Masked uses a stripped down and simplified skill system, fitting with its cinematic Unisystem roots. Skills are rated from 1 to a theoretically unlimited maximum, though in play, the odds that anything would ever exceed a 10 would be slim. Like, Kate Moss on cocaine slim. Ratings from 1-4 are most common, and almost always enough to handle normal people; higher ratings have a higher cost at CharGen (Character Generation) and are 3 skill points per level over level 5, but are very rare to see. Below is a look at what contemporary pop-fiction characters would probably have if they were ranked.
Generally a normal human would have about six to eight skills trained, probably with a one or two in most of those and maybe two or four with a higher score like a three or four. A one or two in a skill shows you know what you are doing but are new to the subject or just not very interested - you could do it as a hobby, but probably not professionally. A three or four is something you would do professionally. A five is something you've spent a few years developing considerably. A six or seven is something you've been doing for a long, long time or are very, very adept at. Most people do not have any skills this high, but it is certainly possible. An eight indicates a masterful ability, and training most of your life to reach that level. A nine or ten? Damn near impossible, unless you've spent an extensive lifetime (or several lifetimes) working it. So try to avoid stacking certain stats while having a zero Knowledge or something. It's not only stupid and makes us hate you, it has resounding in-game effects for your character.
Acrobatics
Not just for little Mongolian girls, Russian punks, or parkouristes. Now you too can do flashy things in the air and along the ground! You could use it to be sneaky, but it's usually found with Dexterity when you're trying to do that awesome wall flip or impress that super cute guy with your gym-nasty skills.
2: You've had some training - may be able to dodge a wrench and/or a ball (Jimmy Olsen)
4: Spry, springy, supple and sexy; great at stepping it up (Cyclops)
7: You could've kicked ass in Beijing in '08 (Daredevil)
9: Shouldn't you be in the Matrix (People in… The Matrix?)
10+: Dude, fuck you (Spider-Man)
Art
A catch-all for Fine Arts, this just means pleasing the senses or making a great story. Do you cook? Write? Paint? Sculpt? Sing? That's art! Pick a specialty and tell us what it is during character application. You, too, can be on the set of The Producers.
1: Can draw more than just stick figures (The Joker)
5: Highly skilled professional (Isaac Mendez)
8: Practically transcendent, nearly unmatched (Jay Guthrie)
Computer
Hacking is cool. Not really, but at least it's useful. This is what you'd combine with an attribute if, obviously, it involved computers or microchips. Keep in mind that if you're using this to hack someone's system, there's a negative penalty applied based on the complexity of the system. An office desktop might be -1, while a top secret SIGINT system might be -10.
0: You can surf the internets, E-mail, Use the MyFace (Aunt May)
2: Windows is your bitch (Cyclops)
4: Multiple OS's are your playground and you can program quite well (Beast)
8: You can hack anything (Blackbox)
Crime
Crime is your general lock-picking, sneaking around in the dark, ambushing, and thievery skill, though you can't really pull a con or hack with this one. You'd use Influence and Computers for those. And no, while you can jack a car this doesn't mean you can drive it well.
1: You can hide (The Thing)
3: Breaking & entering isn't hard (Spider-Man)
4: You could be a decent career criminal (Batman)
5: Accomplished felon (Green Goblin)
8: Military covert ops, world-class art thief (Kingpin)
Doctor
Covering everything from basic first aid up to full-on surgery, this is the skill that gets used for putting people back together again, healing, and diagnosing illness. The roll is Intelligence + Doctor, and each success restores 1 Life Point of damage per Intelligence point per success level (though just once per set of injuries).
2: Advanced first aid training (Mary-Jane Watson)
3: Paramedic training (Flash Thompson)
4: Master's nursing or medical degree, decent doctor (Beast)
6: Skilled doctor (Night Nurse)
8: World renowned surgeon (Doctor Strange)
Driving
Most people don't care about driving, but for those car guys and girls, there is this Vin Diesel-esque skill.
0: You passed the test, and can drive from one point to another without a problem
1: You're a decent driver under pressure (Nightcrawler)
4: You're a great driver, and could even pull some cool tricks (James Bond)
5: You could be an experienced patrol cop or wheel-man, catch the other guy in a chase (Wolverine)
8: You can Tokyo Drift exceptionally well; probably beat that d-bag Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Nightwing)
Getting Medieval
Sometimes you just gotta throw a knife or kill a bitch with a crossbow. When that urge hits Getting Medieval is the way to go. This is the skill that covers weapons like swords, knives, spears and anything that goes as far as or farther than your body could, only it isn't your body. In other words, this is the weaponry skill. Staffs, ladders, bows; anything bladed, medieval, or dangerous. Also includes improvised weapons, which the PGM/Staff will determine damage for.
2: You can use a weapon effectively (Prisoner with a shank, Monkey's knife fighting)
4: Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my Father. Prepare to die! (A Junior Olympics fencer)
6: Expert with a huge variety of weapons (Robin)
7: You're a master with improvised and traditional weapons (Jackie Chan)
10: Anime-levels (Ra's Al-Ghul)
Gun Fu
Hardboiled fans, this is the skill for you. The mastery of hurtling high-velocity lead aided by projectile devices. In other words, shooting a gun. You can take more time and aim when using a gun, as well.
