843:
588:
149:
36:
376:
699:, the base attribute scores are determined by the character's race and class (however the vast majority of stat points will be obtained through end-game gear/equipment). Because they represent common, in-born characteristics and not learned capabilities (as skills do), in many games they are fixed for the duration of the game. However, in some games they can be increased by spending
789:), or powers (such as flying) can then be bought for a certain number of points. More powerful abilities or a greater degree of power will require more "spending" of character points. Later, character points can be earned and spent to improve attributes or skills, or to buy new skills or powers. In some games, such as
729:
their advantages or other "positive" statistics. Disadvantages also add flavor to a character that can't be obtained solely by a list of positive traits. Advantages and disadvantages often have a thematic element to them. They often provide a direct relationship between how someone wants to role-play
994:
Many games make use of derived statistics: statistics whose values are determined only by the values of other, "basic" statistics. They often represent a single capability of the character such as the weight a character can lift, or the speed at which they can move. Some are unitless numbers, but
920:
is noted for being the first text based multi user role-playing game to offer a developed profession and skills system . Choosing a profession then conveyed a bank of general skills and guild specific ones each containing a ladder of skills which could be invested in via lessons earned through
659:
Most games try to give all attributes about the same usefulness to a character. Therefore, certain characteristics might be merged (such as merging a
Charisma-type and a Willpower-type attribute into a single Personality attribute), or split into more attributes (such as splitting physical
907:) add the base attribute to the skill at character creation time; after that, it is independent of the attribute and is used instead of the attribute rather than adding to it. Most games have a fixed penalty for attempting a task without a relevant skill; older editions of
921:
on-line play. Initially there were around 30 such skills with approximately 17 abilities in each covering a wide range from Riding, Perception, Thievery or
Demonology. As of 2015 Avalon possesses 66 Skills with 2194 distinct abilities developed over its 26-year tenure.
1077:.) For example, a character class may require certain minimum attribute scores, or a spell may require a minimal level of magical talent. Learning some esoteric skill often requires knowledge of another one at an "expert" level or possession of a certain advantage: In
721:
An advantage is a physical, social, intellectual, or other enhancement to a character. In contrast, a disadvantage is an adverse effect. Advantages are also known as virtues, merits or edges and disadvantages as flaws or hindrances, or by the abbreviation "disads".
622:
or other tests by addition to a die roll or by determining the number of dice to be thrown. As a consequence, usually a higher number is better, and ranges can be as small as 1–5 (for numbers of dice) or as great as 1–100 (when adding to results of
776:(1981) introduced a points-based system of purchasing attributes and skills as a means of improving game balance and flexibility. These points are known as character points, and it has become a feature of numerous later games, most notably
482:
Most games divide their statistics into several categories. The set of categories actually used in a game system, as well as the precise statistics within each category, vary greatly. The most often used types of statistic include:
932:
Traits are rarely drawn from a predetermined list; rather, the player chooses some description during character generation. For example, a squash-playing history professor with a knowledge of fine wines might have the
913:
gave a complex network of penalties for using similar skills (such as attempting to pick an electronic lock by using the
Computer skill instead of the Electronics skill). The text-based roleplaying game
737:, where a player strives to take disadvantages which have little or no tangible effect on play while using the character points gained from those disadvantages to pay for powerful advantages.
502:
represent unique or special qualities of the character. In game terms, these often grant the character the potential to gain or develop certain advantages or to learn and use certain skills.
770:, while allowing each character a fixed number of skills. As a result, characters were at the same time wildly unbalanced in terms of attributes and heavily constrained in terms of skills.
878:'s skills are generally chosen from a long list. A character may have a fixed number of starting skills, or they may be paid for using character points. In contrast to
785:
Usually, a player is allotted a number of points for character creation. A character's attributes (such as high intelligence), skills (such as fixing a car or
633:, where a character can lift 10 lbs per point of Strength) whereas in others a small increase can represent a major gain in ability (e.g. in the
521:
are broad areas of expertise, similar to skills, but with a broader and usually more loosely defined scope, in areas freely chosen by the player.
