Attributes

Physical attributes

Physical attributes define the condition of a character's body. They indicate how strong, agile and resilient a character is. Physical attributes should be taken as the primary category for an action-oriented character.

Strength Strength is the raw, brute power of a character. It governs how much weight a character can lift, how much he can physically push and how hard he can hit another character or object. The Strength trait is added to a character's damage dice pool when he hits his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. It is also used when a character wishes to break, lift or carry something, as well as when a character tries to jump a distance. Strength Poor: You can lift 40 lbs. Average: You can lift 100 lbs. Good: You can lift 250 lbs. Exceptional: You can lift 400 lbs. Outstanding: You can lift 650 lbs. and crush skulls like grapes.

Dexterity The Dexterity attribute measures a character's general physical prowess. It encompasses the character's speed, agility and overall quickness, as well as indicating the character's ability to manipulate objects with control and precision. Also included under Dexterity's heading are hand-eye coordination, reflexes and bodily grace. Dexterity Poor: You are clumsy and awkward. Put that gun down before you hurt yourself. Average: You're no clod, but you're no ballerina, either. Good: You possess some degree of athletic potential. Exceptional: You could be an acrobat if you wished. Outstanding: Your movements are liquid and hypnotic-- almost superhuman.

Stamina The Stamina trait reflects a character's health, toughness and resilience. It indicates how long a character can exert herself and how much punishment she can withstand before suffering physical trauma. Stamina also includes a bit of psychic fortitude, indicating a character's grit and tenacity not to give up. Stamina Poor: You bruise in a stiff wind. Average: You are moderately healthy and can take a punch or two. Good: You are in good shape and rarely fall ill. Exceptional: You can run - and perhaps win - any marathon you choose. Outstanding: Your constitution is truly Herculean.

Social attributes

Social attributes delineate a character's appearance, charm and ability to interact with society. These traits are paramount in determining a character's first impressions, personal dynamics and relations with other individuals.

Charisma Charisma is a character's ability to entice and please others through her personality. Charisma comes into question when a character tries to win another character's sympathies or encourage others to trust her. Charisma does not necessarily indicate a silver tongue or a skill with bullying. Rather, it is the simple power of a character's charm and influence. Charisma delineates a character's ability at convincing others to see her point of view. Charisma Poor: Stop picking your nose. Average: You are generally likable and have several friends. Good: People trust you implicitly. Exceptional: You have significant personal magnetism. Outstanding: Entire cultures could follow your lead.

Manipulation Manipulation measures a character's ability for self-expression in the interests of getting others to share her outlook or follow her whims. In short, it's getting others to do what she wants. Manipulation comes into play when a character tries to influence or subtly guide another's behavior. Manipulation is used to trick, bluff, fast-talk and railroad other characters. Whether or not the characters in question actually like the manipulator is irrelevant (this is why Manipulation differs from Charisma); a skilled manipulator can even employ the talents of people who hate her. Manipulation Poor: A person of few (often ineffectual) words. Average: You can fool some of the people some of the time, just like anybody else. Good: You never pay full price. Exceptional: You could be a politician or cult leader. Outstanding: "Of course I'll tell the prince it was I who tried to stake him!"

Appearance The Appearance attribute is a measure of a character's attractiveness. More than simple looks, however, Appearance is the sum of a character's visible grace, beauty and the indefinable je ne sais quoi that makes people desirable. Appearance is both more and less than words-- it appeals to the lower levels of the psyche, so it shapes first impressions and the nature of memories thereafter. No matter how open-minded a person is, no matter how vehemently he claims "Her personality is more important than her looks", a person still thinks of another in relation to the subject's appearance. Appearance Poor: Ugly as a mud fence. Average: You don't stand out in a crowd, for better or worse. Good: Strangers offer to buy you drinks at bars. Exceptional: You are appealing enough to be a model, and people often go out of their way to tell you so. Outstanding: People react to you with either insane jealousy or beatific awe.

Mental attributes

Mental attributes define a character's cerebral capacities, including such aspects as memory, intelligence, awareness of one's surroundings and the ability to think, learn and react.

Perception Perception measures a character's ability to observe his environment. This may involve a conscious effort, such as searching an area, but it is often more intuitive, as the character's keen senses notice something out of the ordinary. Perception is a sensitivity to the character's surroundings, and is seldom present in the cynical or jaded (who have seen it all before). Perception is used to determine whether or not a character understands a given situation or detects an environmental stimulus. It can warn a character of ambushes, help a character identify a metaphor, distinguish a clue from a pile of refuse or uncover any other hidden or overlookable detail, whether physical or otherwise. Perception Poor: Perhaps you are absurdly self-absorbed, perhaps merely an airhead; in any event, even the most obvious details elude you. Average: You are oblivious to the very subtle, but aware of the bigger picture. Good: You perceive moods, textures and minuscule changes in your environment. Exceptional: Almost nothing evades your notice. Outstanding: You instantly observe things almost imperceptible to human senses.

Intelligence The Intelligence attribute refers to a character's grasp of facts and knowledge. More importantly, however, it governs a character's ability to reason, solve problems and evaluate situations. Intelligence is almost a misnomer, as the attribute also includes critical thinking and flexibility of thought. Intelligence does not include savvy, wisdom or common sense, as those are properties of the character's personality, not traits. Even the smartest character may be too foolish to keep her mouth shut or too daft to assume the thugs who want her car keys are up to no good. Characters with low Intelligence aren't necessarily stupid (though they might be), they are just uneducated or simple thinkers. Likewise, characters with high Intelligence aren't all Einsteins; they may be better at rote memorization or have particularly keen judgment. Intelligence Poor: Not the sharpest knife in the drawer (IQ 80). Average: Smart enough to realize you're normal (IQ 100). Good: More enlightened than the masses (IQ 120). Exceptional: You're not just bright, you're downright brilliant (IQ 140). Outstanding: Certified genius (IQ 160+).

Wits The Wits trait measures the character's ability to think on her feet and react quickly to a certain situation. It also reflects a character's general cleverness. Characters with low Wits scores are thick and mentally lethargic, or maybe gullible and unsophisticated. By contrast, characters with high Wits traits almost always have a plan immediately and adapt to their surroundings with striking expedience. Characters with high Wits also manage to keep their cool in stressful situations. Wits Poor: Pull my finger. Average: You know when to bet or fold in poker. Good: You are seldom surprised or left speechless. Exceptional: You're one of the people who make others think "Ooh, I should have said..." the next day. Outstanding: You think and respond almost more quickly than you can act.