GURPS - Compendium 1..

Planetology can be used in place of several other skills.
Geology and Meteorology default to it at -3; Botany, Ecology,
and Zoology at -4; Survival in that world's major terrain(s) at -5.
For detailed information about a world, consult an expert in the
pertinent scientific skill - Geology, Meteorology and so on. GM
may assess penalties for worlds that differ greatly from the norm
for their type.
Probability Physics/TL (Mental/Very Hard)
No default
Prerequisites: Mathematics,
Physics and Nuclear Physics, all at 15+
An extremely complex field that delves into the very nature
of reality. Applied probability physics results in "magical" technology
like antigrav generators, probability weapons and reality
anchors. Probability physics is closely related to Hyperspace
Physics, but is so convoluted that it must be studied as a separate
field.
Psionics/TL (Mental/Very Hard) No default
The science of psi abilities. In worlds where the scientific
basis of psionics is well known, study of this skill does not
require the user to be psionic. Psionics is closely related to
Probability physics.
Science! (Mental/Very Hard)
No default
Prerequisites: see below
Science! is a cinematic skill, and is inappropriate for use in
realistic campaigns. It is intended to simulate the movie scientist
who knows a little - or a lot! - about everything.
You have a general acquaintance with the fundamental techniques
and theories of virtually every branch of laboratory and
theoretical science. You're equally at home monitoring a chemistry
experiment, excavating an archaeological dig or expounding
on a sociological theory. You're "Mr. Know It All."
Science! skill will not allow you to create a new theory,
invention or experiment, but on a successful roll you will know
about any theory, invention or experiment that anyone else has
published, in any branch of science, and be able to reconstruct it
with the proper equipment. The GM can allow this to become as
much or as little of a deus ex machina as he wishes. "You recall
an interesting experiment your colleague, Dr. Juntz, once performed
with paramecia. Of course, the paramecia he was experimenting
on weren't the size of Buicks, but the theory should
still apply."
In order to take Science! skill, you must first purchase the
Research skill at 13 or higher. Then you must buy two skills
(investing at least 2 points each, or 4 total) from the following:
Agronomy, Alchemy, Anthropology, Archaeology, Astrogation
(if applicable), Astronomy, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry,
Computer Programming, Diagnosis, Ecology, Economics,
Electronics, Engineer, Forens ics, Genetics, Geology,
Linguistics, Mathematics, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Naturalist,
Nuclear Physics, Physician, Physics, Physiology, Psychology,
Surgery, Veterinary, Weird Science, Zoology, or any other M/H or
M/VH skill drawn from the "hard" or "soft" sciences (but not from
the liberal arts). Your skill in Science! can never be more than 2
less than your skill in the lowest prerequisite science. For
example, if your prerequisite skills are Biochemistry-16 and
Botany-14, you cannot take Science! at more than 12.
Any character with a Science! skill of 13 or more is entitled
to use the title "Professor," regardless of whether or not he's
affiliated with any institution of higher learning.
Examples of characters from fiction with the Science! skill
include Buckaroo Banzai, Prof. Challenger, Dr. Van Helsing,
the Professor from Gilligan's Island and Dr. Quest from the cartoon
Jonny Quest.
For the corresponding magical skill, see Thaumatology, p.
149.
Speed-Reading (Mental/Average) No default
Prerequisite: Literacy
You have trained yourself to read two to three times faster
than normal. Normally, reading speed is proportional to IQ (the
exact rate depends on the script); a character with this skill may
add his skill level to IQ for calculating reading speed. The actual
skill roll determines how much you retain. If you fail a
Speed-Reading roll, you must make a roll vs. (IQ minus the
amount you failed the Speed-Reading roll by) every time you
want to remember or use what you read. You can later go back
and re-read the material to eliminate the retention problem.
Characters with Eidetic Memory still have to make their
Speed-Reading rolls, but add +5 to retention rolls if they fail.
Surveying/TL (Mental/Average) Defaults to IQ-5,
Cartography-5 or Navigation-5
Prerequisite: Mathematics
This represents general expertise in surveying and mapping
geographical areas. Specifically, it is a specialized branch of
mathematics which teaches the art of determining the area of
any portion of the Earth's surface, the lengths and directions of
the bounding lines and the contour of the surface as well as of
accurately depicting the whole on paper.
Temporal Electronics/TL (Mental/Hard) Defaults to
Temporal Operation-6 or other Electronics-5
Prerequisite: Temporal Physics
This is an Electronics skill specialty (see p. B43) that deals
with building and repairing time machines. Its practitioners are
usually called "temporal engineers," just because "electronicist" is
such an obnoxious word, but this is not an Engineering skill.
There is no default for persons from cultures without time
travel - and in some campaigns, the PCs may have invented the
machine, making them the only Temporal Engineers available.
For a cross-time campaign, this is "Parachronic Electronics."
Temporal Physics/TL (Mental/Very Hard)
Defaults to Temporal Electronics-6,
or Physics/TL9+-4
Prerequisite: Physics/TL9+
This is the theoretical science of time travel, as the campaign
defines it. Its primary use in the game is to stretch the abilities of
the equipment, effectively "bending the rules." While engineers
and operators are able to do this as well, they will be able to
work faster and with a greater chance of success if a physicist
has worked out the principles of the attempt. (Of course, if the
physicist's theory is flawed, the people trying to implement it
may notice, or they may make for an even bigger disaster.)
For a cross-time campaign, this is "Parachronic Physics."
Thanatology (Mental/Hard)
Defaults to
Diagnosis, Psychology or
Sociology at -5,
or Professional Skill: Mortician-3
This is the esoteric study of death in all its aspects. It
includes pathology and embalming, as well as the study of death
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