Creating a character - Revision history

Peter Knutsen: /* Magic item owner */ Filling in this subsection

Peter Knutsen — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:33:07 GMT

Magic item owner: Filling in this subsection

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	==== Craft ====		==== Craft ====
	==== Magic item owner ====		==== Magic item owner ====
		+	This Perk means that your character is currently in the state of phsically holding (owning, possessing) a permanent magical item, that he has ''not'' made himself, meaning he himself has not paid the [[Essence]] cost for it.
		+
		+	The item may have been given as a gift or inheritance to the character, bought or stolen, or found or looted, but he currently holds it in the physical sense, although as with all other Perks, there is no guarantee at all that the item won't be destroyed or stolen from him at any time after game start.
		+
		+	The Perk Point cost of each owned magic item depends on three things. First of all, the Age of Magic in the setting, measuring the period of time in which fairly widespread use of magic, specifically learnable magic (and in particular the Endowing Skill), has been going in. The longer the period is, the lower is the base PP cost per point of virtual Essence, vES.
		+
		+	Virtual Essence, is composed of two elements, one is the actual total Essence cost of the Enchantments in the item (except Open and Close - these are ignored) and any Essence stored in the item (to render Spells cast by the item permanent), while the second element is ignored if the item wasn't created via the Endowing Skill.
		+
		+	If the item was Endowed, instead of being Blessed, Empowered, Imbued, Artificed or made magical in some other way, then the second cost element is based on the Item Level of the item, using the complex system that takes into account not only the highest Enchantment level, but also the next-highest and sometimes the third-highest. The result of this is that an item that contains multiple 6th level Enchantments ends up costing rather more than its Essence sum suggests, while an item that contains only 2nd level Enchantments ends up costing a bit less than what one might expect.
		+
		+	These two vES elements are added together, and the sum multiplied by the PP cost per unit of vES, to yield an intermediate PP cost. This PP cost can then be reduced by a discount, if the item is one that is common in the setting.
		+
		+	There are three such possible discounts. One is -10% and should be given to any item that looks reasonable, any item that looks like something an Endower character might have chosen to make, to serve some at least vaguely defined purpose. This includes any "themed" Focus item, meaning a magic item that combines a Focus Enchantment with permanent magical effects relevant to the Realm or Realms covered by the Focus. Usually a reasonable Focus item will have some amount of ES spent on life extension, but if the item is mainly a Focus for militant Realms such as Fire Magic, Combat Magic or Defence Magic, it's all right for it not to have this discount.
		+
		+	The -30% discount is given for any item that is very reasonable, including any standard Focus item, and many of the weaker "type" magic weapons. Also many convenience items, and a great variety of Amulets.
		+
		+	The -50% discount is very rare, given only to specific type items within the setting. In the Ärth setting, these are MetaMagic II silver daggers, Cloaks of Comfort, and Magic Swords with or without Ghost Touch.
		+
		+	The player or GM creating the character is free to define the item as containing any combination of Enchantments, as long as the Perk Point cost is affordable. The discounts are simply there to encourage reasonable combinations of choices

	=== Special GP Category Points ===		=== Special GP Category Points ===

Peter Knutsen: /* Regular Skills */ Creating a Buying Skills subsection

Peter Knutsen — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:21:23 GMT

Regular Skills: Creating a Buying Skills subsection

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	If the RD modifier thing sounds counter-intuitive, think of it this way: plus is ''good'', minus is ''bad''. So the plus is a bonus, and when it comes to RD, the direction of bonus is down, downwards, you lower the RD. Lower RD is better.		If the RD modifier thing sounds counter-intuitive, think of it this way: plus is ''good'', minus is ''bad''. So the plus is a bonus, and when it comes to RD, the direction of bonus is down, downwards, you lower the RD. Lower RD is better.
		+
		+	===== Buying Skills =====
		+	There are two ways to buy Skills in the character creation spreadsheet.
		+
		+	One is to tell the spreadsheet what level you want in the Skill. The spreadsheet then calculates the Skill Point (SP) cost of that Skill level, based on your relevant Attributes, and you pay that cost. Then later, if you change your Attribute values, the SP cost of the Skill will change, with the level chosen by you remaining static.
		+
		+	The other way is to tell the spreadsheet what amount of SPs you are willing to pay. The spreadsheet then calculates what Skill level you get, and any remainder SPs are applied towards the next Skill level. In this application, if you change the value of te relevant Attributes, the Skill's level will change, but the amount of SPs will stay the same.
		+
		+	For each Skill in the spreadsheet, you can choose to use either of the above methods, but it may also, depending on how sophisticated the spreadsheet ends up being, be possible to combine the methods.

