3. The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

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The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

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Bushw4cker

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The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« on: <10-05-16/0040:07> »
I have been compiling a list of Knowledge Skills for a while, and have recently begun revising it.

Updated List (Thanks for All the Responses!)


WHAT EVERY RUNNER SHOULD KNOW                                 
Trid Shows                                 
Word On The Street                                 
Current Events                                 
Literature                                 
History                                 
Local Area Knowledge                                 
Music                                 


STREET KNOWLEDGE SKILLS                                 
Syndicates                                 
 (Yakuza +2)                                 
Local Gangs                                 
 (Street Gangs +2)                                 
Shadow Community                                 
 (Deckers +2)                                 
Street Drugs                                 
 (Dealers +2)                                 
Corporate Politics                                 
 (Saeder-Krupp +2)                                 
Local Politics                                 
 (Judicial +2)                                 
National Politics                                 
 (UCAS Presidental +2)                                 
Global Politics                                 
 (Europe +2)                                 
Word On The Street                                 
 (Grudges +2)                                 
Small Unit Tactics                                 
 (Fire Shield +2)                                 
Munitions                                 
 (Lasers +2)                                 
Global Hotspots                                 
 (Asia +2)                                 
Mercenary Groups                                 
 (Private Contractors +2)                                 
Security Companies                                 
 (Lone Star +2)                                 
Combat Tactics                                 
 (Ambush +2)                                 
Underworld                                 
 (Wetwork +2)                                 
Local Area Knowledge                                 
 (Safe Houses +2)                                 
Sprawl Life                                 
 (Uninhabited Squats +2)                                 
Security Tactics                                 
 (Astral Intruder +2)                                 
Dark Magic                                 
 (Blood Magic +2)                                 
Astral Phenomena                                 
 (Astral Rifts +2)                                 
Magic Theory                                 
 (Chaos Magic +2)                                 
Magical Threats                                 
 (Insect Spirits +2)                                 
Astral Denizens                                 
 (Free Spirits +2)                                 
Magical Societies                                 
 (Mana +2)                                 
The Metaplanes                                 
 (Metaplane of Air +2)                                 
HMHVV Infected                                 
 (Vampires +2)                                 
Laws                                 
 (UCAS +2)                                 
Rumors                                 
 (Street +2)                                 
Gambling                                 
 (Matrix Gambling Sites +2)                                 
Alcohol                                 
 (Elven Wines +2)                                 
Gear Appraisal                                  
 (Weapons +2)                                 
Fences                                 
 (Seattle +2)                                 
Emergency Response                                 
 (Docwagon +2)                                 

ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE SKILLS                                 
Economics                                 
 (Macroeconomics +2)                                 
Physics                                 
 (Particle Physics +2)                                 
Material Science                                 
 (Metallurgy +2)                                 
Psychology                                 
 (Behavioral +2)                                 
Sociology                                 
 (Urban +2)                                 
Kinesics                                 
 (Facial +2)                                 
Geography                                 
 (Physical Geography +2)                                 
Magic Background                                 
 (Manatech +2)                                 
Parageology                                 
 (Ley Lines +2)                                 
Parazoology                                 
 (Juggernauts +2)                                 
Parabotany                                 
 (Crimson Orchid +2)                                 
Paranormal Animal                                 
 Mating Habits                                 
 (Behemoths +2)                                 
Botany                                 
 (Herbalism +2)                                 
Earth Science                                 
 (Geology +2)                                 
Biology                                 
 (Genetics +2)                                 
Anatomy                                 
 (Human +2)                                 
Chemistry                                 
 (Biochemistry +2)                                 
Law                                 
 (Corporate +2)                                 
Literature                                 
 (Fantasy +2)                                 
History                                 
 (German +2)                                 
Pharmacology                                 
 (Awakened Drugs +2)                                 
Mathematics                                 
 (Algebra +2)                                 
                                 
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE SKILLS                                 
Mechanical Engineering                                 
 (Aerospace +2)                                 
Civil Engineering                                 
 (Structural Engineering +2)                                 
Electrical Engineering                                 
 (Electronics +2)                                 
Chemical Engineering                                 
 (Microfabrication +2)                                 
Architecture                                 
 (Commercial +2)                                 
Business                                 
 (Entertainment +2)                                 
Military                                 
 (Army +2)                                 
Military Science                                 
 (Logistics +2)                                 
Security Design                                 
 (Access Control +2)                                 
Matrix Security Design                                 
 (Corporate +2)                                 
Talismongering                                 
 (Foci +2)                                 
Criminal Justice                                 
 (Policing +2)                                 
Forensics                                 
 (Magical +2)                                 
Firefighting                                 
 (Prevention +2)                                 
*Veterinary Medicine
 (Paranormal Critters +2)

* I almost think this should be an Active Technical Skill.

