The Religion skill ...

[Calcoran]

The <I>Religion</I> skill is often mentioned in the PG (Bajorans, Mystics, and so on) ... however it doesn't seem to exist as such in the skills list. Is it simply the <I>Knowledge(Religion)</I> skill?

[Lancer]

It's about the only explanation that would make sense. Besides, every skill in a skill group is in effect it's own skill, so I'd say it's perfectly okay to just omit the designation of the skill group (Entertain, Enterprise, Knowledge, etc.).

[Doug Burke]

Yes, it is Knowledge: Religion. Just like Energy Weapons is technically Ranged Combat: Energy Weapons and Administration is Enterprise: Administration.

[Calcoran]

Thanks a lot both .

Now the trick question: do you use knowledge:religion so often that this Bajoran species special ability really becomes an advantage?

[Dan Gurden]

Originally posted by Calcoran
Thanks a lot both .

Now the trick question: do you use knowledge:religion so often that this Bajoran species special ability really becomes an advantage?

Unfortunatly that is not a matter for the Players Guide but a matter for individual Narrators. Under the correct circumstances it could be incredibly powerful, in a setting involving clergy and the faithful... A common occurance in the Bajorans as presented on screen.

Any skill can prove useful if a Narrator picks up on it. Maybe the presence of a Bajoran character could inspire the Narrator to use a theological based government for the 'weird alien species of the week', rather than a fascist dictatorship? In which case, yes the skill will indeed prove useful...

But at the end of the day, the skill and its use in a game, both in terms of relevance and actual skill checks will fall down to the Narrator. However the use of the skill in the portrayal of the character is the realm of the player, and (I suspect) much of this will be unrolled characterisations based on the skills presence.

However, in the basest definition. as a free skill bonus that probably wouldn't be applied by 90% of relevant characters, even if it is only used a single time, then yes, it is still an advantage.

[Dave Biggins]

Well said, sir!

[Calcoran]

Beeeeep, thanks for playing with us, the correct answer was:
The character becomes a Mystic, and takes the Meditation professional ability (this must be the correct name, don't have the PG at hand ... it's a tier 2 ability AFAIR), that way he gets to roll religion tests pretty often .
(disclaimer: I seem to have stuck my tongue in the left side of my mouth ... sorry ... the answer you supplied, sir, was of course much more elegant)