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Skill Descriptions

So let’s get down to specifics and how each general piece can be used to affect a campaign. If it isn’t otherwise listed or if a character and GM are creating their own skills, items, or magic, they start with the general rules listed in the previous section. And honestly, those may be enough. If they aren’t, or if specific degrees add additional abilities over and above what is covered in the general section, this is where you’ll find them.

Although items are pretty much the same as skills and magic, we’re going to give them their own section because they generally fit into only a section or two and take up multiple pages. Also we’re going to cover mental skills in a separate section because they too need a lot more discussion and will take over whole subsections if not separated out. So for now, we’re just going to go over non-mental skills, including what might be considered magical or elemental skills.

Skill	Category	Non-Proficient? ¹⁾	Dice Type ²⁾	Effect in a Nutshell	Mana?
Acid Attack	Elemental Attack	No	Standard Damage Roll	Character produces a caustic acid with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree and level per general rules; has a residual effect where successful dice from previous round are rolled again each round thereafter until washed off	Per degree
Acrobatics	Fitness	No	Standard Skill Check	Tumbling; Leaping; Spinning on bars; Flipping; As a defensive action, add dice to any attack where acrobatics might reasonably aid in avoiding the attack; Impossible in heavy armor	One
Air Manipulation	World Effects	No	None, Standard Skill Check	Creating gusts of wind or pockets of air; generally no direct damage; can be used in conjunction with summoning	One
Ambush	Tactics, Action and Initiative, Stealth	Yes	Non-Standard	Surprising an opponent using natural cover; one or two dice per degree added to initiative with proper preparation	No
Artificial Hit Points	Hit Points	No	Standard Potency Roll	Stim-Pack; Temporarily add additional hit points above the maximum at the standard rate of two dice per degree and lasting one round per level	One
Astral Projection	Environmental Manipulation	No	Standard Skill Check	Travel in Astral Realm; mana and additional checks required to maintain presence astrally	One per Skill Check
Balance	Fitness	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Remain standing under difficult circumstances; tightrope walking; beams; walking across ice; can be used in conjunction with other skills where balance aids in its performance	No
Berserking	Action and Initiative	No	Non-Standard	Lose all defensive actions, add one additional combat action added per degree	Per Degree
Blindfighting	Force Offense	Yes	Non-Standard	Negative four dice + one die per degree	No
Bludgeoning Defense	Defense, Force Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense Roll	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) as a defensive action	Per degree
Bludgeoning Resistance	Defense, Force Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense Roll	Automatic advantages to the character themselves	None
Brute Strength	Fitness	No	Non-Standard Damage Roll, Standard Skill Check	A much greater than average strength increase all physical force melee attack rolls and other skills by one die per skill degree; move heavier and heavier objects with a skill check	No
Burning Attack	Elemental Attack, Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	Standard Damage Roll	Character creates a burning heat with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree and level; residual effect causes one die of damage per round and ignites flammables for three dice of damage per round to the character and anyone touching them until extinguished or until flammables are consumed; can used as a defense to counteract residual effects of a freezing attack	Per degree
Burning / Acid Defense	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense Roll	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) as defensive action	Per degree
Burning / Acid Resistance	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense Roll	Automatic advantages to the character themselves	No
Camouflage	Stealth	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Camouflaging oneself and allies using natural elements and colors or the presence of low light and shadows to avoid visual detection	No, One per ally
Catching	Hand-Eye Coordination, Defense	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Non-Standard Damage Roll	Catching thrown items; juggling; catching missile weapons requires a defensive action	None, Per Degree Required
Chemist	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Mix potions, explosives, herbal remedies, poisons, and other substances; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Clairvoyance / Clairaudience	Cognitive Attacks, Environmental Manipulation	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	View and/or listen to a known person or area	Per degree
Climbing	Fitness	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Climb up or down at a rate equal to walking; two dice per degree; skill check required if difficult; brute strength applies to skill check if appropriate; acrobatics applies to skill check if appropriate; balance applies to skill check if appropriate	No
Cognitive Disruption	Cognitive Attacks	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Hold, feeblemind, loss of immediate memory; effects vary	One plus one per defense success
Cognitive Domination	Cognitive Attacks	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Obey understood commands; defensive dice increase as commands become more abhorrent	One plus one per defense success
Cognitive Defense	Defense, Mental Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense Roll	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) as defensive action	Per degree
Cognitive Shielding	Defense, Mental Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense Roll	Automatic advantages to the character themselves	No
