Dalek Stormblade
  1. Characters

Dalek Stormblade

Count Matula

Valek is nothing interesting. Just another traveler wanting to explorer out in the world. Traveling and experiencing the world. However, that is not at everything. He explorers not for a sense of wonder but for information. For clues. For something that he himself doesn't know what it is a part from that, he wants it.

He is rather eccentric always pushing himself forward in order to learn whatever information he can even though he isn't the best at the whole.. talking thing. But even though he is a bit greedy and has a habit of asking too personal questions at the end of the day he still tries to help people when he can.

  • Height: 5'11'
  • Weight: 170lbs. 
  • Alcohol Intolerance: Alcohol “goes right to your head.” You become intoxicated much more quickly than normal. You get -2 on any HT roll related to drinking.
  • Distinctive Features:  You have a physical feature – e.g., “Brilliant blue hair” – that makes you stand out in a crowd. This gives -1 to your Disguise and Shadowing skills, and +1 to others’ attempts to identify or follow you.
  • Horrible Hangovers: You suffer an additional -3 to any penalties the GM assesses for excessive drinking the previous evening, and add three hours to hangover duration.
  • Nervous Stomach:  You have -3 to HT rolls to avoid illness (typically in the form of attribute penalties or vomiting) brought on by rich or spicy food, strong drink, etc.

  • You have sworn an oath to do (or not to do) something. Whatever the oath, you take it seriously; if you didn’t, it would not be a disadvantage. This trait is especially appropriate for knights, holy men, and fanatics.

    The point value of a Vow should be directly related to the inconvenience it causes you. The GM is the final judge. Some examples:

    Minor Vow: Silence during daylight hours; vegetarianism; chastity (yes, for game purposes, this is minor). -5 points.

Optional other details. 

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Character Sheet


Editing the spreadsheet won't be required of players,
but if you ever want to, here is the edit link.
April 15th, 2021 April 15th, 2021

Title
Count Matula

Type
PC (Hero)

Races
Human

Age
19

Gender
Male

Abilities

Advantages

Familiar - + Varies

Where  would  a  witch  be  without  her  trusty  black  cat? Probably more rested and less covered in fur . . . but this is fantasy!  Not  only  are  familiars  useful  spies  and  scouts  (not  to mention great kidnapping victims for the GM to mount a plot hook on), but they empower their master with cool, useful abilities, making familiars a very versatile power-up.

Any spellcaster who  does  not  already  have  a  familiar  (or whose familiar has died) may summon one – the ritual to do so is known to bards, clerics, druids, and wizards alike. Those who are not spellcasters may justify finding a familiar in their backstory, subject to GM approval. When this advantage is bought, there is no roll to acquire the familiar. The caster ventures out  into  the  wilderness  for  1d  weeks  and  returns  with  a  companion. If you are starting play with a familiar, you may assume this has already happened. 

Here is a link to the PDF that has your options for familiars. If you scroll past the animals, you'll find some magical creatures. 

All familiars have the following characteristics:

  • The familiar can be assumed to be constantly available, but if it gets far away from you, you can summon it by rolling against Will.  If you succeed, it appears by your side.  If you fail, you cannot try again until the next day. Some of the items described below work only when the familiar is nearby. Define "nearby" to mean "could freely reach its master within 1 minute." 
  • Sympathy: If you are stunned, knocked out, mind-controlled, etc., your Ally is similarly affected. 
  • Special Rapport:  You are linked by a powerful psychic bond; each is aware of the other’s status and becomes badly injured if the other is killed.
  • Granted traits: Each familiar provides a few traits that are marked [GBF]. This means that, while the familiar is nearby, the master has these abilities.  You can reduce the listed cost of the familiar by removing some of these traits, but you cannot remove Ally or Special Rapport. 
  • Further Traits: These are extra GBF traits that you can opt to purchase with your own points at the listed costs.  These have been discounted by 40%, because they only work when your familiar is nearby. 
  • Energy Reserve: extra FP with which to cast spells. Every point of ER that you use drains 1  FP  from  your  familiar.  This  ER  recharges  at  the  same rate  that  your  familiar  recovers  FP;  this  means  your  ER does not recover while your familiar is unable to rest! This varies by the type of familiar and is listed in its entry as ER.  If your familiar's FP increases, this number also increases automatically. 
  • Bestial, Sense of Duty (Master), Speak With Animals (its own family), Special Rapport (Master), Cannot Speak (-15)
  • Telepathic: The familiar understands languages that the master can speak at Accented or better, but can't speak out loud.  Instead, it can project its thoughts directly to its Master from up to 100 miles away.  Your bond with it is so strong, that others can't imitate this signal to falsely pose as your familiar.  
  • Grows over time: The familiar gains points along with you, but at 75%.  For example, if you gain 20 points, then your familiar gains 15. 

