ad&d revised secondary skills

7/23/2019 AD&D Revised Secondary Skills

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SECONDARY SKILLSSecondary skills are bundles of related skill sets that can be possessed by nonplayer characters and! or player characters" #hese skill bundles represent aperson$s ability to perfor% actions &ithin the skill description &ith an e'pertise(reater than those &ithout" It is i%portant to note that) &hen applyin( thissyste%) the Dun(eon *aster %ust be a&are that those atte%ptin( to perfor%actions that are co+ered by a secondary skill or class skill &hich they do notpossess can not perfor% the% as &ell as other characters or nonplayercharacters" #his allo&s the secondary skills to ha+e so%e %eanin( in the (a%e",or e'a%ple) the Subornin( skill includes the ability to bribe" Consider t&ocharacters) Aldous and -ensley) atte%ptin( to bribe a local %a(istrate" Aldoushas the Subornin( skill and -ensley does not" -ribery is a charis%a based skill"So both &ould %ake a charis%a check to deter%ine if they successfully bribethe o.cer of the la&" -ecause Aldous has the Subornin( skill) he is allo&ed toadd a bonus to his charis%a check" #his roll is %odi/ed by di.culty and otherconsiderations the Dun(eon *aster %ay dee% appropriate"

#he follo&in( section describes &hat secondary skills are in (eneral) ho& toac0uire the%) apply secondary skills in the (a%e) ad1ust rolls) a description ofthe secondary skills and ad+ice on e'pandin( the list of secondary skills"

23A# ARE SECONDARY SKILLSSecondary Skills are really bundles of skills) abilities and capabilities that re4ector incorporate certain sets of social skills) intellectual abilities or physicalcapacities" ,or e'a%ple) bullyin( a5ects a character$s ability to (rapple)inti%idate) punch) and threaten opponents" As this e'a%ple sho&s) secondaryskills are a broad set of abilities that can be structured under one cate(ory"#hese are abilities or capacities a character has and) by possessin( the%) he is

better able to perfor% the% than those &ho do not possess the%"

AC67IRIN8 SECONDARY SKILLSSecondary skills are ac0uired by an e'penditure of e'perience points" Acharacter %ust e'pend e'perience points to (ain these skills" #he e'periencepoints e'pended can not be used for class le+el ad+ance%ent" #he cost ine'perience points for skills depends upon the type and le+el of the skill" Also)skills can be i%pro+ed upon" #he /rst ac0uisition of an ability %eans thecharacter has a le+el one skill" #he second ac0uisition of that skill indicates thecharacter has a le+el t&o ability" #hese le+els can increase as hi(h as the

character desires" Each skill le+el ac0uisition is considered separate forad+ance%ent purposes"#here are three classi/cations of skills as pertains to cost9 8eneral Skill) :ri%eSkill and Non;:ri%e Skill"

8ENERAL SKILL9 #hese skills are open to all":RI*E SKILL9 #his skill is pri%e speci/c and %ore easily learned by a character&ith that pri%e"NON;:RI*E SKILL9 #his refers to the ac0uisition of skills that are pri%e speci/cbut for &hich the character does not ha+e a pri%e"

Each Skill has a base cost in e'perience points" #he ac0uisition of that skillcosts that a%ount" #hereafter) the cost is the base %ultiplied by the le+el oneis attainin(" ,or e'a%ple) ac0uirin( a le+el three pri%e skill costs


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e'perience points" One can only (o up a le+el one at ti%e" One can not buythree le+els in one fell s&oop" Skill le+els can only be (ained after at least oneclass le+el is attained" ,or e'a%ple) a >rdle+el character can purchase a skillbut can not purchase another skill or skill le+el until ?th le+el in the class isattained"In so%e cases) an N:C character only) &ill a0uire a rando%ly deter%ined lo&

le+el of class ability"

Skill classi/cationCost in E'perience :oints:ri%e >)===8eneral @)===Non:ri%e )===

