GURPS - Basic Set 3r..

Teamster (Mental/Average)Defaults toAnimal Handling-4 or Riding-2Prerequisite: Animal HandlingThis is the skill of driving teams of animals, such as wagon orgun teams. It includes the skills of harnessing the animals, caringfor them and judging them for quality before purchase. Drivingmore than four animals, or driving a team of unfamiliar animals, is-2 to skill. Each species of animal requires a different skill; thesedefault to each other at -3. Horses and mules are covered by thesame skill.When a wagon or other load (such as a gun) is moved at a gallop(over 20 mph, or 10 hexes per turn), the driver must roll againsthis Teamster skill every ten seconds, at a penalty of up to-5 for bad terrain. A failed roll spills the wagon. This is equivalentThese skills may be learned anywhere, any time, as long as theskill is known to the character's culture. Many people seem to have"inborn" artistic aptitude. For simplicity, all artistic ability is treated asa skill rather than an advantage - but to balance this, assume that youcan start with any level of artistic skill regardless of your age oravailability of a teacher.Artist (Mental/Hard)Defaults to IQ-6This is the ability to draw and paint with both accuracy andbeauty. A successful roll against this skill would let you (forinstance) draw a recognizable picture of someone to help identifyhim; draw a map that would be easy to follow; or even paint a picturegood enough to trade for a meal. (Note that, for the last case, theGM should not allow a default roll. Intelligence can let you drawan accurate picture but not a beautiful one.)Bard (Mental/Average)Defaults to IQ-5or Performance-2This is the ability to tell stories and to speak extemporaneously.Successful use of this talent would (for instance) let you give agood political speech; entertain a group around a campfire; incite(or calm) a riot; or put on a successful "court jester" act. Modifiers:+2 if you have the Voice advantage; any Charisma bonus.If you try to perform in a language other than your nativetongue, subtract 1 from your skill for every point below 12 in yourskill with that language - e.g., if you are performing in French, andyour skill with French is only 8, you have a -4 penalty on your Bardskill.Calligraphy (Physical/Average) Defaults to Artist-2or DX-5 Prerequisite:LiteracyThis is the art of beautiful and decorative handwriting. It is ofuse primarily to earn a living.Dancing (Physical/Average) Defaults to DX-5This is the ability to perform dancesappropriate to your own culture, and to learn new dances quickly.Modifiers: -5 if the dance is unfamiliar. Once you have successfullyperformed a dance three times, it is familiar. Note that certainphysical handicaps make this skill effectively impossible!ANIMAL SKILLSto a 5-yard fall (5d-10 damage) for each man and animalinvolved. Animal Handling rolls will be required to calm thebeasts. Also, roll 2 dice for each horse; on a 12, a leg is broken!Time required to reload the cargo depends on the load, the terrain,and the weather.Veterinary/TL (Mental/Hard) Defaults to anyappropriate Medical skill-5,or Animal Handling-5This is the ability to care for a sick or wounded animal. It is aMedical skill (see p. 56). Modifiers: +5 if the animal knows andtrusts you; -2 or worse if the animal is of an unfamiliar type. Anoptional specialization (p. 43) is allowed.ARTISTIC SKILLSMusical Instrument (Mental/Hard) Defaults toany similar instrument-3Each musical instrument is a separate talent. A successful use ofthe talent will allow you to perform competently on the instrument inquestion. Roll again for each new performance.Photography/TL (Mental/Average) Defaults to IQ-5This is the ability to use a camera competently, use a darkroom, etcetera, and to produce recognizable and attractive photos. Adefault roll is allowed to use a camera, but not to develop film orprints in a darkroom. Modifiers: -3 for an unfamiliar camera; -3 for amotion-picture camera.Poetry (Mental/Average)Defaults to IQ-5or Language-5This is the ability to compose "good" poetry of any type nativeto your culture, in any language you speak. A successful Poetry rolllets you write one good poem, in an appropriate amount of time(GM's decision). A failed roll means you couldn't come up withgood rhymes, or (for whatever reason) your audience just didn'tcare for your work. Modifiers: -3 (or worse) if you are under unreasonabletime pressure: +3 (or better) if you have a lot of time; foreignlanguage penalties as for Bard (above).Sculpting (Physical/Average) Defaults to DX-5 or IQ-5This is the ability to fashion a reasonable likeness of a person orobject, using clay, wood, stone, ivory or whatever comes to hand. Ametalsmithing skill is also required to produce a metal sculpture.Time required is up to the GM. Sculpting is primarily of use inearning a living, but can have useful applications for an adventurer.Modifiers: -5 if the appropriate tools are not available; -5 if themedium is unfamiliar; -5 if the medium is difficult (e.g., marble).