Nonweapon Proficiencies (POSP)

Nonweapon proficiencies are an important part of role-playing a character. The Skills and Powers book offers several new proficiencies and ways in which they can be employed during a game. The new rules are tailored to the character point system.
The use of proficiencies has been modified slightly from straight ability checks, providing more flexibility and a little more advantage to characters with less than, say, a 15 or 16 score in a certain ability. Now proficiencies can develop during the course of a game. Though characters will often start out with less likelihood of success when using proficiencies, they will have many opportunities to develop those skills beyond the limits inherent in the old ability score system.
In addition, players can select or create traits for their characters, which are innate advantages such as talents and keen perceptions. A list of traits is presented in this chapter. Countering the strengths of the traits is a selection of disadvantages, which also provide opportunities for more elaborate role-playing—as well as creating countless situations for a little comic relief.