Hopefully, most of the skills above are relatively self-explanatory in their usage.  Skills marked with a single asterix may be attempted untrained..  For those skills which have companion skills or feats in the Player's Handbook (such as Open Locks and Move Silently), use the same modifiers and charts from that book.  Wilderness Survival is basically the modern-day equivalent of Wilderness Lore ("lore" is so sixth century), and uses that skill's charts and rules from the PHB.  The same goes for Prestidgitation and Pick Pocket (after all, Pick Pocket lets you do alot more than just pick pockets).  A few other adjustments for some skills must be included, though.  Use these rules changes below, exchanging the sections in the PHB with the modified sections below.

Bluff (CHA)
Check: As in the PHB, except you may not Feint in Combat.
Special: Having 5 or more ranks in Bluff grants a +2 synergy bonus to Charm, Intimidate, Interrogate, or Diplomacy checks.  It also grants a +2 synergy bonus to Disguise if the person disguised knows they are being watched and try and act as if they are not themselves.

Charm (CHA)
This skill is used to coaxe sensitive secrets out of a lonely navan officer, or to seduce a weapon contractor's lonely secretary.
Check: Charm is used specifically with the intention of getting something you want out of another person, whether sensitive government information, or a night's company.  For this reason, it is always an opposed check versus the opponent's Sense Motive skill.  Charming requires interaction, and therefore the charmer must be known to their target.  Generally, charming takes at least 5 minutes, and this is the base unit of time for this activity. A variety of modifiers can adjust this skill check.

Craft (INT)
This means you are trained in the manufacturing of some kind of object, and includes skills like carpentry, computer programming, contruction, explosives, firearms, forgery, jewelry, locksmithing, manufacturing, painting, sculpting, trapmaking, woodcarving, weaving, etc.

Diplomacy (CHA)
Special: Having 5 or more ranks in Bluff, Charm, or Sense Motive grants a +2 synergy bonus to Diplomacy checks.  These bonuses stack.

Disguise (CHA)
As well as all the functions in the PHB, Disguise is also used to hide devices on one's person, or in a room, such as surveillance devices and weapons.

Electronics (INT)
This skill is used for installing electrical devices or for fixing electrical appliances.
Check: The DC for electronics checks depends upon the task being attempted.  The base time is 1 minute, and this is used in terms of taking 10 or 20. 

Disguise (CHA)
As well as all the functions in the PHB, Disguise is also used to hide devices on one's person, or in a room, such as surveillance devices and weapons.

Firearms (DEX)
In Darkmatter d20, characters do nto automatically advance in combat ability, as this skill is not overly necessary in the modern era.  Firearms is treated as a skill, but follows the same rules of combat in the Player's Handbook.

Interrogation (CHA)
This skill is used whether grilling a suspect or torturing a terrorist leader.
Check: Interrogation checks are opposed checks versus the interrogatee's Will save.  An interrogation takes at least 10 minutes, and this is the base time, for use in taking 10 and 20.  A variety of modifiers can adjust this check.

Intimidate (CHA)
Special: Having 5 or more ranks in Intimidate grants a +2 synergy bonus to Interrogate checks.  Having 5 or more ranks in Bluff grants a +2 synergy bonus to Intimidate checks.

Knowledge (INT)
Knowledge is a variety of skills, covering a broad variety of fields of knowledge, such as local knowledge, global militaries, the intelligence communities, terrorist groups, crime groups, engineering, history, narcotics, law, medicine, and a variety of other skills.
Special: For every 5 ranks in one Knowledge skill, the character gains +2 synergy bonuses to checks relating in any way to that knowledge field.  For instance, if someone has a Knowledge(security systems) skill of rank 11, they gain a +4 bonus to Electronics checks to disable such systems.

Listen (WIS)
Check: In addition to the DCs and modifiers in the PHB, add the following.

Mechanic (INT)
The mechanic skill allows characters to fix and repair mechanical devices.
Check: The base time for a Mechanic check is 10 minutes, and this is used in terms of taking 10 and 20.  The difficulty of a Mechanic check depends upon the task.

Melee Combat (STR)
In Darkmatter d20, characters do not automatically advance in combat ability, as this skill is not overly necessary in the modern era.  This same skill is used whether using a melee weapon or attacking unarmed.  Melee Comabt is treated as a skill, but follows the same rules of combat in the Player's Handbook.

Perform (CHA)
Check: As in PHB, but instead of cp, sp and gold pieces per day, replace these with $10, $50, and $500.

Pilot (DEX)
The Pilot skill is used anytime a character needs to use and control a vehicle.  It is actually a variety of skills, used to pilot a variety of vehicles, such as automobiles, airplanes, helicopters, jet fighters, motorboats, submarines, hang-gliders, motorcycles, guided missiles, etc.
Check: The difficulty check for piloting different vehicles is, for the most part, left up to the GM.  Look out for seperate rules supplements about piloting different types of vehicles.  The following DCs and tasks are for automobiles

Profession (INT)
Profession is the skill that governs a variety of modern-day occupations, such as banker, secretary, cook, manager, bus driver, farmer, mailman, pharmacist, etc.  It provides the character with all of the minor skills they need to perfrom their jobs.

Use Computer (INT)
A must have in the modern era, this skill allows characters to use common computers and programs.
Check: Computer checks usually take about ten minutes, and this is the basic unit of time used.  The DC of a Use Computer check depends on the situation.

The rules above are just basic summaries and guides to using the skills presented.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or essential skills we left out, please e-mail us.