Computers and Engineering	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Program, hack, or engineer; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Controller Use	Hand-Eye Coordination	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Use a controller effectively in gaming, flying a drone, or other activities; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	One
Craftsman - Ironworking	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Forging, fixing dents, sharpening swords; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Craftsman - Jeweler	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Appraising, cutting, fashioning gems and jewelry; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Craftsman - Leatherworking	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Making leather goods; taxidermy; repairing leather armor; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Craftsman - Woodworking	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Woodcarving, carpentry; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Curing	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Damage Roll	Cure one disease or poison infection per skill degree if caught early; curing some diseases could kill the host making it an effective weapon against undead, lycanthropes, and other creatures	One
Defensive Maneuvering	Tactics, Defense	No	Non-Standard, Standard Skill Check	Defensive benefits to the character based on allies; defensive benefits to allies; tactical retreat with skill check	No or One per character
Discernment	Perception	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Reading obscure clues in the environment; finding secret doors, pressure plates, and traps.	One
Disease Attack	Elemental Attack	No	Standard Damage Roll	Character produces a disease (e.g. bacterial, viral, etc) with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree and level; residual effect based on disease type until cured	Per degree
Dual Wielding	Force Offense, Action and Initiative	Yes	Non-Standard	Each combat action becomes two combat actions, one for each weapon; negative four dice with weak hand + one die per degree; gain one die in each hand per degree after fourth	No
Earth Manipulation	World Effects	No	Standard Damage Roll, Standard Skill Check	Create barriers; move earth; skill check required if difficult; bludgeoning damage; can be used in conjunction with summoning	One
Electricity Attack	Elemental Attack	No	Standard Damage Roll	Character produces electricity with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree and level; residual effect where successful dice from projectile attack continue to arc to friend or foe until all dice are defended	Per degree
Electricity Defense	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense Roll	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) as defensive action	Per degree
Electricity Resistance	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense Roll	Automatic advantages to the character themselves	No
Emotional Defense	Defense, Mental Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense Roll	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) with defensive action	Per degree
Emotional Shielding	Defense, Mental Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense Roll	Automatic advantages to character themselves	No
Endurance	Fitness	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Intense cardiovascular activity can continue to be performed at the highest level until a skill check fails; skill checks are required at intervals of around five minutes; hold breath for two minute per degree resting, or one minute per degree with physical exertion	No
Entertainer	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Non-Standard	Sing, dance, entertain; skill check if difficult or non-proficient; increase all dice rolls of party for one round once per combat if proficient	No; Per degree
Farmer	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Farming, herding, ranching, gardening, agriculture, butchering, weather sense; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Fear / Bravery / Anger Manipulation	Emotional Manipulation	Yes	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Scare or anger an opponent	One
Fire Manipulation	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check	Create funnels of fire; redirect fire; skill check if difficult; can cause burning damage; can be used in conjunction with summoning	One
Firearms and Explosives	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Build weapons and ammunition; build non-technical explosives and deploy them effectively; skill check if difficult or non-proficient	No
First Aid	Hit Points, Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Potency Roll	Heal damage; cure poison or disease; cannot be performed during combat	No
Flying	Fitness	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Flying faster; flying for longer distances; increased maneuverability; this is granting not the ability to fly, but the ability to fly well since flying requires racial characteristics like wings or the levitation skill	No
Freezing Attack	Elemental Attack, Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	Standard Damage Roll	Cause freezing damage to opponents with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree and level; residual effect causes entrapment with successful dice from previous round rolled again with any successes meaning continued loss of action but no further damage; residual effect negated by warmth; can be used as a defensive action to combat the residual effects of a burning attack	Per degree
Freezing Defense	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense Roll	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) as a defensive action	Per degree
Freezing Resistance	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense Roll	Automatic advantages to the character themselves	No
Healing	Hit Points	No	Non-Standard Potency	Heal damage, even during combat; touch, point-to-point, area of effect based on degree; five dice per degree level	Per Degree
Heroism	Experience Levels	No	Non-Standard Potency	Unnaturally increase in experience level for a limited period of time at a rate of five dice per degree level; useful for increasing effectiveness of skills based on experience level; usually a skill of magical items like potions, not of a character or race	By degree
