Skills List: Cinematic vs Realistic

[Captain Joy]

EDIT: Last update – 5 March 2021

From the GURPS Fourth Edition Traits Sorter: "In future versions of the Sorter, we plan on implementing a variety of defaults." Let's see if we can't help that along.

I have attempted to split up skills into those appropriate to cinematic, exotic, magic, and mundane campaigns. If you believe I've got it wrong with any particular skill, I want to hear about it.

Similar listings for advantages can be found at the Advantages List: Cinematic vs Realistic thread. Similar listings for disadvantages can be found at the Disadvantages List: Cinematic vs Realistic thread.

Cinematic Skills:
Computer Hacking/TL "This skill is cinematic", B184
Enthrallment "Depending on the setting, these skills might be magical, psionic, or a cinematic form of hypnotism.", B191
Flying Leap Trained by a Master prerequisite
Hypnotism at skill 15 you have a 50% chance to induce a suggestible state in an unwilling subject with Will 10 in 5 seconds (See http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread...ight=Hypnotism)
Immovable Stance Trained by a Master prerequisite
Invisibility Art Trained by a Master prerequisite
Kiai Trained by a Master or Weapon Master prerequisite
Light Walk Trained by a Master prerequisite
Mental Strength Trained by a Master or Weapon Master (or Mage or Psi) prerequisite
Musical Influence "This cinematic skill…", B210
Power Blow Trained by a Master or Weapon Master prerequisite
Pressure Points Trained by a Master or Weapon Master prerequisite
Pressure Secrets Trained by a Master and Pressure Points at 16+ prerequisites
Push Trained by a Master prerequisite
Weird Science "This skill allows you to formulate astonishing new crackpot scientific theories that are far ahead of their time . . . or at least utterly different from the usual assumptions of your tech level.", B228
Zen Archery Trained by a Master or Weapon Master prerequisite

Exotic Skills:
Enthrallment "Depending on the setting, these skills might be magical, psionic, or a cinematic form of hypnotism.", B191
Mind Block Although, "The techniques involved are wholly mundane", B210
Flight
Innate Attack

Magic Skills:
Skills useful only in magical settings.
Alchemy/TL
Enthrallment "Depending on the setting, these skills might be magical, psionic, or a cinematic form of hypnotism.", B191
Exorcism "It is not a magical skill, but a religious ritual.", B193
Herb Lore/TL
Mind Block Although, "The techniques involved are wholly mundane", B210
Ritual Magic
Symbol Drawing
Thaumatology

Mundane Skills:
Skills that, while technically mundane, merit special consideration.
Aerobatics assuming you can fly, e.g. jet pack, etc.
Breath Control Kromm says it's "totally realistic", but Douglas H. Cole says, "This skill as written is basically a cinematic super-skill, since it’s more than twice as effective as Fit and has no down side." Pyramid #4/33, "The Last Gasp", p. 11
Dreaming Has both mundane and supernatural utility.
Esoteric Medicine "It is usually associated with a magical or spiritual tradition.…It should always be at least as good as First Aid…", B192
Fortune-Telling "This skill is not a paranormal talent, and the GM is under no obligation to supply you with hints of future events.”, B196
Hidden Lore "The GM might even require you to purchase an Unusual Background before you can learn Hidden Lore skills. Of course, the GM is also free to forbid Hidden Lore skills to starting characters . . . or to PCs in general!", B199
Religious Ritual magic in some campaigns

All other skills are so obviously mundane they don't merit comment and are not listed to save space.

[simply Nathan]

I have a hard time seeing Esoteric Medicine as mundane.

[PTTG]

Originally Posted by simply Nathan

I have a hard time seeing Esoteric Medicine as mundane.

I read it as "I give them an infusion of willow bark to sooth their headache" and other real-but-marginal stuff rather than acupuncture, chiropractry, etc.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by PTTG

I read it as "I give them an infusion of willow bark to sooth their headache" and other real-but-marginal stuff rather than acupuncture, chiropractry, etc.

That's actually Pharmacy (Herbal, TL 4). For some odd reason Physician skill is noted as not existing before TL 5, so I guess if it's a TL 1-4 medical technique that doesn't fit in some other category it's Esoteric Medicine.

[Minuteman37]

Originally Posted by simply Nathan

I have a hard time seeing Esoteric Medicine as mundane.

As I understand it Esoteric Medicine is just the unscientific physician skill used back before we actually applied the scientific method to things and it was more what "feels" right. The Medical Help Table's low patient coverage and infrequent cure rolls at TL 1-4 are for Esoteric Medicine and what you see is a reflection of the poor effectiveness of the skill.

[simply Nathan]

Originally Posted by Minuteman37

As I understand it Esoteric Medicine is just the unscientific physician skill used back before we actually applied the scientific method to things and it was more what "feels" right. The Medical Help Table's low patient coverage and infrequent cure rolls at TL 1-4 are for Esoteric Medicine and what you see is a reflection of the poor effectiveness of the skill.

You say Esoteric Medicine, I say First Aid TL0-4, Surgery TL0-4, and Pharmacy TL0-4.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by simply Nathan

You say Esoteric Medicine, I say First Aid TL0-4, Surgery TL0-4, and Pharmacy TL0-4.

No, Esoteric Medicine has some sort of theory behind it be it 4 humors, chi flow or Ayurvedic-I-don't-really-know. It does not necessarily spring from pragmatic roots and does not normally allow a roll on the first Aid or Physician tables in Campaigns.

Esoteric Medicine is not promised to be at all effective. In our world 4 humors therapy was all a crock. Chemsitry(Phlogiston) could also be a "realistic" Skill in that it was at one time studied in the Real World and it didn't actually work either.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

No, Esoteric Medicine has some sort of theory behind it be it 4 humors, chi flow or Ayurvedic-I-don't-really-know. It does not necessarily spring from pragmatic roots and does not normally allow a roll on the first Aid or Physician tables in Campaigns.

Uh, no, First Aid defaults to Esoteric Medicine at +0, so learning Esoteric Medicine definitely helps with First Aid rolls.

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Esoteric Medicine is not promised to be at all effective. In our world 4 humors therapy was all a crock. Chemsitry(Phlogiston) could also be a "realistic" Skill in that it was at one time studied in the Real World and it didn't actually work either.

Low-Tech has details on what Esoteric Medicine can do in a realistic campaign. It's not as good as Physician/TL5, perhaps, but still of use. It can be used to negate the -5 to Surgery for characters who lack Physician, can be used as a (poorer) substitute for anaesthesia, and some other non-drug-related stuff from Low-Tech.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

No, Esoteric Medicine has some sort of theory behind it be it 4 humors, chi flow or Ayurvedic-I-don't-really-know. It does not necessarily spring from pragmatic roots and does not normally allow a roll on the first Aid or Physician tables in Campaigns.

Esoteric Medicine is not promised to be at all effective. In our world 4 humors therapy was all a crock. Chemsitry(Phlogiston) could also be a "realistic" Skill in that it was at one time studied in the Real World and it didn't actually work either.

Should specific forms of Pseudoscience count as mundane, esoteric, cinematic, or what? That's the subjective question, in my opinion.

[Minuteman37]

Originally Posted by simply Nathan

You say Esoteric Medicine, I say First Aid TL0-4, Surgery TL0-4, and Pharmacy TL0-4.

Look the book say's post TL5 medical knowledge is divided between Physician and Pharmacy (Synthetic), so are you saying pre TL5 Pharmacy (Herbal) occupies both roles as apposed to sharing the niche with Esoteric Medicine like the Physician description text says you can?