Physical and mental attributes
Attributes for normal humans lie in the range -2 to +3 with 0 as the average (by definition), Most peoples attributes are in the range -1 to +1. Master craftsmen would be expected to have a 2 or 3 in the attribute for their trade. It is possible to rise above the normal maximum but not without investing a substantial amount of time. Coping with the hardships adventuring by itself will toughen up the feeblest body over time and specialist exercises for the mind and body wil help.
At the start of their adventuring career though all characters' attributes will lie in the range -2 to +3, before racial and gender adjustment.
The attributes are
| Attribute | Useful For |
|---|---|
| Strength | Using melee weapons, damage bonus |
| Intelligence | Mages, spotting illusions, reduced training costs |
| Willpower | Priests, bonus power points, resisting mind effects (charm, horror) |
| Constitution | Wound points, Stamina points, resisting poison |
| Dexterity | Covert skills, light melee and ranged weapons |
| Alertness | Defence, dodging dragon's breath |
Incompatible statistics
Some statistics are incompatible, such as strength and dexterity. You cannot at the same time be the strongest and most nimble person. The extraordinarily strong tend to be large and bulky, whilst the most nimble are smaller and lighter. Either strength or dexterity must be below 3 before racial modifications. These stats may still increase by adventuring/training.
Strength
This is a measure of sheer muscular strength. Each 3 points is equivalent to a doubling in strength.
The old anachronism of percentile strength has been removed. The motive for it was never clear except, possibly, that the tables had not been constructed properly. With the new combat system it is no longer necessary to have a damage column. Open doors is also removed and becomes a roll against the strength of the door. As dungeon doors do not normally stick it only applies to the attempted breaking down of locked doors (small ones, not big heavy ones).
Characters may carry 50lb + 20 lb. of weight for each point of strength. This is not the amount they can lift for a short time but the weight they can carry (if properly loaded) on a trek. However, if they do carry this full amount their speed will be reduced.
Strength acts as a damage bonus to (almost) all combat attacks, for ranged weapons it simply means that you are throwing bigger weapons. Bows (& crossbows) are not included as the arrows/bolts are a standard size.
Typical strengths of creatures are
| Creature | Strength |
Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Halfling | -3 |
100 |
| -2 |
||
| -1 |
||
| Human | 0 |
200 |
| 1 |
||
| Goblin | 2 |
|
| 3 |
400 |
|
| Orc | 4 |
|
| 5 |
||
| Chimpanzee | 6 |
800 |
| Uruk Hai | 7 |
|
| Bear | 8 |
|
| Ogre | 9 |
1,600 |
| 10 |
||
| 11 |
||
| Hill Giant | 12 |
3,200 |
| 13 |
||
| 14 |
||
| Frost Giant | 15 |
6,400 |
| 16 |
||
| 17 |
||
| Dragon | 18 |
12,800 |
Intelligence
Intelligence covers the areas of I.Q., mnemonics, reasoning and theory. It is of prime importance to wizards as it dictates both the complexity of spell they can comprehend and the number of different spells whose details they can concurrently recall.
It helps with
- The ability to notice something wrong in a situation such as illusions.
- Planning actions to grants skill bonuses
- Learning skills more quickly
Willpower
Willpower encompasses the parts of the mind that intelligence does not; that is, the emotional side and force of will. This may be likened to the 2 hemispheres of the brain, the left and right; the logical and the artistic. For priests, this includes their channel to their god.
A good willpower helps fight off any creature which tries to subvert your mind (time share salesmen....), helps you persuade people to your cause or do yu bidding.
A high willpower makes a charismatic hero . The attractive hero has the girls flocking to their arm as soon as they walk into the bar. (This could of course get expensive). The charisma of a character is mostly an initial factor, treatment of people will play a long term role however it will colour peoples judgement.
Constitution
Constitution dictates the general health and fitness of the character. A high constitution means the character can shrug off with impunity debilitating effects such as coughs, colds, bruises, cuts, broken legs, rabies, impaled spears....
When the body goes through a minor alteration such as being turned to stone, a high constitution can prevent the shock killing the person. (Note the irrevocability of death).
Dexterity
Dexterity encompasses suppleness, balance, manipulation and hand to eye co-ordination. Acrobats are the prime example. It is most useful in dodging; reacting to unexpected situations; manipulation small objects like lock picks or a forger's pen as well as placing an arrow precisely where the eye is looking. Very high strength is incompatible with very high agility.
Alertness
This ability covers the ability to react to an event by piecing together all the unknowing small clues that are being given off by someone or something. This may be noticing the hand twitching as someone is about to attack you or spotting and realising that the unusually clean patch of floor indicates that there is a secret door hidden in the bookcase.
It primarily involves using the 6 senses; sight, sound, smell, touch, taste and intuitiuon.
Alertness is most useful in gaining initiative during combat and the defence skill.
Body language, the choice of words someone uses, their dress are all part of the interpretation that goes on. The fairer sex are often accomplished at this, hence female intuition.
Size
Characters fall into a given size category which is based on their race rather than their actual size. A monster's size may be adjusted by many factors (e.g. DM whim).
| Size | Races | Approx Size |
|---|---|---|
| Miniscule | <= 1' |
|
| Tiny | 1'6" | |
| Small | Hobbit | 3' |
| Short | Gnome, Dwarf | 4' |
| Medium | Elf, Human | 5'6" |
| Big | Barbarian, Orcs | 7' |
| Huge | Ogres, | 9' |
| Enormous | Trolls, Golems | 12' |
| Giant | Giants | 16' |
| Titan | Dragons (?)... | 20' |
Sex
Females automatically lose 1 strength from their starting attributes but gain an additional Major asset of their choice. These modifiers are made after all racial modifiers.
Age deterioration
Characters are normally youngsters out looking for adventure (old people have better sense), however if you wish to play an older character your physical stats maximums are reduced by one point (both starting and final). There are three age ranges young, middle aged, and old.
| Age | Strength | Constitution | Dexterity | Alertness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young | - | - | - | - |
| Middle aged | -1 | -1 | ||
| Old | -1 | -1 |
Movement
Each character has a base movement rate of 1/2 mph + 1/2 mph for every foot of height (roll % for parts of a foot). The athletics skill may increase running speed.
