Attributes

Attributes cost 4x the new rating in XP. See the XP Chart.

Attributes represent your character’s basic capabilities, and have much wider scope than Abilities. If you don’t have an Ability for some action, you’ll have to rely on your Attributes alone.

A character may have a rating from one to five in an Attribute. You may only get a rating of zero in the event of a crippling accident.

There are three categories of Attributes: Mental, Physical, and Social. Each category has three Attributes, of three types: Power, Finesse, and Resistance.

Power describes your character’s raw capability in a category.

Finesse describes how much control you have over your capabilities.

Resistance describes how well you resist the efforts of others.

	Mental	Physical	Social
Power	Intelligence	Offense	Presence
Finesse	Wits	Dexterity	Manipulation
Resistance	Resolve	Stamina	Composure

Mental

Intelligence: Your ‘smarts’ are defined by this Attribute, allowing you to solve problems, remember facts, evaluate situations, and make leaps of logic. It represents a powerful deductive mind, but not necessarily any common sense or wisdom. Intelligence will often be your primary Attribute when using offensive magic.

0 – Crippled: Moronic, you can’t rub two neurons together.

1 – Poor: Thick, you have trouble with child-proof lids.

2 – Average: No dummy, you were a “C” student.

3 – Good: Smart, you do the hard crosswords for fun.

4 – Exceptional: Brainy, your intellect leaves most others in the dust.

5 – Outstanding: Genius, you solve universal mysteries.

Associated Abilities: Enigmas, High-Tech, Humanities, Medicine, Occult, Science

Wits: Your ability to observe and think, to react with experience in critical situations, and to adapt to changing circumstances. It’s not about how much you know, but how well you perceive and react to ambushes, cutting comments, and the unexpected. Wits will often be your primary Attribute when using defensive magic.

0 – Crippled: Dense, you’re unable to deal with the world around you.

1 – Poor: Slow, you’re an easy target.

2 – Average: Paced, you figure things out eventually.

3 – Good: Snappy, you often have just the right response.

4 – Exceptional: Sharp, you can handle almost anything.

5 – Outstanding: Instinctual, you don’t even break a sweat in a gunfight.

Associated Abilities: Alertness, Artistry, Crafts, Investigation, Larceny

Resolve: Your ability to resist the manipulations of others, and to stick to your intentions. This is your ability to avoid being swayed by trickery, argumentation, and debate, as well as magic affecting the mind. Your Resolve is the only thing keeping you from being pulled around and swayed by the whims of others.

0 – Crippled: Mindless, you are unable to form your own opinions.

1 – Poor: Foolish, you positions are weakly defended.

2 – Average: Aware, you keep your eyes open against common tricks.

3 – Good: Patient, you can outlast the average argument.

4 – Exceptional: Collected, your thoughts have few weaknesses.

5 – Outstanding: Invincible, your mind is an iron fortress.

Associated Abilities: Etiquette, Influence, Subterfuge, Meditation, Politics

Physical

Offense: This Attribute represents your character’s ability to do damage. Whether it’s through martial arts, raw strength, a shotgun, or a broadsword, Offense improves your attacks, against both enemies and inanimate objects.

0 – Abysmal: Frail, float like a pig, sting like a kitten.

1 – Poor: Flimsy, you’ve watched The Karate Kid.

2 – Average: Capable, you know enough not to get killed.

3 – Good: Proficient, street brawls are just practice to you.

4 – Exceptional: Accomplished, you collect black belts like they’re going out of style.

5 – Outstanding: Master, feet like lightning, force like thunder, fists like iron.

Associated Abilities: Brawl, Ranged, Weaponry

Dexterity: This Attribute measures your overall athleticism, grace, speed, hand-eye coordination, and agility. It also represents how far you can leap, how fast you can run, and your ability to defend yourself.

0 – Abysmal: No coordination, you have trouble just standing up.

1 – Poor: Clumsy, you trip on your own shadow.

2 – Average: No klutz, you don’t embarrass yourself often.

3 – Good: Smooth, you have athletic potential.

4 – Exceptional: Graceful, you impress.

5 – Outstanding: Liquid, you inspire.

Associated Abilities: Brawl, Dodge, Drive, Larceny, Stealth, Weaponry

Stamina: This Attribute represents the overall capability of your body. It is a measure of the body’s strength, toughness, and adaptability. It expresses how long you can exert yourself, how much physical punishment you can withstand, and how much you can lift, push, or carry.

0 – Abysmal: Dying, your body is falling apart. Lift 20 lbs. 1 Bashing, 1 Lethal Health Level.

1 – Poor: Wimp, you’re tired after brushing your teeth. Lift 40 lbs. 2 Bashing, 2 Lethal Health Level.

2 – Average: Couch potato, you can run a mile, if you have to. Lift 100 lbs. 3 Bashing, 2 Lethal Health Levels.

3 – Good: In shape, you work out regularly. Lift 250 lbs. 4 Bashing, 3 Lethal Health Levels.

4 – Exceptional: Stalwart, you swim in Arctic conditions. Lift 400 lbs. 5 Bashing, 3 Lethal Health Levels.

5 – Outstanding: Formidable, you’re a freight train. Lift 650 lbs. 6 Bashing, 4 Lethal Health Levels.

Associated Abilities: Athletics, Survival

Social

Presence: This Attribute covers the power of your presence, influencing people through intimidation, respect, and fear. A character with high Presence can fill the room with awe, fill his enemies with respect, or just fill a companion with trust and confidence.

0 – Crippled: Pitiful, you’re rather be tortured than be a leader.

1 – Poor: Timid, you’re afraid of public speaking.

2 – Average: Able, if you’ve got good followers, you can lead.

3 – Good: Commanding, your words have some weight.

4 – Exceptional: Larger-than-life, your enemies fear you, your friends love you.

5 – Outstanding: Unquestionable, none would dare disobey you.

Associated Abilities: Intimidation, Influence, Performance, Streetwise

Manipulation: This Attribute has many nuances. It covers lying, hiding your emotions, and fast-talking people into doing what you want them to, gaining their trust or changing their minds. Guilt, blackmail, twisting arguments – all are the weapons of a character with high manipulation.

0 – Crippled: Dispiriting, people just ignore you.

1 – Poor: Transparent, you have no poker face.

2 – Average: Inconsistent, you fool some of the people, some of the time.

3 – Good: Guileful, you have a few good lines and methods.

4 – Exceptional: Convincing, you play people and usually win.

5 – Outstanding: Conniving, you always get your way.

Associated Abilities: Cosmology, Etiquette, Linguistics, Politics, Subterfuge

Composure: This Attribute represents how well you keep your cool in a social situation. A character with low Composure is constantly stammering, shying away from intimidation, and giving in to those who try to push him around. A character with high Composure is confident and sure, unable to be easily distracted.

0 – Crippled: Quivering, you fall apart under any pressure.

1 – Poor: Meek, you fall prey to con-men, telemarketers and Girl Scouts.

2 – Average: Calm, most of the time, you know what’s up.

3 – Good: Collected, you remain unfazed, even in spite of efforts to ruffle you.

4 – Exceptional: Confident, you face even the wiliest opponents without worry.

5 – Outstanding: Unshakable, the only emotions you display are those you’ve carefully chosen.

Associated Abilities: Artistry, Awareness, Linguistics, Intimidation, Performance