Philosopher (IB)

Starfox's Blades in the Dark hack

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

— Hamlet, Hamlet, Act I, Scene V

Philosopher Playbook

You are a master of science and lore, of reason and revelation. You read patterns where others see noise, deduce motives from traces, and find meaning in the unseen. You may lead, but more often you advise — the voice of judgment behind the hand of power. You might be known as a counselor, detective, inquisitor, jurist, logician, scholar, or student.

Touchstones: Spock (Star Trek (1966–)), Gaius Baltar (Battlestar Galactica TV (2004–09)), Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock TV (2010)), Dr. Louise Banks (Arrival (2016)).

Special Abilities

1. Analytic: Study an object or location (Study) or a creature (Judge) to assist an Action involving that subject. Pay 1 Stress to perform this analysis. Make a roll: 4–5: Improve Position. 6: Improve Position or Effect. Critical: Improve both. To benefit others, you must communicate your findings. Stacks with Set Up actions.
2. Consolation of Philosophy: Once per Downtime, you may take a Downtime Action to roll Study to recover Stress as if Indulging Vice. When Resisting a Consequence, you may roll Study instead of an Attribute, but suffer a minimum of 1 Stress doing so.
3. Designer: You can create the Schemas needed to manufacture new vehicles, tools, or devices. Rules to follow.
4. Discerning: Roll Judge to determine the truth behind spoken words. 1: False insight. 2–3: Detect minor or “white” lies. 4–5: Uncover deception about events or facts. 6: Uncover deception about people or intent. Critical: Expose the speaker’s true purpose.
5. Investigator: Spend a few minutes examining a creature (roll Judge) or location (roll Study). This is an improved Gather Information, improving the level of success by one step: Fumble → Failure → Success → Critical.
6. Medic: Spend several minutes on a Study roll to reduce non-wound Harm suffered in the last hour by one level. This roll takes a –1d penalty per level of Harm (–1 to –3 dice). This action has no Consequences, but each instance of Harm can be treated only once. During Downtime, you and your crew may use your Study for healing rolls.
7. Specialist: Choose a specialization — a field of science or the humanities such as astronomy, planetology, history, or law. When you act in this field, improve the degree of success by one step: Failure → Partial Success → Full Success → Critical.
8. Wisdom: Once per session you can spend an hour to consume a Provision and all who share this meal with you recover Stress equal to the result of a Judge roll. This has no direct effect on NPCs, but creates a general aura of harmony between you.

Allies and Antagonists

˄ ˅ Alathis, a librarian.

˄ ˅ Jorven, a philosopher.

˄ ˅ Kyris, a mastermind.

˄ ˅ Lyneth, a leader.

˄ ˅ Taren, a rigger.

Inventory

Your understanding and connections let you access Imperio equipment one Quality level above your Tier. You also have access to the following higher-quality items; their Quality already includes this bonus.

☐ Cognitive Loom +2 Quality.

☐ Design Board +2 Quality.

☐ Forensic Hand Kit +2 Quality.

☐ Mapping Swarm +2 Quality.

☐ Multispectral Belt Sensor +2 Quality.

☐ Provisions +1 Quality.

Your Crew also gains an additional upgrade related to healing or science.

XP

• Every time you roll a Desperate action, mark XP in that Action’s Attribute.

At the end of each session, for each item below, mark 1 XP (in your playbook or an Attribute), or 2 XP if it occurred multiple times.

• You addressed a challenge using insight or knowledge.
• You expressed your beliefs, drives, heritage, or background.
• You struggled with issues from your vice or traumas during the session.
• You pointed out an established NPC whom the GM then brought into the action.

Starting Actions

Judge 1

Study 2

4 points by choice, no higher than 2 in any one.