls.

Examples: Analyzing evidence, collecting evidence, identifying clues

Manipulation

The Manipulation skill pertains to eliciting cooperation or information from others by using flirtation, threats of violence, or just verbal trickery. Interrogation usually hinges on convincing the subject that hope is futile and that resistance will only make things worse, while seduction can sometimes be successful even if the target is aware that they are being seduced.

Failure of a Manipulation roll could result in the subject of interrogation convincingly giving false information, or in the target of a seduction finding the would-be seducer repugnant.

Manipulation typically requires a Presence roll, or perhaps a series of rolls.

Examples: Bribery, interrogation, intimidation, leadership, persuasion, seduction

Medicine

A knowledge of Medicine can be very useful in the violent world of Bulletproof Blues. Any medical procedure, from taking a person's temperature and splinting broken limbs, to performing open-heart telesurgery and administering nanotherapy, is covered by the Medicine skill. Knowledge of Medicine also gives the character familiarity with common drugs and toxins, and a competent knowledge of their effects.

Medicine typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Diagnosis, field medicine, pharmacology, surgery

Mental Combat

The Mental Combat skill covers mental and psychic combat. Any form of mental combat is covered by the Mental Combat skill.

Mental Combat typically requires a Power Level roll when attacking, and a Presence roll when defending.

Examples: Defending against mental attacks, phantasms, mind control, telepathy

Occult

The Occult skill allows the character to identify occult objects, recall obscure magical lore, and decipher ancient arcane manuscripts.

Occult typically requires a Reason roll for academic use.

Examples: Analyzing artifacts, remembering obscure lore, deciphering ancient texts

Perception

The Perception skill pertains to noticing subtle things, identifying sensory input, and generally being aware of one's surroundings. Perception can reflect the keenness of one's senses, one's powers of observation, or both.

Perception typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Eavesdropping, identifying an odor or taste, noticing a tail

Performance

The Performance skill is used to entertain an audience, making them forget their worries for a brief while.

Performance typically requires a Presence roll.

Examples: Comedy, dancing, music, singing, theatre, writing novels, writing poetry

Piloting

The Piloting skill covers the navigation and control of a mechanical contrivance, be it a sports car, a jet fighter, a walking forklift, or a skyscraper-sized kaiju-fighting robot. Piloting also covers controlling tiny mechanisms, like radio-controlled helicopters and missile-launching drones.

A failed Piloting roll could result in being unable to attack because the vehicle is in the wrong position, a temporary loss of control, or even a collision.

Piloting typically requires a Reason roll to chart a course for a craft, and an Agility roll to control it.

Examples: Aircraft, drones, ground vehicles, heavy machinery, spacecraft, watercraft; navigation

Ranged Combat

The Ranged Combat skill covers the myriad ways that humans have found to hurt, maim, and kill one another from a distance. Any form of ranged combat is covered by the Ranged Combat skill.

Ranged Combat typically requires an Agility roll.

Examples: Bows, crossbows, pistols, ranged powers, rifles, shotguns, thrown weapons

Science

The Science skill can cover a variety of fields, depending on the character's interests. A character with the Science skill may be conversant with any discipline that's reasonable for their background.

Science typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Anthropology, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics, psychology

Stealth

Stealth is the art of sneaking around. A Stealth roll might be required to hide from a monster in an alien spaceship, to sneak up on a sentry, or to shadow a suspect back to the criminal's hideout. Terrain, available cover, camouflage, and background noise will all affect the difficulty of the Stealth roll.

Failing the Stealth roll indicates that the furtive prowler is easily spotted by a casual observer.

Stealth typically requires an Agility roll, and is usually opposed by a Perception (Reason) roll by the person the character is hiding from.

Examples: Hiding, shadowing, sneaking, stalking

Survival

The Survival skill pertains to living off the land, coping with adverse environments, and finding one's way based on landmarks, the stars, and dead reckoning. The difficulty is dependent upon the terrain, temperature, and availability of food and shelter, and on how well equipped the character is for the particular area. Survival in a temperate environment with available sources of food and water would require a moderately difficult (DV 3) Survival (Reason) roll. Harsh, hostile environments, such as a desolate wasteland or an icy tundra, would have a higher difficulty, depending on how prepared the character is.

Failing a Survival roll once might mean that the character has caught a cold, lost the trail of their prey, or eaten a plant that has made them sick. Failing numerous Survival rolls could be lethal.

Survival typically requires a Reason roll, or perhaps a series of rolls.

Examples: Foraging, hunting, orienteering, scavenging, tracking

Warfare

Warfare covers every aspect of large numbers of combatants to attain your goals. A common focus of warfare is the defense and capture of defined strategic points, but it also includes the overall plan beyond the current battlefield, as well as the supply chains and communications required to support your forces.

Warfare typically requires a Reason roll.

Examples: Command and control, guerrilla warfare, logistics, military doctrine, strategy, tactics