Attributes

In addition to Statistics (See 'cg statistics'), there are other Attributes that quantify a character's innate abilities. Type 'cg (attribute)' to read about the following attributes:

  
Luck          Size          Health          Fatigue          Salary

The chargen system sets these attributes to the human average on all characters. The only way you can change your character's attributes (with the exception of Salary) is through the purchase of Assets and Flaws. The choice of certain Cultures may also alter your character's Attributes.

The Luck Attribute

Luck is pretty self-explanatory - some people always seem to come up smelling roses, and others can never catch an even break. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle, so all characters begin with a Luck of 0. Luck can only be raised or decreased through the purchase of Assets/Flaws, and ranges from -4 to +4.

Your character's Luck is factored into almost every coded command, including most Skill and Statistic Checks. Luck doesn't outweigh the importance of a Statistic or Skill, it's just a little extra edge or barrier to success.

A person with +4 Luck is not identical to Mat in the novels. There is no way to reproduce Mat's kind of luck on the game, and Mat is a unique character. It is as close as you can get on Cuen, and it is extremely lucky. In some ways, a person with +4 Luck is more fortunate than Mat, because his/her Luck applies all the time, not just at certain periods.

The Size Attribute

The Size Attribute is a general indicator of a character's size. It includes both height and weight. All characters begin with a Size of 0, the human average. A character +1 in Size is unusually tall or overweight. A person of -1 Size is fairly short, or light-boned and slender. -2 is the size of a child, or a midget. +2 is beyond human height, it is the size of a Trolloc or an Ogier.

The Size of characters who choose the Culture of Cairhien is set to -1 during that stage of chargen. The Size of Aiel characters is set to +1, and the Size of Ogier characters is set to +2.

You can purchase Size Assets or Flaws to increase or decrease your character's Size. If you want to play a character taller than 6' for human males or 5'7" for human females, you must purchase the Asset of Build: Tall or Build: Large in the Assets and Flaws section of chargen.

Both the above heights are taller than average real world heights. People are required to purchase unusual height because in the past we received many complaints from players about the number of unusually tall characters.

The Health Attribute

Your character's maximum Health represents the strength of his/her physical constitution. All characters begin with a maximum Health of 10, which represents the human average. This maximum potential can only be raised or lowered through the purchase of Assets and Flaws or Culture choices.

Those with higher than average Health maximums are tougher. They are not as affected by physical injury or the effects of illness. Those with lower than average Health maximums are more frail, and are more affected by a physical injury or illness.

During game play, your Health might be decreased through combat and other physically-damaging situations. Once you have healed the effects of that damage, your Health will return to its maximum.

You DO NOT die if your Health is reduced to 0 by damage. 0 represents unconsciousness or incapacitation, not death. Whether or not your character dies is never left up to a coded command. More information about role-playing the effects of 0 Health is available __________.

The Fatigue Attribute

Your character's maximum Fatigue rating is an indicator of his/her ability to withstand the effects of physical exertion or the fatigue caused by Channeling. All characters begin with a maximum Fatigue of 10, which represents the human average. This maximum potential can only be raised or lowered through the purchase of Assets and Flaws or the selection of certain Cultures.

A person with a higher than average Fatigue maximum is heartier, and can withstand more physical exertion. Someone with a lower than average Fatigue is weaker, and is more easily affected by arduous activity.

In game play, your Fatigue may be lowered by the effects of strenuous combat or Channeling. Someone who is tired does not perform as well as usual, so you may receive penalties to activities when you are fatigued. Once you have rested, your Fatigue will return to its maximum and all penalties will be removed.

See 'cg magic fatigue' for information on Fatigue's effect on Channeling.

The Salary Attribute

All characters begin receiving a Salary of in-game money as soon as they are created. This starting Salary is fairly low, but it can be increased if that's appropriate for your character.

Your area admin can increase your Salary to a level appropriate to your character's current job. To obtain this increase, @mail your area staff with your request, and include some information about your character's current job.

Example: Suzal opens a tailor's shop in Caemlyn, so her Salary should be higher than her starting level as a person of Poor heritage. She @mails a request to the Andor staff, and her Salary is raised to the level appropriate for a shopkeeper.

See NEWS MONEY for more information about money, the economy and salaries.