We Gots The Skills

[abe]

from a tmnt book (I forget witch) surfing
you know the sport of riding a big wave with a little board
base chance of success 35+5%
not sure if it's practicle but it's a hawaian sport that in ancient time only royalty was allowed to do.
what do you think?

[13eowulf]

from a tmnt book (I forget witch) surfing
you know the sport of riding a big wave with a little board
base chance of success 35+5%
not sure if it's practicle but it's a hawaian sport that in ancient time only royalty was allowed to do.
what do you think?

I think reprinting a skill from other books doesnt count as a new one.
I also think Surfing is a skill in Chaos Earth, the Rifts GMG, the RUE, Rifts World Books 7, 19, & 32, and Shadow Chronicles.

[taalismn]

Hmmm, am I actually going to be able to put Pilot: Drones in the Black Vault without having to take it back out later? Hopefully this one is unique enough that it isn't a repeat of something already in the books.

The only existing examples I've been able to find are from Rifts: NMI spotted the Naruni Combat Pot and there's the VRRDs, but no general skill(that I'm aware of) for the potentially HUGE number of types of possible remote operated systems.

Why better base stats for ground vehicles? Because ground vehicles are a bit more forgiving when control stops than if you're in the air or in a fast-moving current(or screaming through zero-gee in open space...Newton is a bastard...). Unless, of course, you're going 105 MPH on an icy road with your remote-control stock car.

[taalismn]

Pilot: Drones would obviously also be listed as a Pilot Advanced skill, since most who learn it will be military. That is how I categorized it in the vault though it is not specifically listed as such.

Not necessarily military...Consider Jason Jr. and the exploration of the Titanic by drone.
And increasingly, there's worry about civilian drones in the hands of paparazzi and peeping toms violating peoples' personal airspace.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Pilot: Drones would obviously also be listed as a Pilot Advanced skill, since most who learn it will be military. That is how I categorized it in the vault though it is not specifically listed as such.

Not necessarily military...Consider Jason Jr. and the exploration of the Titanic by drone.
And increasingly, there's worry about civilian drones in the hands of paparazzi and peeping toms violating peoples' personal airspace.

I would still think it would be Pilot Advanced rather than basic.

Hmmm, am I actually going to be able to put Pilot: Drones in the Black Vault without having to take it back out later? Hopefully this one is unique enough that it isn't a repeat of something already in the books.

The only existing examples I've been able to find are from Rifts: NMI spotted the Naruni Combat Pot and there's the VRRDs, but no general skill(that I'm aware of) for the potentially HUGE number of types of possible remote operated systems.

Well, good then. It seemed there for a couple days you had the misfortune of creating stuff that was already in the books.

[taalismn]

[ It seemed there for a couple days you had the misfortune of creating stuff that was already in the books.

It happens, like leaving the car lights on.

Which now makes it even harder to come up with the NEXT wholly new one.
Victims of our own success, yessirree.

[The Oh So Amazing Nate]

Thanks SG. I must have skipped over the skill %'s

[taalismn]

Thanks SG. I must have skipped over the skill %'s

The modifiers were for signal timelag. Of course, with a good expert system or AI on the drone, that becomes less of a problem...provided the system correctly anticipates what your next command was going to be(like, 'don't fly into that mountain!").

[taalismn]

W.P. Duct Tape
Skill in using rolls of duct tape(as well as fly strips and similar sticky ribbons) as entangling and thrown weapons. The roll can be handheld like a garrote, yoyo-thrown as a lasso, or thrown as a roll-projectile. Some advanced practitioners have even been known to be able to loop unreeling rolls around stanchion points to create quick trip-traps. A master of duct tape can wrap-bind a prisioner or tape-gag a target within seconds.
NO damage if used as an entangling weapon, 1 point damage if used as a thrown weapon (though the roll must weigh 1 lb. or more, and MD attacks are only possible with MD-grade duct tape and a throwing strength of Extraordinary or Supernatural). +1 to strike at levels 1, 4, 8, and 12, +1 to entangle at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12. One time bonus of +1 to entangle if using double-sided tape. The danger is, on a failed roll of 1(1-2 if using double-sided tape), the practitioner gets THEMSELVES entangled in their own sticky tape.

