[Basic] Skill of the week: Paleontology

johndallman · 06-10-2016, 03:11 PM

Paleontology is the IQ/H TL skill of scientific knowledge about fossils. The main default is Biology-4, and Anthropology has a default to Paleontology. Specialisation is required, in (Micropaleontology), which can only be done in the laboratory, (Paleoanthropology), which defaults to Anthroplogy-2, (Paleobotany) or (Paleozoology). With a skill roll, you can identify a fossil, or make deductions about the organism's structure, habitat, etc. With laboratory facilities, you can determine the age of fossils. The skill appeared in Compendium I for GURPS 3e.

Historically, scientific Paleontology started at TL5, in the early nineteenth century, although it had been realised since classical times that fossils were the preserved remains of long-dead organisms. Paleontology developed in conjunction with geology, as a contributor to the science of dating, and is still sometimes taught within university geology departments. Forensic anthropology, the study of human remains for purposes of criminal investigation and/or individual identification, developed out of archaeology and seems to derive its name from the practice in the USA of considering archaeology a sub-field of anthropology; in Europe, they are usually separate, albeit related, fields.

Unsurprisingly, Paleontology doesn't appear on many templates or have much in the way of detail in GURPS books. It's a skill option for scientists in Horror, and has uses in Infinite Worlds, and Lands out of Time, where it provides a excellent default for Biology. The Power-Ups series has a talent and a couple of wildcard skills that include it, and The Weird has a technology secret that requires it. Space has rules for default penalties on different planets, and Tales of the Solar Patrol has such small penalties for Venusian fossils that a common ancestor must have existed.

Have you ever used this skill in a game?

SionEwig · 06-10-2016, 09:01 PM

Yeah, I've used it. The last two characters I drew up both have it. One as a hobby and the other as part of his business skills. I can easily see this skill under Dabbler for a fair number of folks or a point or more depending on the setting (Atomic Horror, etc.).

I do have some problems with how the skill is presented in RAW. First, the specialty list is somewhat short. Most of the paleontologists I know and have worked with have tended to specialize in locations, time periods, or habitats (marine, terrestrial, etc.). Second, I think there could be an argument for Geology being a prerequisite or at the least being another default. I'll note that in general, lab equipment isn't really necessary for most identification or even that helpful.

Ultraviolet · 06-13-2016, 03:19 AM

I currently play a character in my Cliffhangers campaign which has Paleozoology as - more or less - his speciality. In combination with Geography, Carthography etc. for a more widely schooled explorer.

Never, ever used the skill though.

ericthered · 06-13-2016, 08:04 AM

I've got a character who takes it and in fact describes herself as a Paleontologist. Its mostly window dressing for more adventure-oriented skills. She is an extremophile who loves studying extremophile fossils, and as such as a good number of outdoor skills and weird familiarities with sensors.

whswhs · 06-13-2016, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericthered

I've got a character who takes it and in fact describes herself as a Paleontologist. Its mostly window dressing for more adventure-oriented skills. She is an extremophile who loves studying extremophile fossils, and as such as a good number of outdoor skills and weird familiarities with sensors.

Fossils of microorganisms, or is this a world where there are macroextremophiles?

ericthered · 06-13-2016, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whswhs

Fossils of microorganisms, or is this a world where there are macroextremophiles?

Micro-organisms both times I built her. Both versions of her (one game fell apart so I retooled her for a new one) study fossil evidence of microorganisms in geyser vents, deep sea vents, mountain tops, volcanic craters, and so forth. One version was headed for mars (alien ruins confirmed). The one I actually got to play is time lost.

Bruno · 06-13-2016, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SionEwig

I do have some problems with how the skill is presented in RAW. First, the specialty list is somewhat short. Most of the paleontologists I know and have worked with have tended to specialize in locations, time periods, or habitats (marine, terrestrial, etc.).

Biology has specialties as "Biochemistry", "Botany", "Ecology", "Genetics", "Marine biology", "microbiology" and "Zoology".

Paleontologists are going to get the same scope of specialties. Tighter specialties might be the Hyperspecialization perk.

SionEwig · 06-14-2016, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruno

Biology has specialties as "Biochemistry", "Botany", "Ecology", "Genetics", "Marine biology", "microbiology" and "Zoology".

Paleontologists are going to get the same scope of specialties. Tighter specialties might be the Hyperspecialization perk.

