What is a skill?
A skill is defined as:
1. Proficiency, facility, or dexterity that is acquired or developed through training or experience.
2. An art, trade, or technique, particularly one requiring use of the hands or body.
3. A developed talent or ability: (i.e. writing skills.)
4. A reason; a cause. (Obsolete)
Skills aren’t superpowers; they’re areas of expertise that anyone can learn, given time, aptitude, and training. A skill reduces difficulty in an action testing its ability for that purpose only. For example, Archery helps with Agility actions using bows, while Dimensional Geography aids Intellect actions concerning other realities.
How does a skill work?
A skill is only granted if your character has achieved mastery of that skill through training and/or experience. Skills grant the character a bonus in any action where the skill may be of use and an adittional bonus on top of the standard bonus when that skill is World Class (noted by the skill being underlined.) Being World Class at a skill means that your character may be considered a world authority on the topic.
Your character does not need a skill listed in order to make an attempt at using it or even to use it well. A listed skill is used for a bonus to be awarded for the character’s extended study and thorough understanding. For example, a character would not need Driving in order to get to work in their Geo. They would not need the skill if they were a taxi driver. This skill is actually used to cover the ability to pilot any land bound vehicle - from motorcycle to an eighteen-wheeler with the proficiency of a professional stunt driver or someone with similar extened training.
Note: Due to the MWI Room not being a table top game, our conversion of bonus for character stats is slightly different from that of the SAGA’s brand of MSHAG. In order to complete a challenging task (challenging task is defined by an SMer or STer) a player must succeed via a dice roll under: Attribute/Power Intensity + Skills + Bonus.
A = 4 points.
B = 3 points.
C = 2 points.
D = 1 point.You get +1 bonus for world class skills. This bonus -may- be increased or decreased at the discretion of a storyteller or scenerio master to reflect additional factors such as relevant skills or situational difficulties.
Additionally you may add in your edge for a bonus as well. Keeping in mind that Edge is your character’s all out exertion to get the job done, this bonus is not permitted to be used every dice roll.
What are some skills available?
Strength Skills: Axes, Boxing, Brawling, Climbing, Clubs, Garrotes, Hammers, Hyper-Breath, Martial Arts Weapons, Natural Weapons, Shields, Sonic Slam, Spears, Swords, Whips, Wrestling
Agility Skills: Acrobatics, Aerial Combat, Archery, Artillery, Boomerangs, Construction, Contingent Attack, Demolitions, Disguise, Driving, Equestrian, Escape Artistry, Fast Exit, Flinging, Gadgetry, Marksmanship, Martial Arts, Navigating, Piloting, Repair, Ricochet, Skating, Skiing, Sleight of Hand, Slings, Surfing, Thievery
Intellect Skills: Scientific Genius*, Aeronautics, Archeology, Architecture, Assessment, Astronomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Bionics, Chemistry, Computers, Criminology, Cryptography, Dimensional, Geography, Electronics, Energy Control, Espionage, Genetics, Geology, History, Journalism, Law, Linguistics, Lore, Mechanics, Medicine, Mythology, Occult, Oceanography, Photographic Memory, Physics, Psychiatry, Radiology, Robotics, Sociology, Spacecraft, Super-Physiology, Time Machinery, Trivia, Weapon Systems
Willpower Skills: Animal, Handling, Art, Finance, Intimidation, Law Enforcement, Leadership, Manipulation, Meditation, Mental Control, Mesmerism, Military, Observation, Performing, Photography, Politics, Survival, Taunting, Teaching, Tracking, Trance, Writing
*This skill breaks the rules of ability codes by allowing the hero up to eight starting science skills (and over time, as many science skills as he chooses), but no other skills in any other skill suit (none for strength, none for agility, and none for willpower.)
A full list of skills and attributes can be found at the following: Strength & Agility and Intellect & Willpower