Scouting

[Hellcat]

Ok, got a question. Is there any scouting or trail blazing skill? I'm sure someone will probably tell me that this fits under search, but I think it covers more than search. Things like identfing enemy units, size and shape of an enemy force, blazing or locating a trail for your forces, identfying threats from the area itself, identifying possible benifical elements, etc.
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Wanted Poster

[Boomer]

Tracking
Survival
Search
Navigation

...and there are some others. But those are the most used. Not sure about any skill specifically for identifying threats.
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My backpack has jets!
I'm Boba the Fett!
And I bounty hunt for Jabba Hutt,
to finance my 'vette!

[garhkal]

I know survival and search both have tracking specialties. Not sure what to use for the threat id, other than toss in tactics...
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[Tejma_Muhog]

There are official skills for tracking and navigation? Just stand-alone skills? In which book?

I'd been combining "survival: (relevant terrain type)" and "search: tracking" in these situations. Although I really should work in navigation somewhere, since all I've got IMCs now is astrogation...
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[garhkal]

Like i said, search and/or survival cover tracking. Not seen a navigation skill though./.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Jedi Skyler]

I would definitely add Tactics into that mix. Also, perhaps creating a new skill or set of skills/specializations revolving around unit identification. This would cover several areas: Ground vehicles, air vehicles, space vehicles, various troop class recognition, knowledge of unit colors/insignias, etc. Things of that nature, basically.

Also, I would heavily stress Communications and Sensors as highly desirable, if not necessary skills. This would enable a scout to intercept enemy transmissions and possibly decode and re-encrypt them for transmission to command.

Of course, there are going to be specializations or bonuses for survival and Hide/Sneak/Search in whatever terrain they grew up in or were trained in. Scouts won't necessarily need skills in Demolitions or specialized combat operations like that, since their job is to see without being seen. They might opt to get some sniper training in, thereby broadening their possible combat roles, but beyond that when generating a Scout character they'll want to really beef up on their Knowledge and Perception skills.

[garhkal]

And sniper types would also be better at determining other aspects of enemy threat level, like possible entrance/exit points, weak spots, etc.
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Jedi Skyler]

Now yer talkin'!

[adamlumina93]

I know this goes completely against the rule books but I would have to say maybe scholar with a specialzation in military procedure and/ or equipment to determine threat levels. I never have liked the books definition of scholar anyways. I think that skill can show your general knowledge in a specific subject not just how well you can "booklearn" which is the books definition. By using the books description any experienced player is never going to spend time improving the skill because it flat out has no use in the game.

[Boomer]

For me, scholar is all about how you use it, as it is knowledge skill that just plain gives you knowledge. As a GM, think about when knowledge would be useful. As a player, think about that too.

The real problem is that most people do not really stretch their minds when it comes to the uses of skills.
_________________
My backpack has jets!
I'm Boba the Fett!
And I bounty hunt for Jabba Hutt,
to finance my 'vette!

[cyborgxxi]

Wow, this is pretty much like military scouting!! In our game, we don't really use those kind of skills except when looting dead bodies (at special times) for loot. But nowadays, we are inserted into points on bases and such... so we don't really get to use those Perception skills.

Right now, our Rebel Special Forces squad is in a Star Destroyer... trying to kill everything inside and blow it up.

Don't know how Navigation and Tracking's gonna be used in this adventure

[Ray]

You're going to need navigation in the Star Destroyer just to figure out the maps.

Or slice a Mouse Droid.