Point Costs

Each familiar stat block lists the cost to the master in the top right of its entry.

You can reduce the cost of the familiar by removing some of the granted traits, but you cannot remove Ally or Special Rapport. 

Info (Advantages) - Information

Click here to browse through Advantages. When you have found one you like, come back to this page and click "Add Ability" above.

You can choose as many as you like, provided you can afford them.  If the advantage you choose has a variable point cost or features to select, please specify by clicking "Update" on the top right corner of the card.

Magery 0 - 5 points

You are magically sensitive. This is basic “magical awareness,” a prerequisite for learning magic. The GM makes a Sense roll when you first see a magic item, and again when you first touch it. On a success, you intuitively know that the item is magical. A roll of 3 or 4 also tells you whether the magic is helpful or dangerous, and about how strong it is. Those without Magery do not get this roll!

Unlike Magery 1+, you can't put any enhancements or limitations on Magery 0. 

Magery 1+ - 10 points/level

Higher levels of Magery make it much easier to learn and use magic. Add your Magery to IQ when you learn spells. For instance, if you have IQ 14, Magery 3 lets you learn spells as if you had IQ 17. Add your Magery level to Perception when you roll to sense magic items, and to IQ when you learn Thaumatology skill.

Powerful spells require a minimum level of Magery as a prerequisite, so be sure to skim the Spell Lists when deciding how much Magery you need. Note that high Magery lets you produce powerful results with even the most basic spells; see Magery and Effect (Magic). 

Double your encumbrance level applies to all spellcasting and Symbol Drawing rolls, regardless of whether your skill level is high enough to avoid the symbol-drawing component of the spell.  Metals and bulky material simply interfere with the flow of mana. 

You can never spend more than 50 points on Magery levels, and you cannot spend more than 25 points at character creation. Magery can have a variety of enhancements and limitations on it (view full text: Magery 1+).  Each college of magic also has a list of controlling skills, which means you can't cast spells at a higher skill level than your best controlling skill.  See Spell Colleges & Links.  Your Symbol Drawing skill also controls all spell skill levels. 

Spellcasting Rituals

  • Skill 9 or less – Ritual: You're having so much trouble drawing the symbol accurately while also concentrating on making the mana flow, that you have to draw it really big.  You need both hands and feet free. You also need to speak the words in a very firm voice. Time: Doubled. Cost: As listed.
  • Skill 10-14 – Ritual: You can draw the symbol in in the space of a square foot with relative ease, and the words, spoken softly, flow right off the tongue. Time: As listed. Cost: As listed.
  • Skill 15-19 – Ritual: As above if you wish, but the spell is so reflexive to you, that you can go without either the symbol or the words at no penalty. In the case of omitting the symbol drawing, you're simply visualizing the symbol instead of drawing it.  You are allowed to move one yard per second while taking the Concentrate maneuver. Time: As listed. Cost: Reduced by 1.
  • Skill 20-24 – Ritual: None! The mana flows at the command of a single thought.  You simply stare into space as you concentrate. Time: halved (minimum 1 second).  Cost: Reduced by 2.
  • Skill 25-29 – Ritual: None. Time: Divided by 4 (round up). Cost: Reduced by 3.
  • Skill 30 or more – As above, but for every five levels of skill beyond skill 25 (that is, at levels 30, 35, 40, etc.), halve casting time again (always rounding up) and reduce energy cost by one more point.

