Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

For a skill with no listed Techniques but multiple specialties, eg Electronics Repair, what is the merit of 1cp in twelve specialties, giving low skills, as opposed to 12cp in one specialty, giving one professional level skill and several defaults of the same skill value as 1cp?

Is its merit only that, should a Technique be proposed, you want to be assured of access?

It was the Engineering Branch in Icelanders FLat Black Naval Officers that brought this to mind.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

If you have a GM like me, there are some rolls that he says simply cannot be rolled at default. For instance, if your ship has had a direct hit scored on your life support system, I may decide that no amount of Mechanic (Power Plant) is going to help you, and that you need at least one point in Mechanic (Life Support) in order to begin fixing it.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

You cant get situational bonuses on skills that are defaults.

DX 10 Pilot with 8 pts in Piloting = skill 12

DX 20 Super with default DX -6

Both landing on Airfield in normal conditions:

Pilot gets +4 to skill for everyday action bringing skill to 16 and lands safely

Super Rolls vs 14 and even if succeeds have bumpy landing.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

Those skills often have familiarities, which need points. As such the actual difference tends to be greater than -4, therefore more than simply putting 12 points into one skill.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

Two points here:

1. Yes, you do get situational bonuses for things being easy or hard on Defaults. Its the main way people will actually be able to succeed: because they're doing routine things.

2. Piloting defaults to IQ instead of DX, so this is a bad example.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

Sorry my bad DX/IQ

Though forgot another important reason:

You can default from skill to skill only.

So IF skill A defaults to skill B...you can use skill A as such default from B

BUT you cant default skill B from characteristic and than further default to skill A.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

That's a very good point. The pool of things which can default from another skill but not an attribute is pretty small, but isn't zero.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

Yep, you can't double default skill. Also, since different specialites are each likely to have different things that can default from them, having a point in each them (and probably a Talent too) makes you feel more like a broad generalist than a specialist.

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

Though ,on 2nd though I read somewhere in rules that you can change default characteristic if it makes more sense.

In which case Fighter pilot flying full throttle through Grand Canyon would use DX base for skill.
Fighter planes dodge would also be based on Dx ...

Right?

Re: Merit of low-skill v's default?
 

Piloting only defaults from IQ. It's normally based on DX. Which means, if you're untrained, it's better to be smart than coordinated, as you're having to figure out how everything works.
And if you're smart enough, you can buy it up from that Default level and it'll end up better (but your IQ needs to be at least 4 higher than your DX for this to be so)