HERO System (5th ed.)
Franklin's List of Background Skills ("H" through "L")
All original work herein is copyright © by Franklin W. Cain. All rights reserved. (Last updated: 16 October 2006)
---(H)--- Hairdresser (Profession)Hey, don't laugh! This is an excellent source of off-the-record information....
;-) This is similar, but not identical, to Barber. Hammer (Weapon Familiarity; see Axe/Mace/Pick) [Hand Gestures/Signals] (Language)This is one of several distinct (yet similar) signalling languages used by (para)military units when trying to engage in silent communications (e.g., when implementing an ambush). Usually, any such "language" is only so complex, and a character should not be allowed to spend more than two points on any one such "language." (If the character wants to learn additional such "languages," however....) Harpoon (Weapon Familiarity; see Javelin/Thrown Spear) Heavy Lander (Transport Familiarity)
Large, ungainly landers and orbiters, such as a gigantic bulk-carrier, or a naval (space) cruiser. Heavy Machinegun (Weapon Familiarity; see HMG) Heavy Motorship (Transport Familiarity)
This common form of seacraft deals with freighters and trawlers. Heavy Plane (Transport Familiarity)
This category of common aircraft deals with all forms of heavy aircraft, such as multi-engine transports. Heavy Sailing Vessel (Transport Familiarity)
This specific category of early seacraft covers all large (and some medium-sized) sailing craft. Heavy Truck (Transport Familiarity; see Bus/Heavy Truck) Heavy Weapons (Group of Weapon Familiarities; see Common Heavy Weapons) Helicopter (Transport Familiarity)
This category of common aircraft covers aircraft having any form of VTOL capability. Help Desk (Profession)
You poor, miserable bastard... Heraldry (Knowledge)
Herbalism (Knowledge)
This Knowledge is the
fantasy/ historical version of Botany. High-Energy Optics (Science; see Optical Physics) High-Performance Motorship (Transport Familiarity)This common form of seacraft deals with destroyers and cruisers. High-Performance Plane (Transport Familiarity)
This category of
air- andspacecraft deals with all forms of high-performance atmospheric aircraft, including those that can reach just outside a planet's atmosphere. High-Performance Spacecraft (Transport Familiarity)Usually, military spacecraft for combat purposes, such as assault fighters. History (Knowledge)
HMG, aka Heavy Machinegun (Weapon Familiarity)
This category of (common) heavy weaponry covers the use of heavy machineguns, i.e., automatic weapons too powerful to be fired while carried (and in most cases, too heavy to be carried in the first place), whether they are emplaced in a static location or mounted on (or in) a vehicle. [Hobby] (Profession) [varies]
This covers any one specific hobby. The specific Hobby will determine which Characteristic the Hobby can be based on, but the usual Characteristic is Dexterity. Hoist (Profession; see Lifting) [DEX] Home Improvement/Repair (Profession)
Horse/Equine (Transport Familiarity)
This is a category of (common) beasts of burden, and covers horses, mules, ponies, and other (mundane) equines. It is at the discretion of the GM as to whether this Transport Familiarity covers fantasy equines, such as centaurs, pegasi, or unicorns. (I'll permit Horse/Equine to also cover unicorns. Centaurs are a sentient species, so they will need a separate Transport Familiarity. Pegasi would be covered by a totally different Transport Familiarity.) Hostile Environment Suit (Professional Skill; see Vac Suit) [DEX] Hot-Air Balloon (Transport Familiarity; see Balloon) Housekeeper (Profession)
This is not necessarily the same as Butler and/or Maid. Hovercraft (Transport Familiarity)
This category of vehicle (which qualifies as both land and sea) covers all forms of ground effect vehicles (GEVs). Howitzer (Weapon Familiarity; see Cannon/Howitzer) Human Engineering (Science; see Ergonomics) HVAC (Profession)
HVAC means "heating, ventilation, and air conditioning." HVAC can be considered a specialty for Mechanics skill. Hydroponics (Science)
This is a specialization of Agronomy. Hyperdimensional Engineering (Profession; see Transdimensional Engineering) Hyperdimensional Magics (Science; see Transdimensional Magics) Hyperdimensional Navigation (Profession; see Transdimensional Navigation) Hyperdimensional Physics (Science; see Transdimensional Physics) Hyperspace Engineering (Profession)
This Profession covers the practical application of the principles of the physics of hyperspatial realms, specifically with regards to the engineering of the electrical (or electromagnetic) systems needed to transition to and from hyperspace (and to survive while in hyperspace). In order to have a skill roll with this Profession better than
"11-", it is required that the character have first acquired the Science Hyperspace Physics, and the skill roll with this Profession cannot exceed the skill roll in Hyperspace Physics by more than six points (e.g., a character with a mere Familiarity with Hyperspace Physics cannot have a skill roll in Hyperspace Engineering better than"14-"). Hyperspace Navigation (Profession)This Profession covers the practical application of the principles of the physics of hyperspatial realms, specifically with regards to the determination of one's location while in hyperspace, and reaching one's desired destination. This Profession is the required Complementary Skill to enable someone to use Navigation to calculate one's position and movement in hyperspace. In order to have a skill roll with this Profession better than
"11-", it is required that the character have first acquired the Science Hyperspace Physics, and the skill roll with this Profession cannot exceed the skill roll in Hyperspace Physics by more than six points (e.g., a character with a mere Familiarity with Hyperspace Physics cannot have a skill roll in Hyperspace Navigation better than"14-"). Hyperspace Physics (Science)This Science covers that specialization of Physics dealing with hyperspatial realms. Thus, it is virtually the same as Transdimensional Physics. (Hyperspace Physics is for space travel; Transdimensional Physics is for transdimensional travel.) In order to have a skill roll with this Science better than