Critical Spell Failure

  • 3 – Spell fails entirely. Caster takes 1d of injury.
  • 4 – Spell is cast on caster (if harmful) or on a random nearby foe (if beneficial).
  • 5-6 – Spell is cast on one of the caster’s companions (if harmful) or on a random nearby foe (if beneficial).
  • 7 – Spell affects someone or something other than its intended target – friend, foe, or random object. Roll randomly or make an interesting choice.
  • 8 – Spell fails entirely. Caster takes 1 point of injury.
  • 9 – Spell fails entirely. Caster is stunned (IQ roll to recover).
  • 10-11 – Spell produces nothing but a loud noise, bright flash of light, awful odor, etc.
  • 12 – Spell produces a weak and useless shadow of the intended effect.
  • 13 – Spell produces the reverse of the intended effect.
  • 14 – Spell seems to work, but it is only a useless illusion. The GM should do his best to convince the wizard and his companions that the spell did work!
  • 15-16 – Spell has the reverse of the intended effect, on the wrong target. Roll randomly.
  • 17 – Spell fails entirely. Caster temporarily forgets the spell. Make an IQ roll after a week, and again each following week, until he remembers.
  • 18 – Spell fails entirely. A demon or other malign entity appropriate to the setting appears and attacks the caster. (The GM may waive this result if, in his opinion, caster and spell were both lily-white, pure good in intent.)

Character Basics

Social Characteristics

Technology Level (TL) ±5 points per level In summary, if you come from a place of higher technology level, it costs you points, and if you come from a place of lower technology level, you get points back.

Culture When dealing with an unfamiliar culture, you have -3 to use any skill with a significant cultural component, including Carousing, Connoisseur, Criminology, Dancing, Detect Lies, Diplomacy, Fast-Talk, Games, Gesture, Heraldry, Intimidation, Leadership, Merchant, Poetry, Politics, Psychology, Public Speaking, Savoir-Faire, Sex Appeal, Sociology, Streetwise, and Teaching. To get rid of this penalty, you'll want to get the advantage, "Cultural Familiarity."

Language

You are assumed to be able to read and write in the common language.  In order to know any more languages, spend points as follows:

Broken: You can recognize important words and understand simple sentences if they are spoken slowly. You have -3 when using skills that depend on language, such as Fast-Talk, Public Speaking, Research, Speed-Reading, Teaching, and Writing. This doubles to -6 for artistic skills that rely on the beauty of the language (Poetry, Singing, etc.). In stressful situations – e.g., encounters involving combat or reaction rolls – you must roll against IQ to understand or make yourself understood in the language. On a failure, you convey no information, but you may try again. Critical failure means you convey the wrong information! For hurried speech, bad phone connections, etc., this roll is at -2 to -8! 2 points/language.

Accented: You can communicate clearly, even under stress. However, your speech and writing are idiosyncratic, and it is obvious that this is not your native language. You have -1when using skills that depend on language, doubled to -2 for artistic skills. You receive no reaction penalty from native speakers, but you will be unable to pass for a native (this can be a major problem for would-be spies!). 4points/language.

Native: You have full mastery of the language, including idioms. You can think in the language. You have no penalty to use skills that depend on language. You start with one language at this level for free. If you buy Native comprehension in a foreign tongue, you can pass for a native speaker. 6points/language.


Wealth  ±4 points per level

You have a Wealth stat. It starts at 6. This number represents your ability to buy "cool" things, but other than that, you can have any items that make sense. For more information, see Wealth. 

Most characters will leave these values alone, but if you'd like to spend any points here, please use a "note" to indicate how many.

Secondary Characteristics

“Secondary characteristics” are quantities that depend directly on your attributes. You can raise or lower these scores by adjusting your attributes. You can modify some of them directly: start with the value calculated from your attributes and spend the required points to adjust it away from that base level. This does not affect the related attribute scores. Your character sheet will handle this for you, but if you want to learn how they are calculated, it's detailed below.

