I am curious why one can not buy a basic skill any any rank level? They are basic after all (pg. 96).

This came up in our game yesterday when I was wanting to buy the Doge and Silent Move skills. The three previous games that we played, I had to make rolls for those two skills (which I did not have, because I am a Imperial Psyker).

So to show that I had attempted those skills and to better justify my purchase of them when it comes time to buy the skills (and to add to the story), I put a check mark next to the name of the skill for each attempted roll, right. Well, those are not available to my character until at least rank 3 (well, doge at least).

Why is this? You would think that after dodging in every combat and still being alive, you can justify buying that skill despite your rank, right?

I am fine with not having my way, but I am curious what the game system reasons are for this limitation?

I'd say it's to emphasize the specialties of the careers. Guardsman are combat guys and really aren't very useful off the battlefield, so it makes total sense that they get some combat skills, like Dodge , early.

Also, having an Advanced Skill means that the individual has a great deal of training in the skill. People just don't start with infiltration training for Concealment and Silent Move , but that doesn't mean people can't try. Some basic Common Lore skills are another example of that. Sure, if someone's been in the Schola they remember a bit about the Administratum but that knowledge won't suddenly evolve into a trained skill without some more learning. I don't see just using a skill as sufficient for this.

This is what the Elite Advance system is for. The career path (which personally I'm oppose to) gives you guidelines about what a particular character archetype is good at. Elite Advances allow you to customize your character to their circumstances.

Personally, I allow my players wide latitude with purchasing Elite Advances and would generally allow anyone to purchase most basic skills at any rank.

LuciusT said:

And this is pretty much what I do, and I often allow Advanced Skills as Elite Advances if the character puts time in to research/learn/practice the things needed for the skill in question.

MILLANDSON said:

Ditto. And I will even occassionally allow certain Talents as Elite Advances, if it makes sense in-game.

Although I would say that it would cost at least 50% more than it costs them when they can get it and they need to display that they have been doing it previously.

Having your psyker learn dodge a rank or two early for 150 xp is fine but having a techpriest learn dodge 6 ranks early because he failed to dodge that once i would say is out.

Face Eater said:

Extrapolating from Rogue Trader, I've made the "average" elite advance cost for my campaign 200 exp. Sometimes I'll give things out cheaper, though usually in the context of elite advance packages that the character has brought into.

Thank you guys for this advice.

I am going to bring it up with our GM this Saturday. My wife is playing an assassin and was complaining about something similar with our advancement rank scheme, but her complaint was more legit than mine (It had to do with the concealment skill).

Thanks again!

I'd say because they are skills, not natural abilities.

Anyone can try and move silently, but not everyone will be skilled/trained in it. If it's not available to the character yet, you just have to wait, as that emphasises the fact that the character is training over time to become better.

For example, in our campaign we have a Tech-Adept. He just bought Dodge. This does not mean he was unable to Dodge before, just that he wasn't very good at it. However, with several very dangerous combat situations under his belt he has become better at it, so buying the Dodge upgrade was appropriate for him.

And as far as basic skills that a character cannot get because of their chosen career/path, then that's what Elite advances are for. Not only that, justifying Elite Advances to the GM for basic skills would probably be far easier than justifying a complex Talent that a character would not normally be able to get.

BYE

I think that some skills and talents are too late on advance schemes, so I'd allow them as Elite Advances as mentioned above at the cost I deem appropriate. Especially when Acolytes have made some friends among higher-level friendly NPCs and ask them to teach.