Index - General Information - Character Generation - Species - Characteristics - Special Skills - Combat - Movement - Experience - World - Armaments - Currency - Character Sheet

CHARACTERISTICS

In addition to reflecting the strengths and weaknesses of a character's physical and psychical being, Characteristics are also the basis of this game's system. Nearly all actions, etc. are checked against them. If any of the Characteristics drop below 0, the character dies.

Strength (STR): represents the character's physical strength. It is rarely used for non-combat situations, but it can be used when a need arises to use brute force, like lifting heavy objects.
Constitution (CON): represents the character's physical constitution and endurance. It is mainly used for combat situations, but can be used to determine how much punishment the character can withstand in various circumstances. For example when something falls on a character.
Agility (AGL): represents the character's flexibility and speed of action. It is used in situations that need quick reactions, such as dodging, for example.
Dexterity (DEX): represents the character's skill to perform manual tasks, such as constructing something or picking a lock.
Intelligence (INT): represents the character's reasoning ability and memory. It can be used in every situation involving judgment, clear thinking and plain common sense.
Charisma (CHA): represents the character's ability to function socially and how he/she is seen by others. It includes respectability and ability to convince others. It also reflects the character's loyalty, ability to obey orders, get along with others, make friends, etc.
Speed (SPD): represents the character's speed of movement. This value never changes during the course of the game in normal circumstances.
Size (SIZ): represents the character's physical size based on how much relative weight per length he has. This value never changes during the course of the game in normal circumstances.
Vision (VIS): represents the character's ability to see things. It tells how clear and from what distances he can distinguish what he sees. It only tells how well the character can see in the lighting conditions he is normally active in. When trying to see in other lighting conditions, modifiers are applied on the GM's discretion. It also tells if the character's vision type is wide (wide field of vision, limited depth perception) or depth (good depth perception, narrow field of vision).
Hearing (HEA): represents the character's ability to hear sounds. It measures how clearly and up to what distance the character can effectively distinguish and recognize sounds. It affects the character's ability to detect approaching creatures and other noisy objects.
Scent (SCE): represents the character's ability to smell things. It tells how clearly and up to what distance he can effectively distinguish and recognize smells. It affects the character's ability to identify and detect the presence of creatures, and other scent emitting objects.

Additional characteristics

Additional characteristics are determined based on the actual Characteristics. They always change when the Characteristic used to detemine them changes.

Aim (AIM): represents the character's ability to hit something. It is mainly used for combat purposes, but might be useful when a character is trying to use an axe, hammer, throw darts, etc. A character's AIM is equal to the average of his DEX and VIS values ((DEX + VIS) / 2) rounded down. For more information see Combat.
Hit Points (HP): represents how much physical damage a character can take. A character has an amount of HPs equal to his CON + SIZ.
Movement Points (MP): represents how much a character can use his top movement speeds in combat. A character has an amount of MPs equal to his CON.

Value descriptions

VALUE DESCRIPTIONS
VALUE	LABEL	CHARACTERISTIC
< 1	Challenged	Performing tasks involving this Characteristic are difficult. This value is found in very young and very old individuals, or those weakened by a disease etc.
1-4	Common	Normal individuals are likely to have many Characteristics at this value. It’s enough to perform most usual and not too difficult tasks.
5-8	Experienced	You are experienced in everyday tasks involving this Characteristic. Most normal adults have some Characteristics in this range. You are considered a professional.
9-12	Heroic	You clearly exceed normal individuals. You are considered elite when performing tasks involving this Characteristic.
13-16	Incredible	You are among the very best individuals alive when performing tasks involving this Characteristic. You have an ability to do nearly impossible things.
17-20	Legendary	At this is a level you are one of the best individuals ever when performing tasks involving this Characteristic. You are able to perform unbelievable, even seemingly impossible feats.
> 20	Miraculous	You have crossed the point to where you can perform tasks involving this Characteristic better than thought possible in the real world.

Using the Characteristics

Whether the character succeeds in an action he is attempting is determined by a SUCCESS CHECK. Most of the checks are based on Characteristics, but they may be modified by Special Skills and other circumstances.

Success Check procedure

All checks use the same formula: Take the CHARACTERISTIC relevant to the attempted action, add to it the SPECIAL SKILL relevant to the attempted action, and add a die roll (usually D20) to create a ATTEMPT VALUE (AV). Compare the resulting AV to a DIFFICULTY VALUE (DV). If your AV equals or exceeds the DV, you succeed.

SUCCESS CHECK PROCEDURE

Your AV (CHARACTERISTIC + SKILL + a DIE ROLL)
Vs
the DV (DIFFICULTY VALUE)

Difficulty value

Opposed Success Check: When attempting a task against another character, such as attacking someone, the DIFFICULTY VALUE is determined by the CHARACTERISTIC + SKILL of the character opposing you + a DIE ROLL.