High Ground	Tactics	Yes	Standard Defense Roll, Standard Damage Roll	Characters with an obvious high ground advantage gain dice to appropriate attacks and defenses	No
Increased Reaction Time	Action and Initiative	No	Non-Standard	Improved reaction speed yields one initiative die per degree; 4th degree - Never surprised	No
Insight	Perception	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Understanding what a person or people might do under a certain situation; detecting moods; reading tells and quirks	One
Joy / Sadness Manipulation	Emotional Manipulation	Yes	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Cheering someone up or bringing them down; skill check if difficult or non-proficient	Per degree
Levitation	Environmental Manipulation	No	Standard Skill Check	The ability through magic or technology to move oneself around in the air without wings	None, One per Skill Check
Life and Death	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check	Speaking with the dead, speaking with undead, assuming control over undead, determining the cause of death, sensing dead or dying bodies; see description for details and degree levels	Per degree
Life Stealing	Hit Points	No	None or Standard Damage Roll vs Self	Use opponent's damage to heal oneself; if already part of a damage roll, no additional damage is caused by the damage is automatically taken to be used by the character; if performed by itself, it is itself a damage roll with the same effect	One
Light and Darkness	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check	Create light or darkness; skill check if difficult; can cause damage to some creatures with light sensitivity; can enhance stealth abilities of self or adversely affect those of an opponent	One
Luck	Dice Rolls	No	Non-Standard	Re-roll one die per degree per round on self or opponent	Per Die Affected
Mana Regeneration	Mana	No	Non-Standard Potency	One die per degree per round reduced from mana used (rolled before initiative)	No
Mana Restoration	Mana	No	Non-Standard Potency	Five dice per degree level	No on self; Per degree on others
Mana Stealing	Mana	No	Standard Damage Roll vs Self	Causes mana usage in opponent rather than physical damage; reduce the same amount from self, less what was required to use the skill	Yes
Mariner	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Sailing, knots, weather sense; skill check required if difficult or non-proficient	No
Mechanisms	Hand-Eye Coordination	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Enabling, altering, understanding, and disabling traps, locks, clockworks, snares, mines, and other mechanisms	One
Meditation	Mana	Yes	Standard Potency	Only performed on self; cannot be performed during combat; unlike first aid, this can be performed multiple times	No
Merchant	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Buying, selling, haggling; skill check if difficult or non-proficient	No
Miner	Trades	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Mining minerals, gems; detecting direction underground; detecting poisonous gases underground; detecting stability of caves and caverns; skill check if difficult or non-proficient	No
Mounted Combat	Tactics	No	Standard Damage Roll	Always used in conjunction with a force attack capable of being performed while mounted; When first action is mounted movement, attack adds two dice per degree	No
Move Silently	Stealth	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Avoid audible detection; can be used in conjunction with hide in shadows / camouflage	No
Offensive Maneuvering	Tactics, Action and Initiative	No	None	The character can lend to or borrow combat and non-combat actions from allies up to one per degree per round.	One
Parry / Disarm	Defense, Force Defense Skills	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Negate damage of one melee weapon per degree; 2nd degree - disarm possible; 3rd degree - also ranged; 4th degree - two directions; 5th degree - all directions; 6th degrees - projectile spells	Per Weapon
Personal Resistance	Defense, Personal Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense Roll	Automatic advantages to the character themselves	No
Pickpocketing	Hand-Eye Coordination	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Remove something without affecting the environment, take something from an unsuspecting victim; skill check if difficult or non-proficient	One
Piercing Defense	Defense, Force Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) with defensive action	No; Per degree
Piercing Resistance	Defense, Force Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense	Automatic advantages to character themselves	No
Plants and Fungi	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Entangling or tripping someone with plant-life; growing plants to climb or to eat; speaking with plants; can be combined with summoning; skill check if difficult; acrobatics and balance apply to defensive rolls	One
Poison Attack	Elemental Attack	No	Standard Damage Roll	Poison opponents with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree and level; for residual effect, successful dice from previous round rolled again at end of each consecutive round (unless cured)	Per degree
Poison / Disease Defense	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) using defensive action	No; Per degree
Poison / Disease Resistance	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense	Automatic advantages to character themselves	No
Politician	Trades	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Politics; law; skill check if difficult; decrease all dice rolls of opponents for one round once per combat	No; Per degree
Polymorph Other	Race	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Change race of ally or opponent; First Degree: Creatures must be the same size class; Second Degree: One size class higher or lower; Third Degree: Two size classes higher or lower; Etc.	By degree
Prescience	Dice Rolls, Environmental Manipulation	No	None	Increase or decrease defense dice by two per degree to match offense dice being rolled.	Per Die Affected
