Missing Species Skill?

[Eric R.]

Shouldn't law also be a species skill in that a person should know the basic laws of their own homeworld and species as while as those skills mentioned? I have already decided to include this in my Character development process. Any body have arguments pro or con on this idea?

[Silverthorne]

that would be under the culture of his race the characteres' knowledge of culture would include the laws of his people. what I do not understand is why there are 4 skills under knowledge: history(i understand), culture(no problem), religion(no problem), specific planet(what is this skill...)

[Balok]

Silverthorne, 'Specific Planet' is a Knowledge Skill. Specialties would be planets the character knows about. See page 119 for a paragraph that describes what knowledge comes with Specific Planet.

A person with Knowledge, Specific Planet (Earth) would know that a large orange and black striped animal was dangerous, without having to see the tiger's fangs and claws, for example

[Eric R.]

Originally posted by Silverthorne
that would be under the culture of his race the characteres' knowledge of culture would include the laws of his people.

I don't see how Law and culture are related. While the argument that Common Law could concieveably fall under culture I would not accept Civil or Criminal. just look at here on Earth how different crimes are delt with, here in the states graffeti gets you about nothing but in Singapore, Whack! Same crime but very different punishment. Law would suggest that you not only know of the law but the punishment it entails. Another example would be I know alot on French culture, but nothing about its traffic laws.

[Silverthorne]

The reasons I would put it under culture is that the general laws are a part of the culture, say in your examples you know that in each area murder is not allowed. If you were given the schooling for that area you would know the general punishment. As children of each culture is given the knowledge that shows them what they can do and what they should not do. Now if you wanted to study the specific laws of your planet that I would list as knowledge:lawlanet, or federaltion law. Like a lawyer would have studied the laws of his nation so that he could either defend them or bend them to suit his client.. but most people would know the general laws of their culture, as a part of their culture, not the specific laws of the culture. Think about this, as an american I know that I am not supposed to break into a house, but a Police officer or lawyer would have been taught that, the Law in question is found in certian book, what the exact definition of breaking in is.. so on. See what I am trying to say

[Imagus]

I'm with Silverthorne on this:

Knowing that laws exist, and roughly what kind of punishment you can expect for breaking them, is a function of Knowledge - Culture.

Knowing how the law works, and the specific details and exceptions, is the job of Knowledge - Law. This would tend to be known only by lawyers and law enforcement professionals.

For example, as a 33 year old Briton, I know a lot in general about this country's laws. I know that burglary, robbery, murder and incitement to racial violence are all frowned on, but little about what to expect if I am accused of it. I am not a lawyer, hence I need one to tell me what my rights were in the event of me "helping the police with their enquiries." I have no idea of specific punishments (all get imprisonment, but how much?).

A Federation citizen with Culture (Klingon) might know that killing in a duel is acceptable on Qo'noS, but not the specifics of making it a legal duel (i.e. just calling them out and then shooting them might not be acceptable). If he had Law (Klingon) then he knows the dividing line.

I'd guess that across the Federation there will be differences, although I note that the description of the Law skill lists specialties like Federation. That implies a certain amount of generalisation of legal systems across the Federation - Culture, or possibly Specific Planet, might then be needed to provide a "synchronicity bonus" (in knowledge rather than game terms) to know a specific twist. For example, Law (Federation) and Specific Planet (Betazed) might be required to know that telepathic rape will get you ten years of compulsory counselling on the Betazoid Homeworld...