Fwurg

[Mercury]

I propose some significant rule changes regarding skills. The first is the introduction of a third type of skill beyond the "basic" and "specialist" we already have. I have included the new descriptions of the three types below, noting that basic and specialist skills are unaltered.

Core Skills

Core skills are skills that represent inherent abilities everyone has and can do. They are linked directly to an Attribute, which is listed in their description. Though you may, in exceptional circumstances, use a different attribute, checks of this skill are almost always done on their linked attribute.

The number of ranks you have in a core skill is not just limited by your Force Level, but is also limited by the linked attribute. Whichever of these two is lowest is the maximum level you can have in that skill.

Core skills in which you have no ranks use your full Force Level.

Additionally, I propose some changes to existing skills, and the way that Racial Characteristics interact with skills:

Athletics

To become a core skill based on Fitness - though we have a notable exception, most people can run / climb / etc without aid.

Additionally, I propose to remove "Swimming" from the list of abilities granted by Athletics (see below). This is additionally justified because Athletics is our most commonly used skill, and it mirrors the way we have implemented other forms of movement, such as Flight.

Flight

Remains a Specialist skill for most Jedi, but becomes a Core skill for races with Natural Flight.

Stealth

Stealth becomes a core skill based on Fitness - hiding is a basic biological response to danger.

Swim

A new Basic skill, split off from Athletics (see above). Though most humanoid races can float and doggy paddle, it requires some training to become good at swimming.

Swim is a core skill for Aquatic races.

I have some additional proposals for new core skills based on this change, including a renewed proposal for Perception based on Vision, but I will handle that separately once this has taken a form that everyone agrees with.

[Brend]

On the Core Skills type

One of the strengths of the system is that it facilitates the use of skills fitting the context. This is greatly assisted by the fact that our attributes are grounded in a useful division of qualities, i.e., the {Body, Mind} × {Control, Sense, Alter} configuration.

The link between a core skill and a specific attribute is already very neatly expressed by limiting the Core skills rating to the minimum of a character's Force Level and their Linked Attribute. While I agree that Core skills will usually be used with a specific attribute (in fact several of our current skill seem to gravitate towards one or two specific attributes), I do think that we should preserve the flexibility that comes with the system.

As an example of this I would like to highlight the non-Fitness usage of Stealth. Vision + Stealth is a very valid check that can be used to spot security camera's, motion sensors, and other such things (this is even mentioned in the Vision attribute rules). This isn't to say that there might not be a better skill for that (the hypothetical Surveillance specialist skill springs to mind), but I would like to keep the options open without having too much explaining to do on whether a situation qualifies as "exceptional circumstances".

Therefore, I propose to rephrase the core skills text to put less emphasis on the fact that it is very exceptional to use a different attribute:

Core Skills

Core skills are skills that represent inherent abilities everyone has and can do. They are linked directly to an Attribute, which is listed in their description. Though you may, in exceptional circumstances, use a different attribute, checks of this skill are almost always done on their linked attribute. Checks of this skill are usually done on their linked attribute, but this is not mandatory.

The number of ranks you have in a core skill is not just limited by your Force Level, but is also limited by the linked attribute. Whichever of these two is lowest is the maximum level you can have in that skill.

Core skills in which you have no ranks use your full Force Level.

On the changes to existing skills

I agree with the proposed classification and slight restriction the, admittedly too broad, Athletics skill.

I want to add that the note on Flight and Swim with regards to them becoming Core Skills should primarily be placed with the Natural Flight and Aquatic racial characteristics as part of their Jedi benefits.

[Mercury]

I agree with the change to the writing of the Core skill, and of course the racial characteristics should list their benefits.

[Elmer]

I came to the conclusion that I have trouble making up my mind about this.

I really like the split between attributes and abilities. Somehow adding the core abilities seems to undermine this.

I also just realised why this is: Attributes seems to be the nature of the Jedi, his natural abilities or physique. Abilities are what the Jedi spend time training. By linking the physique of a jedi to his training, the Jedi never can outdo himself, never grow beyond his natural limitations.

At the other hand, I realise that the set of 'core abilities' is something what is odd within the rules system but sadly I have no better idea to solve this.