7SIN8 SECONDARY SKILLS#he use of secondary skills in a (a%e &ill take a creati+e Dun(eon *aster"2hile so%e of the skills are strai(htfor&ard) others are not or in+ol+e such(eneral concepts as to %ake speci/c e'planation on &hen and ho& to applythe% in their %yriad for%s) %eanin(less" #hat said) so%e e'planation %ust be(i+en" ,irst) to resol+e an issue that in+ol+es any of the skills %entioned abo+edoes not re0uire a skill check" Often ti%es success is (uaranteed or theDun(eon *aster kno&s &hat the outco%e &ould be" In other cases theDun(eon *aster %i(ht &ant to propel the story alon( so%e interestin( pathand allo& for its success" Only in those cases in &hich a chance of failure loo%slar(e should a skill check be %ade" Or) that is) those in+ol+in( co%bat" Once itis decided that a chance of failure is possible) then a check %ust be %ade" #o%ake the check) the character actin( Bsuch as doin( research si%ply rolls anappropriate ability check and adds per skill le+el of e'perience" So if a

character has > le+els of skill e'perience in #hespianis%) they are allo&ed a >to their roll"In so%e instances the use of a skill causes another to %ake a sa+in( thro&" Inthis case) the character) %onster or nonplayer character %akes a sa+in( thro&but %odi/es the roll by a F for each le+el of skill the character has"

,urther) there are al&ays circu%stances than need so%e %odi/cation beyondthat %entioned abo+e" 7nusual circu%stances) the &eather and pure chancecan co%e into play and e5ect the chances of success" Also) the di.culty of thesituation ad1usts the roll" #he follo&in( is o5ered as a (uideline for decidin(these %odi/cations"

*ost rudi%entary >

Gery easy) si%ple F

Often done) routine

Nor%al de%and No need to rollH

So%e&hat unusual application =

Co%ple'!co%plicated

Gery de%andin( F

Nearly i%possible >

*ostrudi%entary

Gery easy)


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si%pleOften done)routine

?

7sual ! kno&n FNor%alde%and

=

So%e&hatunusualapplication

Co%ple'!co%plicated

>

De%andin(!di.cult

@

Geryde%andin(

J

E'tre%elydi.cult

"

ANI*AL #RAININ8 3ANDLIN8

Bcharis%a (eneral#he kno&led(e and understandin( of natural li+in( creatures" #rainin( isapplicable to do%estic and &ild ani%als of %a%%alian or a+ian sort) &ithre(ard to trainin( for (uardin() huntin() ridin() trick perfor%ance) etc" 3andlin(applies to +irtually all for%s of a+ian and %a%%alian life"-y use of this ability) a character is able to teach a do%esticated ani%al a trick)such as fetchin( food or other ite%) or standin( &atch for e'tended periods"7nder nor%al circu%stances) any si%ple trick) as noted belo&) can be tau(htto an ani%al in a %atter of &eeks) &ith the e'act nu%ber re0uired bein( one&eek per 3it Dice of the ani%al" Co%ple' tricks re0uire the sa%e a%ount ofti%e) but are e'pressed in %onths" All ani%als can learn a nu%ber of si%ple

tricks e0ual to their 3it Dice) &ith a co%ple' trick bein( considered e0ual tot&o si%ple" In %ost cases) a check is not re0uired to teach the ani%al the trickshould a character &ish to speed the process) a check is %ade &ith a >


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penalty"2ild ani%als can be do%esticated &ith a successful check &ith a > penalty as&ell) but this takes fro% a %ini%u% of one &eek to as lon( as one year)dependin( on the CK$s rulin( as to di.culty" After&ard) no further check needbe %ade unless the trainer &ishes to teach the ani%al a trick at an acceleratedpace" #rainin( an ani%al to ser+e another indi+idual re0uires a period of fro%

one to four &eeks fa%iliariPation bet&een the ne& controller and the ani%al)and a &eekly check for success is %ade &ith a penalty"

