Skill Focus (Attentive)

[PGoodman13]

Several development packages in the Player's Guide refer to this particular Edge as a possible choice (Religious Upbringing, for instance, as well as some of the Rogue packages). However, I can't seem to find a description of this Edge anywhere in the book. Neither has a cursory scan of the messages here yielded any information. I can't find anything about it in that errata that exists.

Have I missed it? Has it been discussed here in the past and I just haven't found it yet?

[black campbellq]

It's not in there. As a matter of fact, I just made up a forensics investigator for my wife for our campaign...here's what I went with: Skill Focus: Attentive -- +1 to observe and inquire.

[PGoodman13]

That's almost exactly what I had in mind for the edge, blackcampbell, so I'll probably go with that one myself. Thanks for the input.

Still interested if there was any quasi-official word, just out of idle curiosity. Doug?

[black campbellq]

What!?! My word's not quasi-official!?!

chuckle...

[Doug Burke]

I know I discussed this with TPTB at one time. Can't remember the result, though. Let me check my mail file when I get home and see if I can dig up the response...

[Doug Burke]

Here we go!

My question:

Skill Focus (Attentive): This crops up in a few of the development packages. Should it be dropped or replaced with (for example) Skill Focus (Keen Sight) or Skill Focus (Keen Hearing)?

Jesse Heinig's answer:

Replace references to Skill Focus (Attentive) with Skill Focus (Keen Hearing). Note that, with the guidelines on page 138 of the Star Trek RPG Player's Guide, you could make up your own Skill Focus (Attentive) -- +1 to Observe and +1 to Investigate tests would be appropriate.

This exchange took place back in June of 2003 (for those keeping track)...

[PGoodman13]

What!?! My word's not quasi-official!?!

chuckle...

Dude, we're like quasi-quasi-official. Maybe even quasi-quasi-quasi....

[PGoodman13]

Here we go!

Jesse Heinig's answer:

Replace references to Skill Focus (Attentive) with Skill Focus (Keen Hearing). Note that, with the guidelines on page 138 of the Star Trek RPG Player's Guide, you could make up your own Skill Focus (Attentive) -- +1 to Observe and +1 to Investigate tests would be appropriate.

This exchange took place back in June of 2003 (for those keeping track)...

I do wish he'd understand that being attentive and having good hearing aren't the same thing. That said, I'm glad he gave you some sort of answer...and it's pretty darn close to BCQ's and mine.

One of these days, Doug, you should really go through all your email and make a complete document of some sort with all these rulings.

[black campbellq]

I was sooooo close.

[Doug Burke]

One of these days, Doug, you should really go through all your email and make a complete document of some sort with all these rulings.

Maybe some day...

[PGoodman13]

Or forward it to me and I'll do it, since my game seems to actually be coming together. Last night, my wife and I put together her Regulan mystic, M'Kyrras. I've got two other players with characters done (a Trill scientist and an Andorian Starfleet engineer). I think one player's going to be working up a Trill merchant, and my best friend might be able to join in as well, if his class schedule lets him.

[Doug Burke]

Or forward it to me and I'll do it, since my game seems to actually be coming together. Last night, my wife and I put together her Regulan mystic, M'Kyrras. I've got two other players with characters done (a Trill scientist and an Andorian Starfleet engineer). I think one player's going to be working up a Trill merchant, and my best friend might be able to join in as well, if his class schedule lets him.

Trust me, it's a lot of correspondence. About two or three years worth involving everyone from Christian to Jesse to Matt Colville to Ross to Don to god only knows who else. I've been toying with the idea of doing support docs similar to those Matt, Jeff Tidball and I came up with for LOTR (including working with Don to correct the ships from the SOM and Starships that were messed up), but have never really gotten around to it.

The trick is setting aside the time...

[AslanC]

Doesn't Skill Focus (Blank) provide a great bonus than a +1 normally?

[PGoodman13]

Depends on how specific it is. Skill Focus (Keen Hearing), for instance, provides a +4, but it's only to one specific specialty of one specific skill. Something like Skill Focus (Seductive) grants a +2 to two skills with specialties. However, if it's granting a bonus to just a couple of general skills, it applies a +1 to both those skills.

[Doug Burke]

Doesn't Skill Focus (Blank) provide a great bonus than a +1 normally?

The guidelines are listed in the first paragraph of pg. 138 of the PG. 1 skill with specialty +4, 2 skills with specialties +2 each, 1 skill without specialty +2, 2 skills without specialties +1 each.