Classic Traveller Skill System for NPCs

 I am not thrilled by the rule in Book 3 which states "Weapon skill is generally considered to be 1 for all encountered persons." The reason is it contradicts, if not by the letter, but spirit of the game, are the rules for Untrained Weapon Usage. Basically any character untrained in a weapons use is at a -5 penalty. But who are these untrained individuals? Yes, there are the rules surrounding Routine Encounters, but they merely suggest these NPCs need no statistics. They perform a function in the course of play and are usually ignored by the PCs. The amount of words used indicate it is an important distinction, trained/untrained use, seems out of place if all PCs have level zero in weapon skills, and unknown, unimportant NPCs have a skill of 1 with a weapon (if they have one). I ask again, who is this untrained penalty for?

Here is what I have decided to do. Refer to the Additional Weapons Table in the Encounter chapter of Book 3 to randomly determine skill, if any, an NPC has with the weapons in their hand. You use the Additional Weapons Table to determine if one of the NPCs in a group is "armed extraordinarily." Which I interpret as having more than one weapon. Kind of an involved table for such a simple decision. Instead, I will use the table to find out if any of the NPCs are untrained, have zero level, or skill level 1 in their weapon, or more! 

The way you use the table is to roll on the first column. If you get a result you stop. If no result you make another roll. Again, the same happens. Get a result you are done. If not make a final roll on the  third and final column. Instead of weapons I will interpret results as indicated skill level with weapon. On the first roll there is a 1-2 chance of the NPC (or group, for that matter) being untrained. Therefore incurring the -5 untrained penalty. Second roll there is a 1-3 chance the NPC is zero skill level, no minus or bonus. Third roll there is a 1-5 chance the NPC has the usual skill level 1. Still no result? Well than I guess the PCs have run into a stranger with a skill level 2 in their weapon!