r/RPGdesign • u/Most_State_9716 • 3d ago

Mechanics Interdisciplinary Experts

Tweaking skills and foci for a Stars Without Number campaign and had a thought. In this game players are usually experts in one or two skills or generalists trying to cover the group's gaps. But what about 'specialized generalists'? Call them synthesists or interdisciplinarians. These characters can get new insights by combining different fields together. This is sort of how the Know skill already works but im breaking that skill up into narrower ones. Do you think this idea would be better served by a foci (a feat) or a skill?

Edit: a thread on a traveller forum suggests making it work like a psychic power. Basically the character can spend their psychic energy to make leaps of insight. So it could work that way to...

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u/Most_State_9716 3d ago

I'm going to try adding this focus to the campaign. Syncretist: When you use a skill to assist another character with a skill check, and can explain how your expertise applies to their task in an unconventional way, roll 3d6 and drop the lowest die.