53:
1042:
Some games define various interdependencies between statistics of different categories, as well as within categories. The most common are:
100:
72:
17:
459:, that either describes how the character developed that particular score or an affinity for a particular use of that statistic (like
79:
886:
or during "levelling up". Since some skills are likely to be more useful than others, different skills often have different costs.
379:
339:
1331:
976:
86:
602:
Most role-playing games use attributes to describe the physical and mental characteristics of characters, for example their
1134:.) For example, a character class may be disallowed for certain races, or one of the game effects of a disadvantage (say,
641:
352:
183:
68:
882:, very few games fix a player's skills at the start of the game, instead allowing players to increase them by spending
970:
889:
Skills usually influence a character's chance to succeed by adding to the relevant attribute. In some games (such as
347:
119:
867:
of a character. Skills are known by various names, including proficiencies, abilities, powers, talents and knacks.
285:
1016:
834:
are often treated as a sort of skill. Superpowers may also use the same rating scale as the primary statistics.
986:, use traits as the only type of statistic, although they may use some other term for them, such as abilities.
767:
582:
557:
475:
257:
57:
901:), a skill can be added to different attributes depending on how the skill is being used. Some games (such as
982:
903:
772:
451:
For some types of statistics, this value may be accompanied with a descriptive adjective, sometimes called a
403:
199:
168:
842:
599:
common to all characters in the game. Attributes are also called statistics, characteristics or abilities.
656:), while others have a greater number of more specific ones. Most games have about 4–10 attributes.
93:
490:
describe to what extent a character possesses natural, in-born characteristics common to all characters.
364:
357:
280:
163:
615:
334:
1291:
1250:
916:
229:
725:
Many games encourage or even force players to take disadvantages for their characters in order to
624:
292:
207:
173:
46:
1019:). Basic and derived statistics are also called primary and secondary statistics, respectively.
1227:
224:
733:
Systems of advantages and disadvantages are often criticized for allowing or even encouraging
537:
refer to their statistics as "traits", even though they are treated as attributes and skills.
1083:, for example, "cinematic" or "mystical" martial arts abilities require a special advantage,
848:
758:
596:
433:
895:), each skill has a specific base attribute to which it is always added; in others (such as
610:. Many games also include social characteristics as well, for example a character's natural
1022:
In games which use such concepts, derived statistics are often modified by the character's
996:
831:
803:, there is a more complicated relationship between experience points and character points.
704:
437:
318:
1268:
8:
533:
670:
adventure). In many games, a small set of primary attributes control a larger number of
1079:
871:
750:
686:
629:
267:
1276:
815:
746:
700:
695:
603:
425:
396:
140:
1004:
883:
875:
794:
763:
662:
553:
313:
262:
1196:
Bs value. Higher scores in an attribute often grant bonuses to a group of skills.
1027:
561:
239:
730:
their character and a tangible "in-game" enhancement to skill or ability rolls.
496:
are useful or problematic characteristics that are not common to all characters.
1031:
1023:
852:
character sheet listing skills such as "move silently" and "speak with animals"
716:
667:
595:
An attribute describes to what extent a character possesses a natural, in-born
565:
1325:
942:
587:
627:). In some games, attributes represent linearly increasing ability (e.g. in
726:
666:), or even ignored altogether (for example, Intelligence and Charisma in a
389:
148:
1012:
811:
A power represents a unique or special quality that a character can use.
679:
675:
219:
178:
1070:
897:
799:
734:
465:
308:
234:
212:
27:
Piece of data representing a particular aspect of a fictional character
1306:
689:, attribute scores are usually determined either randomly (by rolling
645:
system, where +1 to
Strength doubles a character's lifting capacity).
1008:
909:
860:
827:
635:
445:
826:
which are usually numeric quantities. The main exception to this is
525:
There is no standard nomenclature for statistics; for example, both
35:
1000:
946:
857:
611:
509:
949:". In terms of a more fine-grained system of statistics, a single
938:
441:
1255:
607:
693:) or by distributing character points. In some games, such as
929:
A trait represents a broad area of expertise of a character.
891:
864:
778:
527:
512:
591:
Attribute advancement screen in a computer role-playing game
544:
whose values depend on other statistics, which are known as
690:
436:
of a fictional character. That piece of data is usually a (
429:
648:
Some games work with only a few broad attributes (such as
1146:
in the example) to a certain maximum value (no more than
1007:). Derived statistics are often used during combat (e.g.
