Law

Attribute INT
Category Social
Untrained Yes

This broad skill provides a character with general knowledge of the laws and legal systems of her native society. It can be a branch of human civilization on Earth or a colony planet; it could also be a specific alien society or culture. The Law skill can be used as an encounter skill to change the attitude of an individual. If this results in an attitude of Friendly or better, it provides a -1 step bonus on subsequent skill checks to get information or cooperation out of that individual. With a successful skill check, a character can avoid legal entanglements, understand court procedures, and have a working knowledge of the techniques used by a specific society’’s law enforcers. In a courtroom drama or legal issue, a Law skill check can be used to determine the outcome.

Courtroom Resolution

When a legal battle is played out “off camera,” the GM may call for Law skill checks. In a competing check:

  • Critical Failure: Opposing lawyer receives a -3 bonus; or the character loses the case outright.
  • Failure: Opposing lawyer receives a -1 bonus to his skill check.
  • Ordinary: Success made with no modifier.
  • Good: Opponent takes a +1 penalty.
  • Amazing: Opponent takes a +3 penalty, or the character wins the case outright.

Court procedures

Attribute INT
Cost 3
Untrained Yes

Lawyers, judges, and others use this skill to interact in a courtroom setting. This specialty is used to argue a case or point of view in an official proceeding.

Law enforcement procedures

Attribute INT
Cost 3
Untrained Yes

Police officers, detectives, bounty hunters, and others use this skill to follow (or bend) legal law enforcement procedures. Topics covered include:

  • Knowing laws concerning surveillance, search, and seizure.
  • Proper arrest and detainment procedures.
  • Filling out reports and other official paperwork. This specialty is also used to determine how “good” an arrest is (providing ammunition to the lawyers who will try to make the arrest stick).

Law, specific skill

Attribute INT
Cost 2
Untrained No

For each separate purchase of this specialty, a character selects a specific culture or a specific type of law (maritime law, salvage law, etc.). As the specialty skill is improved, the character gains a progressively stronger grasp on the laws and legal systems of that culture or specialty.

Rank Benefits

⊗ Rank 3, 6, 9, 12 [Increased Effect] At higher ranks, the character becomes more proficient within the legal system of the culture in question. Using the specific skill provides a reduction to the situation die:

  • -1 bonus at Rank 3
  • -2 bonus at Rank 6
  • -3 bonus at Rank 9
  • -4 bonus at Rank 12

Psionics

Attribute INT
Cost 3
Untrained No

Lawyers, judges, and others use this skill to interact in courtrooms and in legislative meetings. This aspect of the Law broad skill is used to argue a case or a point of view in an official proceeding involving psionic laws, rights, and regulations.