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<blockquote data-quote="phloog" data-source="post: 4650768" data-attributes="member: 59219"><p>How I would handle it (and obviously this makes it the only correct way):</p><p> </p><p>I would definitely avoid adding knowledge skills, and I would tend to break the fairly strict rule in 3e that says "NPCs/Monsters work like PCs".</p><p> </p><p>For NPCs, other non-PC races, monsters, etc. I would just give them situational/circumstance bonuses in the areas of interest. So rather than add a skill called Kn:Botany, I would do something like:</p><p> </p><p>Floral Elves have 5 ranks in Kn:Nature, with a +4 racial bonus to checks dealing with plants.</p><p> </p><p>For PCs, if you really have someone who wants to be an expert on Botany, I would take this potentially two ways:</p><p> </p><p>1) Variant of older Shadowrun specialization rule -- The character takes 5 ranks in Kn: Nature, but then elects to only effectively have 4 ranks in all Kn:Nature, but 6 ranks in rolls dealing with Botany. In this case, I would not charge any extra for this, unless the player specializes in something that is universally great. I would also allow them to break the Level + 3 rule in their one area of specialization. you could potentially allow them to take TWO off the general to add two to the specialization.</p><p> </p><p>2) Add specialization feats. As a variant of Skill Focus: <<SKILL>>, have a category called Focused Study: <<KNOWLEDGE SKILL>>. The prerequisites might simply be ranks in the Knowledge under consideration. I'd have a hard time determining the bonus though...it would have to be far better than the general Skill Focus, and all the caveats above would apply.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="phloog, post: 4650768, member: 59219"] How I would handle it (and obviously this makes it the only correct way): I would definitely avoid adding knowledge skills, and I would tend to break the fairly strict rule in 3e that says "NPCs/Monsters work like PCs". For NPCs, other non-PC races, monsters, etc. I would just give them situational/circumstance bonuses in the areas of interest. So rather than add a skill called Kn:Botany, I would do something like: Floral Elves have 5 ranks in Kn:Nature, with a +4 racial bonus to checks dealing with plants. For PCs, if you really have someone who wants to be an expert on Botany, I would take this potentially two ways: 1) Variant of older Shadowrun specialization rule -- The character takes 5 ranks in Kn: Nature, but then elects to only effectively have 4 ranks in all Kn:Nature, but 6 ranks in rolls dealing with Botany. In this case, I would not charge any extra for this, unless the player specializes in something that is universally great. I would also allow them to break the Level + 3 rule in their one area of specialization. you could potentially allow them to take TWO off the general to add two to the specialization. 2) Add specialization feats. As a variant of Skill Focus: <<SKILL>>, have a category called Focused Study: <<KNOWLEDGE SKILL>>. The prerequisites might simply be ranks in the Knowledge under consideration. I'd have a hard time determining the bonus though...it would have to be far better than the general Skill Focus, and all the caveats above would apply. [/QUOTE]
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