AR#IS#IC CA:ACI#YB&isdo% and de'terity (eneral#his skill references a character$s skill in creatin( art) includin( paintin() linedra&in() sculpture) and architectural art" #his skill also assu%es a kno&led(eof art history) art identi/cation) heraldic art) and appraisal of artistic &orth"#he areas of this Ability consist of one of the follo&in(Q artistic dra&in( and paintin() sculptin() 1e&elry %akin() appraisal of artQ %usical co%position and perfor%anceQ poetry and prose authorship and recital2ith the appropriate %aterials the artist can paint) dra&) sculpt Bstone or&ood) and cast %etal &ith e'pert skill" #he artist has a scholarly kno&led(e ofspace) %ass) +olu%e) linear perspecti+e) %o+e%ent) li(ht and shado&) te'tureand color" #he artist can read an escutcheon or identify an ob1ect d$art" Skillchecks for creatin( art Bde'terity or identifyin( art B&isdo% are at a bonusper le+el of skill) should the Dun(eon *aster re0uire a check"

-7LLYIN8Bstren(th and charis%a (eneral

#his skill set a5ects one$s ability to (rapple) inti%idate) punch) and threatenopponents"If this ability is taken) it a5ects all (rapplin() o+erbearin( and pu%%ellin(attacks by (i+in( the attacker a F to hit per le+el of the skill" ,urther)inti%idation and threats are non+iolent %ethods of forcin( an opponent tobend to one$s &ill" #he character or nonplayer character acted uponBthreatened or inti%idated %ust %ake a charis%a sa+in( thro& to beuna5ected" #his sa+in( thro& is ad1usted by F per ability le+el of the oneinitiatin( the act" If the sa+in( thro& is not successful) the a5ected person &illessentially do as re0uested) refuse to /(ht or back do&n fro% a de%and"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this confers ,i(hter class le+el of ?"

-7SINESSBintelli(ence and &isdo% pri%e! intelli(ence#his skill relates to one$s perfor%ance in accountin() bankin() co%%erce)/nance) in+estin() and tradin( Bassures literacy and nu%eracy" As a practical%atter) this skill allo&s a character to partake in and understand +ariousbusiness dealin(s) understand the co%ple'ities of ta'in( and licensin( and%ake better business deals for it" It also allo&s for the decipher%ent ofcontracts and an understandin( of bookkeepin("#he Dun(eon *aster %ust use their best 1ud(e%ent in the use and applicationof this ability due to its broad ran(e" 3o&e+er) in (eneral) this allo&s for acharacter to ha+e (reater kno&led(e of business practices" As such) anycharacter &ith this ability should be able to note &hen they are bein( o5ered abad business deal) poor e'chan(e rates and understandin( of the co%ple'ities


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of ta'in( la&s to na%e a fe&" 2hen a character is presented &ith a situation in&hich a better business deal can be %ade or business la&s %i(ht be brokenthey should be allo&ed to %ake either an intelli(ence check or &isdo% checkBdependin( on the circu%stance to deter%ine if they kno& ho& to bettere'ecute their actions" ,urther) &hen %akin( transactions or tryin( tohood&ink$ others in business dealin(s) the recipient of the character$s action

should %ake a sa+in( thro& at F to deter%ine if the character$s proposals areaccepted" In the latter case this &ould be &hen tryin( to e'chan(e (e%s or1e&elry or other ite%s at in4ated or de4ated prices"

CONS#R7C#IONBintelli(ence and stren(th (eneral#his ability refers to the capacity to build) do carpentry) en(ineerin() buildforti/cations) %asonry) %echanics and assures basic literacy and full nu%eracy"#his ability allo&s the character to perfor% and understand the nature of basicconstruction" #his ability allo&s the character to desi(n) build and o+erseeconstruction pro1ects) spot shoddy &ork and %ake basic repairs to buildin(s orforti/cations" #he Dun(eon *aster %ust use their best 1ud(e%ent in the useand application of this ability" ,or e'a%ple) if a character &ere lookin( o+er thedesi(ns for a castle) house or other structure) they %i(ht be able to note B&ithan intelli(ence check &hether or not the plans ha+e a 4a& in the%" In anothercase) the character %ay be &orkin( on a pro1ect and +ery &ell kno& ho& to putto(ether sca5oldin( such that it is safe or build a co%ple' door&ay"

DE#EC#IONBintelli(ence (eneral#he capacity to %entally note facts) includin( the po&er of obser+ation and

ratiocination"All ha+in( to do &ith detectin() e'a%inin() in+esti(ation) obser+in() searchin()and &atchin() as &ell as researchin( and trackin( do&n infor%ation" #his is anability si%ilar to that possessed by sleuths of pri+ate and public sort"

