Newb question: Free Skill Points

[Mr. Joel]

I could not find this topic by searching, so apologies if I am beating a dead broo.

Under "Free Skill Points" on page 13, the first option is "Add to a Basic or Weapon skill score". As written, that seems to include the "Basic Close Combat" and "Basic Ranged" skills, which obviously would help every weapon type. Am I reading that wrong?

 

[Halfbat]

As you suspect, you are reading it wrong. The basic close combat/ranged values provided in the character sheets are purely for reference to apply to any other weapon your character uses (such as DEX for Martial Arts) - they are not skills, just a sum of characteristics, so can't be "trained up".

By "Basic or Weapon skill score" the rules mean Basic Skills or Weapon Skills. Prior to that the rules specifically say "add these free skill points to his skills in the following ways".