	==== Lores ====		==== Lores ====

Peter Knutsen: /* Flaw Points */ updating to mpre fine-grained Flaw Point scale

Peter Knutsen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:26:17 GMT

Flaw Points: updating to mpre fine-grained Flaw Point scale

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:26, 18 December 2010
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	==== Powers ====		==== Powers ====
	==== Flaw Points ====		==== Flaw Points ====
-	By default, your character has 5 Flaw Points that you must spend to "purchase" [[Flaws]]. Flaws are psychological disadvantages (although not purchased directly with DPs), each with a roll-strength so that dice rolls can be made to see whether the Flaw triggers on encountered or internal stimuli or provocations. Flaws therefore limit your character, and it is desirable (ultimately worth more GPs) to have fewer of them. [[Flaw Selection\|This article]] contains the various kinds of Flaws that you can spend your points on.	+	By default, your character has 10 Flaw Points that you must spend to "purchase" [[Flaws]]. Flaws are psychological disadvantages (although not purchased directly with DPs), each with a roll-strength so that dice rolls can be made to see whether the Flaw triggers on encountered or internal stimuli or provocations. Flaws therefore limit your character, and it is desirable (ultimately worth more GPs) to have fewer of them. [[Flaw Selection\|This article]] contains the various kinds of Flaws that you can spend your points on.

	You can get compensatory DPs by choosing to have Flaws worth a total of more than 5 Flaw Points, or you can pay DPs for the privilege of having fewer than 5 Flaw Points, although the cost quickly becomes very high.		You can get compensatory DPs by choosing to have Flaws worth a total of more than 5 Flaw Points, or you can pay DPs for the privilege of having fewer than 5 Flaw Points, although the cost quickly becomes very high.

Peter Knutsen: /* Primary Attributes */ one more BR tag added

Peter Knutsen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:25:12 GMT

Primary Attributes: one more BR tag added

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:25, 18 December 2010
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	For more information on each Attribute, as well as its sub-Attributes, visit these links:		For more information on each Attribute, as well as its sub-Attributes, visit these links:
-	Physical: [[Agility]], [[Dexterity]], [[Constitution]]	+	<br>Physical: [[Agility]], [[Dexterity]], [[Constitution]]
	<br>Intellectual: [[Intelligence]], [[Perception]], [[Will]]		<br>Intellectual: [[Intelligence]], [[Perception]], [[Will]]
	<br>Spiritual: [[Charisma]], [[Psyche]], [[Faith]]		<br>Spiritual: [[Charisma]], [[Psyche]], [[Faith]]

Peter Knutsen: /* Primary Attributes */ Inserting BR tags

Peter Knutsen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:22:12 GMT

Primary Attributes: Inserting BR tags

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:22, 18 December 2010
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	For more information on each Attribute, as well as its sub-Attributes, visit these links:		For more information on each Attribute, as well as its sub-Attributes, visit these links:
	Physical: [[Agility]], [[Dexterity]], [[Constitution]]		Physical: [[Agility]], [[Dexterity]], [[Constitution]]
-	Intellectual: [[Intelligence]], [[Perception]], [[Will]]	+	<br>Intellectual: [[Intelligence]], [[Perception]], [[Will]]
-	Spiritual: [[Charisma]], [[Psyche]], [[Faith]]	+	<br>Spiritual: [[Charisma]], [[Psyche]], [[Faith]]

	==== Secondary Attributes ====		==== Secondary Attributes ====

Peter Knutsen: /* aDvantage Points */ Filling in the section on Primary Attributes