INTEREST KNOWLEDGE SKILLS                                 
Jokes                                 
 (Troll Dick Jokes +2)                                 
Insults                                 
 (n00bs +2)                                 
Current Events                                 
 (UCAS +2)                                 
Social Networks                                 
 (P 2.1 +2)                                 
Social Engineering                                 
 (Pretexting +2)                                 
Matrix Games                                 
 (Dunkelzahn’s Quest XII +2)                                 
Simsense Entertainment                                 
 (Porn +2)                                 
Trid Shows                                 
 ("Reality" +2)                                 
Music                                 
 (Gob Rap +2)                                 
Sports                                 
 (Urban Brawl +2)                                 
Fashion                                 
 (Mens +2)                                 
                                 
LANGUAGE SKILLS                                 
Lip-Reading                                 
Japanese Sign                                 
Tactical Sign Language                                 
Iconography                                 
Sperethiel                                 
Or'zet                                 
Sperethiel                                 
Mandarin                                 
Spanish                                 
English                                 
Hindi                                 
Arabic                                 
Portuguese                                 
Bengali                                 
Russian                                 
Japanese                                 
German                                 

LINGOS                                 
 (Cityspeak +2)                                 
 (Creole +2)                                 
 (Street +2)                                 
 (‘l33tspeak +2)                                 
 (Milspec +2)                                 
 (Corp +2)                                 
 (Orbital +2)                                 






« Last Edit: <10-07-16/0722:33> by Bushw4cker »
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Reaver

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #1 on: <10-05-16/0656:23> »
Some other useful knowledge skills my players have thown my way: 《Be warned, we bluecollar workers!》

Metallurgy: helps with demolitions by knowing the fracture and stress strengths of various metals and alloys.

Engineering/design/drafting: helps to read and understand construction blueprints, schematics and designs. (Helpful for infeltrations)

Anatomy: infomation extration. (You know how to hurt with out serious harm)

Electrical engineering: understand how electricity works, how its supplied, maintained, used and installed in buildings and equipment. (Cause sometimes the best way to defeat security is to turn off the power!)

Emergency Response tactics: if you know how they are going to come at you, that's a huge advantage!

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Jack_Spade

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #2 on: <10-05-16/0811:41> »
You can go absolutely wild with knowledge skills but I generally find it best to have a few staples as a runner:

Magic Theory: Know what mages and spirits can and can not do.
Underworld: Know what your local criminal scene looks like
Small Unit Tactics: The most powerful knowledge skill in existence with actual mechanics attached
Gangs: If you are in a city you'll have to deal with them sooner or later.

Business and Math: Understand how the corporations think and which numbers have to be involved for them to send a HTR after you
History: A general understanding of what happened where and when helps to understand the present immensely
Language (Understanding): It's always useful to be able to listen to someone talking without having to rely on machine translation.

After that you can get a bit of specialized knowledge added to flesh out your character (Knowledge: Architecture is always useful to find your way in and out of places)
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ZeldaBravo

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #3 on: <10-05-16/1334:27> »
Face-ish characters (the guys and girls who can interact with people without pointing a weapon at them) may find Bureaucracy (Government/Corporate) and Laws (Region) very useful.
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Bushw4cker

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #4 on: <10-05-16/1640:20> »
Quote from: Reaver on <10-05-16/0656:23>
Some other useful knowledge skills my players have thown my way: 《Be warned, we bluecollar workers!》

Metallurgy: helps with demolitions by knowing the fracture and stress strengths of various metals and alloys.

Engineering/design/drafting: helps to read and understand construction blueprints, schematics and designs. (Helpful for infeltrations)

Anatomy: infomation extration. (You know how to hurt with out serious harm)

Electrical engineering: understand how electricity works, how its supplied, maintained, used and installed in buildings and equipment. (Cause sometimes the best way to defeat security is to turn off the power!)

Emergency Response tactics: if you know how they are going to come at you, that's a huge advantage!

I have most listed, except Emergency Response Tactics, which I will add to list.  Thanks )

I have Metallurgy as a Specialization of Material Sciences. I think Electrical Engineering could either be stand alone Knowledge or Specialization of Engineering.. what do you think?

Material Science
 (Metallurgy +2)

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Bushw4cker

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #5 on: <10-05-16/1652:15> »
Quote from: Jack_Spade on <10-05-16/0811:41>
You can go absolutely wild with knowledge skills but I generally find it best to have a few staples as a runner:

Magic Theory: Know what mages and spirits can and can not do.
Underworld: Know what your local criminal scene looks like
Small Unit Tactics: The most powerful knowledge skill in existence with actual mechanics attached
Gangs: If you are in a city you'll have to deal with them sooner or later.

Business and Math: Understand how the corporations think and which numbers have to be involved for them to send a HTR after you
History: A general understanding of what happened where and when helps to understand the present immensely
Language (Understanding): It's always useful to be able to listen to someone talking without having to rely on machine translation.

