Archaeology skill

Freeman · Archaeology skill

Are we still using the 'codes' that were used by the previous UKGC ruleset when investigating archeological stuff?

While going through my stargate paperwork I found my archaeology handout and all the codes it uses. Just wanted to know if I should keep it or throw it away.

Thanks

Richard Tyler

I still have mine too but I have never seen them on anything in 7 events. Thinking about it I have only ever seen one item (at event 3 I think) that might fall under the area of archeology.

The Kibble

are the archolegy codes different to the language codes?

I have seen lots of language sheets over the time and often had difficulty finding people to decipher them.

I think there are several skills which have been very rarely used and may be something we need to look at. (pure maths ever? ciphers rarely)

Broz

Hmm, that's something I'd rather like to address.

Freeman

I've not seen language codes, but I do have the translation sheet for Far Eastern languages.

Archaology codes are thus (I'm not doing all, just a few)

LCW = OLD
RHK = Aztek
RTO = Oriental

The Kibble

I believe they have been by Sam on things as well as ones for material science as lots of items had codes on them but I think dave doesn't have them so things like this we need to coallate again so that they can start being used again.

Harry Font

as far as i know Dave was never given the language things by sam !

It may be better to redesign the language skills allong the lines of the card system that seams to be developing ? It would keep things tidy ?

The Kibble

I am not sure if archaelogy and language skills would work in the same way that the cards do. Ciphers possibly.

Language as odd fonts work and is easy to do and I think stick with that we may just need to do new sheets for everyone.

As for archaeology not really thought about it

Esther

I gave Dave all the language sheets I had which are basically substitution codes.. except for Keb which is pages of stuff and discridbed as rediculously complicated.. ie probably not meant to be fully understood. Others can be made for langages we are missing I'm sure.

The substitution code things works well for that as someone can sit down and do a translation as long as people realise they need to have the lanagauge to attempt it. ie it isn't a code.. we had that problem at the first few events.

I never much used the archiology codes either... I got the occational tip off a ref but nothing more. I would like to see such skills used more. The event where there was a dig for instance if that was done again but the dig WAS the way to solve the problem at hand so everyone focused on that it would be great .. a more study and exploration type event rather than running battle like most seem to end up being. As an Archiologist i didn't even get to that dig becouse i was focused on stopping the sun from blowing up which the dig wasn't about.

Richard Tyler

We asked for more archeology and got a dig so I dont want to complain, but thats not what Stargate archeology is about Smile

A more Indiana Jones approach should be employed. Unfortunately I have discovered with the system what appears to be archeology is almost all in actuality language based. (I guess this is the same in the series though as Jackson is more a linguist than a archeologist in reality)

Esther

Indiana Jones or Relic Hunter.. lots of running about but needing to know about the histiory, archiology stuff to or you set off the power ful relic and get killed etc Smile

I rarely used my archiology and my langauges just made it easier to learn Gou'ld and ancient.. BUT even though I will not have either skill for my new character I would like to see more characters who do and more plot that needs them.. (I'm not doing it again as it would be too close to Keser rather than becouse i don't think they are good character types)

Freeman

With examples like Indiana Jones, he didn't have linguistics (He had to take the staff of Ra headpiece to someone to get it translated), but he knew the story of the Ark (Archaeo-anthropology / Ancient history / Mythology).
He had some modicum of puzzle solving skills (Ciphers?)

Richard Tyler

but he did translate the shield rubbing in crusade I seem to remember

Esther

Agreed.. Relic hunter women (I watch too much daytime TV but it's a fun program .. note I dont' claim a good program) is unarmed/melee girl with lots of ancient history knowledge and has a liquistic sidekick who does the translations for her.

Freeman

Ah, Crusade is all fuzzy in memory I only remember the scene with the chalice, working out which is the Grail.

Agreed on Relic Hunter, although they both have varying levels of mythological knowedge

Esther

Steven Daniels

Getting back to the Archeology skill & the codes for dates, etc.

I never got hold of all the crib sheets, prior to the last 2 events and only had time to make 1 or 2 for that one. The last event had some crib sheets for different cultures Celtic, Egyptian, etc. but to be honest depending on the event it's probably better to have a more specific crib sheet that may or may not be usefull to that event.

As for the date codes. it wasn't appropriate needed as the costume gave it away in most cases.

Tempest

Was anything ever decided RE this? Playing an Archeologist/Linguist character Id quite enjoy sitting down and translating a document using the substitution method or something similar.

Aslong as its explicitly understood that the code document is an ooc sheet, ie represents the characters knowledge of the language, I think it would work well. I believe someone also mentioned earlier in the thread about making it clear that the coded document was not actually a coded document, ie you shouldnt sit down and break the code if you dont have the language.

As an example, the way Id see it working (dont know how much work this would cause for refs) and taking egyptian as an example:

A document is found with a number of heirogylphics on it (physrepped), this document then makes its way to the player with the appropriate language group who studies it, they speak to a ref who gives them the coded version of the document (in game terms this sheet would only be what the character can see). The player then spends time comparing the codes on their language sheet (either given out at the begining of the event or available online like the engineering cards etc) to the coded document and x amount of time later they have (correctly or not) translated the document.

Duncan Waterhouse · hear hear

I agree. While it's going to be a problem for me because Latin looks like English script - I think for glyph-based languages (ancient Chinese, Demiotic Egyptian, Sumerian cuneiform) it's a winner.

Another alternative would be the idea done with the experimental kit which is a card with red twine/ribbon around the article in question so there is no ambiguity as to what skill is needed. Maybe a different colour or something?

I am also keen to see more Egyptology & hieroglyphics in the game if only to reduce the number of shinies dangled in front of my face and to add a bit more 'old-school' SG feel to the proceedings.

Archaeology skill

hear hear