[NMI]

for necromancers: pilot bones
like pilot drones but you ride in flying convanses made of actural bones!
base 35+3 % per level +15% for necromancers of course.
what do you think?

Flying undead beasts fall under Horsemanship: Exotic

I figured that, but I was trying to be funny.

Wasting board space is not funny. I have yet to see you actually write a viable skill that stands up on its own.

Be nice

[13eowulf]

W.P. Duct Tape
Skill in using rolls of duct tape(as well as fly strips and similar sticky ribbons) as entangling and thrown weapons. The roll can be handheld like a garrote, yoyo-thrown as a lasso, or thrown as a roll-projectile. Some advanced practitioners have even been known to be able to loop unreeling rolls around stanchion points to create quick trip-traps. A master of duct tape can wrap-bind a prisioner or tape-gag a target within seconds.
NO damage if used as an entangling weapon, 1 point damage if used as a thrown weapon (though the roll must weigh 1 lb. or more, and MD attacks are only possible with MD-grade duct tape and a throwing strength of Extraordinary or Supernatural). +1 to strike at levels 1, 4, 8, and 12, +1 to entangle at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12. One time bonus of +1 to entangle if using double-sided tape. The danger is, on a failed roll of 1(1-2 if using double-sided tape), the practitioner gets THEMSELVES entangled in their own sticky tape.

Win. A world of Win.

[abe]

Not sure if this has already been done, vodun lore
this is the study of the religion of voodoo
base skill- 35+5 % per level

[NMI]

Not sure if this has already been done, vodun lore
this is the study of the religion of voodoo
base skill- 35+5 % per level

See the skill:

Lore: Religion
It is in various books - Nightbane, Beyond the Supernatural, Palladium Fantasy, Rifts.

[The Oh So Amazing Nate]

Not sure if this has already been done, vodun lore
this is the study of the religion of voodoo
base skill- 35+5 % per level

This. This is all I have to say.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=107188&p=2756570#p2754696

[13eowulf]

Not sure if this has already been done, vodun lore
this is the study of the religion of voodoo
base skill- 35+5 % per level

This. This is all I have to say.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=107188&p=2756570#p2754696

[taalismn]

This. This is all I have to say.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=107188&p=2756570#p2754696

DoesHead-Banging count as a subset specialization of FacePalming?
And by what margin of percentile points does a FacePalm fumble incur actual point damage(accidentally hook-shot yourself in the face or somehow get your knee involved in the operation, with possible resulting concussion)?

[13eowulf]

This. This is all I have to say.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=107188&p=2756570#p2754696

DoesHead-Banging count as a subset specialization of FacePalming?
And by what margin of percentile points does a FacePalm fumble incur actual point damage(accidentally hook-shot yourself in the face or somehow get your knee involved in the operation, with possible resulting concussion)?

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

[Stone Gargoyle]

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

Agreed.

[taalismn]

[

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

Good call!

W.P. Hula-Hoop---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously. The hula-hooper can also mesmerize or disconcert opponents with their contortions versus the actual path of their weapon; opponents must save under their M.E, or be are -1 to dodge at levels 6 and 12 of the 'hooper's level of experience.

[13eowulf]

[

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

Good call!

W.P. Hula-Hoops---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously.

I think that perhaps there should be a mesmerizing effect that creates a penalty for an attacker, or perhaps a penalty to perception to onlookers trying to see something other than the hooper

[taalismn]

[

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

Good call!

W.P. Hula-Hoops---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously.

I think that perhaps there should be a mesmerizing effect that creates a penalty for an attacker, or perhaps a penalty to perception to onlookers trying to see something other than the hooper

Only if the hooper has a good PB or is wearing a bikini(or both).

[13eowulf]

[

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

Good call!