Peter Knutsen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:21:37 GMT

aDvantage Points: Filling in the section on Primary Attributes

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:21, 18 December 2010
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	=== aDvantage Points ===		=== aDvantage Points ===
		+	Advantages are traits that are innate to your character. For each single trait in this categy, either he's born with it, making it a genetic trait, or else he acquired it in his Formative Years, meaning the very early childhood. Usually Formative Years are said to end at the age of 4.5 Years for Humans, long before a character can enter active play in any useful role.
		+
		+	One can view Advantages as belonging to three types: Those that give only potential (affecting the cost of other traits, usually Skills), those that give only direct benefit, and those that give both.
		+
		+	May Primary Attributes give potential, affecting the cost of Skills, and sometimes also the cost of Powers. A few Primary Attributes are rolled for directly, though, or their sub-Attributes are, such as Charisma, Perception and Constitution. Powers themelves give nly direct benefit.
		+
	==== Primary Attributes ====		==== Primary Attributes ====
		+	These are perhaps the 9 most important stats for your character.
		+
		+	[[Dexterity]] and [[Agility]] can be said to be the motoric Attributes, since they affect motor control, Dexterity dealing with fine control of especially the fingers, hands and arms (and legs for kicking) and Agility dealing with whole-body control and awareness of where one is relative to objects, including comat threats.
		+
		+	Both affect Skill learning speeds, but Dexterity affects a wider range of Skills. Agility is not really useful for a combatant or adventurer who usually wears heavy armour or is otherwise encumbered, but high Agility is a good idea for a character who is a "light-and-quick"-style fighter or a sneak thief (or both).
		+
		+	[[Constitution]] is, like the two above, a physical Attribute, but it is not worthwhile inventing some odd categorizatin scheme so that it can be included with others. Constitution affects how durable the character is (in combination with the Secondary Attribute of [[Hardiness]]), the character's capacity for physical exertion such as running or hiking or using effort-requiring combat maneuvers (all in combination with the [[Fitness]] ''conditioning'' trait, which is trainable), and the character's restance to the dangers of poisons and diseases, and the speed with which he recovers from wounds (each of these three is its own Sub-Attribute). Constitution does not affect Skills.
		+
		+	[[Intelligence]], [[Perception]] and [[Will]] are the intellectual attributes, defining the core personality and intellect of the character. Intelligence maps directly to real-world intelligence, as measured in good IQ tests, and affects the learning of intellectual Skills, as well as capping how smart the chracter can be played (see the article on Intelligence for more on Over-Playing). Will defines mental discpline and determination, and also determines the base amount of [[Willpower]] Points that the character has.
		+
		+	Perception itself divides into a number of Senses, and Perception itself is never rolled for. Each Sense has its own Perception Sub-Attribute value (equal to base Perception for Humans, unless a change is made during character reation) and an inherent RD modifier, with the value defining how attentive the character is with regard to hat sense, and the RD modifier any special acuity or disability he might have, such as having impaired vision or especially acute hearing. To illustrate the difference, Sherlock Holmes has a high Perception, while a Bloodhound has a very high RD bonus to Sense of Smell rolls.
		+
		+	All of Intelligence, Perception and Will affects skills, but Intelligence affects a range of Skills nearly as wide as Dexterity.
		+
		+	Last comes [[Charisma]], [[Psyche]] and [[Faith]]. Charisma is charm and personal magnetism, and is used to impress and manipulate others. It does not define good looks, not special vocal qualities, nor personal confidence. Psyche and Faith are both Attributes pertinent to the magic systems, and in worlds with little magic one or both of them may be delegated to Secondary Attribute status, and reduced in price (via the Cost Factor system), or either or both may be removed entirely from the system.
		+
		+	Psyche defines the character's innate ability to learn magic, and can be said to be the character's magic quotient, analogous to IQ. Specifically, it affects several magic systems that one might choose to label as "arcane" magic or "wizardly" magic. Faith defines the character's aptitude for religious magic (e.g. priestly and druidic magic), his resistance to many forms of magic that one might refer to as "evil" (other forms of magic are usually resisted by Psyche or Will), his base [[Luck]] points, and his resistance to certain spiritually corrupting effects, such as [[Satanic Corruption]]. Faith does not, on the other hand, measure "goodness" and an "evil" character can have Faith and a religious conviction that is as strong as a "good" character's (it is particularly useful for a Demon Worshipper to have a high Faith), and a character whose morality is orthogonal to the "good"-and-"evil" axis can also legitimately and realistically have a high Faith.
		+
		+	The Primary Attributes that have Sub-Attributes are Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Perception and Will.
		+
		+	For more information on each Attribute, as well as its sub-Attributes, visit these links:
		+	Physical: [[Agility]], [[Dexterity]], [[Constitution]]
		+	Intellectual: [[Intelligence]], [[Perception]], [[Will]]
		+	Spiritual: [[Charisma]], [[Psyche]], [[Faith]]
		+
	==== Secondary Attributes ====		==== Secondary Attributes ====
	==== Advantages ====		==== Advantages ====

Peter Knutsen: /* Deciding on a GP distribution */ typo

Peter Knutsen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:57:35 GMT

Deciding on a GP distribution: typo

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	Here are a few example distributions that may be good starting points, but keep in mind, you don't have to follow any of them. All you have to do is spend exactly as many GPs as you have. (The below examples assume no Bonus GP).		Here are a few example distributions that may be good starting points, but keep in mind, you don't have to follow any of them. All you have to do is spend exactly as many GPs as you have. (The below examples assume no Bonus GP).

