I'm sure I missed something...

[purpledragon]

I'm new to Traveller, but not to gaming. I'm trying to make a character, first time, using the rules out of the book. So I'm thinking I'm getting it right and then I read the example.

What I don't understand is how to know how many background skills you get based on intelligence and other things...

any help would be appreciated.

 

[cykotek]

According to p6, the number of background skills is

equal to 3 + your Education DM (1 to 5, depending on your Education score)

So, with a mid-range EDU, you choose three from your Homeworld selection. The DM is, of course, the positive or negative modifier you calculate from the base 2d6 value you rolled for the Education stat.

Note that the skills are all level-0 skills, you don't take level 0 then bump it up to level 1 with a second choice of the same skill.

Also note that the rulebook states you must take the skills for your homeworld's trade codes first, if you have extra choices they come from the following section.