Academia
Academia represents a character's broad academic and scholarly knowledge. It covers formal education and the study of subjects that do not fall under a more specialised knowledge skill.Academia can include fields such as mathematics, philosophy, literature, politics, economics, science, languages, and other academic disciplines.
Academia also represents a character's ability to read and write. Even an untrained character possesses a basic level of literacy, with greater skill allowing them to understand and produce increasingly complex written material.
Skill Levels
0 — Untrained
You have little or no formal education. You can read and write at a very basic level, allowing you to understand simple words, short sentences, and basic written instructions. You have little understanding of complex texts and cannot effectively produce lengthy or sophisticated written material.
1 — Novice
You have received a basic education. You can read and write simple texts with reasonable confidence and understand straightforward written information. You can produce basic letters, notes, and records, but complex or highly technical material is difficult for you.
2 — Competent
You possess a solid general education. You can read and write fluently, understand more complicated texts, and communicate ideas clearly in writing. You have a working knowledge of several academic subjects and can conduct straightforward research.
3 — Skilled
You are well educated and have considerable experience with academic study. You can understand complex texts, analyse written arguments, conduct meaningful research, and produce clear, detailed written works. You are comfortable working with unfamiliar academic material.
4 — Expert
You possess extensive scholarly knowledge and deep expertise in one or more academic fields. You can analyse highly complex texts, conduct advanced research independently, produce sophisticated academic works, and recognise weaknesses or inconsistencies in established theories and sources.
5 — Master
You are a recognised master of academic study. Your knowledge and understanding are profound. You can comprehend and produce exceptionally complex scholarly works, make significant original contributions to your field, and teach or challenge other experts.
Overcome
Academia can be used to overcome problems requiring academic knowledge, education, literacy, or research.
Examples include:
- Researching an obscure subject.
- Understanding complex mathematical or scientific concepts.
- Reading and interpreting difficult texts.
- Writing or understanding detailed documents.
- Solving scholarly problems.
- Analysing competing theories.
- Identifying reliable information within a large body of research.
- Applying academic knowledge to a practical problem.
Academia can be used to create an advantage by providing knowledge or expertise that others lack.
Examples include:
- Providing a group with important academic knowledge.
- Preparing for a situation by researching it beforehand.
- Identifying a weakness in an established theory or plan.
- Teaching another character something useful.
- Using specialist knowledge to anticipate a problem.
- Providing an educated argument during a debate or negotiation.
- Preparing written information, records, or instructions for others.
Academia is not an attack skill.
Academic knowledge can influence or undermine another character indirectly, such as exposing flaws in their argument or demonstrating that their claims are incorrect, but Academia does not normally directly harm or attack another character.
Defensive
Academia has a limited defensive application when knowledge or education protects a character from an intellectual or academic threat.
Examples include:
- Recognising false information or fabricated evidence.
- Identifying flawed reasoning.
- Recognising an academic deception.
- Using knowledge to avoid being misled by someone exploiting a character's lack of education.
- Understanding written warnings or instructions.
- Applying academic knowledge to protect against an environmental or technical hazard.