House Rules
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:29 pm
--Improving and Learning New Skills--
To learn a new skill or improve a current skill you must spend a number of weeks equal to the total skill levels a character currently has Skill level 0 counts as 0, but must be obtained before skill 1 can be obtained. Example: Joe has Pilot-2, Pistol-1 and Steward-0, he has 3 total skill levels. If he wants to improve to Pistol-2, he must spend 3 weeks in training. At that point he has a total of 4 skill levels. If he then wants to learn the new skill, to him, Admin he must spend 4 weeks in training to achieve Admin-0.
--Improving Physical Characteristics--
If you work out daily, you can immediately increase your STR, END, or DEX stat by 1. If you do it for six months (game time) your stat will remain at the new level after you stop specifically training. Missing a day here and there isn't a problem, but you need to keep bringing it up IG most every day, or I might rule you backslid and have to start over. Through training the max you can reach is 12 in any physical stat.
--Library--
A library room contains computer files as well as lecterns, display screens, holotanks and even hard copies of books. A good library is useful for both research and passing time in jump space. Having a library on board a ship gives one extra week of training time for new skills per week spent in jump space. A library for a spacecraft costs MCr4 and takes up 4 tons of space. That's the Cepheus rule, but I'm going to add a cheaper software solution.
--Training Software--
For 10,000 per skill you can buy software that provides training in new or existing skills. The software combines knowledge learning and physical training through VR. Having software for a skill you are training gives one extra week of training time per week spent using the software (ie. each week of training equals 2 weeks of benefit).
--Stewards and High Passengers--
You may only charge for High Passage for passengers if you have Stewards to care for them. Each level of Steward (starting with level 0) can care for 4 High Passengers. JOAT counts as Steward-0. Anyone can be hired/assigned Steward duties. Those without any Steward skill at all can attempt to "fake it", using their SOC/3 as a DM as a modifier on an 8+ roll for Steward-0 or 10+ roll for Steward-1 at the beginning of a trip. If the ship can't provide enough levels of Stewards it must lower passengers to Middle Passage, refunding double the money to affected passengers.
--Equipment from Higher/Lower TL--
Not all equipment will be available, especially equipment from higher or lower TL's than the current planet, at the Ref's discretion. Equipment that is available from higher TL's will be at a premium and will cost ~50% more per TL above the TL of the current planet and equipment from lower TL's will cost ~5% less per TL difference.
--Jack of All Trades--
JOAT can be applied to reduce any -DM for a skill the PC doesn't have. Normally, there is a, more or less, -3DM to using skills a PC doesn't have, JOAT can reduce that negative on a point for point basis to zero, but not beyond that. Example: Jack has JOAT-2 and has no skill piloting a starship. He can reduce the -3DM to a -1 when he attempts to take over landing the ship in an emergency.
To learn a new skill or improve a current skill you must spend a number of weeks equal to the total skill levels a character currently has Skill level 0 counts as 0, but must be obtained before skill 1 can be obtained. Example: Joe has Pilot-2, Pistol-1 and Steward-0, he has 3 total skill levels. If he wants to improve to Pistol-2, he must spend 3 weeks in training. At that point he has a total of 4 skill levels. If he then wants to learn the new skill, to him, Admin he must spend 4 weeks in training to achieve Admin-0.
--Improving Physical Characteristics--
If you work out daily, you can immediately increase your STR, END, or DEX stat by 1. If you do it for six months (game time) your stat will remain at the new level after you stop specifically training. Missing a day here and there isn't a problem, but you need to keep bringing it up IG most every day, or I might rule you backslid and have to start over. Through training the max you can reach is 12 in any physical stat.
--Library--
A library room contains computer files as well as lecterns, display screens, holotanks and even hard copies of books. A good library is useful for both research and passing time in jump space. Having a library on board a ship gives one extra week of training time for new skills per week spent in jump space. A library for a spacecraft costs MCr4 and takes up 4 tons of space. That's the Cepheus rule, but I'm going to add a cheaper software solution.
--Training Software--
For 10,000 per skill you can buy software that provides training in new or existing skills. The software combines knowledge learning and physical training through VR. Having software for a skill you are training gives one extra week of training time per week spent using the software (ie. each week of training equals 2 weeks of benefit).
--Stewards and High Passengers--
You may only charge for High Passage for passengers if you have Stewards to care for them. Each level of Steward (starting with level 0) can care for 4 High Passengers. JOAT counts as Steward-0. Anyone can be hired/assigned Steward duties. Those without any Steward skill at all can attempt to "fake it", using their SOC/3 as a DM as a modifier on an 8+ roll for Steward-0 or 10+ roll for Steward-1 at the beginning of a trip. If the ship can't provide enough levels of Stewards it must lower passengers to Middle Passage, refunding double the money to affected passengers.
--Equipment from Higher/Lower TL--
Not all equipment will be available, especially equipment from higher or lower TL's than the current planet, at the Ref's discretion. Equipment that is available from higher TL's will be at a premium and will cost ~50% more per TL above the TL of the current planet and equipment from lower TL's will cost ~5% less per TL difference.
--Jack of All Trades--
JOAT can be applied to reduce any -DM for a skill the PC doesn't have. Normally, there is a, more or less, -3DM to using skills a PC doesn't have, JOAT can reduce that negative on a point for point basis to zero, but not beyond that. Example: Jack has JOAT-2 and has no skill piloting a starship. He can reduce the -3DM to a -1 when he attempts to take over landing the ship in an emergency.