1037:
703:
gained during the game, or as part of the process of "
968:
The first major role-playing game to use traits was
1034:might raise or lower these statistics temporarily.
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
618:. They often influence the chance to succeed in a
958:
745:Character points are abstract units used in some
493:
1323:
1030:. In addition, certain in-game methods such as
710:
397:
1221:, respectively, then the value of statistic
1248:
660:"Comeliness" from Charisma in the original
552:statistics. Game-specific concepts such as
1138:), could be to limit a certain attribute (
404:
390:
147:
953:would often be represented by a group of
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
1298:
841:
586:
671:
541:
14:
1324:
1304:
989:
1251:"A Broad View on Primary Attributes"
1038:Interdependencies between statistics
58:adding citations to reliable sources
29:
740:
568:can also be considered statistics.
375:
69:"Statistic" role-playing games
24:
1249:Mascarenhas, Sergio (2005-07-08).
25:
1343:
814:In many games, powers are binary
756:Early role-playing games such as
1307:"Legacy Reviews of MUA and MUDS"
374:
34:
1174:is increased by (or starts at)
962:
879:
819:
487:
45:needs additional citations for
1305:Bartle, Richard (2015-12-15).
1242:
1170:, then the value of statistic
583:Attribute (role-playing games)
13:
1:
1332:Role-playing game terminology
1236:
576:
432:that represents a particular
965:, or a combination thereof.
762:assigned random values to a
711:Advantages and disadvantages
494:Advantages and disadvantages
7:
954:
823:
619:
518:
505:
499:
10:
1348:
1269:Primary Attributes in RPGs
1111:. This is the opposite of
995:often they use real-world
714:
580:
192:Movements & Traditions
18:Power (role-playing games)
974:. Some systems, such as
924:
837:
806:
1099:has a value of at least
1053:has a value of at least
917:Avalon: The Legend Lives
818:qualities as opposed to
571:
508:represent a character's
1032:spells or magical items
856:A skill represents the
540:Many games make use of
1267:...the table found in
853:
849:Dungeons & Dragons
759:Dungeons & Dragons
592:
1194:is large compared to
1115:. (Only if statistic
845:
797:; in others, such as
590:
444:or, in some cases, a
1107:cannot exceed value
997:units of measurement
515:in predefined areas.
319:Non-player character
54:improve this article
1085:Trained by a Master
793:, these points are
616:physical appearance
534:Storytelling System
135:Part of a series on
1080:GURPS Martial Arts
1049:Only if statistic
990:Derived statistics
977:Castle Falkenstein
872:character creation
854:
751:character creation
747:role-playing games
687:character creation
672:derived statistics
630:Tunnels and Trolls
593:
542:derived statistics
426:role-playing games
268:Character creation
141:Role-playing games
1284:External link in
1130:may exceed value
1103:, then statistic
1061:may exceed value
1005:metres per second
884:experience points
795:experience points
753:and development.
