Skill Enhancers and 1-pt. Skills

[Derek Hiemforth]

Per the normal rules, a Scientist (for example) who buys a Science Skill must still spend at least 1 point on it, but for that one point, he gets an 11- roll instead of an 8- roll.

 

However, I'm wondering about characters who have a smattering of lots of Skills. Do you all think it would be abusive to allow a character with the appropriate Skill Enhancer to purchase two 8- Background Skills for 1 point (instead of one at 11-)? Why or why not?

[Intrope]

I'd say it's not abusive. 8- skills can't use skill levels, so you'd have a boatload of things you could fail at

[zornwil]

I think it's okay, 8- skills can be quite exciting in play, too!

[PhilFleischmann]

You could also give him a 11- SS: "General Science" for 1 point. To answer a very specific science question could be a -3 penalty. This is the method I use for this kind of character.

 

3 Scientist

5 SS: Human Physiology 15-

5 SS: Ergonomics 15-

4 SS: Bio-mechanics 14-

4 SS: Mechanical Engineering 14-

3 SS: Electronics 13-

3 SS: Metalurgy 13-

2 SS: Medicine 12-

2 SS: Physical Therapy 12-

1 SS: Chemistry 11-

1 SS: Physics 11-

1 SS: General Science 11-

 

This is a rather extreme example, an NPC in a campaign of mine. The scientist who invented the power armor of one of the PCs.