New Skills

Riding (Sandworm) (Physical/Average) DX-5(Edit)

Defaults to DX-5 if the character is a desert Fremen, no default for other characters. This skill is only available to desert Fremen.

This skill is the ability to mount and direct a giant sandworm to be used for transportation across the great deserts. A thumper (a Fremen device that simulates the rhythmic thumping of the mating-call made by a female sandworm when she prepares her nest) calls a male sandworm, where the rider rushes to the side of the worm and inserts a specially designed maker hook into the ring segments of the worm.

Once the rings are opened, exposing the sensitive inner tissues of the sandworm, the sandworm will rotate to shift the opening as far from the surface of the sand as possible. The sandrider holds onto the hook and is carried to the top of the worm, where he mounts more hooks to direct the worm, opening rings along the side to turn the worm.

A successful roll vs. Riding (Sandworm) skill is necessary to mount and gain control of the worm. Critical failure means the worm has smothered the rider, burying him under the bulk of his body (see rules concerning suffocation).

The traditional calls given by a wormrider to direct the steersmen (those that open segments to steer the worm) are:

Ach: left turn.

Derch: right turn.

Geyrat: straight ahead.

Haiiiii-yoh!: command to action.

Force Shield (Physical/Easy) DX-4(Edit)

This is the ability to use the Holtzmann Defensive Shield in man-to-man combat. The shield can be used to block or parry incoming attacks. The Block score is determined normally as per Shield skill (i.e.: Block = 1/2 Force Shield), the Parry score is derived normally from any of the unarmed combat skills like Boxing, Brawling, Karate, and Judo (i.e.: Parry = 1/2 Brawling or 2/3 Karate, Judo or Boxing).

Bene Gesserit Insight (Mental/Hard) No default(Edit)

This is the ability to use the Bene Gesserit ability to observe minutiae and gain insight from them. A success allows the character to gain some insight into the target. The specific insight is left to the GM's discretion, but this ability could be used to allow the character to detect that the target is holding something back, to warn the character that the target is not as friendly as he appears, etc. Detecting a specific lie requires a roll against this skill, with a -4 modifier.

Note that, in order to prevent this skill becoming too powerful, it should be used to determine only very specific insights.

This skill is only taught to Bene Gesserit acolytes and Fremen Sayyadina.

Bene Gesserit Voice (Mental/Very Hard) No default(Edit)

Prerequisite: Bene Gesserit Insight at the same level or higher

This skill is only taught by the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood and to Fremen Sayyadina. It is not normally available to other characters. Through Voice, a subtle manipulation of vocal tones, a Bene Gesserit can manipulate individuals by triggering clue tones. The skill requires a period of careful observation of the intended victim's speech pattern before it can be used. Usually a few clear sentences uttered by the victim are enough. Certain voice patterns trigger primal human responses, and the registered person can be controlled in any situation.

A quick contest of skills, Bene Gesserit Voice vs. Will -6, is required for a successful use of this skill. If successful, the victim can be ordered to comply with any order of moderate complexity.