After that you can get a bit of specialized knowledge added to flesh out your character (Knowledge: Architecture is always useful to find your way in and out of places)

I agree with all except I think Gangs is way too broad of a Knowledge Skill. I think it should be Local Gangs or a specific city/place, like Chicago Gangs.
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Bushw4cker

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #6 on: <10-05-16/1715:09> »
Quote from: ZeldaBravo on <10-05-16/1334:27>
Face-ish characters (the guys and girls who can interact with people without pointing a weapon at them) may find Bureaucracy (Government/Corporate) and Laws (Region) very useful.

I will add Laws to list.

I already have Corporate Politics, Local Politics, National Politics, and Global Politics. I think that would cover Bureaucracy, or Bureaucracy could be specialization..


Full Definition of bureaucracy
plural bureaucracies

    1
    a :  a body of nonelective government officials b :  an administrative policy-making group

    2
    :  government characterized by specialization of functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority

    3
    :  a system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation

     

Full Definition of politics

    1
    a :  the art or science of government b :  the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy c :  the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government

    2
    :  political actions, practices, or policies

    3
    a :  political affairs or business; especially :  competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government) b :  political life especially as a principal activity or profession c :  political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices

    4
    :  the political opinions or sympathies of a person

    5
    a :  the total complex of relations between people living in society b :  relations or conduct in a particular area of experience especially as seen or dealt with from a political point of view <office politics> <ethnic politics>





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Bushw4cker

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #7 on: <10-05-16/1720:51> »
Thanks for the Replies

Added these Knowledge Skills to List..

Emergency Response Procedures
 (Docwagon +2)
Pharmacology
 (Awakened Drugs +2)
Word On The Street
 (Grudges +2)
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Kuirem

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #8 on: <10-05-16/1815:43> »
Pharmacology sounds a bit like a mix of Chemistry + Medicine or maybe Chemistry + Biology. There is definitely overlap either way but I don't think it's too bad for knowledge skill.
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Reaver

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #9 on: <10-05-16/1923:10> »
engineers and electrical engineers are totally different. Like fighter pilots and race car drivers.

In fact 'engineer' is a very broad and general term. Aircaft, structural, automotive, robotic, mechanical (and many more) are all specialized engineers that cover different things.

And electrical engineer doesn't care about things like material stresses of a airplane, or the fracture point of compressed steel, they are concerned with power effeciency, power requirements and power generation....

But then again, this IS a game, not a real life simulator. Want to throw your players a bone and lump them together, go ahead :D
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Bushw4cker

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #10 on: <10-05-16/2016:26> »
Quote from: Reaver on <10-05-16/1923:10>
engineers and electrical engineers are totally different. Like fighter pilots and race car drivers.

In fact 'engineer' is a very broad and general term. Aircaft, structural, automotive, robotic, mechanical (and many more) are all specialized engineers that cover different things.

And electrical engineer doesn't care about things like material stresses of a airplane, or the fracture point of compressed steel, they are concerned with power effeciency, power requirements and power generation....

But then again, this IS a game, not a real life simulator. Want to throw your players a bone and lump them together, go ahead :D

You are right.

What do you think of this breakdown?

Mechanical Engineering
 (Aerospace +2)
Civil Engineering
 (Bridges +2)
Electrical Engineering
 (Electronics +2)
Chemical Engineering
 (Microfabrication +2)
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Bushw4cker

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #11 on: <10-05-16/2027:22> »
Quote from: Kuirem on <10-05-16/1815:43>
Pharmacology sounds a bit like a mix of Chemistry + Medicine or maybe Chemistry + Biology. There is definitely overlap either way but I don't think it's too bad for knowledge skill.

I don't think Biology would help much with Pharmacology
I think Medicine would be useful in knowing what drugs to prescribe/administer
Chemistry could help you create drugs.
Pharmacology would help you design drugs and know how they will effect the metahuman body.
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Reaver

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #12 on: <10-05-16/2103:36> »
Looks pretty good.

Keep in mind there are lots of other specializations that might come up.
(Players are sneaky that way!)
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Where am I going? And why am I in a hand basket ???

Remember: You can't fix Stupid. But you can beat on it with a 2x4 until it smartens up! Or dies.

FancyDerek

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #13 on: <10-05-16/2135:19> »
As far as the Language Cityspeak... it's a Lingo so it should be a specialization of the base language. IMHO, of course.
When I GM it's primarily English\Japanese pidgeon so English(city speak) and Japanese (City speak).
2 guys conversing in Japanese(city speak) talking to each other do so without DP penalty,
One guy talking English(city speak) to another guy who speaks Japanese(city speak) do so with a -2DP penalty as they're each speaking their base language with smatterings of the other guys language.

Of course, if you view city speak as being like Blade Runner then it''s so convoluted English and Japanese; with lesser elements of Spanish and Cantonese; with a few words here and there from other languages,, that yes, it would be it's own language.
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Kuirem

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Re: The More You Know! (Knowledge Skills Every Runner Should Have!)

« Reply #14 on: <10-06-16/0145:03> »
Biology can absolutely have a speciality on how drugs affect the human body. While the part of knowing how to design drugs would fall into Chemistry.
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