01-28-2010, 07:10 PM | #21 |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: near Houston
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
It doesn't make you *better* at those skills. It just gives you a special kind of default for them.
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01-28-2010, 07:24 PM | #22 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
But only a narrow range of application for each skill. It will tell you how to avoid trench foot, but not how to diagnose or treat foot ailments in general. It will tell you how to dig a field latrine but not how to build a shelter or which berries to eat. It will tell you how to drill in formation, but not how to dance a quadrille. It will tell you how to keep a rifle dry, but not how to build one. It will tell you how to put armor on quickly in the case of a sudden attack, but not how to how to quickly change clothes backstage for another trip down the cat walk. (That's Professional Skill: Model, in case you were wondering)
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01-28-2010, 08:13 PM | #23 |
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
one thing I am struggling with as well is how catch-all professional skills (like soldier) seem to resemble wildcard skills a whole lot, but without the price.
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01-28-2010, 08:18 PM | #24 | |
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
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01-28-2010, 08:42 PM | #25 |
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
They're much more limited than wildcard skills. Wildcards cover all specializations of their skills, in all circumstances, whereas professional skills cover some specializations in some circumstances. Soldier/TL 8 won't let you use Beam Weapons whereas Soldier! would. Also, each professional skill is centered around "day to day work in the profession of X" (and incidentally overlaps with some uses of other skills) whereas a wildcard is centered around "do anything involving a theme."
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01-28-2010, 08:55 PM | #26 | |
Doctor of GURPS Ballistics
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
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So if you had Electronics Operation - 12, and were going to operate a military radio, you might be rolling at +4. But if you DON'T have that, you could roll Soldier skill. No bonus. And a wildcard skill? That would also get the bonus.
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01-28-2010, 09:21 PM | #27 | ||||||||||
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
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Not really. Soldier really only gives a -4 default to a few skills in extremely narrow circumstances and that IMO, isn't even it's main purpose. Last edited by sir_pudding; 08-25-2010 at 01:03 AM. |
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01-28-2010, 09:28 PM | #28 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southeast NC
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
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Building basic field fortifications - Hadrian's Wall required engineers, a fortified camp requires trained but not particularly specialized labor. Basic heraldry - Who do you salute, and which flag do you stand under?
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01-28-2010, 09:31 PM | #29 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
This I think is covered by Savior Faire(Military) rather than Soldier.
Last edited by sir_pudding; 01-28-2010 at 10:00 PM. |
01-28-2010, 09:36 PM | #30 | |
"Gimme 18 minutes . . ."
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Re: Some questions about the Soldier skill
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Most non-comm jarheads can enter a freq in a radio, set the dials to the right settings, change batteries, enter a cryptographic fill, and talk on air in an understandable manner. I can do all that, plus I know how to set up the bigger more complicated radios and comm gear, including programming some of them. I can draw wiring diagrams of where different types of phones, radios, and computers are going in a communications net. I can estimate how many of each various size units are going to need. If something breaks, there's a small chance I can get it working again, given a soldering iron. I can operate cryptographic devices that most non-comm guys have never heard of and construct large antennas out of comm wire, spoons, and batteries. This is the difference between soldier and a dedicated skill. Soldier gives you shallow knowledge in the equipment you are issued. A dedicated skill gives you enough breadth and depth of training that you can deal with equipment that you don't normally use in less-ideal circumstances, and with a much greater understanding of WHY you're not supposed to push the red button. |
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Tags |
kromm explanation, soldier |
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