ESCA:E A-ILI#YBde'terity (eneral#his ability allo&s for distraction) di+ersion) e+asion and sprintin( durin(co%bat" :ossession of this skill set confers a F bonus to ar%or class if asuccessful de'terity ability check is %ade" #his %odi/er is in addition to allother %odi/ers that nor%ally apply" #his skill can not be used in con1unction

&ith any other action &ith the follo&in( e'ceptions9 dod(e) disen(a(in( fro%co%bat) e+ade and for a %onk) &hen they are de4ectin( %issiles" One can not%ake an attack or cast spells in the round this is used nor use any other classability" ,urther) if disen(a(in( fro% co%bat) a successful de'terity checkindicates that a hasty &ithdra&al can be %ade &ithout incurrin( the ar%orclass penalty or the free s&in( fro% an opponent"

ESO#ERIC A-ILI#YBintelli(ence pri%e! intelli(ence#his skill references a character$s kno&led(e of ancient history) arcana)artifacts) fables) lost lore) %ysteries) occult and relics" #his also assures literacyand full nu%eracy" #his skill (i+es the character or nonplayer character aran(e of kno&led(e in %any /elds of study that other &ould not likely kno&"#his ability allo&s the character an intelli(ence check to kno& or at least kno&


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&here to (o to learn abut a particular sub1ect or issue related to the abo+e%entioned sub1ects" It also increases the characters chances of locatin( ite%sof interest in anti0ue shops) books in libraries or other related acti+ities" Incases in &hich a character %ay kno& of or about a sub1ect and speci/ckno&led(e is called for) an intelli(ence check should su.ce to deter%ine if thecharacter kno&s it" As &ith all skills) the Dun(eon *aster needs to use their

best 1ud(e%ent on &hen and ho& to apply this skill"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this confers *a(icuser or Illusionist classle+el of ?"

,OR8ERY A-ILI#YBde'terity pri%e! de'terity#his ability a5ects a character$s ability to copy) counterfeit) dra& duplicatesand fake docu%ents" #his skill set is fairly restricted to acts of for(ery) &hetherdeeds of o&nership) heraldic sy%bols) coina(e) papers of herita(e and e+enanti0ue paper&ork" 2hen used) the character %ust %ake a successfulde'terity check to ade0uately create a for(ed ite%" A failure indicates anotheratte%pt %ust be %ade" ,or those on the recei+in( end of the for(ed ite%) they%ust %ake an intelli(ence check at per le+el of the for(er$s secondary skill"If it is successful) they note the for(ery"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this confers thief class le+el of F@"

3EALIN8Bintelli(ence and &isdo% ; pri%e ! &isdo%#his skill allo&s a trained character to i%part healin(" It is both an art and ascience) %ostly de+eloped in those ti%e periods &hen clerical aid is nota+ailable"

A pro/cient healer) in addition to bein( skilled in %edical procedures such asstitchin() a%putation and cauteriPation) has e'tensi+e kno&led(e of herbs)alche%ical co%pounds and poisons) and ho& to apply the% to heal" Dependin(on the cultural back(round) an healer %ay be literate"7nder the care of an healer) the rate at &hich hit points are re(ained is doubledBD*8 p" F="An healer can apply his techni0ues to the sa%e e5ects of the ,irst Aid skill ofbarbarians"In addition) if an healer takes care of a &ounded character) he can transfor%any lethal &ound Bi"e" any sin(le batch of hit points in4icted &ith one attackinto subdual da%a(e) if the &ound has been in4icted in the last turn"

An healer can take care in a day of up to ? persons per skill le+el"A barbarian &ith this skill adds to the hit points healed per le+el of the skill)in addition to the hit points healed &ith the ,irst Aid skill"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this confers Cleric class le+el of ?"