-	(~~inter~~ 4 tables of gifted newbie, "veteran", balanced dude and fairly-perk-heavy dude here, compete with category point totals, minimum age, and any notes about 4th category GPs)	+	(intsert 4 tables of gifted newbie, "veteran", balanced dude and fairly-perk-heavy dude here, compete with category point totals, minimum age, and any notes about 4th category GPs)

	=== aDvantage Points ===		=== aDvantage Points ===

Peter Knutsen: /* Spending limits */ Added INT rule, added new subsection below elaborating on deciding how to distribute GPs

Peter Knutsen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:57:14 GMT

Spending limits: Added INT rule, added new subsection below elaborating on deciding how to distribute GPs

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 18 December 2010
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	There must also be a rule limiting the character to a certain total of Skill Points based on his age (and excluding Years spent in magical sleep, cryogenic hibernation, and similar), but that rule will be based on the assumption of intensive full-time training from childhood, and so will not affect typical or even very atypical character concepts, even at very high GP totals.		There must also be a rule limiting the character to a certain total of Skill Points based on his age (and excluding Years spent in magical sleep, cryogenic hibernation, and similar), but that rule will be based on the assumption of intensive full-time training from childhood, and so will not affect typical or even very atypical character concepts, even at very high GP totals.

-	~~This~~ rule has ~~not been created yet~~, and ~~creating~~ it is ~~not~~ a ~~high priority~~.	+	As a tentative rule, the limit might be 10'000 Skill Points per 3 Years the character has lived, excepting the first 3 Years of lifetime, and any time spent in hibernation, cryogenic suspension, magical sleep and the like. Thus a character 9 Years old cannot have more than 20'000 Skill Points, a character 18 Years old cannot have more than 50'000 Skill Points, and a character 22 Years old cannot have more than 63'333 Skill Points (adding 3333 SP per single Year).
		+
		+	Please note that these are large Skill Point amounts, and so this rule does not limit actual character creation.
		+
		+	=== Deciding on a GP distribution ===
		+	You must decide on an initial distribution of GPs between the four categories. You will get it wrong, and want to go back to at least move a few GPs from one category to another. This is perfectly all right.
		+
		+	Here are a few example distributions that may be good starting points, but keep in mind, you don't have to follow any of them. All you have to do is spend exactly as many GPs as you have. (The below examples assume no Bonus GP).
		+
		+	(inter 4 tables of gifted newbie, "veteran", balanced dude and fairly-perk-heavy dude here, compete with category point totals, minimum age, and any notes about 4th category GPs)

	=== aDvantage Points ===		=== aDvantage Points ===

Peter Knutsen: /* Spending limits */ typo

Peter Knutsen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:51:48 GMT

Spending limits: typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:51, 18 December 2010
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	=== Spending limits ===		=== Spending limits ===
-	Spending limits are in force, differing slightly ~~beteen~~ PCs and NPCs.	+	Spending limits are in force, differing slightly between PCs and NPCs.

	When building a PC, no more than 55% of the GP total (''excluding'' bonus GP) may be spent on aDvantage Points, no more than 60% may be spent on Skill Point, and no more than 65% may be spent Perk Points.		When building a PC, no more than 55% of the GP total (''excluding'' bonus GP) may be spent on aDvantage Points, no more than 60% may be spent on Skill Point, and no more than 65% may be spent Perk Points.

Peter Knutsen: /* Flaw Points */ fixing the piped link (which I got wrong again...)

Peter Knutsen — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 02:23:45 GMT

Flaw Points: fixing the piped link (which I got wrong again...)

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:23, 26 November 2010
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	==== Powers ====		==== Powers ====
	==== Flaw Points ====		==== Flaw Points ====
-	By default, your character has 5 Flaw Points that you must spend to "purchase" [[Flaws]]. Flaws are psychological disadvantages (although not purchased directly with DPs), each with a roll-strength so that dice rolls can be made to see whether the Flaw triggers on encountered or internal stimuli or provocations. Flaws therefore limit your character, and it is desirable (ultimately worth more GPs) to have fewer of them. [[~~This article\|~~Flaw Selection]] contains the various kinds of Flaws that you can spend your points on.	+	By default, your character has 5 Flaw Points that you must spend to "purchase" [[Flaws]]. Flaws are psychological disadvantages (although not purchased directly with DPs), each with a roll-strength so that dice rolls can be made to see whether the Flaw triggers on encountered or internal stimuli or provocations. Flaws therefore limit your character, and it is desirable (ultimately worth more GPs) to have fewer of them. [[Flaw Selection\|This article]] contains the various kinds of Flaws that you can spend your points on.

	You can get compensatory DPs by choosing to have Flaws worth a total of more than 5 Flaw Points, or you can pay DPs for the privilege of having fewer than 5 Flaw Points, although the cost quickly becomes very high.		You can get compensatory DPs by choosing to have Flaws worth a total of more than 5 Flaw Points, or you can pay DPs for the privilege of having fewer than 5 Flaw Points, although the cost quickly becomes very high.