- Renegade 20 Home > Core Manual (Index) > Attributes

Attributes

There are four attributes: Body, Dexterity, Presence, and Intellect. Each attribute affects your character’s development, Skills, Aspects, Powers and overall general makeup. Each attribute has a modifier score associated with it, listed as a bonus (or penalty). Each attribute ranges from a bare minimum of -5 and can be any number greater than that. As a general rule, a +1 value is the social norm of an attribute for human society. A +2 indicates uncommon raw ability or talent. A +3 indicates exceptional ability. A +4 raw ability is beyond the realm of most mortal humans, but it is possible for fey creatures such as elves to attain a +4 Presence, or a dwarf to attain a +4 Body score. Animals have a very low intellect modifier, likely a -3 or -4, indicating their animal-like intelligence.

Generating your Attributes

There are a number of ways in which you can determine your attributes. Please check with your Game Master (the person organizing your game) and ask which options they prefer you use. Please remember that your attributes may be modified by your character’s size and race.

Each of the five options follows:

Standard Assignment

Assign your attribute bonuses such that the total adds up to five, and that no single attribute is greater than +2 or less than 0. This is standard in games where players compete against one another or in living campaigns where thousands of players enroll in tournaments.

Personal Assignment

Assign any bonus you wish to each of your four attributes, as long as the sum of the four modifiers adds up to five. For instance, you could have a +3 +2, 0, and 0 (3 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 5). Please consult with your Game Master (GM) whether they will allow negative attributes (representing truly weak abilities). Strong positive and negative attributes can be difficult to play and potentially unbalancing. In any case, scores above 2 or less than 0 are discouraged.

Random Generation

Roll a d8 for each attribute. For each die, a roll of a 1 = -1, 2 or 3 = 0, 4 or 5 = +1, 6 or 7 = +2, 8 = +3 for the ability score. On average you will still average 5 points, but there is a chance you will have a stronger or weaker attribute list. While this can lead to great role playing challenges and fun, it can also be frustrating for a player whose character is slightly weaker than the other players.

Heroic Generation

Roll 5d8. Remove the lowest die. Use the formula in Random Generation to determine each ability score from the roll, and assign them as you wish. This method will lead to slightly better attributes on average, but you also still take a chance of weaker attributes.

Non player Assignment

This is usually only reserved for commoners, unremarkable guards, common tradesmen, etc.. Assign the following modifiers to your attributes: +1, +1, +1, and 0.

For talented individuals, such as pickpockets, strong guards, etc., assign the following modifiers to your attributes: +2, +1, +1, and 0.

Description of each attribute

Body (Bod)

Body incorporates not only the physical power and size of your character, but also your character’s fortitude, endurance, flexibility and more. A ranger might need the endurance to cover long distances across the land. A warrior would appreciate the strength to do damage in combat. A lord might need the fortitude to withstand poison, which relies heavily on the body attribute. Your Body attribute is the foundation for the following skills:

• Athletics
• Endurance

Dexterity (Dex)

If you are searching for speed, stealth, agility, dexterity, or nimbleness, Dexterity is the attribute for you. Rogues use their Dexterity modifier for stealth and thievery. Warriors seek Dexterity for agility, accuracy, and speed. Your Dexterity attribute is the foundation of the following skills:

• Agility
• Stealth

Presence (Pre)

Presence incorporates not only your character’s personality and how people might react to you, but also your willpower, charisma, spirit and your overall mental power. Priests and shamans use their presence to command and commune with spirits. Arcane wizards use Presence to drive and empower their spells. Barbarians use presence to rage and push into battle. Warriors use presence to bolster their allies and intimidate their foes. Your Presence attribute is the foundation of the following skills:

• Intuition
• Willpower
• Cunning

Intellect (Int)

Intellect incorporates your raw intelligence, knowledge, deductive power, raw ability of perception and your understanding of the world around you. Your Intellect attribute is the foundation of the following skills:

• Reasoning
• Learning
• Perception