Damage (Dmg)Your ST determines how much damage you do in unarmed combat or with a melee weapon. Two types of damage derive from ST: Thrusting damage (abbreviated “thrust” or “thr”) is your basic damag ewith a punch, kick, or bite, or an attack with a thrusting weapon such as a spear or a rapier. Swinging damage (abbreviated “swing” or “sw”) is your basic damage with a swung weapon, such as an axe, club, or sword – anything that acts as a lever to multiply your ST. The sourcebook has a table that gives the damage die for each value of ST, and your character sheet will take care of this for you.

Basic Lift (BL)Basic Lift is the maximum weight you can lift over your head with one hand in one second. It is equal to (STxST)/5 lbs, and your character sheet handles that for you. If BL is 10 lbs. or more, round to the nearest whole number; e.g.,16.2 lbs. becomes 16 lbs. The average human has ST 10 and a BL of 20 lbs. Doubling the time lets you lift 2xBL overhead in one hand. Quadrupling the time, and using two hands, you can lift 8xBL overhead. The amount of equipment you can carry – armor, backpacks, weapons, etc. – is derived from BL. The sourcebook describes the calculation and gives a table, but your character sheet will handle this for you.

Hit Points (HP) ±2 points per ±1 HP Hit Points represent your body’s ability to sustain injury. By default, you have HP equal to your ST. For instance, ST 10 gives 10 HP. You can increase HP at the cost of 2 points per HP, or reduce HP for -2 points per HP, no more than three times. You temporarily lose HP when you get hurt. You can also “burn” HP to power certain supernatural abilities. If you lose enough HP, you will eventually fall unconscious; if you lose too many HP, you will die. Lost HP do not reduce ST, despite being based on ST. Injury is often compared to a multiple of your HP; e.g., “2xHP” or “HP/2.” Where this is the case, use your basic HP score in the formula, not your current HP total.

Will ±5 points per ±1 Will Will measures your ability to withstand psychological stress (brainwashing, fear, hypnotism, interrogation, seduction, torture, etc.) and your resistance to supernatural attacks (magic, psionics, etc.). By default, Will is equal to IQ. You can increase it at the cost of 5 points per +1, or reduce it for -5 points per -1. You cannot raise Will past 20, or lower it by more than 4, without GM permission. Note that Will does not represent physical resistance – buy HT for that!

Perception (Per) ±5 points per ±1 Per Perception represents your general alertness. The GM makes a “Sense roll” against your Per to determine whether you notice something. By default, Per equals IQ, but you can increase it for 5 points per +1, or reduce it for -5 points per -1. You cannot raise Per past 20, or lower it by more than 4, without GM permission.

Fatigue Points (FP) ±3 points per ±1 FP

Fatigue Points represent your body’s “energy supply.” By default, you have FP equal to your HT. For instance, HT 10 gives 10 FP. You can increase FP at the cost of 3 points per FP, or reduce FP for -3 points per FP, up to three times, excluding FP you gain from templates. Also, while HT is usually limited to 20, there is no such limit on FP.

You burn FP gradually during strenuous activity. Disease, heat, hunger, missed sleep, and the like can also sap FP. You can deliberately “spend” FP to fuel extra effort (seep. 356) and supernatural powers (e.g., magic spells). As well, some attacks cause FP damage instead of or in addition to HP damage. If you lose enough FP, you will slow down or fall unconscious – and if you lose too many, you risk death from overexertion! Lost FP do not reduce HT, despite being based on HT. Fatigue is often compared to some multiple of your FP; e.g., “2xFP” or “FP/2.” Where this is the case, use your basic FP score in the formula, not your current FP total.


Basic Speed (BS) ±5 points per ±0.25 Speed Your Basic Speed is a measure of your reflexes and general physical quickness. It helps determine your running speed (see Basic Move, below), your chance of dodging an attack, and the order in which you actin combat (a high Basic Speed will let you “out-react” your foes). To calculate Basic Speed, add your HT and DX together, and then divide the total by 4. Do not round it off. A 5.25 is better than a 5! The character sheet handles these calculations for you. You can increase Basic Speed for 5 points per +0.25, or reduce it for -5 points per -0.25, up to ±2.00.

Dodge You must roll under your Dodge on 3d to duck or sidestep an attack. Your Dodge defense equals Basic Speed +3, dropping all fractions. For instance, if your Basic Speed is 5.25, your Dodge is 8. Encumbrance reduces Dodge. The sourcebook gives calculations and tables for this, but your character sheet will take care of it for you.