7D8*EN# A-ILI#YBintelli(ence and &isdo% pri%e! &isdo%#his ability allo&s the detectin( of deception) e+aluatin( &orth) learnin() lo(ic)sophistry and assures literacy and nu%eracy" ud(e%ent co+ers a &ide ran(e ofcapacities" It can be used to detect lies another is tellin() to interpret the%eanin( of another &ords) intent) desires and related e%otions" Should thise+er be necessary) the person possessin( this skill %ust %ake a &isdo% checkat per le+el of this skill to detect a lie) the accuracy of another state%ent)intent etc" ,urther) 1ud(e%ent allo&s for the assess%ent of the accuracy of


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another$s state%ents" #his is done by %akin( an intelli(ence check at perle+el of ability" #his is) of course) presu%in( the character possessin( the skillcan e+en kno& the accuracy of that state%ent" ,or e'a%ple) should a nonplayer character %ake a false clai% about a kin(do% &hich the characterkno&s nothin( of) there is little chance he &ould kno& the state%ent &as false"3o&e+er) the character could %ake a &isdo% check to deter%ine if the non

player character &ere dissi%ulatin("As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this confers Cleric class le+el of F@"

KNO2LED8E S:ECIALIS#Bintelli(ence pri%e!intelli(ence#he Kno&led(e Specialist has del+ed deeply into one topic and kno&s a lotabout that topic throu(h either study and! or e'perience" Kno&led(e Specialistscan be used as sa(es or professors in the topic that they specialiPe in" 2henresearchin( a 0uestion concernin( their area of specialty) a Kno&led(eSpecialist %ay %ake an intelli(ence check to kno& the ans&er to a 0uestion orkno& &here to look for the ans&er"#he areas of specialiPation that can be used include9Q Architecture Band constructionQ En(ineerin( Ball for%sQ ,auna Bincludin( biolo(yQ ,lora Bincludin( botanyQ 3istory Blocal) re(ional) &orld) cultural socialQ 3istory Bintelli(ent races) hu%an nonhu%anQ LiteratureQ #heolo(yIt is up to the Dun(eon *aster to allo& %ore speci/c kno&led(e for %ore

focused /elds a Kno&led(e Specialist in #a'ider%y &ill kno& a little bit about%a%%als Bas &ell as %ost other ani%als) but a Kno&led(e Specialist in*a%%als &ill kno& a lot about the% and +ery little about preser+in( theirhides"

LEADERS3I:Bintelli(ence and charis%a ; pri%e ! intelli(ence and charis%a#his ability allo&s for the control) direction) (uidance) %ana(e%ent)or(aniPation and plannin( of acti+ities of (roups of people" ,urther%ore) a trueleader de+elops the arts of con+incin() diplo%acy) in(ratiation) eti0uette)in4uence and callin( in fa+ors &hen dealin( &ith people such acti+ities are

also co+ered by the skill",inally) ac0uisition of this skill replicates the Leadership skill of barbarians)addin( for each le+el of the skill to the charis%a of the character Bthecharis%a increase applies only to the (roups of people under the in4uence ofthe character"Should a barbarian take this skill) he &ould recei+e a to Leadership for eachle+el of the skill"

*ILI#ARY LEADERS3I:Bcharis%a and intelli(ence ; pri%e! charis%a and intelli(ence#his ability allo&s for the control) direction) (uidance) lo(istics) %ana(e%ent)or(aniPation) plannin() strate(y and tactics in &arfare" It also a5ects thecapacity to or(aniPe or circu%+ent proble%s that %i(ht result fro% the%ana(e%ent of an ar%y" #his skill allo&s for the e.cient plannin( and


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orchestration of the %o+e%ent of lar(e bodies of troops" ,or e'a%ple) e.cientlo(istics chains are %ore easily %ana(ed and supplies %ade %ore a+ailable ifone possesses this skill" #he Dun(eon *aster %ust use their best 1ud(e%ent inthe practical application of this skill as it &ill (enerally only co%e into play&hen the %o+e%ent of lar(e ar%ies occurs" 3o&e+er) should a character beresponsible for the pro+ision of a party) it is likely that the possessor of this skill

%ay note a de/ciency" #he Dun(eon *aster should infor% the player of this if asuccessful &isdo% check is %ade" ,urther) if a kni(ht has this ability) his inspireability is treated as t&o le+els (reater than the class le+el"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this confers ,i(hter class le+el of F@"

