NOTACIÓN Letras romanas mayúsculas

Universal Translator is a broad Talent that enables many sorts of communication between characters — but it’s not infallible. In particular, a character with Universal Translator generally cannot:

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n Read/understand encrypted or encoded docu-

ments or transmissions (he might understand the literal meaning of the words of a code [as opposed to a cipher], but wouldn’t know what they signified)

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n read lips (that requires the Lipreading Skill) „

n understand or speak to animals (unless animals

can routinely speak to humans in the campaign setting)

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n understand or “read” mathematical equations „

n perceive lies or emotions by “reading” body

language

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n provide cultural context (for example, the

character won’t know if a particular word or gesture is considered a gross insult, a proposal of marriage, a combat challenge, or the like in a given culture or society)

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n read or understand symbols, runes, logos,

flags, and the like (except to the extent the GM believes those things are intended to “commu- nicate” a specific word or meaning that’s gener- ally accepted in society)

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n understand or “read” the sounds made by a

modem or like device.

OTHER “unIvERSAlS”

It’s possible to think of Universal Translator as roughly equivalent to Linguist and 17 Character Points’ worth of Languages — which, if chosen properly, would let a character communicate with the vast majority of humanity. The rest of the Languages, which a character will rarely (if ever) need, are “thrown in” for the sake of drama and fun game play.

Taken one step further, that logic can justify the creation of other “Universals” that apply to other types of Background Skills. The GM should consider them carefully before allowing them into his campaign. Since they grant a character

advanced player’s guide n Chapter two 49

access to an enormous body of knowledge, they could easily unbalance some games. Even if the GM allows them in appropriate games — such as a Pulp Hero campaign where all the characters are supposed to be universally competent — he may want to restrict them so that each one can only be purchased by one PC. That way having a Universal is a distinctive thing, one of the charac- ter’s “shticks,” not something everybody and his brother has.

If for some reason a character has both a Universal and a Skill Enhancer that pertain to the same type of Skill, their bonuses are not cumulative.

true jaCK oF aLL trades

A character with this Talent can perform virtually any trade, craft, or other Professional Skill competently, whether it involves building a skyscraper, playing chess, painting a portrait, catching dogs, installing electrical wiring, or anything else.

True Jack Of All Trades costs 20 Character Points. For that cost, the character is assumed to have a roll of 11- in any Professional Skill (though the GM can forbid him to perform certain tasks, or reduce the roll, if appropriate). In some cases the GM may require the character to succeed with an INT Roll, or spend a significant amount of time practicing, before he’s qualified to make an unpe- nalized roll with a specific Professional Skill.

At the GM’s option, a character with True Jack Of All Trades can improve his roll at a cost of +1 Character Point for each +1 to the roll. The only Skill Levels that apply to True Jack Of All Trades rolls are Overall Skill Levels, 10-point Skill Levels with All Noncombat Skills, and 4-point Skill Levels with All Professional Skills, but the GM can permit other Skill Levels to apply if desired.

Skill Modifiers, including taking extra time to perform a task, apply normally to True Jack Of All Trades rolls unless the GM rules otherwise. In particular, the GM should impose negative modifiers (-1 to -3) if the PS the character tries to use is extremely different from other types of work he’s done. Conversely, if he tries to perform a task that’s similar to others he’s already performed, he gets a bonus (+1 to +3).

universaL ConneCtions

A character with this Talent has friends everywhere — literally. No matter where he goes or what sort of help he needs, he always seems to know “just the right person” to turn to for infor- mation or assistance.

Universal Connections costs 20 Character Points. For that cost, the character can make a Contact roll of 11- any time he needs help or information. If the roll succeeds, he knows someone who can help him out; if it fails, he doesn’t know anyone (or not the right sort of person), he cannot contact the person he seeks, or his friend can’t help him for some reason. The GM should interpret the results for maximum drama and fun.

At the GM’s option, a character with Universal Connections can improve his roll at a cost of +1 Character Point for each +1 to the roll. The only Skill Levels that apply to Universal Connections rolls are Overall Skill Levels, but the GM can permit other Skill Levels to apply if desired.

