Skill List

Skills:

Time Lord and Human Players get 50 levels to use for skills. While any skill (past, present, and future) can be used in Dr. Who due to the nature of time travel, here are a listing of skills particular to the Dr. Who setting that are also available. Aside from this list, any player, with GM approval, can use any skill with their character. The cost of buying skills (in skill levels) is as follows:

Time Lords earn +2 skill levels for each regeneration that has been used. This reflects any skills that have been learned during a Time Lord’s long lifespan.

Check on the balance of this rule.

Note: Specialty - Some skills can be specialized for a particular race or type of skill, if appropriate, such as Gallifreyan Law. If this option is taken, a specialty skill gets a +1 bonus when used, but general use of the skill is at –1 penalty.

Default Level: Skills not listed on the character sheet are used at the Poor level. Hard Skills are used at the Terrible level by default. Very Hard Skills cannot be used at all.

Acrobatics – You can do various gymnastics and acrobatics, such as flips, somersaults, etc.

Acting – You can act as if you were someone else, or as a made up person. Helps for convincing people you’re another person, or to convince another person that what you are saying is the truth.

Administration (specialty) – You understand the legal paperwork that goes into a job or society. You can make sense out of the paper trail that follows various transactions.

Archaeology – You know how to uncover clues and relics from past civilizations. Success at this skill means you’ve uncovered a relic or information about the civilization you are researching. This information could also include such things as social customs, manner of dress, and everyday life.

Area Knowledge (specialty)– You are very familiar with a lot of places, including local eating establishments, museums, police offices, etc. Make a roll to see if you can remember where to find certain locations in a given area you’ve been before, even on a previous journey.

Astronomy – This is the study of the planets and the universe.

Battlesuit (Hard) – The operation of electronic and motorized armor used for battle.

Bench Thumping (Very Hard) – Sometimes the only way to get something to work, or to work quickly is to give it a good whack! Success with this skill causes a previously non-working object to suddenly begin functioning. Good for temperamental TARDISes.

Biology (specialty) - The study of animals, people, beings, etc. and their biological structure. This skill also includes the study of their habitat and behavioral patterns. Specialties include xenobiology, exobiology, and zoology.

Botany (specialty) – The study of plants, their biological structure and their life cycle. This includes knowledge of their habitat and origins.

Brawling – The ability to fight with your fists or any other common object laying about, such as chairs, bottles, rocks, etc. This is not boxing, but good old-fashioned fighting!

Carousing – You can party it up with the best of them. You might also get a chance for getting some useful information out of a partying buddy…

Chemistry (specialty) – The science of chemicals and their interaction with various substances.

Climbing – You can climb things like walls, mountains, etc much better than others.

Computer Operation – The operation, not programming of a computer. You can access information and get the computer to do the tasks you want it to do. At the Referee’s choice, this skill could be given for free in a post-modern setting.

Computer Programming – You can program instructions into a computer and get it to perform the tasks you want it to do. You can leave programs in to run later, to perform a series of tasks immediately.

Diplomacy – You know how to deal with people, and they are comfortable with you. You usually know the right things to say.

Disguise – With the right equipment, you can disguise yourself to look like someone else. You may need makeup and/or the correct clothes.

Driving (specialty - air, land, sea, etc.) – You can drive a particular type of vehicle, and handle it well in adverse conditions, like snow, mud, etc. You need to specify which category of vehicle you are taking a skill for (ex. Driving – land)

Earth Sciences (specialty) – The study of the Earth (or any planet) and how the geometric forces interact with each other. This includes weather, geology, and geophysics.

Economics – You understand the principle of money and how it is used in society. This understanding also includes the concept of local supply and demand, how the economy of business operates, and the use of stocks and bonds.

Electronics (specialty) – The study of electronic circuits and how they can be used for a variety of things. This can also include such sciences as bioelectronics, microelectronics, etc. You can design and build electronic components for a variety of uses.

Engineering (specialty) – You can analyze a problem and devise a solution for it. This can be combined with other skills, such as electronics to possibly create a computer, or with genetics to create new life forms.

Environmental Suit Operation (Hard) – Use of an environmental suit used for zero-G maneuvering, etc.

Escape – You are skilled at getting out of bonds and ropes that have tied you up.

Fast Draw – The ability to quickly pull out a weapon, prepared for fighting. You automatically gain the initiative the first round of combat. This only applies to the first round.

Forgery – The ability to copy a document, signature, etc. and have it look exactly like the original. This also includes the ability to counterfeit coins, paper money, legal documents, etc.

Gambling (specialty) – You are skilled in various games of chance and the odds of winning. You are also versed in the skills needed to play these games well, such as reading poker faces, tossing dice, etc. Specialties include poker, craps, gambling wheels, and animal races (horses, dogs, etc.).

Gaming – Used for various games including chess, card games, board games, alien games (Tri-Logic, etc.) You need to specify which games you are skilled at, such as Gaming – Chess.

Genetics (Hard) – This is the science of heredity and how the genetic code is used by beings.

Hacking (Hard) – You are skilled in breaking into secure computer systems and digging your way around to find the information you are looking for. This includes knowledge of computer security systems, as well as computer viruses.

