Basic Training for Point Buy Chars

[zero]

Just a quick question, is the Basic Training (aka level 0 for all service skills/just one service skill dependant on career number) a required purchase for point buy characters or is it given for free or something?

I ask because seeing a three term point-buy character recently, after the minimum characteristic points were spent and 6pts went to three benefit rolls, it left 15 points (35-14 = 21-6pts = 15pts).

The character had Jack of All Trades level 1 (10 pts) and then 5pts went to a handful of skills, less than Basic Training gave, plus a free level 1 skill due to skills package.

Powerplaying to an extent, but the exact number of points were all accounted for, however I see the char really struggling as they have less skill than a basic trained character, despite having Jack of All Trades 1.

Any opinions on this would really help, and get my game off the ground that much quicker.

 

[rust]

Just a quick question, is the Basic Training (aka level 0 for all service skills/just one service skill dependant on career number) a required purchase for point buy characters or is it given for free or something?

I am not aware of any rule which would require the purchase of the servi-
ce skills, and I very much doubt that they would be given for free.

In my opinion this is one of the areas where the referee has to decide how
things are in his setting and campaign.
For example, if a character does not have the minimum of service skills, I
would consider it as impossible for him to get an advancement or be pro-
moted, and in many careers I would most probably give him a negative
modifier on the survival roll - if he lacks the skills to do his job properly,
that should have consequences.

 

[zero]

So pretty much a required purchase then? I was going to go with that, but I wanted to check here first.

Thanks :wink:

 

[rust]

So pretty much a required purchase then?

The way I would handle it, yes. The character is assumed to have entered
a career and learned the basic skills of that career, so he should have the-
se skills.
However, I would be generous if the player wanted to replace one of the
service skills with a similar one that also makes sense for the career and
fits into the setting. For example, a Civilian character could take Seafarer
instead of Flyer or Gun Combat instead of Melee Combat if his background
makes this sufficiently plausible.

 

[CosmicGamer]

While Basic Training is not specified, I believe it would have been if it was required for a character to take them. So my judgment is that the rules do not require Basic Skills to be acquired. Just like background skills are not received. Feel free to allocate points and role play that they are part of basic training or background. But I don't think these should be free.

I see the char really struggling as they have less skill than a basic trained character

Spending 10 pts on JoT drags the character down.

a three term point-buy character recently, after the minimum characteristic points were spent and 6pts went to three benefit rolls, it left 15 points (35-14 = 21-6pts = 15pts).

So lets use these 15 points as follows:

Simulating 3 background L0 skills = 3pts
Simulating 6 basic training L0 skills = 6 pts
Simulating one of the three events gives a L1 skill which improves upon a level 0 skill already obtained = 1pts
Simulating one L1 skill per term and assume one is a common skill already acquired in basic training and is an improvement from L0 to L1 (1 pts) and one is a new skill at L1 (2pts) and one is an increase of a level 1 skill to a level 2 skill (2pts) 1+2+2 = 5 pts

3+6+1+5 = 15pts

Result and double check calculation:
7 level 0 skills = 7pts
2 level 1 skills = 4pts
1 level 2 skill = 4pts
7+4+4 = 15

Any opinions on this would really help, and get my game off the ground that much quicker.

If you want something closer to the default chargen system but with more control, try the Select Skills method.

Point buy is not meant to be a 1:1 simulation of the random char gen system but I believe it creates a fairly balanced alternative while allowing specialized character creation that may fit a players perception of what they would like to play or fits the needs a GM has for a NPC. Want a Navy character without worrying about failing the enlistment qual? Done. Want a character to be a high ranking officer without that troubling advancement role? Done. Want a Scout with language skills? Done

Note - Scouts don't have a language skill on any of their tables but point buy allows them to gain this skill.

In the OP's case, it looks like the player really wanted that JoaT. In random chargen they may not have got it or it may not even been a possibility in the chosen careers tables.

 

[TC]

You might want to point out that JoaT-1 only means that they can attempt a skill roll at -2. If you let them in the first place. Just doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[BP]

It does better one's odds for average skill checks for one a party may lack - from ~8% to 17%. With a +1 stat DM that brings the odds to 28%.

From the point buy system it is definitely a trade-off - since a max of 9 points buys you 3 +1 DMs from skills (IIRC that system?) - which can be applied to non-skilled and leveled skill checks... as well as to task checks which have no skills associated.

 

[rinku]

You might want to point out that JoaT-1 only means that they can attempt a skill roll at -2. If you let them in the first place. Just doesn't seem worth it to me.

Hmm... don't forget that it's not possible to train it up later. If it wasn't priced high everyone would take it, which would be a bit boring.