Dungeons and Dragons and Giant Robots, part 4: Skills and Feats

This is part 4 in a series of posts about an RPG system that uses D&D 4E mechanics for a giant robot system.

D&D 4E simplified the skill list dramatically. Let’s look at each one, and figure out which ones can be transferred to a giant robot combat universe directly, which will need to be tweaked, which must be dropped, and what we must add.

• Acrobatics – OK
• Arcana – Not a fit. Mecha characters rarely tap into mystical energies, but they do often tap into computer systems.  So let’s replace this with Hacking.
• Athletics – OK
• Bluff – OK
• Diplomacy – OK
• Dungeoneering – Nope. Let’s replace this with something like Cosmonautics — knowledge of technology and engineering used in outer space.
• Endurance – OK
• Heal – OK
• History – Keep it, though it’s likely less useful.
• Insight – OK
• Intimidate – OK
• Nature – Keep it, but expand it to include knowledge of space habitats and such.
• Perception – OK
• Religion – Nope (remember, it’s SF, so we’re all rationalists in the future). But if Religion tracks a character’s knowledge of religion, how about a skill that tracks knowledge of mecha systems? Let’s say Nerdiness, in honor of that blonde military otaku in Full Metal Panic!
• Stealth – OK
• Streetwise – OK
• Thievery – OK

I’d also add Martial Arts to this list — the ability to defend oneself in unarmed combat.

In terms of feats, it’d be a waste of time and space to list every single feat that won’t apply to a mecha universe. But let’s identify a few feats that’d be particularly useful:

• Massive Machinery Operation — The ability to pilot and operate spaceships, doomsday weapons, etc.
• Mecha Intuition — You can learn to pilot an unfamiliar mecha with surprising speed (halve the negative penalties on attack rolls when piloting an unfamiliar mecha).