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Here is a simple skill modifier:

Indexing: The character knows systems of filing, including the Dewey Decimal System. Can find books by subject quickly and easily. Base Skill: 50%, +5% per level. Adds +10% to the Research skill.

Blueprints: The character can draw out plans for builders to use when constructing a house. Requires Art: drawing, Carpentry, Basic Mechanics and Basic Electronics. Skill Base: 40%, +5% per level.

I'm awfully confused by your pre-requisite skills for Blueprints (Drafting).

A drafter doesn't really require any of the listed skills as pre-requisties to his work.

-Art: most drafting these days is done with a computer aided drafting program. Even if you're doing it the old fashioned way, it's mostly rulers and french curves..
-Carpentry: As a carpenter by trade, I find this one particularly out of place. Drafters do not, generally, know how to cure and select wood, the best tools for different types of cutting, or how to build and repair items made of wood. Most drafters have never swung a hammer in their lives, except to put up picture hooks in their houses.
-Basic Mechanics: Repair and maintenance of machinery doesn't really fall in the drafter's list of required skills
-Basic Electronics: Ditto to Basic Mechanics, but replace "machinery" with "wiring and circuits".

I'd like to suggest that Drafting should probably require: Computer Operation, Basic Mathematics, and Literacy.

Remember that Drafters, in general, draw the blueprints. They do not design the structure, nor deal with the engineering involved in meeting code. That's left to the Architect and the Engineer.

is there a skill for.... not sure how to word it... marketing? you know, selling stuff (effectively)? i don't know how it works so i don't think i could do it myself...

There is an Art: Drafting skill for Rifts but it has no prerequisites. I like this idea of creating one as such. Maybe it can be modified as follows:

Art: Drafting/Blueprints: The character can draw out plans for builders to use when constructing a house. Requires Computer Operation, Basic Mathematics, and Literacy. Skill Base: 40%, +5% per level.

I was JUST thinking about that, TODAY... and you got here first... dangit.

writing skills is easier said than done, if you understand what i mean.... i feel like everything's already a skill so i don't know what i'm supposed to think of. on top of that i have limited real-life experience, so i don't know what to look for to find skills that haven't been done yet.

heh... nice. time for one of mine.

Physical Skill: Positioning (TELL ME if you think of a more accurate name, PLEASE)

The character knows how to position and move their body to stay balanced effectively. This can be used to try and prevent being knocked over, do tricks like balancing a stack of books on one's head and balancing plates on sticks, and run over uneven ground and similar terrain without accidentally falling over from going too fast. Penalties for certain situations can be determined by the G.M. Base Skill: 30% +6% per level. Sense of Balance sub-skill: 80% +2% per level. Provides +1 PP.

that one seem okay?

Nice one, Taalismn.

Certain skills will be limited by education level, so none of the law skills, political science, stock market, marketing or bookkeeping would be able to be taken as secondaries. The advanced weightlifting would not be available as a secondary, either. I can see Cross-Dressing, Aerobics, Surfing, Pole Dancing and Breakdancing all available as secondaries.

The thing is that MI and SA would only really apply to certain people.
MI would be good for strictly bonuses to perception, but IQ kind of already covers that.
I really like the idea of SA, because then you could add bonuses to ISP and PPE based on it. I don't think it would add spells or psionics.
Perception and Spiritual Awareness could also be written up as skills to do the same thing.

would that last power apply in Heroes Unlimited?

i KNEW it didn't give the power of flight. I was asking if winged heroes could aquire the skill in Heroes Unlimited. I meant to say skill, not power. That was my mistake. Sorry, SG.

thank you. And speaking of powers, even though i never meant to type that, i am currently working on one called Disintegration Field. has that been done?

I think that the most logical solution is to introduce some new skills that account for training with your powers. For most characters, this would be the equivalent of a Secondary Skill (going out in your backyard and knocking down cans with your EE:Fire). Characters with a background of some special training, like a Mutant Academy or special mentor, might get the option of a Primary Skill or even full Skill Program with more flexibility.

