“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.
