Mechanics

This skill covers basic knowledge of mechanical laws and their uses, including, for example, lever principles, friction and inclined planes, pulleys, cogwheels, and gears. Checks using Mechanics can help when designing traps, catapults, and music boxes, but the actual work requires other skills (such as Woodworking or Metalworking). The application Complicated Systems covers clockworks and similar mechanisms, while Hydraulics covers pumps and water-driven systems. Levers includes all other types of mechanisms.

Check: SGC/SGC/DEX
Applications: Complicated Systems, Hydraulics, Levers
Encumbrance: no
Quality: quicker planning
Failed Check: the planned mechanism doesn’t work.
Critical Success: SP = 2 x SR.
Botch: Regardless of what the hero intended to build, the result is dangerous or collapses. The hero triggers the trap with the worst possible effect (it inflicts maximum damage, and so on).
Improvement Cost: B

• Designing a see-saw — 10 minutes 12 checks
• Designing a pulley — 1 hour 10 checks
• Designing a catapult — 2 hours 5 checks
• Developing a twopiston hand pump — 8 hours 4 checks
• Developing a tower clock — 1 day 3 checks
• Designing a siege engine such as a Scorpion (a huge catapult) — 2 days 2 checks