Athletics

Climb, jump, swim, and lift.

Athletics is the raw physical capability skill -- the body as tool. It covers climbing (surfaces, ropes, ladders, hulls), jumping (gaps, heights, distances), swimming (water, plasma-adjacent fluids, industrial runoff), lifting (heavy objects, debris, trapped comrades), and pushing through physical barriers. In the verse, Athletics is the soldier's fallback when the corridor collapses, the operative's escape route over a wall, and the reason Thrax marines are feared in boarding actions. In microgravity, use Zero-G Ops instead; in water, swim checks apply.

Rules Reference

Field	Value
Armor Check Penalty	true
Key Ability	STR
Opposed Skills	Zero-G Ops
Trained Only	false
Untrained Use
Key Ability	STR

Notes

Special: Climbing, swimming, and jumping each have their own context (surface conditions, water state, distance) but all use the same skill. The Synergy bonus with Survival applies to endurance checks.

Special: Climbing, swimming, and jumping each have their own context (surface conditions, water state, distance) but all use the same skill. The Synergy bonus with Survival applies to endurance checks.

Untrained: May attempt routine climbs, jumps, and swims. No penalty for simple tasks; -2 on Moderate (DC 15+) tasks. No capability for Hard (DC 20+) tasks without training.

Descriptors

dc: 10

Field	Value
dc	10
task	Climb a knotted rope

dc: 10

Field	Value
dc	10
task	Swim in calm water

dc: 15

Field	Value
dc	15
task	Jump a moderate gap

dc: 20

Field	Value
dc	20
task	Climb a sheer surface with handholds

dc: 22

Field	Value
dc	22
task	Swim in rough water with gear

dc: 25

Field	Value
dc	25
task	Climb a wet, featureless hull under fire

dc: 30

Field	Value
dc	30
task	Lift a heavy object in a crisis

Synergy

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
from	Zero-G Ops
threshold	5

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
from	Survival
threshold	5

Synergies

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
ranks	5
skill	Zero-G Ops

bonus: 2

Field	Value
bonus	2
ranks	5
skill	Survival

bonus: Unarmed damage 1d4/1d3 + STR, stun on natural 20

Field	Value
bonus	Unarmed damage 1d4/1d3 + STR, stun on natural 20
feat	Brawler

Uses

application: Climb a knotted rope

Field	Value
application	Climb a knotted rope
dc	10
failure	Slip; fall 1d4 metres, 1d4 damage per 3 metres.
success	Ascended at half speed.

application: Swim in calm water

Field	Value
application	Swim in calm water
dc	10
failure	Struggle; make Fortitude save or take 1d4 non-lethal.
success	Swim at quarter speed.

application: Jump a moderate gap

Field	Value
application	Jump a moderate gap
dc	15
failure	Short; fall or catch the edge (Athletics DC 12 to pull up).
success	Clear the gap; land on the other side.

application: Climb a sheer surface with handholds

Field	Value
application	Climb a sheer surface with handholds
dc	20
failure	Slip; fall, 1d6 damage per 3 metres.
success	Ascended at quarter speed.

application: Swim in rough water with gear

Field	Value
application	Swim in rough water with gear
dc	22
failure	Swamped; must drop gear or drown (Fortitude save).
success	Swim at quarter speed; gear retained.

application: Climb a wet, featureless hull under fire

Field	Value
application	Climb a wet, featureless hull under fire
dc	25
failure	Fall; 1d6 damage per 3 metres, prone at base.
success	Ascended despite conditions.

application: Lift a heavy object in a crisis

Field	Value
application	Lift a heavy object in a crisis
dc	30
failure	Cannot lift; object is beyond capability.
success	Object moved; path cleared or comrade freed.