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It's Like My Mind Exploded

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Mon, 2010-10-18 15:09

Aamaxu

It's Like My Mind Exploded

But not really since it's hard to repair. Greetings! I've been reading on the various new rules of EP and I'm a little confused about advantages and skills - and probably other stuff but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Also, I'm sorry if/when this has been asked before but I had hard time finding a (new) topic suited for this. Let's take Infomorph background. As I understand it, the character receives +30 points to Interfacing skill only. He also receives all computer skills (Infosec, Interfacing, Programming and Research) for free. Correct?

This is where the confusion begins. How do you actually learn skills? [b]Just by adding points to it?[/b] Does it cost something extra to buy a skill? [b]And how do I know I have a learned skill (such as Infosec from Infolife background) if I have no points in it?[/b] And when buying a skill you get background (or other) bonuses to, do you combine the aptitude of that skill with the bonus and then start increasing from there?

Then there's the Language Skill. If this skill is not selected at all for whatever reason, what language does the character speak? What determines this? To these questions I have not been able to find a clear answer yet. Help appreciated beyond reason. [color=#FF0000][EDIT][/color] Apparently I'm partially illiterate. So for an Infolife it costs half as much to buy computer skills listed in the background description, right? [color=#FF0000][EDIT 2][/color] Found the answer for the language problem! Still wondering about the skill learning though.

Mon, 2010-10-18 22:46

Wyldknight Wyldknight's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Skill learning as far as I know is done before morph bonuses apply. Things like background however actually add to the skill level. So I think the correct answer is you level it with the bonus applied. Edit: Wait I may have been confused by your question. Are you asking how much does it cost to learn skills before or after character gen?

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C-rep +1

Tue, 2010-10-19 04:25

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Right, yes, background and aptitude bonuses are applied before purchasing points for a skill. I'm talking about character generation. I know learned skills cost 1CP until skill level reaches 60, and 2CP (or double) beyond 60, and that background can adjust the cost of certain skills - like with the Infolife where Computer skills costs are reduced by half. What really confuses me is the difference between a learned skill and unlearned skill. Obviously a learned skill is a skill you have used points on and increased it to whatever number. But is there a specific cost beyond the normal 1CP / 1 point (or 2CP / 1 point at 60+) to learn a skill? For example, if I wanted Climbing, would it cost only 1CP per point to learn the skill and not, say, 5 points? There is no initial cost for acquiring skill? Thanks for the answer. I realise I might not be the most coherent inquirer.

Tue, 2010-10-19 21:24

Wyldknight Wyldknight's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Ahhhh I see what your asking. Page 153 says the price to learn a new skill is 1 RP and it starts at your aptitude rating like normal.

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C-rep +1

Wed, 2010-10-20 04:23

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

All right. So the price to learn a new skill and advancing it are the same, 1CP. I guess that answers my question about that for now. Thanks! ... Except the page says RP. Does it matter? But what about the language? If a character does not choose any language is he unable to speak words? Is it even possible not to take the language skill?

Wed, 2010-10-20 06:45

CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Double Post

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Wed, 2010-10-20 06:28

CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

The difference between Learned Skills and Unlearned Skills is, for most uses, arbitrary. So yes, as long as you have spent any CP during character creation, or any RP during actual play, you are consider to have that skill as Learned. Essentially if a skill is not equal to its linked Aptitude you can consider it Learned. That means, for example, an Infomorph (background) will also have Infosec as a Learned Skill.

Aamaxu wrote:
But what about the language? If a character does not choose any language is he unable to speak words? Is it even possible not to take the language skill?

"Native Tongue Every character receives their natural Language skill at a rating of 70 + INT for free. This skill may be raised with CP (see below)." So no, it is not possible to start with no language skills.

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Wed, 2010-10-20 08:38

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Thanks for the answers, that clears things up a lot. Sorry to have made it so terribly difficult for you. I will probably have some questions at some point since the system is devastatingly different to Pathfinder. Thanks again!

Wed, 2010-10-20 10:05

Wyldknight Wyldknight's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

No problem, it's why forums like these are around my fellow EP player.

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C-rep +1

Fri, 2010-10-22 03:40

#10

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

I return! Tactical movement, or cross-ruled paper (or similar squared game board) movement, how does it work? I wasn't able to find anything useful from the book.

Fri, 2010-10-22 04:37

#11

OneTrikPony OneTrikPony's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Aamaxu wrote:
I return! Tactical movement, or cross-ruled paper (or similar squared game board) movement, how does it work? I wasn't able to find anything useful from the book.

don't get locked into tactical movement. Grids or hex can help you keep track of where everything is from phase to phase so you can determine Line of Sight and cover but there is no Attack of Opertunity or square Area of Effect blocks or Reach zones, like you have in DnD. Many locales in the setting you'll be in lunar or micro gravity so pretty much everyone will have 3 dimentional movement. Playing on a grid before players absorb this idea will actually stifle tactical play because it doesn't encourage 3 dimentional thinking. That said: See page 190, 191, 198 As you can see movement rates change all the time depending on gravity conditions, mode of locomotion and number of Action Phases per turn. The easiest way to transfer this to a grid or hex system is to make your scale variable. Call your scale at either 2m/unit or 4m/unit depending on the situation.

