WFRP 1e & 2e Careers: The Engineer

The Engineer career in WFRP 1e was restricted to Dwarves only but was opened up in 2e, possibly because the battle game Warhammer had changed.  In any case, it did seem odd to restrict it to Dwarves given the generally useful nature of this career to society, as opposed to being a niche flavour of warrior or wizard.  Very much in keeping with 2e, the career is somewhat militarized and thus ended up taking over the small niche concept space where the 1e Artillerist and Gunner had been (or to look it at the other way around - 1e Human engineers were jobbing soldiers but only Dwarves made them part of their civil society so they didn't have to choose between 'war' and 'building' at any given point).  It has also been changed from a Basic career to an Advanced career.  On balance, I think I agree with this move.

ENGINEER (Original 1e):

Skills: Carpentry, Drive Cart, Engineering, Read/Write, Secret Signs - Dwarven Engineers' Guild, Set Trap, Smithing, Spot Traps, 50% chance of Metallurgy (also +20 to Mining skill for Construct and underground Search tests)

ENGINEER (Modified):

Skills: Carpentry, Drive Cart, Engineering, Read/Write, Secret Signs - Dwarven Engineers' Guild, Set Trap, Smithing, Spot Traps, 50% chance of Metallurgy, 25% chance of Ride, 25% chance of Speak Additional Language (Khazalid), (also +20 to Mining skill for Construct and underground Search tests)

If this is being used as an Advanced Career, then all of the % chance skills can simply be converted into part of the normal skill list and the following skills can be added:

Specialist Weapon (Blunderbuss), Specialist Weapon (Bombard), Specialist Weapon (Bombs), Specialist Weapon (Pistol).

There are some disadvantages from a 1e point of view in making this an Advanced career. The advance scheme would have to be changed, which is perhaps not so difficult, but also it the Career Entries would have to be sorted out.  Off-hand, I think that entering from Artisan's Apprentice would probably be most suitable. Still a little bit of thinking to do on this one!