General How do Ranks work?

[Spinward Scout]

Trying to figure out the best way to handle what each Rank means. This is what I've come up with.

0 - Basic Understanding
1 - Amateur
2 - Professional
3 - Doctorate
4 - Specialist
5 - "OMG!! You're so awesome!" level.

I'm really surprised this isn't covered in the books. Unless I've missed it somewhere.

Does this look right to you? How would you change it?

 

[Spinward Flow]

Skill-0 is more a case of "familiarized" with a skill, rather than being actually skilled (or qualified).
Skill-1 is Qualified, can perform to minimum required standards for pay.
Skill-3 is Professional.
Skill-5 is Ace.

LBBs give an example that Medical-3 is the level of Doctor in medicine.

 

[whulorigan]

Trying to figure out the best way to handle what each Rank means. This is what I've come up with.

0 - Basic Understanding
1 - Amateur
2 - Professional
3 - Doctorate
4 - Specialist
5 - "OMG!! You're so awesome!" level.

0 - Familiarization. Knows enough to attempt a task.
1 - Journeyman Tradesman / Trained / Qualified
2 - Skilled / Experienced Tradesman
3 - Professional
4 - Specialist
5 - Expert

 

[coliver988]

and I am assuming this is for Classic: T5 is mechanically a lot different for the ranks. Somewhere I read about a conversion (1/3rd? I can't recall now). Even MegaTraveller has a different range.

Though Classic did not have rank 0 (but did have 1/2, which amounts to the same thing)

 

[whulorigan]

and I am assuming this is for Classic: T5 is mechanically a lot different for the ranks. Somewhere I read about a conversion (1/3rd? I can't recall now). Even MegaTraveller has a different range.

Though Classic did not have rank 0 (but did have 1/2, which amounts to the same thing)

CT or MgT to T5 Skill-level conversion seems to be approximately:

• [CT or MgT skill-level] = [T5 skill-level ] / 2
• (drop fractions)

 

[kilemall]

I’ve been working up a tech skill variant you may find interesting.

Instead of divisions like electronics or medical, it’s along base use lines- vehicle, bio, naval, org, device, process.

Skill-1 and/or EDU 7- means a tech- able to fix and operate, but not advanced ability.

Skill-2 and EDU 8+ means an engineer capability- tech capacity plus ability to modify and do minor design.

Skill-3 and EDU A+ means an architect- an engineer able to create new designs, research new processes and apply them to practical and theoretical uses.

Note that somebody that has Skill-3 but EDU 6 would still be a tech- perhaps the best one you’ll find, but limited.

As to the ranking….

Skill-0 Adult Ed/Six week learn not to kill oneself course.
Skill-1 Skilled Apprentice/Support
Skill-2 Professional
Skill-3 Master
Skill-4 Sensei
Skill-5+ Legendary

The above assumes CT- versions with easier skill acquisition may need to adjust a bit.

 

[McPerth]

I also guess this is for CT. I don't know about T5, but in MgT I'd say each skill is equivalent to a level highr in CT.

This assumption is based on the two facts:

• MgT gives more importance to Level 0 skills
• While in CT a Doctor is said to be level 3+, in MgT this is set at 2+

This said and based on 3+. we have dome hints about it (unless specified otherways, I'll tak about CT):

1. As said, Medic 3 makes you a doctor, so I guess we can assume this is the level for a licenciature
2. In most skills (IIRC all but Steweard), you need level 1 to act professionally
3. A sabatical (4 years) gives you skill level 2. I guess that means a University Grade.
4. (Consistent with 3 above), medical 2 (I guess a graduated nurse) gives you a +1 to cold sleep survival roll
5. In HG combat system, ship tactics adds (skill-1)/2 to computer number, So having skill 3 may be the equivalent to 1 TL difference in DMs. . (again, consistent with the equivalent to a licenciature); while skill 5 gives a +2 (s oequivalent to 2 TLs difference in DMs). Same for Pilot and Agility

I guess all those points help a little to clarify the "skilll level thresholds" for equivalences...

 

[Spinward Scout]

Sorry. This was Mongoose v2. Thanks Everybody!

 

[Daidoji Dave]

I'm really surprised this isn't covered in the books. Unless I've missed it somewhere.

Mongoose 1e had:

If a character has zero level in a skill (Skill 0), then he is competent in using that skill, but has little experience. He does not get any bonus from his skill ranks when using that skill but at least he avoids the penalty for being untrained.
If a character has one or more level in a skill (Level 1, Level 2, and so on) then he is trained in that skill. Each rank represents several years of experience using that skill. A character with Level 2–3 in a skill is a skilled professional in that field. A character with Medic 2 could be a doctor; a character with Medic 4 is a famous surgeon or specialist.

