View source for Expert Skill

{{Skill}}{{Specialty}}

{{IQ/Hard}}

''Defaults:'' {{None}}.

An Expert Skill represents cross-disciplinary knowledge of a single, narrow theme. When answering factual questions ''on that theme'', you may substitute a roll against your Expert Skill for any [[IQ]]-based roll against any skill that has a default. Expert Skills do not exempt you from [[Cultural Familiarity]] or [[Language]] requirements, and never provide the ability to do practical tasks. Experts sometimes complement Expert Skills with related [[Area Knowledge]] skills, but you must learn these separately.

You ''must'' specialize by theme, and the GM is free to forbid any theme he feels is too broad. Some examples:

''Computer Security:'' Expertise at combating computer intrusion ("hacking"). Can stand in for [[Computer Operation]], [[Cryptography]], or [[Electronics Operation]] to spot "holes" in the security of a computer system. Use [[Computer Programming]] to patch or exploit such holes.

''Conspiracy Theory:'' The study of interlocking networks of conspiracies. Can substitute for [[Anthropology]], [[Geography]], [[History]], [[Literature]], or [[Occultism]] to answer questions about conspiracies, and can also work as [[Intelligence Analysis]] for this purpose (only). This does not include hidden inner secrets, which are the province of [[Hidden Lore]].

''Egyptology:'' The study of ancient Egypt. Can function as [[Anthropology]], [[Archaeology]], [[History]], [[Linguistics]], or [[Occultism]] for that purpose.

''Epidemiology:'' The study of the spread of disease. Can serve as [[Biology]], [[Diagnosis]], [[Forensics]], [[Geography]], or [[Mathematics]] when deducing how a disease was spread.

''Hydrology:'' The study of a planet's water. Can be used in place of [[Biology]], [[Chemistry]], [[Geography]], [[Geology]], or [[Meteorology]] to answer questions about precipitation, flooding, irrigation, etc.

''Military Science:'' General expertise on military capabilities. Can substitute for [[Artillery]], [[Armoury]], [[Strategy]], or [[Tactics]] to answer questions about – but not use – weapons or strategies.

''Natural Philosophy:'' A general skill that usually replaces specific science skills (which might not even exist yet!) for scholars at [[TL1]]-[[TL4|4]]. Can be used in place of any science skill (e.g., [[Biology]] or [[Physics]]) to answer questions about how the universe is believed to work.

''Political Science:'' The academic study of politics. Can substitute for [[Geography]], [[History]], [[Law]], [[Politics]], or [[Sociology]] when performing political analysis.

''Psionics:'' The study of the psionic mind and brain. Can function as [[Biology]], [[Diagnosis]], [[Physician]], [[Physiology]], or [[Psychology]] when dealing with psi phenomena in living beings.  Cannot substitute for [[Electronics Operation]], [[Electronics Repair]], and [[Engineer]] specialties that deal with psychotronics.

''Thanatology:'' The esoteric study of death. Can stand in for [[Anthropology]], [[Archaeology]], [[Occultism]], or [[Theology]] when dealing with death and the dead.

''Xenology:'' General knowledge of the known races in your setting. Can substitute for [[Anthropology]], [[History]], [[Physiology, or [[Psychology]] to identify a member of a race different from your own, or to answer general questions about the race and its culture.