Babylon 5: The Palladium Project - Skills

Conversion : B5 Palladium

The skill systems for B5 and palladium are entirely different, and converting skills is the most difficult chore. The skill list that follows is a list as it would be presented in a palladium book. Skills are divided into subheadings, and then listed by alphabetical order as they appear in B5. Indented skills are skills which would be specializations in B5, and are individual skills in Palladium. I have tried to adjust skill percentages as they would be in the future. The basis for these skills are gained from Robotech, Robotech II: Sentinels, Rifts, TMNT, and Ninjas & Superspies. Skill percentages are listed as the base skill percentage, plus an additional modifier per level of experience beyond one that the character gains.

Communications

Investigation: Surveillance Systems 40% + 5%, Req. electronics skill; T.V./Video 25% + 4%

Domestic

Acting 40% + 5% Professional +20%
Cooking: Cook 50% + 8% Professional +10%.
Dancing: Dance 40% + 5% Professional +15%.
Gambling 45% +5%
Music: Sing 40% + 5% Professional +20%.; Play Instrument 40% + 5% Professional +10%; Composition

Electrical

Engineering, Electrical: Electrical Engineer 45% + 5%; Computer Repair 40% + 5%; Basic Electronics 40% + 5%; Robot Electronics 30% + 5%

Espionage / Military

Engineering, Chemical: Demolition 50% + 5%; Demolition Disposal 40% + 5%
Investigation: Interrogation 40% + 5%
Survival: Wilderness Survival 40% + 5%
Tactics, Troop: Intelligence 45% + 5%
Tactics, Space Combat: Intelligence 45% + 5%
Tracking: Tracking 35% + 5%

Mechanical

Engineering, Aerospace: Aircraft Mechanics 45% + 5%; Spacecraft Mechanics 40% + 5%; Hyperspace Mechanics 30% + 5%; Drive Repair: Jump Drive 30% + 5%; Drive Repair: Gravimetric Drive 30% + 5%; Oxygen Systems 58% + 4%
Engineering, Mechanical: Mechanical Engineer 45% + 5%; Automotive Mechanics 50% + 5%; Robotics 30% + 5%; Basic Mechanics 50% + 5%

Medical

Investigation: Criminal Sciences and Forensics 35% + 5%
Medical, Biotech: Cybernetics Medical Doctor 40/60% + 5%; Bionics Note
Medical, Diagnostic: Pathology 40% + 5%
Medical, EMT: Paramedic 40% + 5%
Medical, Pharmaceutical: Medical Pharacologist 40/50% + 5%
Medical, Psychiatry: Medical Pschiatrist 60/50% + 5%
Medical, Surgery: Medical Doctor 60/50% + 5%

Psionic

Telepathy: Scanning; Broadcasting; Blocking

Physical

Acrobatics: Acrobatics; Climbing 40/30% + 5%; Escape Artist 30% + 5%; Gymnastics; Zero-G Maneuvering (PP X 5)% + 4%; Vacuum Survival (Special)
Athletics: Athletics; Running; Swimming 50% + 5%
Combat, Martial Arts: Hand to Hand: Akido; Hand to Hand: Karate; Hand to Hand: Kenjitsu; Hand to Hand: Then'sha'tur (Narn); Hand to Hand: Katak'eth (Narn); Hand to Hand: Kalan'tha (Minbari); Hand to Hand: Pike Fighting (Minbari) (WP?); Hand to Hand: Tronno (Centauri); Hand to Hand: Coutari (Centauri)
Combat, Unarmed: Hand to Hand: Basic; Hand to Hand: Expert
Hiding: Prowl 30% + 5%

Pilot

Driving: Pilot Automobile 80% + 4%; Pilot Truck 66% + 4%; Pilot Motorcycle 60% + 4%
Piloting: Pilot Jet 60% + 4%; Pilot Space Fighter 60% + 4%; Pilot Shuttle 60% + 4%; Pilot Spaceship 50% + 5%; EVA 40% + 5%; Ship to Ship Combat 25% + 5%
Shiphandling: Pilot Large Spaceship 40% + 4%

Pilot Related

Navigation, Aerospatial: Navigation - Space 60% + 5%; Navigation - Hyperspace 30% + 5%
Navigation, Planetary: Navigation 60% + 5%
Weapons Systems: Weapon Systems 60% + 5%

Rogue Skills

Software Design: Computer Hacking 20% + 5%
Savvy: Streetwise 25% + 4%
Sleight of Hand: Concealment 30% + 4%; Palming 25% + 5%; Pick Locks 30% + 5%; Pick Pockets 25% + 5%
Hiding: Prowl 30% + 5%

Science

Anthropology 40% + 5%: Archaeology 40% + 5%
Biology: Biology 40% + 5%; Botany 40% + 5%; Zoology 40% + 5%
Engineering, Chemical: Chemistry 60% + 5%; Chemistry - Analytical 50% + 5%
Geology 40% + 5%
Mathematics: Mathematics - Basic 80% + 4%; Mathematics - Advanced 64% + 4%
Physics: Astrophysics 30% + 5%; Hyperspatial Physics 15% + 5%

Technical

Acumen 30% + 5%
Art 35% + 5%: Photography 35% + 5%
Business 40% + 5%
Diplomacy 30% + 5%
Engineering, Civil: Carpentry 25%+ 5%; Metalworking 25% + 5%; Mining 35% + 5%
Geography 40% + 5%
History 40% + 5%
Instruction 50% + 5%
Investigation: Research 35 + 5%
Language 50% + 5%: Literacy 40% +5%
Law 40% + 5%
Philosophy 40% + 5%
Religion 50% + 5%
Savvy: Jury-Rig 25% + 5%; Recycle 30% + 5%; Salvage 35% + 5%
Sculpture See Art
Software Design: Artificial Intelligence 30% + 5%; Computer Operation 60% + 5%; Computer Programming 40% + 5%
Writing 25% + 5%: Journalism 25% + 5%

Weapon Proficiencies

Combat, Armed: W.P. Blunt; W.P. Chain; W.P. Knife; W.P. Paired Weapons; W.P. Sword; W.P. Staff
Combat, Ranged: W.P. Revolver; W.P. Automatic Pistol; W.P. Bolt Action Rifle; W.P. Automatic and Semi-automatic Rifles; W.P. Sub-machinegun; W.P. Heavy; W.P. PPG Pistol; W.P. PPG Rifle

Alternate Skill Option

Another option which allows the use of skills from the B5 book without modification is a variation on the Shadowrun skill system. A number of six-sided dice equal to the level of the skill is rolled against a target number. If the roll is greater than the target number, a success is achieved. Multiple successes means that whatever task was attempted is completed that much better. The starting target number should be 4, modified as the GM sees fit. If all ones are rolled, something disatorous to the character should occur. Likewise, sixes are re-rolled, and the new number added to the six to get a new number. This can create successes for numbers higher than 6, and can be done an unlimited number of times. (Johnny rolls a six, rolls again to get another six, rolls again and gets another six, and rolls a fourth time to get a four. His total number for that attempt on that one die is 22. Not bad Johnny...)

This system can be difficult to integrate, and relies much more heavily on the judgement of the GM. However, in some campaigns, this may be all that is needed. It certainly makes skill selection a lot easier, and keeps the whole "history building" character creation idea intact from B5.