Philosophy (int – trained if not own racial philosophy):
This skills allows the character to be learned in various philosophies, including the predominate cultural philosophies of elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings. This skill rating may be added to other skill rolls in situation where a greater understanding could logically help the character accomplish their goal.
For example, if a character wishes to bluff a gnome, then having level in philosophy - gnome neutralism will be helpful because the character with that skill has a greater understanding of the gnome way of thinking and thus know areas to exploit to help them in their attempt to bluff. Equally, philosophy - gnome neutralism would help a character appraise the value to gnomes of a piece of gnomish art, would add to a characters ability work diplomatically with gnomes and sooth ruffled feelings by adding to an etiquette roll.
However, philosophy - gnome neutralism would provide no assistance for the use of bluff, appraise, diplomacy or etiquette when dealing with traditional mages, elves, dwarves and so forth.
Skills the appropriate philosophy may be used to benefit include; appraise, bluff, diplomacy, etiquette, gather information, intimidate, innuendo, knowledge – arcana, knowledge – nobility, knowledge – religion, perform and sense motive. This is a cross-class skill for all classes.
Elvish Naturism: The elf philosophy that perceives little difference between an object of nature, such as the sun, and its personification, as a being possessing life in some form. It is an axiom of elves to ascribe life to most things. This philosophy covers the elvish artistic traditions – including the focus on the graceful asymmetry of plants – and traditional balanced lifestyle.
Dwarves Stoicism: The notion of morality is stern, involving a life in accordance with nature – as dwarves perceive nature – and controlled by virtue. It is an ascetic system, teaching indifference to things external to the ideal way of dwarf life. This philosophy covers the dwarf artistic traditions – including the focus on symmetric and geometric patterns – and work ethic.
Gnome Neutralism: The tradition encouraging a policy of remaining neutral in wars and other disputes that is often embraced by gnomish communities. It seeks to live a quite life in accordance with one’s surrounding and to avoid unnecessary conflict. This philosophy covers the gnome artistic traditions, including the proper way to fashion gems and useful items.
Halfling Tricksy: The philosophy encouraging one to mischievous, playful, or even dangerous tricks that are often intricate, complicated, or over elaborate. A chaotic system encouraging adherents to experience as much out of life as is possibly in as many ways as is possible, including a nomadic lifestyle. It also covers traditional halfling loyalty to family and community.
Magical Epistemology: This is a conservative human philosophy focusing on the use of supernatural power to make impossible things happen that studies the nature of magical knowledge, in particular its foundations, scope, and validity. It values competition and retaining power. The majority of spell casters, of all types, follow this school in one fashion or another.
Humanism: This is a avant-garde human philosophy focusing a system of thought that is based on the values, characteristics, and behavior that are believed to be best in human beings, rather than on any supernatural authority. It concerns itself with the needs, well-being, and interests of people and values cooperation. Mechamancy is the physical embodiment of this tradition.
This skills allows the character to be learned in various philosophies, including the predominate cultural philosophies of elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings. This skill rating may be added to other skill rolls in situation where a greater understanding could logically help the character accomplish their goal.
For example, if a character wishes to bluff a gnome, then having level in philosophy - gnome neutralism will be helpful because the character with that skill has a greater understanding of the gnome way of thinking and thus know areas to exploit to help them in their attempt to bluff. Equally, philosophy - gnome neutralism would help a character appraise the value to gnomes of a piece of gnomish art, would add to a characters ability work diplomatically with gnomes and sooth ruffled feelings by adding to an etiquette roll.
However, philosophy - gnome neutralism would provide no assistance for the use of bluff, appraise, diplomacy or etiquette when dealing with traditional mages, elves, dwarves and so forth.
Skills the appropriate philosophy may be used to benefit include; appraise, bluff, diplomacy, etiquette, gather information, intimidate, innuendo, knowledge – arcana, knowledge – nobility, knowledge – religion, perform and sense motive. This is a cross-class skill for all classes.
Elvish Naturism: The elf philosophy that perceives little difference between an object of nature, such as the sun, and its personification, as a being possessing life in some form. It is an axiom of elves to ascribe life to most things. This philosophy covers the elvish artistic traditions – including the focus on the graceful asymmetry of plants – and traditional balanced lifestyle.
Dwarves Stoicism: The notion of morality is stern, involving a life in accordance with nature – as dwarves perceive nature – and controlled by virtue. It is an ascetic system, teaching indifference to things external to the ideal way of dwarf life. This philosophy covers the dwarf artistic traditions – including the focus on symmetric and geometric patterns – and work ethic.
Gnome Neutralism: The tradition encouraging a policy of remaining neutral in wars and other disputes that is often embraced by gnomish communities. It seeks to live a quite life in accordance with one’s surrounding and to avoid unnecessary conflict. This philosophy covers the gnome artistic traditions, including the proper way to fashion gems and useful items.
Halfling Tricksy: The philosophy encouraging one to mischievous, playful, or even dangerous tricks that are often intricate, complicated, or over elaborate. A chaotic system encouraging adherents to experience as much out of life as is possibly in as many ways as is possible, including a nomadic lifestyle. It also covers traditional halfling loyalty to family and community.
Magical Epistemology: This is a conservative human philosophy focusing on the use of supernatural power to make impossible things happen that studies the nature of magical knowledge, in particular its foundations, scope, and validity. It values competition and retaining power. The majority of spell casters, of all types, follow this school in one fashion or another.
Humanism: This is a avant-garde human philosophy focusing a system of thought that is based on the values, characteristics, and behavior that are believed to be best in human beings, rather than on any supernatural authority. It concerns itself with the needs, well-being, and interests of people and values cooperation. Mechamancy is the physical embodiment of this tradition.
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