Dan's Ruling: Characters with absolutely no training or practice with their powers get 2 "power actions" per melee, plus an additional action at 2nd, 5th, and 10th level. When combining power and other actions, use whichever number of actions per melee is lowest. This is intended for powers that aren't primarily enhancing hand-to-hand combat skill (which are otherwise covered by the standard combat rules).

Secondary Skill: Power Control
Practicing on one's own, or with minimal guidance, can mean more comfort using powers in combat. The character gains an additional power action per melee (for a total of 3) at first level, plus another at 4th, 8th, and 12th. +1 to strike with any ranged powers or +1 to initiative while using powers at 2nd, 5th, 9th, and 13th.
Selecting this skill twice means that the character spends extra time in practice, and gains an additional power action per melee. A third selection of this skill grants +1 to strike and +1 initiative at 3rd, 7th, and 11th levels.

Primary Skill: Power Instruction
Directed training by an instructor provides more focus, and access to different bonuses. Trained characters gain insight into the way their powers function, and experience using them in combat. This allows characters to combine any single-action power usage into hand-to-hand combat, or combine single-action hand-to-hand action in powered combat (as long as this doesn't result in more attacks of one type than is typically possible). Characters can combine one action per melee at first level, and an additional action at 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th levels.
This training provides one additional power action, but does not offer more as the character progresses in level. It does, however, allow the character to apply a +1 bonus to any one combat stat already enhanced by their powers at 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th levels.

Scholastic Skill Program: Power Training
Power Instruction
Power Control
Any two appropriate skill selections, depending on the souce of the training, including additional selections of Power Control

Hockey: 35/45+5/L
This skill is the knowledge of the rules of the game (1st %), and the physical skill to play the game (2nd % used in game play). Even those without this skill can play but do so with a -30 when playing against those with this skill
WP Hokey Stick (blunt): +2 Strike the puck, +1 strike another player, +3 Parry(another players stick)
+2 Parry/Block puck, +2d6 SDC, +1d6 HP, +15% skating
Prerequiste: Ice Skating

Taunt (Rogue skill)
Characters use Taunts to insult and upset their opponents. They can annoy their opponents and make them so angry that they are less effective in combat - temporarily. Taunts should be roleplayed and they should make a certain amount of sense. Calling a large man "tiny" isn't much of a taunt unless there is some secondary meaning or background note, that would make it appropriate.

Attitude is also a key. A player who is able to adopt a snide, sarcastic, and/or insulting tone when roleplaying a taunt might receive bonuses for appropriate taunts, while an uncreative player should receive a negative.
Penalties: -3 to initiative and to strike, lose 1 attack per melee and are -10% to any skill or ability rolls.

Base Skill: 20% +3% per additional level of experience. Skill Bonuses: +1% for every one M.A. attribute point above 20. A Stage Magician character is truly a master of verbose witticism and King of the Cutdown. The class gets it as a class ability, a +10% bonus AND can take an advanced course as a secondary skill for double the penalties inflicted!

Taunt Modifiers
Condition to Attack Modifier
Taunt is especially appropriate +5%
Taunt involves more than an element of truth +5%
Taunt has been tried before -10%

good job to both you you!

thanks. I really need to work on thinking of new skills...

Nice ones, but i think the skill percentage for Soaking is a bit high.

This skill is based on a subject brought up in the New Powers thread.



Mental Intuition: The character gains +1 to perception at first level, and then another +1 to perception at levels 4, 8 and 12. The character gains +1 to initiative at levels 3, 7, 11, and 15. This also adds +5% to all Divination skills.

Spiritual Attunement: The character has trained in becoming more aware of the unseen. This adds one foot per level to Presence Sense, Sense Evil, Sense Magic, See Aura, and See the invisible (whether psionic or spell). The character with this will also gain +1 ISP for every 2 MA points over 15 and +1 ISP point per level in addition to those already gained by being psychic or powers. This also adds +5% to all Divination skills.