Hi all,

Now that we have been playing for a while, I think we're getting a good feel
for the mix and balance of skills needed.  As a result, we're also getting a
good feel for the kinds of skills we're going to need to be effective in a
variety of missions.

As a result, I've created a list of 15 specialty areas that we need to have
covered before we get to Caprice.  Everyone should start working on your
skills points to give your character:

  TWO primary specialty areas; and,
  THREE backup specialty areas.

Each specialty area has three listed skills.  To list one of the specialties
as a primary specialty, you should have all three skills and you should have
the first skill listed at level 3 (veteran), and preferably have the other
two at level 2 (qualified).  To list one of the specialties as a backup
specialty, you should have all three skills listed at any level (but
preferably have the first skill listed at level 2).

In addition, at the very bottom of this note, I've listed a number of
critical combat and non-combat skills.  Everyone should try to work toward
having one of each at level 3.  If your character is combat-oriented, you
should try to also have another non-combat skill at level 2.  If your
character is non-combat-oriented, you should try to also have another combat
skill at level 2.


As an example, for Junkman (non-combat-oriented character):
  Primary specialties: Driver, Mechanic, Electronics Specialist
  Secondary specialties: Pilot, Recon, Heavy Weapons, Electronic Warfare
  Combat skills: Hand-to-Hand, Dodge, Survival, Throwing
  Non-combat skills: Survival, Teaching


That isn't to say that Junkman has all of those specialties now.  That's just
my development path for him.

The key specialties where we don't seem to have enough people working to
build the skills, as I see it:
  Team Lead, Demolition, Intelligence, Hacker (maybe Mem?), Gunner

This is kinda bad, 'cause we need at least two Team Leads (red and blue) and
at least two Gunners ('cause it looks like we'll be using two Spiders from
time to time).  It'd also be nice to have someone trained as an airborne
Gunner and a Space Pilot, both for Fury and for Blackjacket (if we can get
Blackjacket built).

Anyway, something to think about.  ;)


---snip---
Team Leads  (we need two)
  Leadership (3), Tactics, Combat Sense

Recon  (we need two)
  Notice (3), Stealth, Forward Observing

Marksman
  Small Arms (3), Sniping, Camouflage
  (The last for camou nets and ghile suits)

Heavy Weapons Specialist
  Heavy Weapons (3), Earth Sciences, Craft (Gunsmith)
  (The middle so you can direct building foxholes/berms/bunkers)

Demolition
  Demolition (3), Heavy Weapons, Physical Sciences
  (The last so you can make your own explosives)

Intelligence
  Investigation (3), Interrogation, Human Perception

Infiltration
  Stealth (3), Investigation, Security, Streetwise or Seduction

Combat Medic
  First Aid (3), Medicine, Life Sciences

Electronic Warfare
  Electronic Warfare (3), Communications, Computer

Hacker
  Computer (3), Security, Electronics

Driver  (we need two)
  Drive (3), Stealth, Gunnery (Ground) or Mechanic

Pilot
  Pilot (3), G-Handling, Gunnery (Air) or Navigation (Air)

Gunner  (we need two)
  Gunnery (Ground) (3), Gunnery (Air), Electronic Warfare

Mechanic
  Mechanics (3), Tinker, Craft (Diecasting) or Mechanics Design

Electronics Specialist
  Electronics (3), Computer, Electronics Design


Combat Skills
  Acrobatics, Athletics, Dodge, Hand-to-Hand, Melee, Parachuting, Throwing

Non-combat Skills
  Bureaucracy, Cooking, Haggling, Music, Survival, Teaching, Visual Art
---snip---