701:experience points
696:World of Warcraft
554:experience levels
471:Attribute Aspects
414:
413:
335:Campaign settings
130:
129:
122:
104:
16:(Redirected from
1339:
1317:
1316:
1314:
1313:
1302:
1296:
1295:
1289:
1288:
1282:
1280:
1272:
1264:
1263:
1246:
1182:is preferred if
876:player character
764:player character
741:Character points
663:Unearthed Arcana
406:
399:
392:
378:
377:
314:Player character
263:Campaign setting
151:
132:
131:
125:
118:
114:
111:
105:
103:
62:
38:
30:
21:
1347:
1346:
1342:
1341:
1340:
1338:
1337:
1336:
1322:
1321:
1320:
1311:
1309:
1303:
1299:
1286:
1285:
1283:
1274:
1273:
1261:
1259:
1247:
1243:
1239:
1213:have values of
1166:has a value of
1119:has a value of
1040:
992:
927:
840:
809:
743:
719:
713:
642:Blood of Heroes
625:percentile dice
585:
579:
574:
562:character class
461:Specialisations
410:
373:
240:Threefold model
126:
115:
109:
106:
63:
61:
51:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1345:
1335:
1334:
1319:
1318:
1297:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1234:
1233:
1205:If statistics
1203:
1199:
1198:
1160:
1152:
1151:
1093:
1089:
1088:
1047:
1039:
1036:
991:
988:
957:, one or more
926:
923:
839:
836:
808:
805:
742:
739:
717:Character flaw
712:
709:
668:hack and slash
597:characteristic
581:Main article:
578:
575:
573:
570:
523:
522:
516:
503:
497:
491:
453:specialisation
428:is a piece of
412:
411:
409:
408:
401:
394:
386:
383:
382:
370:
369:
368:
367:
365:Tabletop games
362:
361:
360:
355:
350:
342:
337:
329:
328:
324:
323:
322:
321:
316:
311:
303:
302:
298:
297:
296:
295:
290:
289:
288:
286:Generic system
283:
275:
270:
265:
260:
252:
251:
250:Parts of Games
247:
246:
245:
244:
243:
242:
237:
227:
222:
217:
216:
215:
210:
202:
194:
193:
189:
188:
187:
186:
181:
176:
171:
166:
158:
157:
153:
152:
144:
143:
137:
136:
128:
127:
42:
40:
33:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1344:
1333:
1330:
1329:
1327:
1308:
1301:
1293:
1278:
1271:
1270:
1258:
1257:
1252:
1245:
1241:
1231:
1229:
1224:
1220:
1216:
1212:
1208:
1204:
1201:
1200:
1197:
1193:
1189:
1185:
1181:
1177:
1173:
1169:
1165:
1162:If statistic
1161:
1158:
1154:
1153:
1149:
1145:
1141:
1137:
1133:
1129:
1125:
1122:
1118:
1114:
1110:
1106:
1102:
1098:
1095:If statistic
1094:
1091:
1090:
1086:
1082:
1081:
1076:
1072:
1068:
1064:
1060:
1056:
1052:
1048:
1045:
1044:
1043:
1035:
1033:
1029:
1025:
1020:
1018:
1014:
1010:
1006:
1002:
998:
987:
985:
984:
979:
978:
973:
972:
971:Over the Edge
966:
964:
960:
956:
952:
948:
944:
940:
936:
930:
922:
919:
918:
912:
911:
906:
905:
900:
899:
894:
893:
887:
885:
881:
877:
873:
868:
866:
862:
859:
851:
850:
844:
835:
833:
829:
825:
821:
817:
812:
804:
802:
801:
796:
792:
788:
783:
781:
780:
775:
774:
769:
765:
761:
760:
754:
752:
748:
738:
736:
731:
728:
723:
718:
708:
706:
702:
698:
697:
692:
688:
683:
681:
677:
673:
669:
665:
664:
657:
655:
651:
646:
644:
643:
638:
637:
632:
631:
626:
621:
617:
613:
609:
605:
600:
598:
589:
584:
569:
567:
563:
559:
555:
551:
547:
543:
538:
536:
535:
530:
529:
520:
517:
514:
511:
507:
504:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
486:
485:
484:
480:
478:
477:
472:
468:
467:
462:
458:
454:
449:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
419:
407:
402:
400:
395:
393:
388:
387:
385:
384:
381:
372:
371:
366:
363:
359:
356:
354:
351:
349:
346:
345:
343:
341:
338:
336:
333:
332:
331:
330:
326:
325:
320:
317:
315:
312:
310:
307:
306:
305:
304:
300:
299:
294:
291:
287:
284:
282:
279:
278:
276:
274:
271:
269:
266:
264:
261:
259:
256:
255:
254:
253:
249:
248:
241:
238:
236:
233:
232:
231:
228:
226:
223:
