So, one thing I'm having troubling understanding (and would like some help with) is how the skills function. I get that there are a couple of tiers: basic, trained, +10, and +20. What I'd like some help on is understanding when skills can be used with or without penalty. From my noobish understanding, this is how I'm reading it....
If the PC doesn't have the basic of the skill, he cannot use it.
If the PC has it as at the basic level, he can use it at a -20 to the characteristic.
If the PC has it at the trained level, he can use it at no penalty to the characteristic.
+10 and +20 are self evident.