Basic Move (BM) ±5 points per ±1 yard/second Your Basic Move is your groundspeed in yards per second. This is how fast you can run – or roll, slither, etc. – without encumbrance (although you can go a little faster if you “sprint” in a straight line. Basic Move starts out equal to Basic Speed, less any fractions; e.g., Basic Speed 5.75 gives Basic Move 5. An average person has Basic Move 5; therefore, he can run about 5 yards per second if unencumbered. Your character sheet will handle all of this for you. You can increase Basic Move for 5points per yard/second or reduce it for-5 points per yard/second. For normal humans, training or a sleek build can justify up to 3 yards/second of increased Basic Move, while disability or poor fitness can explain up to 3yards/second of reduced Basic Move.

Self Control (SC) ±4 points per level (houseruled)

The following mechanic is a houserule; it's different from what you would find in the sourcebooks.

Many mental disadvantages do not affect you constantly – you may attempt to control your urges. The “default” self-control number is 12: you must roll 12 or less on 3d to avoid giving in to your problem. You can increase or decrease it for 4 or -4 points, respectively. Note that high Will helps you make Fright Checks and resist supernatural emotion control, but it does not improve self-control rolls – not even for disadvantages with effects identical to these things. Mental disadvantages represent an aspect of your personality that you cannot simply will(or reason) away. This is part of what makes them disadvantages!

In circumstances that are likely to trigger your problems, you may opt to roll 3d against your self-control number to see whether your disadvantage actually affects you. If you roll less than or equal to this number, you resist your disadvantage – this time. Otherwise, you suffer the listed effects. This is called a self-control roll. Like all success rolls, self-control rolls are subject to modifiers. You may also roll for self-control any time you feel it makes sense for your situation, and rolling is never required; you can opt to give in if you feel it's what your character would do. The purpose of the roll is to help you when you aren't sure how you want to play it.

Please use a "note" to tell us how many points you would like to spend on some or all of these items. Even if you're leaving them all at 10, please leave a note so that we know you didn't miss a step. 

Basic Attributes

What are basic attributes?Four numbers called “attributes” define your basic abilities: Strength(ST), Dexterity (DX), Intelligence (IQ),and Health (HT).

A score of 10 in any attribute is free, and represents the human average. Higher scores cost points: 10 points to raise ST or HT by one level, 20 points to raise DX or IQ by one level. Similarly, scores lower than 10 have a negative cost: -10 points per level for ST or HT, -20 points per level for DX or IQ. (Remember – negative point values mean you get those points back to spend on something else! 

Most characters have attributes in the 1-20 range, and most normal humans have scores in the 8-12 range. Scores above 20 are possible but typically reserved for godlike beings – ask the GM before buying such a value. The exception is ST, which can range significantly beyond 20 even for nor-mal humans. At the other end of the scale, a score of 0 is defined in special cases, but 1 is the minimum score for a human. No one may have a negative score.

For those new to GURPS, a "level" in something typically means to increase it by 1.  For instance, for 20 points, you can buy 2 levels of Strength, which gives you a Strength score of 12. 

Strength (ST) ±10 points/level Strength measures physical power and bulk. It is crucial if you are a warrior in a primitive world, as high ST lets you dish out and absorb more damage in hand-to-hand combat. Any adventurer will find ST useful for lifting and throwing things, moving quickly with a load, etc. ST directly determines Basic Lift, basic damage, and Hit Points, and affects your character’s Build.

Dexterity (DX) ±20 points/levelDexterity measures a combination of agility, coordination, and fine motor ability. It controls your basic ability at most athletic, fighting, and vehicle-operation skills, and at craft skills that call for a delicate touch. DX also helps determine Basic Speed (a measure of reaction time, p. 17) and Basic Move.

Intelligence (IQ) ±20 points/levelIntelligence broadly measures brainpower, including creativity, intuition, memory, perception, reason, sanity, and willpower. It rules your basic ability with all “mental” skills – sciences, social interaction, magic, etc. Any wizard, scientist, or gadgeteer needs a high IQ first of all. The secondary characteristics of Will and Perception are based on IQ.

