Skill lists

[jeregenest]

Shadows in the Fog basically require: “You must have ratings in the six interpersonal skills, the four combat skills, and the four general skills. You must also have a Knowledge, a Hobby, and a rating in Occult.”

Now obviously Occult won’t be a skill, though not sure to replace it with Tradecraft or not. And I’m unsure about the hobby/knowledge thing, though it does make a lot of sense.

I’m also unsure about those skill requirements.

Heck, the more I think about it I’m pretty sure I don’t want a skill list. Folks comfortable with doing their own and than assigning them to suits?

Or do folks need at least a bunch of “espionage” skills to choose from.

Thoughts?

Comments

Skillz and Suitz

[bluegargantua]

If there's no predefined list, that's fine, but I'd appreciate a list to show what's possible. I'd also really appreciate a recommendation on a good book to give me an understanding of what Tradecraft is, how it's practiced and whatnot. I mean, I'm pretty sure I've got a basic idea of what's going on (yay Delta Green!), but is there a Le Carre book or some other reference that's influencing your thinking about what the concept of tradecraft is?

Also, I'm wondering if maybe the suits don't require a specific intelligence skill or category, but could be a little more fluid. From the small example of play you give, it seems like swords are agents, coins are wealth, staves are political influence and power and hearts could easily be love, personal grit or emotional deals. I kinda like how there's some wiggle room to interpet what your card play means.

Tom

Re: What to read

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

is there a Le Carre book or some other reference that's influencing your thinking about what the concept of tradecraft is?

Have you read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy? mmm......Karla Trilogy....can't go wrong with reading the Karla Trilogy.

Also Absolute Friends, the latest is a great read.

And I have a 6 hour movie at home for Perfect spy that I haven't watched yet. What are you doing the next couple of nights? Perfect Spy is a very fun book, and I'm hoping the miniseries will be almost as good as the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy and Smiley's People minieries (they won't have Alec in them of course).

Oh, and I have some nonfiction books you could borrow if you want. But the fiction is so much more interesting.

[head58.livejournal.com]

What titles specifically make up the "Karla Trilogy"? I'm looking at my pathetic library's catalog online (they don't have Absolute Friends or Tinker Tailor..grr) so I'm about to plumb interlibrary loan.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Honourable Schoolboy
Smiley's People

I have the first one if you want to borrow it. For some reason I don't own the other two, I really should remedy that.

Re: Skillz and Suitz

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Also, I'm wondering if maybe the suits don't require a specific intelligence skill or category, but could be a little more fluid. From the small example of play you give, it seems like swords are agents, coins are wealth, staves are political influence and power and hearts could easily be love, personal grit or emotional deals. I kinda like how there's some wiggle room to interpet what your card play means.

Hmm, guess I had my blinkers on so tighty I didn't think of this.

Re: Skillz and Suitz

[my-tallest.livejournal.com]

In the Ripper game, we used Tarot suits like Tarot suits, interpreting them to fit the situation as was appropriate for a Tarot reading. But almost all of us knew the Tarot to the degree where we could do it; I'd say three people around the table could have given a Tarot reading on the spot if required. I think your usual gamer can't do the "Game of Fours" as quick. OK, maybe a few people in your group, Jere. ;)

You should probably make a Suits cheat sheet, for those people who don't have all the arrangements of the four elements, cardinal points, Jungian personality sections, suits, archangels, gospels, etc in their brains.

Re: Skillz and Suitz

[my-tallest.livejournal.com]

But, I should add, don't make it as simple as just Swords=agents. Pages are agents/messages. Definitely try to give as much of the words you think fall under them as you can, while keeping them distinct.

Although feel free to leave out things like the Four winds, four humors, etc. Still, it's worth having the four directions! Nothing like upping a bid and having the power of saying that your card also implies forces from the West.

Will said skills pay the bills?

[jeffwik.livejournal.com]

Like the chattering of the monkeys for the bananas, I call for the invented brightness that is an "example of play" be sent down my way, before I hazard any strong opinion either way.

Re: Skillz and Suitz

[chrislehrich.livejournal.com]

Note that there are no hearts; only cups, but that the little pictures on the Waite deck tend to support the love/interpersonal (of that sort) interpretation.

I agree that swords shouldn't be people -- people are people. But what about hurting people? That is, you know, combat. It does come up, albeit not all that often, even in John le Carre. But I remember that Peter Guillam and Pauli Skordeno once paired up on a "tough-guy" course and almost killed each other, and Fawn was a serious killer, and some of Karla's hoods were real brutes.

Chris Lehrich