W.P. Hula-Hoops---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously.

I think that perhaps there should be a mesmerizing effect that creates a penalty for an attacker, or perhaps a penalty to perception to onlookers trying to see something other than the hooper

Only if the hooper has a good PB or is wearing a bikini(or both).

[taalismn]

Secret to creating oddball WPs, or martial arts forms; I read a LOT of Ranma 1/2 fanfiction, and a common fanon theme is that in anime, ANYTHING can be used as the basis of a martial art or used as a weapon, no matter how outrageous....of course, a lot of that can be explained away by existing skills; 'Martial Arts Computer Hacking' can be explained as just really good Hacking skillz...and a great many martial arts weapons fall into the classes of knives, swords, blunt, and chain.
But if you look hard enough, and think OUTRAGEOUS, you can imagine some crazy applications for stuff.

[The Oh So Amazing Nate]

This. This is all I have to say.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=107188&p=2756570#p2754696

DoesHead-Banging count as a subset specialization of FacePalming?
And by what margin of percentile points does a FacePalm fumble incur actual point damage(accidentally hook-shot yourself in the face or somehow get your knee involved in the operation, with possible resulting concussion)?

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

I think he means headbanging like this

I'd call headbanging a body hardening exercise.


In regards to WP hula hoop. Yes, definitely needs a save vs distraction at mid levels. If you add effects to the hoop, fire or barbed hooks hanging from small chains. well it just gets vicious. I'd add a bonus to thrown entangles as well. I've been tripped by many a tossed hula hoop.

[Stone Gargoyle]

W.P. Hula-Hoops---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously.

Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

[13eowulf]

W.P. Hula-Hoops---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously.

Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

The world hula-hoop record is over 100 at a time, I can see +1 per level easy.

[Stone Gargoyle]

W.P. Hula-Hoops---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously.

Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

The world hula-hoop record is over 100 at a time, I can see +1 per level easy.

Fair enough.

[Damian Magecraft]

W.P. Hula-Hoops---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously.

Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

just a fyi... The gennins(sp?) record is 132 set in 2009.
A Chinese gymnast kept 208 in motion for 3 revolutions in 2011 (iirc).

The world hula-hoop record is over 100 at a time, I can see +1 per level easy.

Fair enough.

[Damian Magecraft]

Sorry about that...
Phone acting up again...

[taalismn]

[]Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

Singular it is indeed.

As for multiple hoops? Yah, as pointed out, some people can get a LOT of hoops going simultaneously. But I'd say Paired Weapons only applies if you're twirling hoops around more than one part of the body simultaneously, like torso/arm, arm/arm, or leg/arm, etc.

Also added tentative rules for 'hula-hoop mesmerization' to OP.

[Stone Gargoyle]

[]Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

Singular it is indeed.

As for multiple hoops? Yah, as pointed out, some people can get a LOT of hoops going simultaneously. But I'd say Paired Weapons only applies if you're twirling hoops around more than one part of the body simultaneously, like torso/arm, arm/arm, or leg/arm, etc.

Also added tentative rules for 'hula-hoop mesmerization' to OP.

Okay. Ultimately by being critical of it, I made more work for myself as I posted it over to the vault once already and re-posted it and deleted the version under the plural name once you edited it.

[taalismn]

[]Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

Singular it is indeed.

As for multiple hoops? Yah, as pointed out, some people can get a LOT of hoops going simultaneously. But I'd say Paired Weapons only applies if you're twirling hoops around more than one part of the body simultaneously, like torso/arm, arm/arm, or leg/arm, etc.

Also added tentative rules for 'hula-hoop mesmerization' to OP.

Okay. Ultimately by being critical of it, I made more work for myself as I posted it over to the vault once already and re-posted it and deleted the version under the plural name once you edited it.

OOps...sorry. Just listening to the attentive critics.

[NMI]

[

I think Headbanging would fall under the dance skill.....

Good call!

