Skill cap?

[Blue Ghost]

So, there's no skill cap in T5? I.E. IQ + Edu = total skill points?

Is that right?

 

[whulorigan]

So, there's no skill cap in T5? I.E. IQ + Edu = total skill points?

Is that right?

I am not aware of one. And considering the generally higher levels of skills in T5 as compared to earlier rulesets, INT + EDU would be overly limiting in any event.

 

[Blue Ghost]

It would, but I recall a small rule conveying the such, only I forgot which edition I read it in. Ergo I posted the question here.

But thanks.

 

[whulorigan]

It would, but I recall a small rule conveying the such, only I forgot which edition I read it in. Ergo I posted the question here.

But thanks.

The INT+EDU rule was in later/revised editions of CT (perhaps TTA?), as well as MT.

 

[Sebastion Russ]

Maybe I misread it, but I recall a skill cap of 15 and a knowledge cap of 6. There is no limit based on a creatures C4 or C5. Robots have their own limitations that are based on C4 and C5.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Well, I remember it from MT and catching a blurb of it elsewhere, which is why I was puzzled why there was no reference to it in T5. Oh well. I'm glad it's gone.

 

[robject]

Maybe I misread it, but I recall a skill cap of 15 and a knowledge cap of 6. There is no limit based on a creatures C4 or C5. Robots have their own limitations that are based on C4 and C5.

I seem to recall this as well.

(searching T509....)

Quoting this just for interest:

Characteristics for Humans cannot exceed 15. If a skill award or benefit elevates a characteristic beyond 15, that benefit is lost.
Characteristics for non-Humans cannot exceed the Dice for the Characteristic +6 (if Strength is generated with 2D, then the maximum for Strength for the sophont species is 12+6=18).

Here's the actual answers.

The maximum level of a Knowledge is 6.

The maximum level for a specific Talent is usually 15.

Skill, Knowledge, and Talent Maximums
Skill-15 Career Knowledge- 6 World Knowledge- 6 Talent-15
as applicable, Skills, Knowledges, and Talents may be stacked in Tasks but not in Checks.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Thanks robject, but I think there's some miscommunication on my part. I'm talking about the total number of skills a character can have. Your character's sum total of knowledge and innate intelligence, from what I recall, were added together to give you a pool of skill points. And, as you progressed in generating your character, you tallied each additional skill or level increase as a point against that pool.

I caught that in either MT or one of the later versions of the game, but had never heard of it before until 2005 or 2007.

I mean, it didn't matter much to any gaming group I ran, because none of the characters were "super" skilled or anything, but it did have me scratching my head, wondering if I had been doing chargen wrong in the previous two decades.

But thanks for the reply. It helps.

p.s. I seem to recall that T5 beta or TNE had a skill level cap of 5 or 6...which to me just seemed odd. Maybe I'm not remembering that correctly.

 

[aramis]

Thanks robject, but I think there's some miscommunication on my part. I'm talking about the total number of skills a character can have. Your character's sum total of knowledge and innate intelligence, from what I recall, were added together to give you a pool of skill points. And, as you progressed in generating your character, you tallied each additional skill or level increase as a point against that pool.

I caught that in either MT or one of the later versions of the game, but had never heard of it before until 2005 or 2007.

I mean, it didn't matter much to any gaming group I ran, because none of the characters were "super" skilled or anything, but it did have me scratching my head, wondering if I had been doing chargen wrong in the previous two decades.

But thanks for the reply. It helps.

p.s. I seem to recall that T5 beta or TNE had a skill level cap of 5 or 6...which to me just seemed odd. Maybe I'm not remembering that correctly.

CT book 7 and MT.

It's applied at the end of CGen, reducing total levels to the sum of Int+Edu; skills can be reduced to level 0

 

[Blue Ghost]

Merchant Prince. Okay. Interesting.

 

[mike wightman]

It's also to be found in The Traveller Book on page 29.

 

[Blue Ghost]

That's interesting, because I don't recall it in the Starter Edition. Oh well. It's been 30+ years.

 

[mike wightman]

Last thing on page 16 and first on page 17.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Many thanks.

 

[kilemall]

Incidentally, this means CT robots can have more 'skills' then humans, although in most cases it will be lower INT and higher EDU.

 

[Timerover51]

The following comes from The Traveller Book, page 29.

As a general rule of thumb, a character may have no more skills (or total of levels of skills) than the sum of his or her intelligence and education. For
example, a character with UPP 77894A would be restricted to a total of 13 combined skills and levels of skills. This restriction does not applv to level -0 skills.

The key phrase is the first one: As a general rule of thumb.

To me, that says that this is not a hard and fast, set in reinforced concrete, sort of rule. It is a guideline that is generally used, but it can be tailored to the given situation. I am thinking of Dr. W. G. Grace in The Canal Priests of Mars, under the Space: 1889 rules, with a Skill Level of 9 as Marksman, to show an incredible skill in Cricket.

Not possible under Space: 1889 rules. Grace is no ordinary man.

So, if a situation develops where you need someone with an truly out of the ordinary skill level, that is not totally ruled out. What skill level in Engineering would you give Scotty on Star Trek, along with Carousing and Brawling Skills of a high level?

 

[Ackehece]

There is a cap on individual skills, talents, and knowledges in T5 but *nowhere* in the book is there a cap on total skills (skill points used) based on characteristics unlike CT.
Skill totals in T5 tend to be mich higher then in previous versions but the new task system requires the higher totals.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Skill level is not backwards compatible. I get that now. Interesting. thanks for the replies.

 

[Ulsyus]

From the MT Payers Manual p15:

Skill Limitations: No character can (at any time) have more skills (or combined total levels of skills) than the sum of Intelligence and Education.
If the character has reached this limit, he may voluntarily reduce any current skill as needed to make room for a new skill or an increased skill level in an existing skill.

 

[Ackehece]

From the MT Payers Manual p15:

but T5 is not MT so that rule need not apply :coffeesip: