This is another of my favorite background articles for the 2300
AD RPG. Andy's article has helped several new players in my
campaigns design better characters, and I hope it will be of
assistance to you in yours. My thanks to Andy for granting
permission for me to host it on my web site. - Kevin Clark
- Mar. 15th, 1998.
by Andy Slack
Copyright ©1992, 1998 Andy Slack. All Rights Reserved.
Originally published in Challenge magazine #58.
HTML entry/layout/editing by Kevin Clark
( kevinc AT cnetech DOT com )
Please report errors to me.
http://www.geocities.com/pentapod2300/mag/justhow.htm
Disclaimer required by Far Future Enterprises: This item is not authorized or endorsed by Far Future Enterprises ( FFE) and is used without permission. The item is for personal use only. Any use of FFE's copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, this item cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author ( Andy Slack).
Gamers often plague referees with questions like, "How good is expertise level 2?" or "What skill level should I take in Combat Rifle?"
And when PCs encounter a new NPC, they may need to know his expertise in a particular skill.
Some referees prefer to stick to the stats for character descriptions, while others introduce characters through information-gathering tasks rather than through data alone.
No manner what method is used, the referee may want to offer players something beyond the raw numbers. He needs information that will tie a specific expertise level to the PC's life or to something the player is familiar with.
The information below provides a common ground for 2300 AD referees
and players, defining the various levels of expertise. These descriptions
are easy to use in other game systems if the skill level is changed to
reflect the appropriate chance of success. The percentage chances
of success for each skill level are listed for that purpose.
The character might have academic knowledge of the skill ( e.g., a college course), but very limited practical experience, and he might never have used the skill in a position of responsibility. For a nonacademic skill, the character might have had equivalent instruction from someone with expertise level 2 or more in the skill concerned.
Alternatively, the character could have gained a working knowledge of
the skill by supervising others with expertise level 2 or more.
The character has had at least six to 12 months of practical experience
in using the skill within the last 10 years. This might have been
as part of a team working on some project that required the skill or carrying
out an in-depth study for a company. Alternatively, the character
might have used the skill in his hobbies ( in this case, expertise level
1 usually indicates some significant output like a published paper, practical
model or patent).
The character has a lot of practical experience in using the skill and has held a position of responsibility based on his expertise ( e.g., leading a team of skilled people). He has produced something tangible by which the quality of his work can be judged ( reports, software, machinery built from scratch, etc.), and those hiring him may be able to examine this product to satisfy themselves of his skill.
He also has sufficient knowledge of skills related to his main speciality
to use those skills, but he still needs help or supervision in those areas
even for tasks that one person could undertake alone. In 2300
AD terms, he will have expertise level 1 in related skills.
The character has reached such a level of expertise in his chosen field that others seek his advice and willingly accept it. He fully understands the skill concerned and can explain it to others, including the practical limits of what can be done.
Also, the character has a good knowledge of skills and subject areas related to his primary skill. Depending on the task in hand, he might be able to operate entirely alone, with neither assistance nor supervision in those related areas. In 2300 AD, this translates to expertise level 2 in related skills.
At this level of expertise and above, the character will happily supervise
others using the skill concerned, but begins to dislike being supervised
himself because he knows perfectly well what to do.
The character has successfully completed projects in which his skill was a vital factor. Whatever he built or wrote has been working satisfactorily for one or two years since it was delivered, and the project may well be known by reputation to anyone who considers hiring the character.
The character spends a fair amount of time improving and strengthening
his knowledge of his chosen subject ( practicing, attending seminars, reading
trade journals, etc.) He is an acknowledged expert in his field and has
probably published papers on his speciality, written books about it or
appeared on television.
Characters with this level of expertise are normally famous names, known by reputation to almost everyone who uses the skill concerned. They have met most of the other people with equivalent levels of skill ( at conferences or whatever) and probably know a number of them personally.
Referees may elect to award a renown point to any player character who reaches this sort of skill level, and might want to develop non-player character contacts of equivalent expertise ( friends or rivals).
The differences between these extremely high levels of expertise can
only be detected and appreciated by other experts; most people can only
tell that these people are very good at what they do.
-Andy Slack
Back to Pentapod's World: 2300AD magazine articles menu