Sep 20, 2021 2:30 am
When faced with a task, the player decides how her character approaches it. Attributes also determine the consequences for failure.
Each has a rating of 1 to 5.
Force
Approaching an action with physical strength, force of personality, or direct logic.
1: Average — You are not especially strong, logical, or charismatic, but not lacking in any of those traits, either.
3: Capable — You’re known for your physical prowess, your sharp intellect or your likable personality.
5: Exceptional — Nothing can withstand your forceful approach, whether through overt, raw might, cutting intelligence and reason, or your irresistible charisma.
Key Concepts: might, forcefulness, directness, aggression, logic, applied research Consequences: Your equipment breaks; you offend your target; you fail to perceive small details in favor of the bigger picture.
Example of play: Cris, playing Emerald Grasshopper (an Eclipse Solar), wants to convince a Nexus boatman to ferry her circle down the Yanaze river for a much lower price than the laborer is asking. She describes the Solar trying to win him over with a bit of flattery and charm. Wyatt, the Storyteller, suggests this is a Force approach: Grasshopper is using the force of her personality, and it’s likely the boatman might be offended by her attempts to butter him up. Cris agrees and adds Grasshopper’s Force of 3 to the pool.
Finesse
Approaching an action with quick thinking, clever words, or dexterous capability.
1: Average — There is nothing remarkable about your speed, wits, or turn of phrase.
3: Capable — Friends and colleagues commend your swiftness, your insight, or your quick remarks.
5: Exceptional — Poets write of your legendary rapier-sharp retorts and honeyed words, your peerless mental acumen, or your inhuman dexterity.
Key Concepts: quick wit, manual dexterity, delicate approach, honeyed words, reflexes, instinct
Consequences: Your target sees through you; you risk a delay in the swiftness of your plans; you must contend with more obstacles than you expected.
Example of play: Winnie, playing Wicked Silver (an Adamant Alchemical), faces a sealed door in an ancient tomb. Her Circle has already determined that deadly hazards await if doors are not opened properly. She describes Silver extending the mechanisms in her fingers to feel around the frame of the door for any hidden buttons, catches, or levers that she might be able to disarm. Winnie proposes using Finesse, since this is her character’s highest Attribute. Jordan, the Storyteller, agrees and informs her that failure on this roll could cause one of the traps to be partially triggered and thus require the Circle to contend with the additional obstacle. Winnie agrees and adds Silver’s Finesse of 4 to the pool.
Fortitude
Approaching an action with physical endurance, vigilance, or composure.
1: Average — Your physical durability, perceptions, or ability to stay calm leaves something to be desired.
3: Capable — You have a reputation for being especially hale, observant, or unflappable.
5: Exceptional — Other heroes are envious of your excellent health, your implacable nature, or your unavoidable perceptions.
Key Concepts: grace under fire, spotting trouble, enduring hardship, persistence, labor
Consequences: Your resistance efforts prove ineffective; you lose your patience; the situation spirals out of your control.
Example of play: Denzel, playing Mnemon Karato (an Earth Aspect Dragon-Blooded), wants defeat the demon Sigereth, the Player of Games. She has trapped one of their Circlemates, and Karato volunteers to play for his freedom. The demon offers Karato a game of skill that will last five days, and the Dragon-Blood agrees. Denzel describes his character persevering through the clever demon’s constant torment, and striving for success by being patient, steadfast, and refusing to give in to the creature’s taunts. He asks if he can use Fortitude for this roll, since he is choosing to endure. Nagomi, the Storyteller, agrees and states that if he fails this roll, Karato will lose their temper and suffer a penalty to another roll. Denzel accepts this consequence, and adds Karato’s Fortitude of 3 to the roll.
Each has a rating of 1 to 5.
Force
Approaching an action with physical strength, force of personality, or direct logic.
1: Average — You are not especially strong, logical, or charismatic, but not lacking in any of those traits, either.
3: Capable — You’re known for your physical prowess, your sharp intellect or your likable personality.
5: Exceptional — Nothing can withstand your forceful approach, whether through overt, raw might, cutting intelligence and reason, or your irresistible charisma.
Key Concepts: might, forcefulness, directness, aggression, logic, applied research Consequences: Your equipment breaks; you offend your target; you fail to perceive small details in favor of the bigger picture.
Example of play: Cris, playing Emerald Grasshopper (an Eclipse Solar), wants to convince a Nexus boatman to ferry her circle down the Yanaze river for a much lower price than the laborer is asking. She describes the Solar trying to win him over with a bit of flattery and charm. Wyatt, the Storyteller, suggests this is a Force approach: Grasshopper is using the force of her personality, and it’s likely the boatman might be offended by her attempts to butter him up. Cris agrees and adds Grasshopper’s Force of 3 to the pool.
Finesse
Approaching an action with quick thinking, clever words, or dexterous capability.
1: Average — There is nothing remarkable about your speed, wits, or turn of phrase.
3: Capable — Friends and colleagues commend your swiftness, your insight, or your quick remarks.
5: Exceptional — Poets write of your legendary rapier-sharp retorts and honeyed words, your peerless mental acumen, or your inhuman dexterity.
Key Concepts: quick wit, manual dexterity, delicate approach, honeyed words, reflexes, instinct
Consequences: Your target sees through you; you risk a delay in the swiftness of your plans; you must contend with more obstacles than you expected.
Example of play: Winnie, playing Wicked Silver (an Adamant Alchemical), faces a sealed door in an ancient tomb. Her Circle has already determined that deadly hazards await if doors are not opened properly. She describes Silver extending the mechanisms in her fingers to feel around the frame of the door for any hidden buttons, catches, or levers that she might be able to disarm. Winnie proposes using Finesse, since this is her character’s highest Attribute. Jordan, the Storyteller, agrees and informs her that failure on this roll could cause one of the traps to be partially triggered and thus require the Circle to contend with the additional obstacle. Winnie agrees and adds Silver’s Finesse of 4 to the pool.
Fortitude
Approaching an action with physical endurance, vigilance, or composure.
1: Average — Your physical durability, perceptions, or ability to stay calm leaves something to be desired.
3: Capable — You have a reputation for being especially hale, observant, or unflappable.
5: Exceptional — Other heroes are envious of your excellent health, your implacable nature, or your unavoidable perceptions.
Key Concepts: grace under fire, spotting trouble, enduring hardship, persistence, labor
Consequences: Your resistance efforts prove ineffective; you lose your patience; the situation spirals out of your control.
Example of play: Denzel, playing Mnemon Karato (an Earth Aspect Dragon-Blooded), wants defeat the demon Sigereth, the Player of Games. She has trapped one of their Circlemates, and Karato volunteers to play for his freedom. The demon offers Karato a game of skill that will last five days, and the Dragon-Blood agrees. Denzel describes his character persevering through the clever demon’s constant torment, and striving for success by being patient, steadfast, and refusing to give in to the creature’s taunts. He asks if he can use Fortitude for this roll, since he is choosing to endure. Nagomi, the Storyteller, agrees and states that if he fails this roll, Karato will lose their temper and suffer a penalty to another roll. Denzel accepts this consequence, and adds Karato’s Fortitude of 3 to the roll.