1: You could use a gun properly (Spider-Man)
2: You'd be able to hit a slow-moving live target (Pretty much anyone from Alaska or Texas)
4: Marksman (Iron Fist)
7: Military snipers/Ridiculously good shots (Deadpool)
9: You could hit a quarter while having broken fingers - with a carrot (Deadshot)
Influence
Oh my god! You're a people person. Not just that, though, you've got a pretty good chance of being downright charming when you try. Assuming you've got the Influence to do it.
1: You can handle normal conversation well (J. Jonah Jameson)
3: Exceedingly Charming (Sue Storm)
6: You're a regular Don Draper (Nick Fury)
9: You don't need Hypnosis (Catwoman)
Knowledge
You may not be Layla Miller, but you do know things. Knowledge is the general accumulation of facts and intelligence combined to make you a smart cookie.
1: You didn't sleep through all of high school (Flash Thompson)
3: Some college/higher education (Captain America)
5: You could easily have a masters (Peter Parker)
6: You probably have a doctorate (Beast)
9: Walking encyclopedia (Reed Richards)
Kung Fu
"Basically, you're our Keanu Reeves." Only you won't be playing PSP, you'll be kicking ass with the only two registered weapons you ever need. Hands and feet. Fingers and knees. Head and Shoulders (it's a good shampoo!). If it involves hand-to-hand (no weapons) fighting, it's this.
2: You can handle yourself well (Iceman)
4: Experienced brawler/Master of one style (Cyclops)
6: Black-belt in multiple disciplines and a highly useful fighter (Psylocke)
7: Teacher/Master, numerous styles (Wolverine)
8: You could be in a ridiculous Hong Kong Wu-Xia action flick and survive (Batman)
10: Jet Li would be jealous (Shang-Chi)
Languages
Exactly as it sounds. You speak a language other than you're given native language. Essentially: each one is a language you speak fluently outside of the given one.
1: You speak a second language (Colossus)
3: You speak several languages (Wolverine)
5: Well-traveled or a real academic (Starfire)
9: Is there anything you don't speak (Vandal Savage)
Mr. Fix-It
Repair skill. Any kind of repairing skills or shoddy builds will be covered with this. Even mechanical stuff. Taking things apart or putting them back together means Mr. Fix-It.
1: You paid attention to your dad (Nightcrawler)
3: You could be that dad (Colossus)
5: Skilled handyman/Engineer (Wolverine)
8: An outstanding inventor/build-man (Toyman)
10+: Your knowledge of craft is unmatched (Forge)
Notice
Get a clue! Notice is paired with Perception, mainly, and just means you can see things others may overlook. If successful, you noticed that skinny dude pocketing a bag of cheetoes and will be notified; if you didn't, you suck.
2: You see things (Human Torch)
4: Stuff others don't see? You do (Green Goblin)
7: Notice just about anything (Robin)
9: Don't even bother hiding (Batman)
Science
You've seen so much Bill Nye you've finally just become a good scientist. Science is the skill for scientific or technological advancement. Intelligence and Science usually go hand in hand, so that's what you'll need to be truly effective with this skill. It's usually also used as part of research for making that new gadget for your utility belt or just another doomsday device.
1: You remember to wear gloves and goggles (Invincible)
4: Graduate science training (Peter Parker)
5: You could be in the world's foremost R&D departments (Beast)
7: The impossible is possible (Valeria Richards, Bruce Banner)
9: You know truths that others cannot comprehend. (Reed Richards)
Sports
So you want to be like Kobe (only not a sexual offender)? This is the skill you'd use. It governs most sports, except those that are covered by other skills…like gymnastics, which is under Acrobatics. Or boxing, which goes under Kung Fu.
1: You're usually at pick-up games (Franklin Richards)
3: You could've made the high school team. (Cyclops)
6: You could've gotten a full scholarship, gone pro (Flash Thompson)
8: LeBron! (Yeah, LeBron's my boy)
Supes
The last few decades have finally put the masks in the limelight and the general public have finally realised that superheroes (and villains) are out there. This skill basically covers anything that has to do with factual superhero knowledge - you know, who's who and what's what. Not necessarily their secret identities - but their public personas, their abilities, and - in some cases - personal life. At higher levels, this also includes the history of supes before their public appearance, and possibly real identities.
1: You know the names (The Inhumans)
3: You can name the popular regional supes and their abilities (Hulk)
4: You know some things that don't get published, some very interesting secrets (Wolverine)
5: You could probably write your own articles, and know a whole mess of secrets you shouldn't (Ben Urich)
8: Do you work for the government, you know it all (Nick Fury)
Wild Card
Okay, so your character has a skill that isn't covered here. Basically, if there's any skill you have that's better than average, you use this. Pretty much anyone has one, so a lot of characters who are truthful to life will have at least one WC. Monkey-baiting, creative uses for hazelnut chocolate spreads, botany, Middle-Earth trivia, or opening pickle jars better than Vertigo. You're welcome to have as many as you want - in fact, we encourage it.
1: Pretty decent amateur (Mary-Jane Watson — Spider-Man Facts)
3: Accomplished and well-versed (Wolverine — Tobacco Products)
5: You could have a graduate degree in this - know just about everything (Vampires — Blade)
7+: You know everything and then some (The Guardians of the Universe — Universal… Guarding?)
