Topic: ERA RMU Skill Categories

[Doridian]

I'm wandering about the "Cat." column in the character skills sheet. I'm using the RMU version of ERA. Are they skill categories? In RMU there are not skill categories. Is there a way to leave them out? What am I missing?
Thank you in advance

[Doridian]

I'm wandering in the dungeon... I'm a wandering monster 
Writing late in the night, a typo crept in... Still wondering, anyway!

[Hurin]

There are skill categories in RMU, you just can't buy skill in them (you buy skill in the individual skills only).

[Doridian]

You catch me flatfooted... I'm really puzzled: I do not see any Category entry in the Excel RMU Character Sheet and I do not see any such column in the printed example sheets in the Core Rules either. What am I missing? I'll double check the rules, but, for sure I'm getting older, I do not remember anything in the rules either. 

[Doridian]

Core rules, pag. 12:

A character’s knowledge and training is represented
by their skills. Characters receive a certain number of
ranks in particular skills based on their cultural up-
bringing (Section 2.3), after which they may purchase
additional ranks in any skills desired at each level
(including 1st level). Any character may develop any
skill, but the difficulty of doing so depends on their
profession (Section 2.4). Skills that are fundamental to
a profession are the easiest to learn, while those unre-
lated to the profession are the most difficult.
For most purposes, a character’s ability is expressed
as a skill bonus, derived from the number of ranks,
professional skill bonuses and knacks, their scores in
the applicable stats (Section 2.5), and other modifiers.
This bonus is added when performing maneuvers us-
ing the skill.
Complete details regarding the skills and their use are
found in chapter 3.

There's no mention of "categories" and a category bonus to be added to a skill.

[Doridian]

Ok, maybe I've understood:

Stat Bonus: Each skill gains a bonus from the two
stats associated with the skill category and a third stat
dependent on the skill itself

, pag.83.

In ERA for RMU the two "category" stats bonus have been grouped under the Cat. column and the Stat. column is just for the one stat specific for the Skill.

Got it.

[Doridian]

Thank you, Hurin!
P.S.: I've been playing RMSS for so many years and I was sure nothing like the RMSS Skill Categories was carried in RMU.

[Voriig Kye]

Skill categories in RMU are considered for sections of skills that are explained together in the rulebook. Take for instance Section 3.13 Lore, which contains a general explanation on how to handle all lore skills. That is translated in ERA into a Lore category. Apart from the applicable stats, this also allows a character to have an item or special ability that applies to all skills in a "category".

[Doridian]

Thank you Voriig. It makes sense.

[Doridian]

And for the sake of clarity, RMU core rules speak of categories. In the first paragraphs of Chapter 3.0 it's clearly written:

Skills are listed according to thematic categories on
Table 3-0a. All skills within a category (except for
Combat Training and Spellcasting) have the same
Development Point cost, category stat bonuses, and
often a shared method of resolution.

So, now I'm simply asking myself how could I have been confused about it? No need to answer, anyway. In Italian we say: let's draw a compassionate veil on it.
Thank you again for your kind patience.