OPPOSED SUCCESS CHECK

Your AV (CHARACTERISTIC + SKILL + a DIE ROLL)
Vs
the DV (CHARACTERISTIC + SKILL + a DIE ROLL)

Unopposed Success Check: When attempting a task involving non-living objects or an ability, the DIFFICULTY VALUE is chosen by the GM, based on how tough he thinks the task is. These DVs are determined by using the GENERAL DIFFICULTY VALUE TABLE.

UNOPPOSED SUCCESS CHECK

Your AV (CHARACTERISTIC + SKILL + a DIE ROLL)
Vs
the DV (determined from table)

GENERAL DIFFICULTY VALUE TABLE

ACTION DIFFICULTY DV

Challenged 10

Common 14

Experienced 18

Heroic 22

Incredible 26

Legendary 30

Miraculous 34

Outcome of an attempt

When doing a SUCCESS CHECK you can tell how well you succeeded or how badly you failed when looking at how much higher or lower your AV is when compared to the DV. Naturally, the further above zero this amount is, the better the outcome of the success, and the further below zero, the worse the outcome of failure. The chart below gives some guidelines:

OUTCOME OF AN ATTEMPT

AV minus DV = OUTCOME:

-10 and lower
Total failure. Not even the tiniest part of the action was successful. Something went crucially wrong.

-5
Bitter failure. May cause hindrance of inconvenience.

-3
Evident failure. No important success can be detected.

-1
Slight failure, but not nothing crucial.

0 (equal) Normal success. Nothing outstanding, but enough to succeed.

1 Slightly better success than expected. But some flaws might be evident.

3 Good success. No important flaws can be detected.

5 Excellent success. May give unexpected benefits.

10 and higher

Sheer perfection. Not even the smallest flaw is present. Other benefits are sure to come along.

Which Characteristic to use

The following is given as guidelines, but the GM has the final word when deciding which Characteristic and skill is relevant to the attempted action.

CHARACTERISTICS USED IN ACTIONS

CHARACTERISTIC: ACTION INVOLVING:

Strength Physical power, muscle mass

Constitution Endurance, withstanding pain and disease, etc.

Agility Gross physical movement and abilities, reaction, acrobatics

Dexterity Hand-eye coordination, performing manual tasks, operating, constructing

Intelligence Problem solving, memory

Charisma Interaction with others, willpower, persuasion, leadership, bluff

Speed Races of running, swimming, climbing

Size Comparing sizes, size-based modifiers

Aim Hitting something

Vision Detecting and identifying sights

Hearing Detecting and identifying sounds

Scent Detecting and identifying smells

Average values in checks

When a need to check on the basis of two or more Characteristics, just take the average of their values, and use it where you would usually use a Characteristic in a check.

Critical success and failure

On a D20, If a player rolls 20 he has succeeded critically. The player can roll another D20 and add the result to the first roll. If a player rolls 1 he has failed critically. The player must roll another D20 and subtract the result from his first roll.

Example common checks

EXAMPLE COMMON CHECKS

ACTION: YOUR CHARACTERISTIC: OPPOSING CHARACTERISTIC: ACTION DESCRIPTION:

Bluff CHA INT Can a character successfully lie, pretend ignorance, forgetfulness, or whatever. The player is encouraged to come up with how his character is trying to bluff.

Chase See Combat and Movement for detailed information.

Construct DEX DV Can a character construct something. Large constructions can be split into a number of smaller parts with each one requiring a check. Modifiers are assigned based on difficulty, available materials, etc.

Disease CON Disease value Will a character be infected with the disease. If he or she is, the disease's effect is applied (see World - Disease). A critical success rewards the character with immunity to the specific disease.

Estimate INT DV How well a character estimates distances, numbers, quantities etc. are estimated. The GM should secretly perform the check and provide information depending on what was the outcome. Critical success yields exactly accurate information and the character knows this.

Fall See Movement

Flee See Combat and Movement for detailed information.

Hide INT DV or VIS or HEA or SCE Can a character hide himself or an object from another. A check against DV is needed. Remember the AV used for hiding something. It is used when someone searches for the hidden object or character. See the Search check for info on how to search for hidden objects and characters. Modifiers are assigned based on lighting, surroundings and other conditions.

Jump, Horizontal See Movement

Jump, Vertical See Movement

Listen HEA DV or AGL Can a character hear certain sounds when actively trying to. The GM can assign modifiers depending on obstacles,ambient noise, how noisy the listener is, etc.

