Aptitudes
Aptitudes are a character’s base abilities. Certain activities may not be attempted by a character if they don’t have a high enough Aptitude rating in a particular skill field. If you do not have at least one Shadow Mark in a stat you run the risk of negative effects.
At character creation no player may purchase past a 3rd tier ranking in an Aptitude. Higher rankings are available through Vagaries, type of Awakened chosen, or in play buffs.
You have 23 points to spend on Aptitudes. A Shadow mark must first be purchased in each tier before a shining mark may be purchased. Shadow Marks cost 1 point, Shining Marks cost 2. Points not spent at character creation dissipate once the character enters play and are lost. Characters earn a free additional Shadow Mark at 6 months of cumulative play and again at 12 months. 2 shadow marks equal a shining mark for purposes of added free marks or in play buffs.
✩ = First rank, “Shadow mark” ★ = Second rank, “Shining Mark”
Tier | Intellect | Sagacity | Adroitness | Force | Appeal | Vitality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | ✩ | ✩ | ★ | ✩ | ★ | ★ |
1 | ★ | ✩ | ✩ | |||
2 | ★ | |||||
3 | ★ | |||||
4 | ||||||
♛ |
Note: Characters must consume a meal, brew, or potion once per half day or their Aptitudes will temporarily drop until they do so.
Intellect: Intellect is the ability of the mind to learn and think, to reach correct conclusions; the capacity for knowledge and understanding; and includes capacities such as reasoning, conceiving, and relating.
Intellect effects game mechanics such as the ability to try and solve puzzles, learn new things, read & write, catching subtleties, and much more. If a character enters play with no marks in Intellect they are unable to read or write.
Sagacity: Sagacity is the quality of being wise or having good judgment, characterized by insight and perceptiveness. It involves the ability to understand complex situations. The quality of being discerning, sound in judgment, and farsighted; quickness or acuteness of sense perceptions.
In play this may effect different kinds of puzzles than Intellect, help a player recognize falsehoods, avoid blunders, plan ahead, catch details, and know how to make the right choices. If a character enters play with no marks in Sagacity the talent Lie will always work on them.
Adroitness: The ability to be quick and skillful in their actions or response. Dexterous in the use of the body or in the exercise of the mental faculties; exhibiting skill and readiness in avoiding danger or escaping difficulty; ready in invention or execution.
This can effect things in game from reaction time to attacks to length of time to solve puzzles, may help in avoiding traps, projectiles and attacks, and verbal come backs. Characters with no marks in Adroitness will always fall prey to surprise attacks.
Force: Strength or energy exerted, moral or mental strength; compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing, the quality of conveying impressions intensely. To compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means.
In use this skill may effect things like the amount one may carry, intimidation, taunt, damage dealt, and mockery. If a character has no marks in Force they are unable to carry other characters in times of need.
Appeal: The quality of being able to interest or attract another, physically, verbally, or mentally. To be interesting. A quality that makes people like something or want it.
This skill effects things from making requests, gathering information, smoothing over issues, sweet talking, making friends or bargains, or being convincing to others. Characters without any marks in Appeal are treated as untrustworthy.
Vitality: Vitality refers to the quality or state of being full of energy and liveliness, often associated with physical and mental vigor; power of enduring.
Vitality can effect healing, body, and resistance to mind altering effects. Characters without any marks in Vitality down one point in body.
