Reporter
Reporters bring the news to the general populace. Sometimes that news is something as straight-forward as an interview with a legendary Starfleet captain, sometimes it is a report form a dangerous battle and sometimes it is a high-level conspiracy uncovered by the reporter himself.
Reporters excel at uncovering secrets and lies. They do so by interviewing people, through research and sometimes subterfuge. Sometimes getting to the truth is dangerous, but the story is always worth the risk.
Reporters in Star Trek: Jake Sisko
Missions: Reporters travel the length and breadth of the galaxy in search of news. Reporters usually work for organisations like the Federation News Service or FNN, although some work freelance.
Background: those with an insatiable curiosity or the drive to uncover the truth become investigative reporters. Some people become reporters because they desire to impart to others the wonders they’ve seen.
Species: within the Federation any species can become a reporter. Within the Cardassian Union and the Romulan Empire, reporters are strictly limited to the news they can report.
Game Information
Attributes: the importance of interviews and inquiries to a reporter means that Presence is the favoured attribute. With their pursuit of information and the necessity for deduction, Intellect is an important attribute. Perception is also vital, since keen observation is necessary to this profession.
Reactions: Savvy is the reporter’s favoured reaction, since he must be able to determine if the subject of his interview is telling the truth.
Reporter Professional Skills: Administration, Computer Use, Impersonate, Influence, Inquire, Investigate, Knowledge, Observe, Stealth, Streetwise.
Professional Abilities
Tier One
Connections: Reporters generally make friends with the right people and know how to persuade others to tell them what they want to know. When making an Inquire (Fraternise) test the reporter gains an affinity bonus equal to half his Influence skill level, rounding up.
Interview Technique: Reporters often enjoy reputations as seekers of the truth, which enables them to gather information from the public. Whenever a reporter makes an Inquire (Interview) skill test, he ignores all social test penalties.
Insight: Reporters are skilled at seeing through deception and getting to the truth. When making a Savvy reaction test, the reporter rolls an extra dice and keeps the highest two dice.
Secretive: Reporters do not like to reveal their stories before they see print. They know how to keep quiet or be evasive about their work until its ready for the headlines. The character adds his Intellect modifier to any Willpower reaction test he makes, doubling his bonus when resisting attempts to uncover secrets about his current story.
Tier Two
Pry Secrets: A reporter is especially good at getting people to reveal information they’d prefer to keep secret. Once per game session the reporter may re-roll an Inquire (Interview) skill test and use the better result. Prerequisite: Interview Technique.
Reporter’s Knowledge: Over the course of a career in the news reporters pick up a lot of seemingly useless information that might come in handy one day. Once per episode a reporter can recall a specific fact (not dependent on a professional skill) that pertains to the current mission. The narrator must determine what sort of information to give and how to relay it. Prerequisite: Connections.
Shadowing: the reporter excels at tailing a subject to gather information about them. When making any Stealth skill test, ignore any single environmental penalty or double any one environmental bonus. Prerequisite: Stealth 3+
Tier Three
Speculate: Reporters often do not have every fact in a story with forces them to theorise and speculate. Whenever the reporter faces an enigma that baffles the player, the character can make an Investigate (Deduce) skill test (TN15) to formulate a hypothesis assisted by the narrator. If the test is successful, the narrator gives the player a hint based on the degree of success, with greater success warranting stronger leads.
This ability exists to help players solve mysteries or link existing clues. The narrator should only guide the player and not provide outright answers. Prerequisite: Reporter’s Knowledge.
Professional Development Packages
Investigative Reporter
You are dedicated to uncovering conspiracies in high places and getting to the truth at all costs.
Skills: Administration +2, Computer Use +3, Influence +3, Inquire (Interview) +3, Investigate +2, Observe (Spot or Listen) +3, Streetwise +2.
Pick 5: +1 to any professional skill.
Pick 1 edge: Contacts, Curious, Everyman, Friendly, Shrewd.
War Reporter
Bringing the stories home from the front, that’s what you do. It is your aim to tell the people the harsh truth about war.
Skills: Administration +3, Computer Use +2, Influence +2, Inquire (Interview) +3, Investigate +3, Observe (Spot) +3, Stealth +2.
Pick 5: +1 to any professional skill.
Pick 1 edge: Dodge, Contacts, Curious, Likeable, Shrewd.
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I created this for my game, so I thought I'd post it here. Let me know what you think.
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