Torg Player Rules

Security
Use: Cannot be used unskilled without the appropriate tools.
Unskilled use with tools penalized. Macro skill..
Sample specializations: Detecting alarms/traps, disarming
alarms/traps, counter-security, electronic locks, electronic
systems
Axiom: Tech 8 for mechanical systems, Tech 20 for electronic
systems
The security skill lets a character work with mechanical and
electronic security systems. Depending on the Tech axiom this can
range from motion detectors and computerized surveillance systems
down to pressure plates and booby traps. A character with this skill
knows both how to set up security systems and how to defeat them.
Specialized tools are often needed to disable electronic systems but
may not be necessary to disable mechanical systems. Detecting
security systems usually does not require specialized equipment.
This skill does not cover things like safecracking or opening
locks that involve physical tumblers and mechanisms, those are
covered by the lock picking skill. Security can get the character
open access to the lock, but not any farther. Electronic locks can
be “picked” with the security skill.
Difficulty numbers for electronic locks can be based off of the
chart given in the description of lock picking. Difficulty numbers for
detecting alarms and traps can be based off of the Difficulty Number
Scale or based on the security skill of the person who designed the
system. Difficulty numbers for deactivating or bypassing alarms and
traps should be based on the Difficulty Number Scale.
Example: Yukitada is trying to gain entrance to a Nippon Tech
megacorp tower in downtown Tokyo. She first makes a visual
inspection of the building to determine its exterior security measures.
Barbara makes a security skill check for Yukitada against a difficulty
that Becky has based on the security skill value of the megacorp’s
chief of security. Getting a high skill total, Yukitada easily spots all
of the building’s external sensors and alarms.
Exploiting a gap in the building’s security net, Yukitada
approaches a side door equipped with an electronic lock. Pulling out
a high-tech “lockpick” device, Yukitada tries to break the security on
the door. Here the type of lock, not the security skill of the person
who designed the system, determines the difficulty number. Using
the chart under the lock picking skill, Becky rates it as an exterior
door (10) with a high-security lock (+4), a final difficulty of 14.
Space Vehicles
Use: Unskilled use penalized. May be used as a macro skill.
Sample specializations: Space shuttle, sub-orbital transport,
MMU, Akashan lightship, geomantic shuttle
Axiom: Tech 21
This skill reflects a character’s ability to operate, pilot and
make minor repairs to spacecraft of all types, including Manned
Maneuvering Units on spacesuits and even space stations. Depending
on the type of craft the astronaut may need to make space vehicles
skill checks to take off and land the craft, though with many primitive
spacecraft the astronaut is more of a passenger instead of a pilot.
The astronaut must also make a space vehicles skill check whenever
attempting any type of unusual maneuver, such as docking with
another ship or space station and maneuvers made during combat.
The difficulty of a task is determined by the gamemaster using the
Difficulty Number Scale.
Chapter Three: Attributes and Skills
The space vehicles skill is also used to increase a ship’s speed
beyond its normal capabilities, assuming that the craft have a
controllable throttle. That may not be the case with more primitive
spacecraft. This is accomplished with a speed push similar to the
type characters can do with their own movement rates. All vehicles
have a speed value that is essentially the same as a character’s limit
value. It is not the maximum possible speed of the vehicle, just the
maximum speed possible without putting stress on the vehicle’s
engine and/or structure.
The rules for speed pushes can be found in Chapter Four. The
macro use of this skill is handled with the same rules that apply
to the macro movements of characters in the “Timed Movement”
sidebar.
In space combat, a pilot’s space vehicles skill is used in place
of combat skills such as dodge and maneuver. In the very unlikely
(but not impossible) case of a spacecraft being attacked in flight by
someone using melee weapons or unarmed combat the pilot’s space
vehicles skill substitutes for the normal defensive skill values.
Tracking
Use: Macro skill.
Sample specializations: By terrain type (mountain, desert,
forest, jungle, urban)
This skill gives its user the ability to follow a trail left by another
creature or vehicle. It combines the ability to notice details of the
environment with the processing of that information to recognize
signs of recent or not so recent passage A character using just
Perception or find might see all the clues, but not put the information
together correctly.
To use the skill, the tracker generates a total against a difficulty
number of 8. If the target tries to conceal her trail, she generates
a tracking skill total of her own and this becomes the difficulty of
following her trail. The difficulty number of a tracking attempt is
modified by the following factors:
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