221:
218:
214:
211:
209:
206:
205:
203:
201:
198:
197:
196:
195:
191:
190:
185:
182:
180:
177:
175:
172:
170:
167:
165:
162:
161:
160:
159:
155:
154:
150:
146:
145:
142:
139:
138:
134:
133:
124:
121:
113:
110:December 2015
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
19:
1310:. Retrieved
1300:
1287:|quote=
1266:
1260:. Retrieved
1254:
1244:
1226:
1222:
1218:
1214:
1210:
1206:
1195:
1191:
1187:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1171:
1167:
1163:
1156:
1147:
1143:
1140:Constitution
1139:
1135:
1131:
1127:
1126:, statistic
1123:
1120:
1116:
1113:prerequisite
1112:
1108:
1104:
1100:
1096:
1084:
1078:
1074:
1066:
1062:
1058:
1057:, statistic
1054:
1050:
1046:Prerequisite
1041:
1021:
993:
981:
975:
969:
967:
950:
934:
931:
928:
915:
908:
902:
896:
890:
888:
869:
855:
847:
830:RPGs, where
813:
810:
798:
790:
786:
784:
777:
771:
757:
755:
744:
732:
724:
720:
705:levelling up
694:
684:
680:magic points
661:
658:
653:
649:
647:
640:
634:
628:
601:
594:
549:
545:
539:
532:
526:
524:
481:
474:
470:
464:
460:
456:
452:
450:
421:
417:
415:
301:Participants
272:
116:
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
1178:. The term
1013:Armor Class
832:superpowers
676:Armor Class
446:set of dice
380:WikiProject
344:Production
340:LARP groups
293:Terminology
220:Nordic LARP
179:Actual play
169:Live action
1312:2015-12-14
1262:2021-07-08
1237:References
1202:Derivation
1180:base value
1159:base value
1092:Limitation
1017:initiative
1009:hit points
963:attributes
959:advantages
898:Ars Magica
880:attributes
820:attributes
800:Ars Magica
768:attributes
735:min-maxing
715:See also:
577:Attributes
488:Attributes
466:Ars Magica
358:Publishers
309:Gamemaster
235:GNS theory
213:Video game
184:Text-based
174:Video game
80:newspapers
1230:of (x, y)
1069:is often
1065:. (Where
1001:kilograms
999:(such as
983:HeroQuest
910:Shadowrun
904:Feng Shui
865:abilities
861:knowledge
828:superhero
816:on-or-off
791:Champions
787:mechanics
773:Champions
636:DC Heroes
558:alignment
513:abilities
418:statistic
353:Designers
273:Statistic
258:Adventure
1326:Category
1277:cite web
1228:function
947:Oenology
674:such as
650:Physical
612:charisma
604:strength
531:and the
438:unitless
281:Diceless
208:Tabletop
164:Tabletop
1148:average
1121:at most
945:" and "
939:History
870:During
858:learned
749:during
727:balance
685:During
546:primary
510:learned
442:integer
348:Artists
277:System
200:History
94:scholar
1256:RPGnet
1190:or if
1155:Bonus
1144:Health
955:skills
943:Squash
935:traits
925:Traits
838:Skills
824:skills
807:Powers
654:Mental
608:wisdom
519:Traits
506:Skills
500:Powers
457:aspect
434:aspect
230:Theory
204:Indie
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
1225:is a
1136:Unfit
1028:class
951:trait
892:GURPS
779:GURPS
620:skill
572:Types
550:basic
528:GURPS
424:) in
327:Lists
156:Types
101:JSTOR
87:books
1292:help
1217:and
1209:and
1075:none
1026:and
1024:race
1015:and
980:and
961:and
941:", "
874:, a
863:and
822:and
691:dice
566:race
564:and
476:Aria
430:data
422:stat
420:(or
73:news
1142:or
1073:or
1003:or
766:'s
707:".
678:or
652:or
614:or
606:or
548:or
479:).
473:in
469:or
463:in
455:or
225:OSR
56:by
1328::
1281::
1279:}}
1275:{{
1265:.
1253:.
1186:=
1157:or
1150:).
1011:,
846:A
782:.
682:.
560:,
556:,
448:.
440:)
416:A
1315:.
1294:)
1290:(
1232:.
1223:C
1219:y
1215:x
1211:B
1207:A
1192:y
1188:x
1184:y
1176:y
1172:B
1168:x
1164:A
1132:y
1128:B
1124:x
1117:A
1109:y
1105:B
1101:x
1097:A
1087:.
1071:0
1067:y
1063:y
1059:B
1055:x
1051:A
937:"
639:/
405:e
398:t
391:v
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.