Skills List and Description

Introduction

Here the different Skills or Training Fields are presented and explained.

Since most of the game mechanics in GSN are the same that in the game Spirit of the Century (SotC), under each skill it is explained what would be the equivalent skills in SotC.

Also in each section there are presented a few different archetypes of spy character ideas which can be modeled by that skill, to be used for inspiration on creating characters.


Skills List

The ten Training Fields are:

  • Access
  • Analysis
  • Combat
  • Conditioning
  • Fieldwork
  • Infiltration
  • Influence
  • Operations
  • Special Skills
  • Systems

Access

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Contacting, Resources.
  • Archetype Characters: Networker, Company Man, Influence Trader, Office Politics Player.

The access level of the agent is a representation of the influence he has in the organization, including rank, contacts, and the capacity to get resources and information from CONTROL or other national agencies.


Analysis

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Academics (for research and languages), Investigation, Leadership (for administration), Science (for theoretical knowledge).
  • Archetype Characters: Data Analyst, Cryptographer, Office Man, Investigator, Detective, Researcher, Internet Expert.

The data that is obtained by the agents in the field must be later studied by the analysts in order to extract the relevant information.

The analyst training includes the ability to study, memorize, analyze, and recall statistics and data and to perform research. It also includes knowledge about organizations and individuals related to national security, and general knowledge about science and technology.

An analyst is also good at observing something and quickly detecting the important things and discard the irrelevant things, and he can use that ability to find clues in a scene.


Combat

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Fists, Guns, Leadership (for tactics and command), Weapons.
  • Archetype Characters: Soldier, Military Man, SWAT, Army Commando.

Training for combat situations, including the usage of all kinds of fire weapons, melee weapons, and unarmed combat techniques. It also includes training in platoon level tactics.


Conditioning

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Might.
  • Archetype Characters: Sportsman, Jock, Human-Spider, Acrobat, Strongman.

Training the human body to perform at the maximum capacity. It includes skills such as running, climbing, athletics, jumping, dodging, skiing, and all kind of sports. It’s also rolled for endurance, toughness and brute force checks.


Fieldwork

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Academics (for culture), Art, Gambling, Leadership (for bureaucracy).
  • Archetype Characters: Gentleman, Playboy, Informer, Our Man in Havana, Dormant Agent, Silent Observer.

In order to be an effective field observer, an agent needs to be able to blend in most social environments, especially in high society, to win the favor of powerful individuals and gather intelligence from them when needed.

This task requires a very wide array of knowledge, including: general culture, travelling, ettiquette and social customs, gambling and social games, appreciation of art and cuisine, music performance, courtroom dancing, current world events, and so on.

The agent also needs to feel at home and know the inner workings of the business world and the national and international politics scene.


Infiltration

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Burglary, Sleight of Hand, Stealth.
  • Archetype Characters: Sneaky, Ninja, Burglar, Reformed Former Thief.

The ability to get in places where the agent is not allowed to be, move undetected, hide, ambush, case and overcome security systems, pick locks, and so on.

It also includes general burglary and thievery skills like stealing cars, picking pockets, and sleight of hand.


Influence

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Deceit, Empathy, Intimidation, Rapport.
  • Archetype Characters: Seducer, Master of Disguise, Negotiator, Con-man.

It teaches the psychological skills needed influencing people’s minds by using persuasion, seduction, intimidation, and so on. It includes techniques for creating rapport with people, profiling their personality, and detecting their lies or intentions.

It also includes effective techniques for lying to people and pretending to be someone else (disguise).


Operations

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Alertness, Drive, Pilot, Survival, Science (for first aid), Resolve.
  • Archetype Characters: Man of Action, Ice Cold Brutally Effective Field Operative, Daredevil Wheelman, Professional, Transporter.

All agents are taught how to perform a variety of tasks that they will have to do in order to survive as field operatives, among others: driving and piloting all kinds of vehicles, surviving in hostile environments, using first aid, detecting threats, and so on.

However in the field when the agents are in high stressful life-or-death situations they will need to remain calm and have a strong control of their emotions in order to quickly decide the most effective course of action, that’s what this training is mostly aimed at.

It is also used for alertness and resolve checks.


Special Skills

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Mysteries.
  • Archetype Characters: Psychic Detective, Telepath, Native American Shaman, Zen Master.

Very few agents receive this kind of training and actually it’s not even acknowledged that such training exists. It focuses on the agent talents that are beyond human normal boundaries and even on the limits of science understanding, like psionic powers, precognition, mind control, magic, mutations, cybernetic enhacements, and others.

The particular special talent or talents that the agent has should be described by using Aspects, and the effects and workings of this talent should be decided and agreed between the Game Master and Player beforehand.

Since the setting is mostly the real world, it is encouraged to restrict the access and potency of this skill, but if you want a game with a more fantastic tone, feel free to go crazy with it.


Systems

  • Eq. SotC Skills: Engineering, Science (for using technology).
  • Archetype Characters: Engineer, Demolitions Expert, Gadgeteer, Hacker.

All the skills related to using, modifying, repairing, and creating devices and technology. Those include: vehicles, gadgets, explosives, and computers, among others.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License