Arbitan's Updated Skill List

[Arbitan]

Here is my attempt to streamline the D6 skill list to encompass some skills not in the core book, update some terminology, and just generally make the skill list more user friendly for newer players who don't have the history with the system that some of us do. I apologize if this is anyone's sacred cow, but my philosophy has always been that there are plenty of things to keep track of and a streamlined skill list helps keep things more cinematic. (I also got tired of answering newbie questions like why a blaster skill couldn't be applied to bowcaster. Yep, Han screwed that up for everyone in VII!)

This skill list has worked out pretty well in the two campaigns I've used it in. Let me know what you think! Condensed skills are listed in parenthesis after their bolded master skill. Feel free to borrow if you like it!

DEXTERITY
Blaster [Archaic Guns, Blaster Artillery, Bowcaster, Bows, Firearms, Missile Weapons, Pulse-Wave Weapons], Dodge, Lightsaber, Melee Combat [Melee Parry], O-G Maneuver, Sleight of Hand [Pick Pockets], Thrown Weapons [Grenades]

KNOWLEDGE
Business, Galactic Lore* [Alien Species, Bureaucracy, Cultures, Planetary Systems], Intimidation, Languages, Scholar** [Jedi Lore, Sith Lore, Ancient Technologies, Clone Vat Systems, etc.], Streetwise [Law Enforcement, Value], Survival, Willpower

MECHANICAL
Beast Riding, Flight Systems [Astrogation, Communications, Sensors, Shields], Gunnery [Vehicle and Starship], Personal Equipment Operation [Powersuit Operation, Rocket Pack Operation], Starship Piloting [All space-faring vessels], Vehicle Operation [Ground Vehicle Operation, Hover Vehicle Operation, Repulsorlift, Swoop, Walker Operation].

PERCEPTION
Command [Tactics], Deception [Con, Forgery], Gambling, Persuasion [Bargain], Search [Investigation], Sneak [Hide]

STRENGTH
Athletics [Climb/Jump, Lift, Swim], Brawling [Brawling Parry], Stamina [Running]

TECHNICAL
Computers [Computer Interface, Programming/Repair], Demolitions, First Aid [Advanced: Cyborging, Medicine], Lightsaber Repair, Personal Equipment Repair [Armor Repair, Blaster Repair, Bowcaster Repair, Droid Programming/Repair], Security, Starship Repair [All space-faring vessels], Vehicle Repair [Ground Vehicle Operation, Hover Vehicle Operation, Repulsorlift, Swoop, Walker Operation].

*Represents general knowledge, for more arcane lore, use the Scholar skill.

** Learning a Scholar skill always requires a teacher. Scholar represents knowledge in a highly specialized or obscure area. Ex: Scholar [Jedi Lore].

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"We are tired of serving their weakness, and will work toward our own ends from now on. The Sith Brotherhood controls the galaxy." ―Exar Kun, Dark Lord of the Sith

[Whill]

In my middle age I've moved in the direction of fewer combo-skills, but my skill list is still not as condensed as yours. Your list has some food for thought.
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[garhkal]

One of my big gripes with doing lots of skill combinations is it winds up being way to easy to be great at a lot of stuff.
Imagine someone who wanted to be an ace pilot, not just in fighters, but air speeders, freighters, cap ships and archaic ships.
He starts with 4d in mechanical (using the brash pilot template), puts 5 of his 7 starting dice, one into each skill.
Now an ace usually would be akin to 7 or 8d (we will just use the lower for example).
That would cost him 5+5+5+6+6+6 for 33cp for one skill, x5 skills or 165cp.

With them all combined into one skill, he's saving 132cp.. See what i am getting at?

Or worse, using your 'combined blaster skill (though why the hell are bows listed under it??) to do the same as a bounty hunter (4d dex pushing all skills to 7d) would take him normally 200+cp.. Yet here, again he's only having to spend 33cp...
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Arbitan]

garhkal I definitely see room for abuse, but honestly the players I'm rolling with are all pretty new so min-maxing isn't really a concern. Since the two games I ran with this skill list were only a few months in length, the PCs didn't get a chance to raise most skills more than one or two dice from the starting point. If the campaigns I ran were more long-term, or if I had an experienced player-base, I would definitely break some of these skills up to resemble their more traditional versions. My old group definitely drank deep from the well of skills and took great pleasure in the fact they could shoot a blaster and a pulse-wave rifle! But we were all cut from the same cloth back in those days.

I don't think anyone from my last few games even wanted to specialize! How do I reach these keeds?! 8)

Whill the gateway drug for me was brawling/melee combat & parry. I get it. But I always hated spending points on both!

Thanks for the comments guys, I appreciate the feedback.
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"We are tired of serving their weakness, and will work toward our own ends from now on. The Sith Brotherhood controls the galaxy." ―Exar Kun, Dark Lord of the Sith

[bobenhotep]

My list is not as condensed but more so than the official. However, I give out less character points as a result. Although I have not had anyone play a force sensitive in a really long time, I imagine it would make force skills take longer to improve. That could be a good thing.
When I read the 0-G manuver skill my brain read it as OG Manuver and "Straight Outta Compton" began playing in my head.
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D&D 5e DM and WEG Star Wars GM for two kids who will hopefully carry on with RPGs for years to come

The Chijawa said so, that's why.

[garhkal]

[bobenhotep]

I dropped brawling parry and Melee parry as well. I also completely removed the Blaster Artillery and Vehicle blasters skills and added a mechanical skill called "Vehicle Gunnery" which covers Speeder and Walker scale weapons. Artillery is fired with the scale appropriate gunnery skill. I did some other ones, but those were the main ones.
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D&D 5e DM and WEG Star Wars GM for two kids who will hopefully carry on with RPGs for years to come

The Chijawa said so, that's why.