Prophecy	Dice Rolls, Environmental Manipulation	No	None	Specify two dice per degree in a pattern of 6, 4, 5, 4…	Per Degree
Psionic Attack	Cognitive Attacks, Defense Skills	No	Standard Damage Roll	Mental damage; retributive defense vs mental attacks	One plus one per defense success
Psychic	Dice Rolls, Environmental Manipulation	No	None	Modify dice comparisons to make them match up more favorably. Modify one comparison per degree per round	Per Comparison
Redirecting Conduit	Defense, Elemental Defense Skills	No	None	One projectile lightning (including arc) per degree per round rerouted to an ally, opponent, or structure	Per Redirection
Regeneration	Hit Points	No	Non-Standard Potency	One potency die per degree per round reduces damage (rolled before initiative)	No
Retaliation	Force Offense, Defense, Action and Initiative	No	None	A hit by a melee strike allows for an immediate melee strike by the character struck without regard for initiative as a free action	Per retaliation
Running	Fitness	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Running faster, running long distance, hurdling obstacles while running	No
Scholar	Trades	No	Standard Skill Check	Read, write, use magical scrolls; skill check if difficult	No; Per degree
Sensory Disruptions - Auditory	Cognitive Attacks	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Auditory illusions (e.g. voices, sounds) with range, area of effect, and duration based on level	Per max degree of all sensory disruptions
Sensory Disruptions - Olfactory	Cognitive Attacks	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Create illusions to smell and taste with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree	Per max degree of all sensory disruptions
Sensory Disruptions - Tactile	Cognitive Attacks	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Illusions to the sense of touch with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree	Per max degree of all sensory disruptions
Sensory Disruptions - Visual	Cognitive Attacks	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Illusions affecting visual senses, invisibility, dreams with range, area of effect, and duration based on degree	Per max degree of all sensory disruptions
Shape-shifting	Race	No	None	First Degree: Two Races; Second Degree: Five Races; Five additional races per degree after second; Duration: As long as desired, but unnatural shifts begin to modify character after being in a shape for longer than a day	Natural: no; Unnatural: one + one per size class difference
Slashing Defense	Defense, Force Defense Skills	No	Standard Defense	Defend self or others based on general rules (touch, point to point, area of effect) using defensive action	Per degree
Slashing Resistance	Defense, Force Defense Skills	Yes	Standard Defense	Automatic advantages to character themselves	No
Sound	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Damage Roll	Sound in environment is actually altered; sonic blast; silence	One
Space	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Teleportation of self or others; creating portals; can be used in conjunction with summoning	Per degree
Summon Animals	Summoning	No	Standard Skill Check	Summon animals to aid character; used in conjunction with trust skill over a certain animal	Per degree
Summon Plants	Summoning	No	Standard Skill Check	Summon plants to aid character; used in conjunction with plants and fungi skill	Per degree
Summon Undead	Summoning	No	Standard Skill Check	Summon undead to aid character; used in conjunction with life and death skill	Per degree
Summon Elemental	Summoning	No	Standard Skill Check	Summon elementals; used in conjunction with elemental skills	Per degree
Summon Extraplanar Entity	Summoning	No	Standard Skill Check	Summon extra-planar creatures to aid character; used in conjunction with space skill	Per degree
Surprise Strike	Stealth	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Damage from attack X skill degree; at third degree, blunt weapons knock unconscious; at fifth degree, blunt weapons knock unconscious without alerting allies; defense modified by perception of environment	No
Swimming	Fitness	Yes	Standard Skill Check	Swim faster; increased stamina in swimming through swimming conditioning and techniques; treading water indefinitely	No
Telekinesis	Environmental Manipulation	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	The ability to move items or even other creatures through the air through the use of mind, magic, or technology; weights moved are powers of ten per degree (see description)	Per degree
Telepathy	Cognitive Attacks	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Project thoughts as well as read the thoughts of others; win-loss roll if unwanted	No
Time	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Time slowing or even stopping and reversing at higher levels	Per degree
Tracking	Stealth, Perception	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Standard Win-Loss Roll	Covering up having been in a location in both urban and rural environments	One
Throwing	Hand-Eye Coordination, Fitness	Yes	Standard Skill Check, Non-Standard Damage Roll	Throwing with accuracy; throwing for distance; throwing weapons adds one die per degree	None
Trust / Disgust Manipulation	Emotional Manipulation	No	Standard Win-Loss Roll	Charm, repel opponent	Per degree
Unarmed Combat	Force Offense	Yes	Standard Damage Roll	Punch, kick, martial arts, and other non-weapon combat; third level - win/loss victory means stunned; fifth level - win/loss victory means unconscious	No
Water Manipulation	World Effects	No	Standard Skill Check	Create waves, funnel or push back water; skill check if difficult; generally no direct damage; can be used in conjunction with summoning	One
Vitality	Fitness, Hit Points	No	None	A combination of excellent health, toughness, and increased body mass give the character and additional two hit points per degree without actually increasing the size of the character from one size to another	No
Weapon Proficiency	Force Offense	No	None	Skilled with a type of weapon	No

¹⁾

Can a person without this skill try to perform it with the standard “two for trying”?

²⁾

Standard means “two for trying” plus “two dice per degree”