[Chronicles of Darkness] Professional Training Merit (Custom)

 ((Out of Character (OOC):

Chronicle: Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen
Venue: Chronicles of Darkness
Chronicle Storyteller: Jerad Sayler))

Merit Creators: Mat Hagen & Korri Smith

So it recently came to my attention that there are multiple versions of the Professional Training Merit.  The first used was from Hunter: The Vigil since many of our first characters actually started out as Hunters before their Awakening.  As time went on, and the God-Machine Chronicle and Chronicles of Darkness corebook came out we found ourselves wanting to create something in-between what each version provided.  Here is what we came up with: (Yes, the corny job training pictures were necessary)

Professional Training & Asset Skills (1-5 dot Merit) 

(Updated 6 May 2016)

Per the God-Machine Rules Doc, verbatim:  The merit is taken by specifying a certain profession, these may be selected from the Professions from the Hunter: The Vigil books, God-Machine Chronicle book, the Chronicles of Darkness book, or created with the approval of the Storyteller.  These professions are represented by up to three Asset skills relating to that job.        

                                                                                                                                                                                        

O The first dot gives you two Asset Skills in line with your profession.  Two dots in Contacts relating to your job.

OO The second dot gives you’re the 9 Again rule for using your Asset skills on mundane rolls.

OOO The third dot allows you to take two Specialty skills in one chosen Asset skill.  You also get your third and final Asset skill.

OOOO The fourth dot allows you to buy new dots in those Asset/Rote skills cost new dots  x 2 (You also get an xp refund for the dots you already purchased before getting this level of the merit.)  ((Please note that using the Beat System refunds and discounts applicable skills by 1 Experience per dot))

OOOOO The fifth dot of this Merit makes all Mundane and Rote Spell (only) uses of your Asset/Rote skills a Rote Action by spending a willpower point and forgoing your Defense for round.  You target by taking targeting penalties if you are using one of these Rote Actions in combat.  This effect does not stack with the benefits of an All Out Attack (you do not get the +2 as well) or any other benefit which forgoes your defense.  All your concentration is on taking the perfect action. Additionally as a passive benefit, all specialties in your Asset Skills now cost 1xp instead of the usual 3xp and get an xp refund (1 xp each) for the specialties you already purchased before getting this level of the merit. (Using the Beat System 1 experience spent lets you buy two specialty skills instead of 1. You are also refunded 1 experience point for each of your specialty skills that use its applicable asset skill.  

Custom:  Once per Chapter (gaming session), a character may make an applicable Att+Skill+Dots in Professional Training in order to pull upon all his allies/contacts/knowledge/resources to gain knowledge or access to resources related to that profession (special tools or a database for example).

Note: Asset skills do not necessarily relate to Rote Skills, they may be completely different.  However and Apostate may take Rote skills which are his asset skills if he never has had other Rote Skills.  Mages which are parts of Orders must take the Rote skills.  A better way for an Apostate to learn Rote Skills is to use the Specialty Rote merit above.