Mongoose 2e rephrased it slightly:

If a Traveller has zero level in a skill (Skill 0), then he is competent in using that skill, but probably has had little experience in actually using it. He does not get any bonus from his skill ranks when using that skill from his rank, but at least avoids the penalty for being untrained.
If a Traveller has one or more levels in a skill (Skill 1, Skill 2, and so on etc.) then he is trained in that skill. Each level represents several years of experience using that skill, and grants DM+1 per level to all skill checks using that skill. A Traveller with level 2-3 in a skill is a skilled professional in that field. A Traveller with level 4 or 5 is probably both well-respected and well-known in his field. For example, a Traveller with Medic 1 may be a paramedic or nurse, while another Traveller with Medic 2 might be a doctor. If a Traveller had Medic 3, they would likely be a very well-regarded doctor with many years of practice under their belt. A Traveller with Medic 4 or 5 would be at least world-renowned, and may well be known across several star systems for his expertise.

However there's an editing mistake here, since 2e elsewhere clarifies that skills can't go above 4, additional ranks are lost. 1e was ambiguous since it didn't say anything about rank 5 anywhere, which different groups interpreted different ways.

My short hand for new players:
0: Trained, but not experienced.
1: Skilled, with a few years experience.
2: Professional level. An NPC doctor, lawyer or ship's captain probably has Medic, Advocate or Pilot at 2.
3: A specialist in their field.
4: So good they may be famous. Though depending on their field they might be famous only to others with the skill, or a Stealth 4 character might be known for a calling card rather than by name.

 

[Enoki]

If this were in terms of sports, it would be something like:

0 = High school level athlete
1 = Colligate level athlete
2 = Minor league professional
3 = Major league professional
4 = Olympic gold medalist, hall of famer.
5 = Legendary. A household name everybody recognizes.

In terms of tradesmen it would be

0 = Apprentice
1 = Leadman
2 = Journeyman
3 = Master
4 = Top in your field
5 = Legendary

For medical types it'd be:

0 = Know first aid
1 = Medic / EMT
2 = RN or Physician's assistant
3 = Doctor / Physician
4 = Surgeon or other specialist
5 = Legendary. Invented some procedure, or is world renowned.

Now, those last two (level 4 and 5) as Dave points out may only be known in their field for some reason or another, but they're known. You drop that name and people recognize it. It may be an alias, a nickname, or the like in some cases but people know who you're talking about.

 

[vegas]

I'll give you my heuristic:

O: orientation (that is an "O" not a "0")
1: junior: trained, inexperienced
2: senior: experienced
3: expert: highly skilled
4: master: the best
5+: legendary

 

[Vargr Breath]

0 was a number you gave to a skill that someone was not trained in but had some idea how things work.

Weapons- they have seen enough movies on how to aim and pull a trigger, but not enough to field strip or maybe even load the weapon unless someone gives them a quick lesson.

Mechanical/Eletronic- you're a DIY type of person and have worked on things at your home or vehicle so you know how tools work and can help a trained person.

Medical- you have had a little first aid training from the Scouts, YMCA, Service or Work. You can take care of things you would not have to go to a doctor for, and maybe could set a splint or tie a tourniquet.

0 is for someone who has a little idea on how things work and with a little quick training can get by long enough to be a help or not kill themselves right away.

 

[kilemall]

0 was a number you gave to a skill that someone was not trained in but had some idea how things work.

Weapons- they have seen enough movies on how to aim and pull a trigger, but not enough to field strip or maybe even load the weapon unless someone gives them a quick lesson.

Mechanical/Eletronic- you're a DIY type of person and have worked on things at your home or vehicle so you know how tools work and can help a trained person.

Medical- you have had a little first aid training from the Scouts, YMCA, Service or Work. You can take care of things you would not have to go to a doctor for, and maybe could set a splint or tie a tourniquet.

0 is for someone who has a little idea on how things work and with a little quick training can get by long enough to be a help or not kill themselves right away.

I always think of Skill-0 as adult ed- a few after hours classes for several weeks.

 

[Dragoner]

In my experience, skill levels and rank don't match. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle

 

[Timerover51]

In my experience, skill levels and rank don't match. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle

I heartily agree with that comment. My wife's employer is a classic case of that. George McClellan is another classic example. Very high rank of Major General (for the U.S. Civil War), very good administrator, lousy tactical commander.

 

[Dragoner]

I heartily agree with that comment. My wife's employer is a classic case of that. George McClellan is another classic example. Very high rank of Major General (for the U.S. Civil War), very good administrator, lousy tactical commander.

One of my friend's Father was a Doctor, and he used to say in relation to how good a Doctor might be: "You know what they call the person who graduated last in class? A Doctor."

 

[kilemall]

One of my friend's Father was a Doctor, and he used to say in relation to how good a Doctor might be: "You know what they call the person who graduated last in class? A Doctor."

I tell people to not think of their doctor as medical gods but as garage mechanics with an incomplete manual.

 

[Vargr Breath]

In my experience, skill levels and rank don't match. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle

An officer could pick up a few more skill levels (5 or 6) through promotions.

 

[Dragoner]

An officer could pick up a few more skill levels (5 or 6) through promotions.

Famously, a young Army Captain is something to be, both in Traveller and T2K; undoubtedly Marc's influence. In my game there was a civil war similar to the Social War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_War_(91–87_BC) so that someone could have been promoted higher rank, ie Custer was a wartime General during the Civil War, and then were demobilized, nevertheless in the typical rules, it was sometimes a pain trying to explain why someone was a General working on a scrappy Free Trader.

 

[Condottiere]

It depends on where you place that grading curve.