W.P. Hula-Hoop---The art of using a hula-hoop as a close-in melee weapon, using one’s own body(especially waist and torso) contortions to toss the hoop as a striking weapon. A standard plastic hula-hoop does 1 point of damage, though specially-made razor-edged hoops can do 1d4-1d6 damage. The hoop can also be used to parry punches and kicks, and, with a toss of the upper body, thrown as a projectile(Effective range of 50 ft) to strike or entangle. This W.P. is also one of the few that gives a bonus to physical attributes with practice: +1 to P.P.. +1 to strike and parry as a body weapon at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, +1 to strike and entangle as a thrown weapon at levels 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15. Can combat-twirl 1 hula-hoop per level of experience simultaneously. The hula-hooper can also mesmerize or disconcert opponents with their contortions versus the actual path of their weapon; opponents must save under their M.E, or be are -1 to dodge at levels 6 and 12 of the 'hooper's level of experience.

Combine this with the Dance skill

[Damian Magecraft]

[]Would this not simply be W.P. Hula Hoop? After all, W.P. Knife is still a single noun even though those using a knife might be capable of wielding more than one. Would not using more than one hula hoop at a time require extra skill anyways, similar to a paired weapons skill? Also, this implies you would be able to use 15 hula hoops simultaneously at level 15, which I think would be a bit much. I could see maybe adding another hula hoop at every third level, for a total of five at most.

Singular it is indeed.

As for multiple hoops? Yah, as pointed out, some people can get a LOT of hoops going simultaneously. But I'd say Paired Weapons only applies if you're twirling hoops around more than one part of the body simultaneously, like torso/arm, arm/arm, or leg/arm, etc.

Wouldn't Juggling be more appropriate?

[abe]

bot sure if this has been done before, but for splicers how about biotic lore which is the skill of knowing about biotics
base is 34 +5%?
tell if this has been done before & if not how to make this skill fit splicers better.

[taalismn]

bot sure if this has been done before, but for splicers how about biotic lore which is the skill of knowing about biotics
base is 34 +5%?
tell if this has been done before & if not how to make this skill fit splicers better.

I'm not sure there's any reason for a Lore: Biotic...it would be like having a Lore: Cyborg or Lore: Infantryman....both of which would be respectively covered by the appropriate Mechanical and Medical skills for the former and Military Etiquette or History for the latter.

In Splicers, Biotics don't qualify as a separate culture onto themselves...they're either regarded as equipment, the particulars of which would be known by their creators, or as combat effectives, in which case Intelligence or Military Et. would cover the important parts. Knowledge of Biotics engaged on socializing and interacting with others in their Houses could best come under Streetwise("Yeah, there's some Biotics running poker game in Tunnel Zero-three, but they use their infrared vision to read marked cards...so sez my cousin the Gardener.").

[abe]

how about this as trivia: biotics instead, just a thought anyway.

[taalismn]

how about this as trivia: biotics instead, just a thought anyway.

Same problem.
If you're talking about the peculiarities or capabilities of a House's Biotics, it comes under (Military) Intelligence. If you're talking street-level rumor, it's Sttreetwise.

The 800-lb gorilla in this argument is, of course, that Palladium has a Lore: Juicer, but not a Lore: Crazy or Lore: Cyberknight....but the counter-argument is that Juicers had press coverage going all the way back to the pre-Rifts era, whereas Crazies didn't get positive press, and Cyberknights are a more recent development and thus knowledge of their society and pseudo-culture falls into mainstream general knowledge and rumor(unless you have a professional interest in either, in which case it would be covered more succinctly under Military Intelligence).

[Stone Gargoyle]

I always thought Lore skills were more for something ancient or hard to find out about. Basic knowledge of something falls under other skills and so would not fit the description of "lore".

[The Oh So Amazing Nate]

How about Lore: 800lb Gorilla
Basically you know about 800lb Gorilla's.
base is 34 +5%

[NMI]

There is the Veterinarian skill in After the Bomb and I think Splicers.

