I have a player that wants to play a sort of governess/matron/housekeeper style character in a 1920's UK setting. (A bit vague, I know. It's more governess than anything else, I think) and I was wondering if any of you had any recommendations for appropriate skills to make up an occupation template.
Cheers!
Crow
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If you look at a Governess PC from Space:1889, her skills are listed as: Science 2, Linguistics 2, Eloquence 1, Theatrics 1, Leadership 1, and Medicine 1.
This would roughly translate as a science skill like biology, chemistry, or geology at 60+% a second language at 60+%, Persuade and Fast talk at 40+%, and Medicine 40+%. There isn't a direct skill for leadership in CoC, so I'd go with Intimidation at 40+%.
That's a pretty good list, though I'd add another language (French, Italian, German, and Latin are probably the most likely for an American or English governess). I love Intimidation, but it isn't a CoC skill. I'd include Library Use, Spot Hidden, and Listen.
"Two in the head, you know he's dead." <heh-heh>
Creative uses for a spoonful of sugar? Fly (with or without aircraft?) Absolute pitch across four octave range?
I doubt a governess would have so much science or medicine. More likely history or English literature and first aid, maybe. I don't think girls that had governesses were instructed much in science.
Science could be replaced with math or history.
Great suggestions. We won't be creating the character until tomorrow, so keep them coming.
Thanks everyone.
I would tend to add a couple of points in Psychology. They usually have exposure to the staff and residents of large households and as a profession, over time, they would have been fairly capable at picking up on the veracity of information and gossip from servants and see through veiled attempts at 'keeping up appearances' on the part of the family when they had strife such as money problems, affairs etc.
A few extra points in 'Club' for when the little tykes won't go to bed? :P
I'd have Persuade, Fast Talk, Other Language(s), History and Craft (Storytelling) as occupational skills.
If you have the Keeper's Companion (vol 1) I'd add Folklore and/or Literature to this list and, if you have the BRP Big Gold Book, Teach seems an obvious addition.
The spoonful of sugar song notwithstanding, I'm not convinced that First Aid would make the list (she's a governess, not a nurse).
A few points in Credit Rating wouldn't go amiss (so she could "lord it" over the lesser servants).
Base chances (in case you don't have the other sources I mentioned) are 5% for Folklore and 10% for Literature and Teach.
Cooking?
This tended to be rare as most households with a Governess also had a full compliment of serving staff, including cooks. The Governess would usually take her meals separately either in her own quarters, possibly in the kitchen or, in very liberal households, at the family table. The latter was more geared toward teaching the children table etiquette and monitoring behaviour so that the adults could eat without interruption.Originally Posted by Andreas Junzell
Oh at least 50% in Stern Stare, and a healthy amount in Cane, and Balance (bonus given if books are placed on head first)
The static in my mind, leaves me hollow and unkind.
A cane skill would be essential. My eight picks are:
Credit rating, listen, spot hidden, craft (storytelling), history, french or latin, persuade, and psychology
Hobby skills might include:
Disguise (frequents costume parties), Art, or a skill one of my players made: Art History, Chemistry (closest to cocktail mixing), Ride (horses), or swim.
If you suggested she was a servant your life probably wouldn't be worth living! Governesses were in a very weird position, neither servants nor family. They were treated in many ways by the family like poor relations who were staying as house guests.
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