Persuasion CHA CHA Can a character persuade another one to reveal information, perform a task, etc. The GM decides how many times and how often this check can be made between the same characters.

Poison CON Poison value Can he character resists the effects of the poison. If he or she can't, the poison's effect is applied (see World - Poison). A critical success rewards the character with immunity to the specific poison.

Reaction AGL DV Can a character react fast enough when something happens.

Search VIS or HEA or SCE DV or the AV used when hiding something Can a character find an object or a hiding character (see Hide check). Unhidden objects etc. can be found without a check when searching for a period of time depending on the GM. When an object or a character is hidden a check is made. The GM assigns modifiers depending on surroundings, lighting, how well the object is hidden, and possibly other conditions.

Sneak AGL HEA Can a characters sneak past other characters.

GENERAL DIFFICULTY VALUE TABLE
ACTION DIFFICULTY	DV
Challenged	10
Common	14
Experienced	18
Heroic	22
Incredible	26
Legendary	30
Miraculous	34

OUTCOME OF AN ATTEMPT
AV minus DV =	OUTCOME:
-10 and lower	Total failure. Not even the tiniest part of the action was successful. Something went crucially wrong.
-5	Bitter failure. May cause hindrance of inconvenience.
-3	Evident failure. No important success can be detected.
-1	Slight failure, but not nothing crucial.
0 (equal)	Normal success. Nothing outstanding, but enough to succeed.
1	Slightly better success than expected. But some flaws might be evident.
3	Good success. No important flaws can be detected.
5	Excellent success. May give unexpected benefits.
10 and higher	Sheer perfection. Not even the smallest flaw is present. Other benefits are sure to come along.

CHARACTERISTICS USED IN ACTIONS
CHARACTERISTIC:	ACTION INVOLVING:
Strength	Physical power, muscle mass
Constitution	Endurance, withstanding pain and disease, etc.
Agility	Gross physical movement and abilities, reaction, acrobatics
Dexterity	Hand-eye coordination, performing manual tasks, operating, constructing
Intelligence	Problem solving, memory
Charisma	Interaction with others, willpower, persuasion, leadership, bluff
Speed	Races of running, swimming, climbing
Size	Comparing sizes, size-based modifiers
Aim	Hitting something
Vision	Detecting and identifying sights
Hearing	Detecting and identifying sounds
Scent	Detecting and identifying smells

EXAMPLE COMMON CHECKS
ACTION:	YOUR CHARACTERISTIC:	OPPOSING CHARACTERISTIC:	ACTION DESCRIPTION:
Bluff	CHA	INT	Can a character successfully lie, pretend ignorance, forgetfulness, or whatever. The player is encouraged to come up with how his character is trying to bluff.
Chase			See Combat and Movement for detailed information.
Construct	DEX	DV	Can a character construct something. Large constructions can be split into a number of smaller parts with each one requiring a check. Modifiers are assigned based on difficulty, available materials, etc.
Disease	CON	Disease value	Will a character be infected with the disease. If he or she is, the disease's effect is applied (see World - Disease). A critical success rewards the character with immunity to the specific disease.
Estimate	INT	DV	How well a character estimates distances, numbers, quantities etc. are estimated. The GM should secretly perform the check and provide information depending on what was the outcome. Critical success yields exactly accurate information and the character knows this.
Fall			See Movement
Flee			See Combat and Movement for detailed information.
Hide	INT	DV or VIS or HEA or SCE	Can a character hide himself or an object from another. A check against DV is needed. Remember the AV used for hiding something. It is used when someone searches for the hidden object or character. See the Search check for info on how to search for hidden objects and characters. Modifiers are assigned based on lighting, surroundings and other conditions.
Jump, Horizontal			See Movement
Jump, Vertical			See Movement
Listen	HEA	DV or AGL	Can a character hear certain sounds when actively trying to. The GM can assign modifiers depending on obstacles,ambient noise, how noisy the listener is, etc.
Persuasion	CHA	CHA	Can a character persuade another one to reveal information, perform a task, etc. The GM decides how many times and how often this check can be made between the same characters.
Poison	CON	Poison value	Can he character resists the effects of the poison. If he or she can't, the poison's effect is applied (see World - Poison). A critical success rewards the character with immunity to the specific poison.
Reaction	AGL	DV	Can a character react fast enough when something happens.
Search	VIS or HEA or SCE	DV or the AV used when hiding something	Can a character find an object or a hiding character (see Hide check). Unhidden objects etc. can be found without a check when searching for a period of time depending on the GM. When an object or a character is hidden a check is made. The GM assigns modifiers depending on surroundings, lighting, how well the object is hidden, and possibly other conditions.
Sneak	AGL	HEA	Can a characters sneak past other characters.