Environmental Skill deals with relationships between intelligent life and nature. An environmental specialist has training in astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry. ecology and geology. There are nine Environmental subskills: Analyze Samples. Analyze Ecosystem, Find Direction, Survival, Make Tools/ Weapons. Tracking, Stealth, Concealment and Naming.
When an environmentalist is dealing with an alien or unknown environment, he has a -20 modifier on his rolls to analyze samples or the ecosystem, find direction. track or use survival.
ANALYZING SAMPLES
Success Rate: 50% + skill level
An environmental specialist can analyze atmospheric, biological or geological samples.
An environmental specialist can use a vaporscanner to analyze atmospheric samples. If the analysis succeeds. the vaporscanner will indicate whether the air is breathable or poisonous, and what gases are present
The specialist needs a bioscanner to analyze a biological sample. If the analysis succeeds, the bioscanner will indicate what type of plant or animal the sample was, and whether it is edible or poisonous.
A geoscanner can be used to analyze geological samples. If the analysis succeeds, the geoscanner indicates what minerals are present in the sample and the possibility of finding rich ore or gas in the area.
ANALYZING ECOSYSTEMS
Success Rate: 30% + skill level
An ecosystem is the combination of all the plants and animals that make up the local environment, and their relationships to each other. If an ecosystem is upset or thrown out of balance, entire species can become extinct and whole regions devastated by floods. droughts or other natural disasters. One of the environmental specialist's jobs is to analyze local ecosystems and determine whether they are balanced and. if not, to determine what can be done to restore balance. An environmentalist must spend at least 200 hours studying the area to use this subskill.
FINDING DIRECTIONS
Success Rate: 50% + skill level
An environmental specialist can try to find directions in a wilderness without a compass or other aid. If the specialist makes a map or marks a trail (by cutting notches in trees or lining up rocks), his chance to find a direction on that path is increased 30%.
SURVIVAL
Success Rate: 40% + skill level
This subskill gives a specia1list a chance to do several things related to survival: find food or water (if any is available in the area), find or improvise shelter, and set or avoid traps. If a trap is set in a built-up area (city, farm community, etc.), there is a 50% chance it will be noticed. This subskill also lets the environmental specialist make a special Intuition check to predict natural disasters.
MAKING TOOLS/WEAPONS
Success Rate: 100% (if materials ere available)
An environmental specialist can make tools and weapons out of stones, sticks, cords, and other natural materials. Only bows, axes, clubs, knives and spears can be made. Only the spear can be balanced well enough to use as a thrown weapon. The referee may allow an environmentalist to improvise tools and weapons from wreckage and scrap parts.
TRACKING
Success Rate: 30% + skill level
An environmental specialist has a chance to follow a creature. person or machine by watching for its trail. This skill works only in the wilderness, not in settled areas. The specialist also can use this subskill to cover his own tracks.
STEALTH
Success Rate: 20% + skill level
Stealth is the ability to move without being seen or heard. This ability is useful for stalking animals, but also can be used to sneak up on guards or follow suspects.
CONCEALMENT
Success Rate: 10% + skill level
Concealment is the art of hiding in natural cover. Once concealed, there is an 80% chance the specialist will not be seen as long as he does not move or make noise.
NAMING
Success Rate: 100%
One of the benefits of being an environmental specialist is that when he discovers a new plant, animal, mountain range, sea, etc., he is allowed to name the new discovery. |