History (specialty) – You are familiar with the known history of various cultures and, possibly, races. You can recite early tales and mythology, along with information about wars, and the development of the society.

Hyperspace (Very Hard) – Deals with the science of hyperspace, a dimension that some spaceships use to travel faster than light. You are skilled in what it is and how it interacts with spaceships, possibly being able to solve problems that occur with hyperspace ships such as crashes.

Interrogation – You know how to get information out of somebody one way or another. This is the hard, tough interrogation that is used to put pressure on someone to have him or her tell the player what they know about something.

Intimidation – You know how to “lean on someone” and bully them into doing what you want.

Law – You are skilled in the laws of various cultures and possibly planets. You are also familiar with the overall legal system and the operation of the courts.

Leadership – You are skilled in the ability to have others follow your lead and to command troops.

Literature (specialty) – You are well versed in the written works of various authors. You can possibly specialize in a particular genre such as science fiction, mysteries, etc.

Lockpicking – The ability to open locks without the use of the proper key. This can also apply to encoded electronic locks as well as manual tumbler locks. This is not the same as Hacking.

Martial Arts (Judo, Karate, Aikido, etc.) – You are skilled in the martial arts. This can provide a bonus during combat against someone not schooled in the fighting arts. You may also select a Technique to develop at an automatic –1 skill level. Techniques include Pressure Points, Kickboxing, Zen Archery, Venusian Aikido, etc.

Mathematics – You are skilled in the use of mathematics and it’s applications in various forms.

Mechanic – You are skilled in the repair of mechanical devices, such as engines, machinery, etc. You can even take them apart and put them back together again.

Medicine (Hard) – This is the study of healing and the human body. You can diagnose medical conditions, as well as prescribe medicine.

Meteorology – The study of the weather and the prediction of how it will be in the future.

Musical Instrument – You can play a chosen musical instrument. You have to pick one particular instrument when you take this skill, but you can have more than one skill for instruments.

Mythos Lore – You are knowledgeable about the myths and legends of various cultures.

Navigation – You are skilled in the methods of finding your way from one place to another successfully. You are skilled in finding your way with or without maps, compass, or navigation equipment. It is difficult for you to get lost.

Negotiating – You are skilled in the verbal art of give-and-take. You can talk to someone and work out an agreement that they would be satisfied with.

Occultism – The skill related to demons and the black arts.

Performance – You are skilled in performing any of your skills publicly for an audience.

Pharmacy (Hard) – The use of chemicals in treating medical conditions.

Physics (specialty) – This is the study of science as it applies to such topics as motion, light, energy, light, heat, etc. It examines the mechanics of the universe.

Poetry – You can compose and appreciate various forms of poetry. You do not need a separate skill for each form; you are familiar with most of them (depending on the difficulty level).

Poisons – You are knowledgeable about various poisons and their effects. With the right ingredients, you can make them and you certainly know how to use them.

Politics – You understand the world of politics and government and how it interacts with society.

Psychology – You understand how people think. You are also qualified to diagnose and treat mental conditions and problems.

Seamanship – The skill used in handling and controlling ships used in the water (ocean, etc.). You are familiar with the terminology as well as the methods of steering the boat. You can reasonably drive any water related vehicle.

Slight of Hand – The skill of making small objects appear and disappear without anyone seeing how you do it. This is a skill of manual dexterity and talent. The object needs to be able to be manipulated in your hands.

Stealth – You can move very quietly, with little chance of making a sound.

Streetwise – You can blend in with the occupants of a city and be able to find out sources of information.

TARDIS Operation (Very Hard) – The skill needed to pilot a TARDIS as well as operate its systems.

TARDIS Systems (Very Hard) – The skill used to do any work on TARDIS systems such as repair, sabotage, etc.

Temporal Physics (Very Hard) – Knowledge about the theories of time travel, including the ability to understand and deal with temporal paradoxes, create time loops, etc.

Thievery - You are skilled in the art of being a thief, including the removal of items from another person’s pockets without them knowing it, stealing of items from a secure location, and the setting and removal of traps.

Tracking – You are skilled in tracing the movements of a subject you are following. You can read the signs that a person has physically passed a particular location as well as follow them from a distance.

Transmat Technology (Very Hard) – A method of transportation that involves teleporting people and items from one place to another. Usually there has to be a transmitter and receiver at either end.

Traps (specialty) – You can construct and disarm traps set by others. These traps can be mechanical, but can also include electronic and computer based, as long as you have the appropriate computer skill.

Ventriloquism – You are skilled in the art of “throwing” your voice, making it appear to come from another location besides your own.

Weapon – You are skilled in the use of a particular type of weapon. You must declare the weapon type when this skill is taken, but you can have multiple weapon skills. The general types are blunt melee weapons, edged melee weapons, thrown weapons, flung weapons (bow, crossbow, catapult, etc.) and shot weapons (gun, staser, etc.)

Wrestling – The skill of hand-to-hand combat consisting of holds, throws, and grappling. You can hold someone in place for some time without them being able to move.