Health (HT) ±10 points/level

Please use a "note" to tell us how many points you would like to spend on each of the four basic attributes.  Even if you're leaving them all at 10, please leave a note so that we know you didn't miss a step. 

Disadvantages

Easy to Read - -10 points

Your body language betrays your true intentions. This is not the same as Truthfulness. You have no moral problem with lying, and may even possess Fast-Talk at a high level, but your face or stance gives the game away.

Easy to Read gives others +4 on all Empathy, Body Language, and Psychology rolls to discern your intentions or the truth of your words. As well, they get +4 to their IQ, Detect Lies, and Gambling rolls in any Quick Contest with your Acting, Fast-Talk, or Gambling skill when you try to lie or bluff. (If you also have Truthfulness, your Fast-Talk skill is at -5 on top of this.) This is a crippling disadvantage for a would-be spy, con man, or gambler!

This is a mental disadvantage, despite its physical manifestations; with enough practice, you can “buy it off.”

Greed - -15 points

You lust for wealth. Make a self-control roll any time riches are offered – as payment for fair work, gains from adventure, spoils of crime, or just bait. If you fail, you do whatever it takes to get the payoff. Small sums do not tempt you much if you are rich, but if you are poor, you get -5 or more on your self-control roll if a rich prize is in the offing.

Obsession - -5 or -10 points

Your entire life revolves around a single goal, an overpowering fixation that motivates all of your actions.

Make a self-control roll whenever it would be wise to deviate from your goal. If you fail, you continue to pursue your Obsession, regardless of the consequences.

Point cost depends on the time needed to realize your goal. A short-term goal (e.g., assassinating someone) is worth -5 points, while a long-term goal (e.g., becoming President) is worth -10 points.

Quirk - -1 point

A “quirk” is a minor feature that sets you aside from others. It has a negative point value, but it is not necessarily a disadvantage.  Sometimes, we don't have a feel for a character's personality until we do a scene or two with them.  As such, feel free to leave up to 3 of your quirks blank, but be sure to fill them in very soon once you get started.

 You may take up to five quirks at -1 point apiece . . . and if you do, you will have five more points to spend. These do not count against your disadvantage limit!  Quirks are just personality traits; the player is promising to add a bit of personality to the character, and in exchange, the character gets a few points. 

Use the "update" button to list what your (up to) 5 quirks are.  View the full text for more information. Quirk

Info (Disadvantages) - Information

Click here to browse Disadvantages. When you have found one you like, come back to this page and click "Add Ability" above.

Your character can start with up to -50 of negative points, including Disadvantages and any negative adjustments you want to make to your stats. If a Disadvantage you choose has a variable point cost or features to select, please specify by clicking "Update" on the top right corner of the card.

Leverage

Connections with Others - Gain 1 point per connection, unlimited!

Every time a backstory connection is made between you and someone else, you gain a character point.  You can initiate two connections, but there is no limit to how many people can initiate connections with you.

Use the "Note" of this ability to specify who initiated Backstory connections with you.

My Two Backstory Connections - Gain 1 point per connection, up to 2

Every time a backstory connection is made between you and someone else, you gain a character point.  You can initiate two connections, but there is no limit to how many people can initiate connections with you.

Use the "Note" of this ability to specify who you initiated Backstory connections with. If someone you've connected with leaves the game, you can make a new one with someone else, in which case, you gain another point. 

Skills

Acrobatics - Skill: DX/H

Default: DX-6.

This is the ability to perform gymnastic stunts, roll, take falls, etc. This can be handy on an adventure, as tightrope walking, human pyramids, and trapeze swinging all have useful applications. Each trick requires a separate skill roll, at whatever penalties the GM sees fit. If you are performing stunts on a moving vehicle or mount, roll against the lower of Acrobatics and the appropriate Driving or Riding skill.

You may substitute an Acrobatics roll for a DX roll in any attempt to jump, roll, avoid falling down, etc. As well, you may attempt an Acrobatic Dodge in combat – a jump or roll that avoids an attack in a flashy way. Finally, a successful Acrobatics roll will reduce the effective distance of any fall by five yards.

