I agree with all the aboveHvalreki wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:27 am Don't forget, A Traveller character is not merely the sum of his or her expertise (Skills)!
Skills are just something you are very, very good at. Skill 1 is enough to get a paying job...
Gabe served a term in the Imperial Marines and lived to tell about it. He can likely do anything you'd expect a fully trained Marine to be able to do without needing a specific skill or making any rolls in order to do so.
Probe a mine field, conduct a reconnaissance, set an ambush, call for fire support, perform basic first aid, interrogate a prisoner, shine the hell out of some boots, etc...
Just announce what you're doing (based on your background, characteristics, skills or whatever) and assume you're capable of doing it. If you're not I'll let you know. I always assume character competence.
But like to point out that within a year of the LBB's being published, Marc Miller himself (perhaps with some goading by Chadwick) began to depart from the OG model, with Books 4 & 5 adding more specific skills like Comms, Recon, Instruction, and Liaison. In the original game, any ex-Military character would be assumed to know how to do the first two, and any officer or non-com all four. As you point out, Gabe can operate a field radio or perform a basic recce, but he might be a bit wobbly giving a class or command briefing as those are in the officers' realm.What I do like is that all his current skills have some crunchy benefit outside of the task resolution system. Eg. Tactics gives the whole party an initiative bonus, and Vacc Suit would let Gabe suit up in Combat Armour, IF and when he comes across it
And on that note...
"I do' know dis B-1 you talking about, but yeah, fighters an' low-orbit gun shuttles are our best fren'. Personal, I rather call the strike before I walk inna the ambush!"
