ATTRIBUTES
Attributes are traits that measure a character's innate capabilities. The majority of characters have six attributes, grouped into two categories: Physical and Mental.
Most characters are limited to ratings of between 1 and 5. 1 would mean they are not very good at said ability, while higher numbers mean they are better at it. All characters start with one in each attribute. That means we all start at poor level.
Supernatural creatures, including Legendary Characters and Exalted ones, are often capable of raising their attributes beyond mortal capability.
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
STRENGTH
Raw physical strength. Usually aligned with the Physical Damage Category. More often than not used for offensive actions.
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 usually added to a character’s damage pool when he hits his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. Under the discretion of the interacting players, it could also be used when a character wishes to break, lift, or carry something, as well as when a character tries to jump a distance.
• Poor: You can lift 40 lbs. (about 20 kgs).
•• Average: You can lift 100 lbs. (close to 50 kgs).
••• Good: You can lift 250 lbs. (a little over 100 kgs).
•••• Exceptional: You can lift 400 lbs. (close to 200 kgs).
••••• Outstanding: You can lift 650 lbs. (nearly 300 kgs) and crush skulls like grapes.
Examples: Never Lets Go, Powerful Arms, Reserves of Strength, Vicious, Fists Like Anvils, Lower Body, Lifting, Long Jumping, Sustained CarryingDEXTERITY
Speed and ease of movement, covering both full body movement (i.e. gymnastics) and hand-eye coordination. Usually aligned with the Status Damage Category. More often than not used for offensive actions.
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.
• Poor: You are clumsy and awkward. Put that weapon 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.
Examples: Precise, Swift, Feline Grace, Lightning Reflexes, Sure-Footed, Nimble Fingers, Steady Hand, Flexible, Light TouchSTAMINA
Physical hardiness, including resistance to disease and physical trauma and how fast you can recover. Usually aligned with the Physical Damage Category. More often than not used for defensive actions.
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.
Because a character's attributes and moves cap at 5 dots each, the most damage a move can do is 10 (unless boosted by equipment, items or abilities). This is why stamina is such an important attribute, to defend against instant knockouts.
• 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.
Examples: Tireless, Determined, Tough as Nails, Vigorous, Resolute, Unbreakable, Resilient, Enduring, High Pain Threshold
MENTAL ATTRIBUTES
Intelligence
Memory and raw brainpower. Usually aligned with the Special Damage Category. More often than not used for offensive actions.
The Intelligence Attribute refers to a character’s grasp of facts and knowledge. It also governs a character’s ability to reason, solve problems, and evaluate situations. Intelligence 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.
Even the smartest character may be too foolish to realize that the thugs who want to “borrow” her 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.
• Poor: Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
•• Average: Smart enough to realize you’re normal.
••• Good: More enlightened than the masses.
•••• Exceptional: You’re not just bright, you’re downright brilliant.
••••• Outstanding: Certified genius.
Examples: Book Knowledge, Creative, Analytical, Problem Solver, Subject Authority, Probability Calculation, Trivia, Discerning, Logical, Pragmatic, ScholarlyPerception
Your ability to notice things, to perceive the world around you, through all your senses. Usually aligned with the Status Damage Category. More often than not used for defensive actions.
Perception measures a character’s ability to observe his environment. This may involve a conscious effort, such as searching an area, but it is more often intuitive, as the character’s keen senses notice something out of the ordinary. Perception is a sensitivity to one’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, distinguish a clue from a pile of refuse, or uncover any other hidden or overlookable detail, whether physical or otherwise.
• Poor: Perhaps you are absurdly self-absorbed, perhaps merely an airhead. In any event, watch out for that cart!
•• Average: The very subtle evades you, but you’re aware of the bigger picture.
••• Good: You perceive moods, textures, and small changes in your environment.
•••• Exceptional: Almost nothing escapes your notice.
••••• Outstanding: You instantly observe things almost imperceptible to human senses.
Examples: Attentive, Insightful, Careful, Discerning, Tactical, Experienced, Eyes in the Back of Your Head, Farsighted, Uncanny Instincts, Detail-Oriented, Intuitive, Empathetic, Keen-Eyed, Paranoid, Sharp HearingResolve
Mental Resistance; a character's strength of will and intellectual focus. Usually aligned with the Special Damage Category. More often than not used for defensive actions.
Your character's resolve measures their ability to control the urges and desires that threaten to overtake them. They represent their strength of will in the face of opposition, their ability to steel herself against manipulating forces, and their determination in the face of temptation.
• Poor: Timid
•• Average: Diffident
••• Good: Confident
•••• Exceptional: Controlled
••••• Outstanding: Unshakable
Examples: Strong-Willed, Iron-Willed, Certain, Life threatening jobs like: firefighters, soldiers and doctors
