HERO System (5th ed.)
Franklin's List of Background Skills ("U" through "Z")
All original work herein is copyright © by Franklin W. Cain. All rights reserved. (Last updated: 27 January 2007)
---(U)--- Underwater DemolitionsThis is a combination of the Intellect Skill Demolitions and the Professional Skill Scuba Diving. ---(V)--- Valet (Profession; see Butler)
Vac Suit (Professional Skill) [DEX]
This Profession Skill covers the use of a full-body protective suit designed to shield one from various hostile environments -- usually, to protect one from the rigors of outer space while performing an extra-vehicular activity (EVA). This Professional Skill can be based on Dexterity (instead of Intellligence). This skill has several alternate names, such as Vacuum Suit, Environment Suit (or Hostile Environment Suit), Pressure Suit (or P-Suit), EVA Suit, and so on. [Vehicular Engineering] (Science)
There are several distinct sciences of vehicular engineering.
For most ground vehicles, whether wheeled or tracked, simply use Mechanical Engineering. For (industrial-era) oceanic vessels, use Naval Architecture/ Engineering. (For pre-industrial oceanic vessels, use Shipwright instead.)For most types of aircraft, use Aeronautical Engineering. For spacecraft and space stations, use Astronautical Engineering (which, when used in conjunction with Hyperspace Engineering, effectively covers Starship Architecture/ Engineering). Veterinary Medicine (Science) Vintner (Profession; see Brewing/Winemaking) Virology (Science)This covers the scientific study of viruses (virii). It can be combined with Bacteriology to become Immunology. ---(W)--- Walker (Transport Familiarity)
This uncommon type of land transport deals with all (legged) forms of ground-based mecha. War Fan (Weapon Familiarity)
This melee weapon is actually common to some (ancient) Japanese martial arts. Warhammer (Weapon Familiarity; see Axe/Mace/Pick) Warmaster (Profession; see Sensei) Warrior, aka Warrior/Mercenary (Profession)
This is a fantasy/historical version of Soldier. This is similar to, but not identical to, Bodyguard. Weapon and Shield (Weapon Familiarity)
This common melee tactic covers the use of a shield in melee combat. This type of fighting was historically much more common in European cultures than in Oriental cultures, and an eastern-style (unarmed) martial artist may well have difficulties fighting against such an opponent the first time he encounters such. Weaving (Profession)
Whip (Weapon Familiarity)
Whittling (Profession; see Carving) Winemaking (Profession; see Brewing/Winemaking) Woodcarving (Profession; see Carving) World (see below)
Are you referring to a specific planet or landmass? Or are you referring to a specific sub-culture? Writing (Profession)
This skill is extremely dependent upon the author's fluency with the Language being used. In other words, the (effective) skill roll for this skill cannot exceed the Language's skill roll at all. (However, since most authors will be using their native language, which has a base skill roll of
"14-", this is usually not a problem...) ---(X)--- "Xeno-" vs. "Exo-"I am using the prefix "xeno-" (Gk. "foreign") instead of "exo-" (Gk. "outside of"), to distinguish those Background Skills dealing with alien species, because I consider "xeno-" to be the more accurate prefix (i.e., it has the more accurate meaning). Xenoarcheology (Science)
Just as Archeology is the science dealing with artifacts from the history of one's own species, this Science deals with the artifacts (and history) of alien species. Specializing in the archeology of one particular species (e.g., Klingon Archeology, Mimbari Archeology, Wookie Archeology) is a Knowledge (instead of a Science), and can be used as a Complementary Skilll to this Science. Xenobiology (Science)
This Science grants an overall general understanding of the many ways in which lifeforms could be different from one's own native biology (whereas the Science [Alien] Biology deals with the lifeforms of a specific alien world). Xenology (Science)
This is the Science of studying aliens in general. Xenomedicine (Science)
This specialized field of medicine grants an overall general understanding of the medical sciences for all lifeforms, ranging from the ones very similar to ones own species, to the extremely bizarre. (As opposed to the Science [Alien] Medicine, which deals with the medical sciences for the lifeforms of a specific alien world.) This Science is based on both Medicine and Xenobiology. (The character cannot have just one of these prerequisite Skills.) Furthermore, the skill roll with Xenomedicine cannot exceed the lower skill roll of these two prerequisites by more than six points. Alternately, this Science can be based on three or more [Alien] Medicines. In this case, the skill roll with Xenomedicine cannot exceed the lowest skill roll of these three prerequisites by more than six points. (If the character has more than three [Alien] Medicines, the skill roll with Xenomedicine cannot exceed the lowest skill roll of the three highest prerequisites by more than six points.) Xenopsychology (Science)
This specialization of Psychology deals with the general knowledge of the (possible) psychologies of the (theorized) sentient alien species. Specializing in the psychology of a specific alien species (e.g., Vulcan Psychology, Klingon Psychology, Narn Psychology, Mimbari Psychology, etc.) will be a specialized field of medicine. Xenotechnology (Science)
---(Y)--- Yeoman (Profession; see Aide/Adjutant) Yin-Yang Medicine, aka Chinese Medicine, aka Asian Medicine, aka Oriental Medicine (Knowledge Skill)
---(Z)--- Zeppelin (Transport Familiarity; see Airship) Zero-G Operations, aka Free Fall (Professional Skill) [DEX]
This Professional Skill can be based on Dexterity (instead of Intellligence). Zoology (Science)
This Science covers the study of animals. (A
fantasy/ historical version of this would be Bestiary.)
https://fcain.tripod.com/h5skills/background_ua_zz.html
All original work herein is copyright © by Franklin W. Cain. All rights reserved. (Last updated: 27 January 2007)