[NMI]

Actually,I can kind of see a "Lore: Biotics" skill for the Splicers setting.
With all the various Houses in Splicers, some will have their own specific Biotic forms/styles. Yes, this could be covered by "Intelligence" or even a "Lore: Houses" skill, but not everyone is an Intelligence person.

[Stone Gargoyle]

Actually,I can kind of see a "Lore: Biotics" skill for the Splicers setting.
With all the various Houses in Splicers, some will have their own specific Biotic forms/styles. Yes, this could be covered by "Intelligence" or even a "Lore: Houses" skill, but not everyone is an Intelligence person.

It needs to be more detailed than what abe wrote, though. His skill is too general and ambiguous.

[taalismn]

Actually,I can kind of see a "Lore: Biotics" skill for the Splicers setting.
With all the various Houses in Splicers, some will have their own specific Biotic forms/styles. Yes, this could be covered by "Intelligence" or even a "Lore: Houses" skill, but not everyone is an Intelligence person.

I'd go with Lore: Houses(Technical) as that covers a greater range of topics, including some familiarity with the biotechnology(Warmounts, Dreadguard, Roughriders, and, yes, Biotics) a House possesses. I'd place the overall skill vase as 35%+5% per level of experience with the more commonly known/observed aspects a House, with a -5% penalty leveled against specific knowledge of more elite units and projects(such as the Dreadguard)

[taalismn]

Landscaping(Domestic/Technical)
Landscaping is to the outdoors what Interior Design and Architecture are to the indoors. Landscaping focuses primarily on the aesthetically-pleasing arrangement of natural elements(plants, stonework, water, and ground contours) around buildings and outdoor facilities, but it also has applications in land conservation, ground usage, erosion and flood control, military fortification and camouflage(proper landscaping can create natural barriers to easy approach and deny invaders blind spots to hide in). Elements include laying stonework, discerning and implementing proper soil drainage, and placing of appropriate plants. Landscapers can work on scales as small as a suburban house lot to a sprawling golf course or mansion, with needed tools ranging from shovels to heavy earthmoving equipment. Landscapers may also be called upon to work on projects such as flood control dikes or beach repair efforts. A failed roll means that the landscaping effort is an aesthetic flop or a terrain disaster(swampy ground where it shouldn’t be, crumbling hillsides, collapsing stonework, more rapid shoreline erosion, etc.).
Note: Landscapers get a +3% to Detect Ambush/Concealment for spotting concealed security measures and structures on landscaped grounds, and a +1 to Perception for spotting signs of deliberate landscaping(can pick up on patterns of planting or earth placement).
Prerequisites: Gardening
Base Skill: 45 % + 5% per level of experience. +5% if Botany and +3% if Geology are also taken.
+3% to Military Fortification and +5% to Camouflage skills if the landscaper has enough time and resources to spend on a thorough job.

[The Oh So Amazing Nate]

Sweet Landscaping skill Taal. Is it to much to suggest Language: Spanish be mentioned somewhere in the write up? I don't want to break any forum rules, but sometimes the things in my head just have to come out.

[abe]

Sweet Landscaping skill Taal. Is it to much to suggest Language: Spanish be mentioned somewhere in the write up? I don't want to break any forum rules, but sometimes the things in my head just have to come out.

on a show I saw on cartoon network they had a Mexican/american landscape artist, so would the Mexican language work for this skill as well?

[abe]

A specialization of cooking could be ancient with a base skill of 12+2% per level
what do you think?

[13eowulf]

Sweet Landscaping skill Taal. Is it to much to suggest Language: Spanish be mentioned somewhere in the write up? I don't want to break any forum rules, but sometimes the things in my head just have to come out.

on a show I saw on cartoon network they had a Mexican/american landscape artist, so would the Mexican language work for this skill as well?

This is all I can say.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=107188&p=2756570#p2754696

[13eowulf]

A specialization of cooking could be ancient with a base skill of 12+2% per level
what do you think?

This is redundant. Cooking IS an ancient art. There are new tools, but any chef worth their salt learned the basics first.