"11-", it is required that the character must have the Science Physics. Furthermore, the skill roll in this Science cannot exceed the skill roll in Physics by more than six points (e.g., a character with a mere Familiarity with Physics cannot have a skill roll in this Science better than"14-"). ---(I)--- Immunology, aka Bacteriology/Virology (Science)This specialized field of medicine is a combination of Bacteriology and Virology. It is very similar to Epidemiology. Impromptu Weapon (Weapon Familiarity)
Industrial Engineering (Science)
Inorganic Chemistry (Science)
Instructor, aka Teacher (Profession) [PRE]
This Profession allows one character to teach a skill to another character (or group of characters). This Profession can be based on Presence (instead of Intellligence). Internet Research (Knowledge; see Library/Internet Research) Interplanetary Navigation (Profession; see Astrogation) Interstellar Navigation (see below)
For navigating in "normal" space across interstellar distances, use Astrogation. On the other hand, for navigating in hyperspace across interstellar distances, use Hyperspace Navigation. ---(J)--- Janitor (Profession)
(With all those lab accidents in Champions, it's a wonder that we don't have more
superheroes/ villains with this Profession from their origin....) Javelin/Thrown Spear (Weapon Familiarity)This category of common missile weapon covers the use of hurled polearms, such as javelins and spears. Jetpack/Flying Battlesuit (Transport Familiarity)
This includes all forms of flying powered armor as well as flying (anthropomorphic) mecha. Jeweller/Gemcutter (Profession)
Jo, aka Jo Stick (Weapon Familiarity; see Club) Journalism (Profession) [PRE]
This Profession can be based on Presence (instead of Intellligence). Juggling (Profession) [DEX]
This hobby (and/or sport, depending on whom you ask) can be based on Dexterity (instead of Intellligence). ---(K)--- Kama (Weapon Familiarity)
This common Oriental melee weapon is an Okinawan sickle.
Karate WeaponsIn my opinion, the weapons listed in this "category" do not share functional similarity. (In other words, they're related by culture, and not by function.) Therefore, I do not permit this as a category for Weapon Familiarity. Instead, you may separately acquire the Weapon Familiarities for Kama, Nunchaku, Sai, and Tonfa. Kitchen Sink (see below)
Call a plumber... Knife (Weapon Familiarity; see Sword/Knife) Knitting, aka Crocheting (Profession) [DEX]
This Hobby can be based on Dexterity (instead of Intellligence). Known Superbeings and Their Powers (Knowledge)
This Knowledge covers the basic information on both superheroes and supervillians that are known to the general public, and what powers these superbeings have demonstrated (or can be presumed to have). ---(L)--- Lab Procedures (Profession)
This can be thought of as the research scientists' version of Medical Technician. (With all those lab accidents in Champions, it's a wonder that we don't have more
superheroes/ villains with this Profession from their origin....) Lady-in-Waiting (Profession; see Maid) Lance (Weapon Familiarity)Lander (Transport Familiarity)
This category of common spacecraft deals with all forms of mid-size spacecraft, such as a tramp freighter or a shuttle. Lariat (Weapon Familiarity; see Lasso/Lariat) Lasers (see below)
Are you referring to Energy Weapons? Or are you referring to Optical Physics? Lasso/Lariat (Weapon Familiarity)
Law (Knowledge)
Some of the more common specializations are Business/Contract Law, Criminal Law, Patent/IP Law, Tax Codes, and Traffic Law. Leadership (Professional Skill) [PRE]
Use the description on HSR5, pg. 352, for this Professional Skill. Also, a team can use their team leader's Leadership skill as a Complementary Skill for their Teamwork skill. This Professional Skill can be based on Presence (instead of Intellligence). Legends and Lore (Knowledge; see Myths and Legends) Librarian (Profession)
A good librarian is a boon to scholasticism, for his efforts make that library much easier to search. (A poor librarian, on the other hand....) This Profession is similar, but not identical, to Library Research. Library Research, aka Library/Internet Research (Knowledge)
This Knowledge covers the ability to sift through a (usually large) collection of written material, such as books, magazines, notes, newspaper clippings, etc., with some reasonable expectation of gleaning any useful data therein. Obviously, this is of tremendous value to any scholar, scientist, graduate student, researcher, reporter, detective, or sorceror. If the campaign's setting is sufficiently technologically advanced, this Knowledge covers online research (i.e., Internet) as well. This Knowledge is similar, but not identical, to Librarian. Life Support Systems, aka Environmental Systems (Science)
This is a synthesis of Biochemistry, HVAC, Mechanical Engineering, and Plumbing that is absolutely critical to the survival of an artificial habitat, such as a starship or a space colony. Lifting (Profession) [DEX]
As per The Ultimate Brick, this sport can be based on Dexterity (instead of Intellligence). Light Plane (Transport Familiarity; see Glider/Light Plane) Linguistics, aka Philology (Science)
Lipreading (Professional Skill)
In my opinion, the Intellect Skill Lipreading is not justified in being an Intellect Skill. It is neither sufficiently generic (i.e., broad-based or multi-purpose) nor sufficiently important to be an Aptitude Skill. Therefore, I've downgraded it to a mere Background Skill (specifically, a Professional Skill)... This Professional Skill is an (optional) Complementary Skill to the character's Sight Perception when attempting to read someone else's lips. In any case, the final PER roll for any attempt at lipreading should not exceed the observer's skill roll with the language in question. Literature (Knowledge)
Logistics (Knowledge)
https://fcain.tripod.com/h5skills/background_ha_lz.html
All original work herein is copyright © by Franklin W. Cain. All rights reserved. (Last updated: 16 October 2006)