I was just pointing out what I have seen from real life paleos and how it was different from RAW.

Ulzgoroth · 06-14-2016, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SionEwig

I was just pointing out what I have seen from real life paleos and how it was different from RAW.

Most skills are way broader than what people really do, especially ones farther away from 'adventuring' activities. And things like science skills where practitioners are deep specialists can make it especially stand out.

Flyndaran · 06-14-2016, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruno

Biology has specialties as "Biochemistry", "Botany", "Ecology", "Genetics", "Marine biology", "microbiology" and "Zoology".

Paleontologists are going to get the same scope of specialties. Tighter specialties might be the Hyperspecialization perk.

Biology is a super-skill, almost a Bang skill, with nearly every realistic person past TL 4 taking a specialization as a career.
Paleontology is also hard rather than very hard making it more like those specialties you mention. Its required specialties have a very generous -2 default amongst themselves.
It seems difficult to specialize more without getting to similar almost silly levels of game uselessness as hyperspecializations.

How on earth would one game Micropaleontolgy; arachnid fossils? Wow, after sifting that cubic foot of sediment for a week, you've found three spinnerets of a new species of lactrodectus aka Widow spiders. Ooooh. ;)

06-10-2016, 03:11 PM	#1
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	[Basic] Skill of the week: Paleontology Paleontology is the IQ/H TL skill of scientific knowledge about fossils. The main default is Biology-4, and Anthropology has a default to Paleontology. Specialisation is required, in (Micropaleontology), which can only be done in the laboratory, (Paleoanthropology), which defaults to Anthroplogy-2, (Paleobotany) or (Paleozoology). With a skill roll, you can identify a fossil, or make deductions about the organism's structure, habitat, etc. With laboratory facilities, you can determine the age of fossils. The skill appeared in *Compendium I* for GURPS 3e. Historically, scientific Paleontology started at TL5, in the early nineteenth century, although it had been realised since classical times that fossils were the preserved remains of long-dead organisms. Paleontology developed in conjunction with geology, as a contributor to the science of dating, and is still sometimes taught within university geology departments. Forensic anthropology, the study of human remains for purposes of criminal investigation and/or individual identification, developed out of archaeology and seems to derive its name from the practice in the USA of considering archaeology a sub-field of anthropology; in Europe, they are usually separate, albeit related, fields. Unsurprisingly, Paleontology doesn't appear on many templates or have much in the way of detail in GURPS books. It's a skill option for scientists in *Horror, and has uses in Infinite Worlds, and Lands out of Time, where it provides a excellent default for Biology. The Power-Ups* series has a talent and a couple of wildcard skills that include it, and *The Weird* has a technology secret that requires it. *Space* has rules for default penalties on different planets, and *Tales of the Solar Patrol* has such small penalties for Venusian fossils that a common ancestor must have existed. Have you ever used this skill in a game? __________________ The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques.

06-10-2016, 09:01 PM	#2
SionEwig Join Date: Sep 2010	Re: [Basic] Skill of the week: Paleontology Yeah, I've used it. The last two characters I drew up both have it. One as a hobby and the other as part of his business skills. I can easily see this skill under Dabbler for a fair number of folks or a point or more depending on the setting (Atomic Horror, etc.). I do have some problems with how the skill is presented in RAW. First, the specialty list is somewhat short. Most of the paleontologists I know and have worked with have tended to specialize in locations, time periods, or habitats (marine, terrestrial, etc.). Second, I think there could be an argument for Geology being a prerequisite or at the least being another default. I'll note that in general, lab equipment isn't really necessary for most identification or even that helpful.

06-13-2016, 03:19 AM	#3
Ultraviolet Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Århus, Denmark	Re: [Basic] Skill of the week: Paleontology I currently play a character in my Cliffhangers campaign which has Paleozoology as - more or less - his speciality. In combination with Geography, Carthography etc. for a more widely schooled explorer. Never, ever used the skill though. __________________ Playing GURPS since '90, is now fluent in 4th ed as well.

06-13-2016, 08:04 AM	#4
ericthered Hero of Democracy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: far from the ocean	Re: [Basic] Skill of the week: Paleontology I've got a character who takes it and in fact describes herself as a Paleontologist. Its mostly window dressing for more adventure-oriented skills. She is an extremophile who loves studying extremophile fossils, and as such as a good number of outdoor skills and weird familiarities with sensors. __________________ Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one!