Sep 15, 2021 8:24 pm
Class selection provides the new character with a number of skill points that is used to improve their aptitude with a number of tasks (skills in this case). At career level 1 the character also gains one 'focus' in each of the 4 Focus skills at no point cost.
Focus Skills:
Four skills listed in the skill list are so broad that the character must specify what 'focuses' (or a more refined/narrow field of study in each of these broader skills) they have in these broader skills. Those areas of the skill in which the character does not have a Focus applies only 1/2 of the skill rank as the character moves out of their concentrated study into the skills broader knowledge.
The 4 Focus Skills are:
Cultures
Drive
Profession
Science
A character's first or initial Culture focus is their home region. As defined in the first step in the character creation process, or Step 0: Concept in this case, my character was born outside the United States (despite being a US citizen). However, wanting her to be a counter-terrorism agent for the US government I think she would definitely have to have a strong pull and be greatly influenced by her 'home' Culture regardless of whether she was born within its borders or not. So her Cultures Focus will be North America
Typically we would then move on and select our Drive Focus however in this case her Talent of Privileged also provides an additional Culture Focus. In Step 0 we established she spent her early years in Israel. So Western Asia would be a natural selection for this bonus Culture.
Her Specialty of Operative also grants an additional 2 Culture Focuses. With Russia and China being US rivals on the world stage I am going to give her the Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia focuses. I could have used any of these bonus Culture Focuses to pick up a Forte (dedicated study of an area within each Focus that in this case would be one country within each region) as another option, with Forte providing bonuses to the skill test when one is required.
For her Drive Focus I don't want to overthink things or get to fancy so will stick to cars and trucks - Standard Ground Vehicles. It should be noted that just because a character may/may not have skill ranks in Drive does not mean that they cannot operate a vehicle. For example I think the majority of folks in the world can drive a car, ride a bike, drive a boat, etc.. Not everyone though can proficiently and safely drive a car in a high speed chase, be able to compete in the Tour-de-France (bike), or race a boat --- those that can, if they were an RPG character, would have skill ranks.
Profession. The Profession skill measures a character's competence in her career (or perhaps a cover identity). Since she is most familiar and well versed with the international community I am going to select International Businesswoman as a career. While seemingly broad if you pair that with a Science Focus of Economy would provide her with a cover career as a International financial advisor that would be believable to anyone speaking with/interacting with her. If you look at the source inspiration for this character in Mitch Rapp his 'public' face early on was Mitch Kruse - an international businessman specializing in technology.
Though I have yet to spend my skill points provided by her career - (8 + Intelligence modifier (+2) ) x 4 = 40 - I felt a more in depth review of the Focus Skills was warranted as it seems to be another area where new players can get tripped up in the character creation process.
Next we will spend those skill points on skill ranks.
Focus Skills:
Four skills listed in the skill list are so broad that the character must specify what 'focuses' (or a more refined/narrow field of study in each of these broader skills) they have in these broader skills. Those areas of the skill in which the character does not have a Focus applies only 1/2 of the skill rank as the character moves out of their concentrated study into the skills broader knowledge.
The 4 Focus Skills are:
Cultures
Drive
Profession
Science
A character's first or initial Culture focus is their home region. As defined in the first step in the character creation process, or Step 0: Concept in this case, my character was born outside the United States (despite being a US citizen). However, wanting her to be a counter-terrorism agent for the US government I think she would definitely have to have a strong pull and be greatly influenced by her 'home' Culture regardless of whether she was born within its borders or not. So her Cultures Focus will be North America
Typically we would then move on and select our Drive Focus however in this case her Talent of Privileged also provides an additional Culture Focus. In Step 0 we established she spent her early years in Israel. So Western Asia would be a natural selection for this bonus Culture.
Her Specialty of Operative also grants an additional 2 Culture Focuses. With Russia and China being US rivals on the world stage I am going to give her the Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia focuses. I could have used any of these bonus Culture Focuses to pick up a Forte (dedicated study of an area within each Focus that in this case would be one country within each region) as another option, with Forte providing bonuses to the skill test when one is required.
For her Drive Focus I don't want to overthink things or get to fancy so will stick to cars and trucks - Standard Ground Vehicles. It should be noted that just because a character may/may not have skill ranks in Drive does not mean that they cannot operate a vehicle. For example I think the majority of folks in the world can drive a car, ride a bike, drive a boat, etc.. Not everyone though can proficiently and safely drive a car in a high speed chase, be able to compete in the Tour-de-France (bike), or race a boat --- those that can, if they were an RPG character, would have skill ranks.
Profession. The Profession skill measures a character's competence in her career (or perhaps a cover identity). Since she is most familiar and well versed with the international community I am going to select International Businesswoman as a career. While seemingly broad if you pair that with a Science Focus of Economy would provide her with a cover career as a International financial advisor that would be believable to anyone speaking with/interacting with her. If you look at the source inspiration for this character in Mitch Rapp his 'public' face early on was Mitch Kruse - an international businessman specializing in technology.
Though I have yet to spend my skill points provided by her career - (8 + Intelligence modifier (+2) ) x 4 = 40 - I felt a more in depth review of the Focus Skills was warranted as it seems to be another area where new players can get tripped up in the character creation process.
Next we will spend those skill points on skill ranks.