Acrobatic Dodge If you have put at least one point into the Acrobatics skill, you can try a “fancy” dodge once during your turn. You may define this as jumping over a sword blow, cartwheeling away, or whatever else you like. Make an Acrobatics roll before you attempt your Dodge roll. (If flying, roll against Aerobatics instead.) On a success, you get +2 to that Dodge roll. On a failure, you get -2. You can combine this option with a retreat.


Acting - Skill: IQ/A

Defaults: IQ-5, Performance-2, or Public Speaking-5.

This is the ability to counterfeit moods, emotions, and voices, and to lie convincingly over a period of time. A successful Acting roll lets you pretend to feel something that you do not. The GM may also require an Acting roll whenever you try to fool someone, play dead in combat, etc.

Impersonation is a special type of acting. To impersonate someone, you must first successfully disguise yourself (see Disguise, p. 187) – unless your victims cannot see you!

Note that Acting is not the same Fast-Talk (the art of the “quick con”) or Performance (the skill of screen and stage acting).

Modifiers: +1 for every point of IQ you have over the person you are trying to fool (or the smartest one in the group), or -1 for every point of difference if your victim is smarter than you; -3 for Low Empathy (p. 142); -1 to -4 for Shyness (p. 154); -5 for Truthfulness (p. 159), but only if you are trying to deceive someone. For impersonation only: -5 if you are not well acquainted with your subject; -5 if those you wish to fool are acquaintances of the subject (-10 for close acquaintances).

Artist - Skill: IQ/H

Default: IQ-6

This skill represents talent at a visual art. A successful roll might let you create a recognizable likeness of a person or an object, or a work beautiful enough to sell (the GM should not allow a default roll for this use!). Time required is up to the GM. Artist is based on IQ, but there are many situations in which the GM could logically ask for a DX-based roll, in which case modifiers for High Manual Dexterity (p. 59) or Ham Fisted (p. 138) would apply. In rare cases, even a ST-based Artist roll might make sense – for instance, to work with a physically tough material. You must specialize in an art form.

Please use the "Note" section of your abilities page to detail how this ability works for you and how its point cost was calculated. To do this, you'll want to view the full text here: Artist

Boating - Skill: DX/A

Defaults: DX-5 or IQ-5.

This is the ability to handle a small watercraft. For large vessels that require multiple crewmen on a “bridge,” use Seamanship (see Crewman, p. 185) and Shiphandling (p. 220).

Make a roll to get underway, to dock, and whenever you encounter a hazard. If using this skill at default, also roll when you first enter the boat – to avoid falling in the water!

This applies to: 
Sailboat: Any small watercraft moving under sail. Defaults: 
Unpowered: Any small watercraft that relies on muscle power, whether it is paddled, rowed, or poled. Includes canoes, rowboats, and rafts. Defaults: 

Modifiers: -2 for an unfamiliar boat (e.g., a kayak when you’re used to a rowboat); -3 or worse for foul weather, navigational hazards, etc.

Dancing - Skill: DX/A

Default: DX-5.

This is the ability to perform dances appropriate to your own culture, and to learn new dances quickly. Note that certain physical handicaps make this skill effectively impossible!

Modifiers: Cultural Familiarity modifiers (p. 23); -5 if the dance is unfamiliar (a dance is familiar once you have successfully performed it three times).

Info (Skills) - Information

  • Any skills you think you might use, add them here. 
  • We recommend putting 1 point each into 10-15 skills, maybe more. 
  • If there are skills you want to be good at, you can put 2, 4, 8, 12, etc. points into them.
  • All Skills
  • Skill Categories
  • Combat Skills (they function the same, but are separated for convenience)
  • Each time you find a skill you like, come back to this page and click "Add Ability" to add it. 

For each skill chosen, please use the "Update" button to indicate how many points you would like to spend.  This will be 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, etc. points. 

Jeweler - Skill: IQ/H

Defaults: IQ-6, Smith-4

This is the ability to work with precious metals, make jewelry, decorate weapons, etc. A successful skill roll allows you to identify a precious metal or gem, or determine the value of a precious bauble.

