Character Improvement Interpretation

[twells]

Was hoping for a little help here ... how would you interpret the following for the "Jack of all Trades" skill.

Per pg. 59 of the Core Book

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

The more skills a character possesses, the longer it takes him to learn a new skill. A character’s Skill Total is calculated by summing the levels of each skill (level zero skills count as zero). A character
with Mechanic 1 and Gun Combat (slug pistols) 2 would have a Skill Total of 3.

To increase a skill, a character must train for a number of weeks equal to his current Skill Total plus the desired level of the skill. So, to advance from Pilot 2 to Pilot 3 with a current Skill Total of 3 would take (three, plus three) six weeks. A character may only train one skill in a given week.

The Jack of all Trades skill cannot be learned in play.

Which interpretation would you identify with:

1. You could never learn JoT if not gained Character Gen, but you could improve it through "Learning New Skills"

2. You could never learn JoT if not gained Character Gen, nor could you improve the skill outside of Character Generation.

 

[atpollard]

1. You could never learn JoT if not gained Character Gen, but you could improve it through "Learning New Skills"

I like (1).
If MacGyver wants to practice becoming a better MacGyver,
then who am I to say 'NO'?

 

[zanwot]

If MacGyver wants to practice becoming a better MacGyver,
then who am I to say 'NO'?

The GM? Who just happens to not want one of his PCs to become wayyyy to overpowerfull compared to the others (or even worse: all the PCs to become totally universally proficient at anything)...

(I'dd go with 2, or make it at least VERY difficult to improve)

 

[dmccoy1693]

In my game, #2.

 

[Emperor Herdan]

I prefer option 1.

Just remember that all JOT does is reduce /remove the penalty for being untrained. Jot 4 or higher has no beneficial effect. (the DM being a -2 for JOT 1, -1 for JOT 2 and JOT 3 or higher is +0).

Take care

E. Herdan

 

[FreeTrav]

I never felt that JoT should be a 'levelled' skill - you either had it or you didn't - what it did was give you the "insight" that would let you 'hack' something using your other, 'inappropriate' skills and random knowledge - sort of 'thinking outside the box(es)'. As a binary (yes/no) skill, it couldn't be improved - but by improving other skills, your likelihood of being able to succeed at a 'hack' would go up.

Example: Suppose you want to get past a door that has a computer-controlled lock. The referee rules that you need Computer-2 skill. You have JoT, Electronics-2, and Intrusion-2. Because you have JoT, you are able to 'think outside the box' and see a way to use Intrusion and Electronics. The referee should allow this, without penalizing you for being unskilled, but also without having any favorable DMs that you might have been entitled to if you'd had the required Computer-2.

(Short form: If the CHARACTER has JoT, and the PLAYER can provide plausible rationalization for using different skills than the referee considered, the referee should allow the attempt without penalties for being unskilled.)

 

[RedBeardSean]

I think #2 is the intent. That's how I'm doing it in my game.

 

[Duroon]

Most definately #2, my players min-max enough as is.

 

[SSWarlock]

I go with #2 as well. You either get it from initial chargen or not at all.