The Contacts met via Universal Connections are standard 11- Contacts; the character doesn’t have any special relationship with or hold over them, and they rarely possess significant resources, Contacts, or Skills of their own. However, the GM can create the character’s Contacts to suit himself, the adventure, and the campaign, so it’s possible the character might know some very influential and powerful people indeed.

universaL piLot

A character with this Talent knows how to drive or pilot any vehicle, whether it’s a sportscar, submarine, hovercar, airplane, time machine, heli- copter, tank, or Class 7-Alpha starship. Somehow he instinctively, or through long experience with vehicles of every sort, knows how to start the vehicle, operate its equipment, and steer it.

Universal Pilot costs 20 Character Points. For that cost, a character’s considered to have every Transport Familiarity possible in the campaign (though the GM may choose to exclude Riding Animals, and any other category so rare and unusual that he thinks it shouldn’t be included). As with Transport Familiarity, the character has an 8- roll for performing dangerous maneuvers (jumps, screeching turns, and so forth), but doesn’t have to make rolls to operate a vehicle normally. At the GM’s option, a character with Universal Pilot can improve his roll at a cost of +1 Character Point for each +1 to the roll (though the GM should establish some maximum, such as 11-, so Combat Driving, Combat Piloting, and/or Riding remain viable Skills). No Skill Levels (not even Overall Levels) apply to Universal Pilot rolls unless the GM rules otherwise.

universaL sChoLar

A character with this Talent knows some- thing about pretty much everything. His grasp of obscure topics may not be as good as that of someone who’s spent a significant amount of time studying them, but he’s surprisingly well-informed about even unusual subjects.

Universal Scholar costs 20 Character Points. For that cost, the character has an INT Roll with any Knowledge Skill. However, the GM may restrict this to “average” or “general” KSs, not obscure ones, or may impose penalties if the char- acter wants to make a roll with an obscure KS. But he can also rule that some facts are so well-known that the character automatically knows them or suffers a lesser penalty.

At the GM’s option, a character with Universal Scholar can improve his roll at a cost of +1 Character Point for each +1 to the roll. The only Skill Levels that apply to Universal Scholar rolls are Overall Skill Levels and 5-point Skill Levels with All Knowledge Skills, but the GM can permit other Skill Levels to apply if desired.

50 n skills, perks, and talents hero system 6th edition

Skill Modifiers, including taking extra time to perform a task, apply normally to Universal Scholar rolls unless the GM rules otherwise. In particular, the GM should impose negative modifiers (-1 to -3) if the KS the character tries to use has no significant relation to subjects he’s previously studied or shown great knowledge of. Conversely, if he tries to answer a question that relates to topics he’s already shown knowledge of, he gets a bonus (+1 to +3).

universaL sCientist

A character with this Talent is intimately familiar with the entire realm of Science. His grasp of obscure sciences may not be as good as that of someone who’s spent a significant amount of time studying them, but he’s surprisingly well-informed about even unusual subjects.

Universal Scientist costs 20 Character Points. For that cost, the character has an INT Roll with any broad Science Skill (such as Biology, Chem- istry, Mathematics, or Physics). For more obscure topics, the GM can impose penalties on the roll. On the other hand, he can rule that some scientific facts are so well-known that the character auto- matically knows them or suffers a lesser penalty.

At the GM’s option, a character with Universal Scientist can improve his roll at a cost of +1 Char- acter Point for each +1 to the roll. The only Skill Levels that apply to Universal Scientist rolls are Overall Skill Levels and 5-point Skill Levels with All Science Skills, but the GM can permit other Skill Levels to apply if desired.

Skill Modifiers, including taking extra time to perform a task, apply normally to Universal Scientist rolls unless the GM rules otherwise. In particular, the GM should impose negative modifiers (-1 to -3) if the SS the character tries to use has no significant relation to subjects he’s previously studied or shown great knowledge of. Conversely, if he tries to answer a question that relates to topics he’s already shown knowledge of, he gets a bonus (+1 to +3).