Jumping - Skill: DX/E

Default: DX

This skill represents trained jumping ability. When you attempt a difficult jump, roll against the higher of Jumping or DX. In addition, you may use half your Jumping skill (round down) instead of Basic Move when calculating jumping distance. See GURPS Rules > Physical Feats > Jumping. 

Musical Instrument - Skill: IQ/H

Default: Special

This is the ability to play a musical instrument. With a successful skill roll, you give a competent performance. You must specialize in a particular instrument. Defaults between specialties range from -3 for similar instruments to “no default” for utterly unrelated ones, such as Musical Instrument (Drums) and Musical Instrument (Harp).

This skill includes the ability to read music in your culture’s notation system (if any). To see what instruments are present in the setting, view the full text of this skill. Musical Instrument.

Occultism - Skill: IQ/A

Default: IQ-5.

This is the study of the mysterious and the supernatural. An occultist is an expert on ancient rituals, hauntings, mysticism, primitive magical beliefs, psychic phenomena, etc.

Search - Skill: IQ/A

Default: IQ-5.

This is the ability to search people, baggage, and vehicles for items that aren’t in plain sight. The GM rolls once – in secret – per item of interest. For deliberately concealed items, this is a Quick Contest of your Search skill vs. the Holdout or Smuggling skill used to hide the item. If you fail, the GM simply says, “You found nothing.”

Sleight of Hand - Skill: DX/H

Default: Filch-5.

This is the ability to “palm” small objects, do coin and card tricks, etc. Make a skill roll to perform one piece of simple “stage magic.” A failed roll means you blew the trick.

When you use this skill to steal, you must win a Quick Contest of Sleight of Hand vs. the Vision roll or Observation skill of potential witnesses to perform the theft unnoticed. 

You can also use this skill to cheat at cards, dice, etc. A successful Sleight of Hand roll gives from +1 to +5 on your Gambling roll. Any failure causes you to be denounced as a cheater! In both cases, the exact results are up to the GM.

Modifiers: +3 if the light is dim; +3 if you have a confederate to distract attention; +5 if you have prepared in advance (cards up your sleeve, etc.); -3 if the person you want to fool knows Sleight of Hand himself; modifiers for High Manual Dexterity (p. 59) or Ham-Fisted (p. 138).

Symbol Drawing - Skill: IQ/E

Default: None.

This skill represents the art of drawing magical symbols, which involve Celtic Oghams with Sylvan symbols drawn through them.  This is part of the ritual for casting spells, but no roll for it is required in order to cast spells.  However, your skill level in any spell can never be higher than your skill level in Symbol Drawing. 

In order to use Symbol Drawing to cast spells, you need a way to draw them.  You can always draw them with charcoal/chalk/ink/etc. but that may not be practical on the go.  Instead, you can roll with this skill to create an Implement, a tool that allows the symbols to be drawn in the air.  The process takes one hour and can only be attempted once per day.  Common Implements include wands, staves, rods, little magic rocks, and daggers, but you could use anything you could draw precisely with.  On a success, you can use the Implement to draw symbols in the air and cast spells.  On a critical success, you have a +1 bonus to Symbol Drawing and all spells for the next 24 hours.  On a failure, you fail to attune to the object.  On a critical failure, the object is also destroyed.  Your Implement can only work for you, and you can only have one attuned at a time.

If you speak Sylvan natively you get +1 to this skill (only if it's your first language or if you spent the 6 points it at Native level as a second language). Most people pick up Sylvan as they study Symbol Drawing.

  • If your Symbol Drawing is 12-14, your comprehension level is Broken.  You can understand important words and understand simple sentences if they are spoken slowly. 
  • If your Symbol Drawing is 15-17, your comprehension level is Accented.  You can communicate clearly, even under stress, but you have a heavy accent. 
  • If your Symbol Drawing is 18+, your comprehension level is Native. You can pass for a native speaker.

For more information about communicating in languages you're not quite fluent in, see Social Characteristics. 

Relations

Role Entry Location
Lap Warmer Cadhla
Old friend Aiken

Properties

Unorganized
-tag
Dalek