NA7#ICAL A-ILI#YBde'terity) constitution and intelli(ence (eneral#his skill set (i+es the possessor superior kno&led(e of boatin() shipco%%and) di+in() /shin( Bdeep and fresh &ater) na+i(atin() sailin() ands&i%%in(" #his skill set references a broad ran(e of nautical skills" Should thesituation e+er arise in &hich kno&led(e of the sea) ri+er or lake co%e to beneeded) the character &ith this skill should %ini%ally ha+e an idea or ans&ersto concerns or issues" Characters &ith this skill can s&i% better than others)na+i(ate by the stars or sun) /sh and supply food as a ran(er) %aneu+er boatsand sail %any a sea (oin( craft" All checks used that relate to this skill recei+ea to the roll" E'a%ples %i(ht include intelli(ence checks for na+i(atin()constitution checks for deep sea di+in( and de'terity checks for %aintainin(control of a rudder in a stor%"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only this confers ,i(hter class le+el of >"

S7-ORNIN8 A-ILI#Y

Bcharis%a and intelli(ence pri%e! charis%a#his skill set relates to black%ail) bribery) con+incin() diplo%acy) in(ratiation)in4uence and lyin(" #his is a social skill that allo&s the character to %oree5ecti+ely carry out any of the abo+e actions as he or she kno&s thespecialiPed lan(ua(es) body %otions) traditions and cultures of those he isdealin( &ith" ,or e'a%ple) bribin( a city o.cial is a delicate task and re0uiresnot a s%all a%ount of tact" -lack%ail %ay re0uire so%e speci/c piece ofkno&led(e or kno&led(e of ho& to ac0uire that infor%ation &ith &hich thecharacter intends to bribe a nonplayer character" In all cases) the possessor ofthis skill is allo&ed to %ake a charis%a or intelli(ence check Bas appropriateand deter%ined by the Dun(eon *aster to deter%ine if one is successful at

perfor%in( it" A failed check indicates the atte%pt at bribery failed ordiplo%acy failed" #he character recei+es a for each le+el of skill theypossess"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this confers thief class le+el of >"

S2INDLIN8 A-ILI#YBcharis%a and intelli(ence pri%e! charis%a#his skill refers to the capacity to cheat) decei+e) /' Bas in contests) fraud)(a%ble) odds Bestablishin( and pro%ote e+ents Bassurin( nu%eracy" #his skillallo&s the character to perfor% %any tasks related to s&indlin( others out oftheir %oney fro% cheatin( at cards) runnin( pyra%id sche%es) /'in( &restlin(%atches and runnin( the odds on dice (a%es" 2hene+er a character e%ploysthis skill they recei+e a to their checks per le+el of e'perience in the skill",or e'a%ple) should a character &ith this skill atte%pt to cheat at cards) they


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%ake an intelli(ence check and if they succeed) they ha+e succeeded incheatin( the opposin( players" Of course) usin( the ud(e%ent skill) anothercharacter can atte%pt to disco+er this deception by %akin( a successfulintelli(ence or &isdo% check"

#3ES:IANIS*

Bcharis%a (eneral#his ability refers to actin() dis(uise B%akeup) i%personation) %i%icry)oratin() perfor%in() recitin() sin(in( Bassures literacy" #his ability indicates acharacters capacity to carry o5 perfor%ance acts to entertain a cro&d or) in its%ost unusual circu%stance) i%personate another" #he ability &orks as theassassins Dis(uise skill" It can also be used to entertain people" #o /nd ho&&ell the perfor%ance &orks) the character %akes a charis%a check at perskill le+el and if successful) the audience recei+es the actin( &ell) if not) boo$sand rotten to%atoes %ay follo&" #his check is ad1usted by an audience Borindi+idual %e%bers e'pectations and kno&led(e"

2OODS*ANB&isdo% pri%e#his skill refers to boatin( Bs%all) cli%bin() /shin() huntin() identi/cationBfauna and 4ora) lu%ber 1ackin() sur+i+al) trackin( and trappin(" Ac0uisition ofthis ability replicates the &oodcraft and #rack abilities of ran(ers andbarbarians" Should a ran(er or barbarian take this ability) he &ould recei+e anadditional =M to all #rack checks per le+el of this skill"As a pri%ary ability) for N:C$s only) this skill confers Ran(er class le+el of F@"

ad&d revised secondary skills

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