Umbrella keyword and specific abilitie bonuses

From: dougiepunk <dougiepunk_at_...>
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:25:13 -0000

Ok, so I've just started reading through the Sartar book, and a question occurred to me. In fact the thought occurred to me when reading the Urban entertainer occupation with its "knife in boot" skill but it might be easier for me to explain this way...

If a Farmer 17 and a Mercenary 17 where to have a fight, the farmer could use his occupation skill 17 against the Mercenary 17 (since he has had training in the fyrd) but the Mercenary would gain a specific ability bonus (probably of +6). Ok.

But what if the farmer was Farmer 17 (Stout spear +1) against Mercenary 17 (Sword and Shield +2). Stout spear versus Sword and shield sounds like a fair match (no specific ability bonus either way) but it means that the farmer, riffing of his Farmer skill, is almost a match for the Mercenary who's skill riffs of a much more specific umbrella skill...

If all that makes sense, does anyone have any thoughts?

Dougie