Recently I started generating characters for my SF solo roleplaying campaign. As I re-read the Cepheus rules, plus some supplements that others had put together for non-SF settings, I came up with a basic question: do characters really get all of the service skills during boot camp, or just one skill?
Different Interpretations
In the Cepheus Engine SRD rules, when a character is accepted into a career, and goes into his first term, he gets all of the skills listed on the Service table at level 0. This is explained as skills that the character gains in a "bootcamp"-like fashion. A range of skills, but with only basic familiarity.
On the other hand, there are three supplements that Michael Brown has published for other settings (fantasy, pulp action and western). These all have the character roll for only 1 skill on the Service table. This skill is gained at level 1.
I asked the G+ community which approach is better. The universal answer was the first one, and I can see that. Aside from the fact that players will just always want more skills for their characters, it makes sense to me that the boot camp approach would be what happens.
Limiting the skills to the 0 level is also appropriate, because the character really has not done much yet–and if a higher level is gained, there has to be a dang good roleplaying reason.
(One more interpretation that I make is that during the character creation process, I think the player should be able to choose which skill the character gets, not have it randomly rolled. Maybe this is my background in The Fantasy Trip and GURPS speaking, but I really believe in the concept that the character is mine, and should be created the way I want, and not be subject to the vagaries of dice rolls. But that is me–and others are obviously free to follow the canon rules).
Why Do We Need Them?
Aside from how they are determined, why do characters need the skills in the first place? The reason is that Cepheus is a very skill-driven game. Yes, basic rolls are made against characteristics or the universal target number of 8, but skills are king when it comes to accomplishing tasks. The DM-3 for attempting a task where the character has no skill is a HUGE disadvantage in a 2d6 system, and the DM+1 or more is really big advantage, too.
Unlike many other games, Cepheus does not really have a normal way to improve attributes, either. The only thing that can be improved is skill levels, or gaining new ones. I have read many different discussions on what each level really equates to, from a level 1 meaning a college degree, to a level 2 meaning a teaching ability and a level 3 meaning world renown.
No matter what the skill levels mean, each level adds a significant improvement in odds that a task will be successful. In a 2d6 system, each number represents a 1/36 chance, or a 2.7% increase with each skill level. That is why players collect skills and levels like crazy–they are just worth it.
Use In Character Backstories
Another great use of skills is in developing backstories. Whether you use Zozer’s Solo like I do, or just play Cepheus straight up, taking advantage of the opportunity to explain how and why a character got each skill is just too great an opportunity to pass up.
I have to admit, in the past, I never did that. I just chalked it up and moved on to other parts of the character background. This however, gives the player the chance to add in details that can help spawn greater storylines or story hooks in the larger picture of the character.
For example, why does a character have Natural Weapons-1? Does he just love martial arts? Or did he have to learn to fight growing up on the streets, and developed a hatred of authority figures because of it? Skills can cause stories to go in directions that you might not have considered.
With all of this, I am really digging the use of skills, especially those found in boot camps. Not only do they give the character more options for play, but they also make the character more interesting.
Marko ∞
(Originally published on farjewel.com, on 10/1/2018. Since then, other books like Cepheus Light, Cepheus Ultra Light and Cepheus Modern have been published. Each has a little different take on the subject of skills in Cepheus.)