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Mea Culpa: My mode of speech can make others feel uninvited to argue or participate. This is the EXACT opposite of what I intend when I post.

Fri, 2010-10-22 04:50

#12

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

I figured as much but I had to ask. Years of DnD (and occasional WoD) encourage a single-minded rules understanding. Guess I'll draw my maps on regular white paper and perhaps in third dimension too! I've longed to do that since forever. Thanks for the help yet again!

Fri, 2010-10-22 05:31

#13

OneTrikPony OneTrikPony's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

The nice thing about the DnD grid system is that it's easy to port to other games. I've used the DnD system in Shadowrun on hex map and it was pretty cool but that was with a group that enjoyed taking 5-6 hours to run through a 10 character combat and everyone had their own tape measure. I'm not suggesting that you don't use some sort of grid it reminds characters to use thier movment and the cover/concealment rules which rewards characters with faster morphs like Slitheroids, Venusian gliders, ect. But it can be a distraction from Role Play especially if you start worrying about things like AoO, Front, ect. EP doesn't exactly discourage HacknSlash but there's SOOO many other things to do in this setting besides combat. If you get out the grid every session that will be in the front of a player's mind every time he generates a character. Which is a bad thin IMHO. Good luck with your 3D maps. Scan and post them if you get a chance I'm sure I could use them.

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Mea Culpa: My mode of speech can make others feel uninvited to argue or participate. This is the EXACT opposite of what I intend when I post.

Fri, 2010-10-22 14:41

#14

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

OneTrikPony wrote:
The nice thing about the DnD grid system is that it's easy to port to other games. I've used the DnD system in Shadowrun on hex map and it was pretty cool but that was with a group that enjoyed taking 5-6 hours to run through a 10 character combat and everyone had their own tape measure. I'm not suggesting that you don't use some sort of grid it reminds characters to use thier movment and the cover/concealment rules which rewards characters with faster morphs like Slitheroids, Venusian gliders, ect. But it can be a distraction from Role Play especially if you start worrying about things like AoO, Front, ect. EP doesn't exactly discourage HacknSlash but there's SOOO many other things to do in this setting besides combat. If you get out the grid every session that will be in the front of a player's mind every time he generates a character. Which is a bad thin IMHO. Good luck with your 3D maps. Scan and post them if you get a chance I'm sure I could use them.

True, that. Maybe I'll see how it works without grids first. I don't think throwing my players to zero-g right off the bat works favourably for their game understand. We just spent roughly two hours creating their characters - and they still need to buy equipment. I'll upload the maps if they turn out to be awesome. Or maybe I'll just create 4D maps. Aww yeah.

Fri, 2010-10-22 17:06

#15

CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Aamaxu wrote:
True, that. Maybe I'll see how it works without grids first. I don't think throwing my players to zero-g right off the bat works favourably for their game understand. We just spent roughly two hours creating their characters - and they still need to buy equipment. I'll upload the maps if they turn out to be awesome. Or maybe I'll just create 4D maps. Aww yeah.

Yeah, character creation can be a bit of a bitch. Just as an aside, one method for teaching my players the combat system of EP I have used in the past is to have the first adventure be a Firewall training exercise set inside a realist Simulspace (That is if you are playing a Firewall campaign). It gives them the chance to try silly things, screw up and not have to pay for it with their awesome customized morph. It also lets you introduce Firewall as an organization that is professional, deadly and well trained. It also lets you GM handwave away anyone being killed and screwing up the flow of the game.

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Fri, 2010-10-22 19:52

#16

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

CodeBreaker wrote:
Yeah, character creation can be a bit of a bitch. Just as an aside, one method for teaching my players the combat system of EP I have used in the past is to have the first adventure be a Firewall training exercise set inside a realist Simulspace (That is if you are playing a Firewall campaign). It gives them the chance to try silly things, screw up and not have to pay for it with their awesome customized morph. It also lets you introduce Firewall as an organization that is professional, deadly and well trained. It also lets you GM handwave away anyone being killed and screwing up the flow of the game.

I actually thought something similar to this. The campaign won't start out as Firewall campaign. A question though: In the character sheet in the stats section, next to SPD (Speed) there is DB. Character sheet says DUR divided by 10. Now problem is two-fold. First, I don't know what DB stands for. Second, I suspect it stands for Damage Bonus but on page 138 it says Damage Bonus (for melee) equals SOM divided by 10. Errata didn't provide. What's the dealio?

Sat, 2010-10-23 05:32

#17

CodeBreaker CodeBreaker's picture

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

Its a mistake in the character sheet. I am almost certain it is supposed to say SOM/10 but they put in DUR/10 accidentally.

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Sat, 2010-10-23 17:51

#18

Aamaxu

Re: It's Like My Mind Exploded

CodeBreaker wrote:
Its a mistake in the character sheet. I am almost certain it is supposed to say SOM/10 but they put in DUR/10 accidentally.

Looking at Somatics, this makes sense. Thanks.