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Character Build Step One:
Choose Character Traits

Body, Mind, and Spirit are the core Character Traits for the Atomic RPG System. They make up the core of the mechanics behind the Atomic RPG System. All three are important and will be used for every Atomic RPG System character.

What will your character's Traits be?

They are intended to be simple. As with the other areas of the Atomic RPG System, they are generalized because the intention is to allow the player to imagine and invent what the individual Character Trait means to that character. A Body Trait can represent a strong, tough character or a lithe and nimble character who is able to dodge and avoid damage. The number that represents the Character Trait will affect the Atomic RPG System calculations, but how the Trait is represented within role-play and in game play is up to the player.

Body

The Body Character Trait is the representation of the character’s physical prowess.

Mind

The Mind Character Trait is the representation of the character's mental prowess.

Spirit

The Spirit Character Trait is the representation of the character's social prowess.

How Many Character Traits Points to Assign

In the Atomic RPG System characters will split 12 points between these three Character Traits at first level. Another Trait Point will be assigned each time a character gains a new level. This represents the character’s growth throughout game play. No more than 80%, rounded down, of a character’s Trait Points can be used on a single Trait. 

When distributing Trait Points, remember that all Traits have to have at least 1 point in them. However, a cautious player will want to have at least a 2 in every Trait. There are a few situations where Traits can be lowered, such as if a character misses a Full Rest or is “raised from the dead”. If a Trait reaches zero, the player character will be unconscious and incapacitated until they complete at least Full Rest.  See Death and Dying and Rest and Recovering for more details.

A Few Notes About Character Traits

  • Character Traits modify rolls at a 3 to 1 ratio. For example, if you have a 6 in a Trait, you will get a +2 to related rolls.
  • Character Traits are generally static during game play and cannot be affected by Powers, Items, or Specialties.
  • Character Traits can be increased when a character gains a level.
  • Crafting skill is increased by your highest Character Trait.

The Effect of Traits on Atomic RPG System Characters

Character Traits affect many different things about your character. The Character Sheet is designed to calculate everything! Core stats such as Character Traits are not easily changed during the game. A character’s Body Trait won’t be damaged, and players will not have to recalculate the entire character sheet. In the Atomic RPG System, in-game effects affect the FINAL number of the character stat, not the beginning of the equation. This makes for much easier and faster gameplay because there is no need to go through cascading calculations.

Players simply apply the effect to the final numbers on their Character Sheet.

Attack

Traits will dictate your ability to damage enemies. Each Trait is associated with one of the Archetype Disciplines.
Body Trait increases your Combatant Attacks.
EX: Body Trait of 7 adds +7 to all Combatant Attacks.

Mind Trait increases your Mystic Attacks.
EX: Mind Trait of 14 adds +14 to all Mystic Attacks.

Spirit Trait increases your Generalist Attacks. EX:
Spirit Trait of 3 adds +3 to all Generalist Attacks.

Damage

Traits will dictate modification of Powers with variable die rolls. Each Trait is associated with one of the Archetype Disciplines.
Body Trait increases your Combatant Damage.
EX: Body Trait of 7 adds +7 to all Combatant Damage Die rolls.

Mind Trait increases your Mystic Damage (If Offensive).
EX: Mind Trait of 14 adds +14 to all Mystic Damage Die rolls.

Generalist Powers cannot do Damage.

Defense

Traits dictate the effectiveness of a character’s Defenses.
Body Trait increases a character's Body Defense.
EX: Body Trait of 7 adds +7 to Body Defense.

Mind Trait increases a character's Mind Defense.
EX: Mind Trait of 14 adds +14 to Mind Defense.

Spirit Trait increases a character's Spirit Defense.
EX: Spirit Trait of 3 adds +3 to Spirit Defense.

More evenly distributed Traits increase Durability.
Durability affects all Defenses.

Healing

Traits will dictate modification of Powers with variable die rolls. Each Trait is associated with one of the Archetype Disciplines.
Combatant Powers cannot Heal.

Mind Trait increases your Mystic Healing (if Defensive).
EX: Mind Trait of 14 adds +14 to all Mystic Healing Die rolls.

Spirit Trait increases your Generalist Healing.
EX: Mind Trait of 14 adds +14 to all Generalist Healing Die rolls.

Hit Points

Hit Points determine the amount of damage you can take before you are defeated. To determine Hit Points, add all three Character Traits together and multiply that by character level.
Evenly distributed Traits determines Durability.
Durability sets base Hit Points.
EX:The higher Durability the more Hit Points.

If Hit Points go below 0, the character will immediately become unconscious.

Characters below 0 make Revive Checks to see if they bleed more, are stable, or recover.

If a character drops below the Death Limit, they die.

Power Point Pools

Each of the main Character Traits will affect the Power Pool Point totals of their related Discipline.
Body Trait increase a character's Combatant Power Pools.

Mind Trait increase a character's Mystic Power Pools.

Spirit Trait increase a character's Generalist Power Pools.

Reaction

A character's Traits will dictate the character’s reaction to game events, or when it’s the character's turn to act in battle and game play.
Reaction is calculated using the character's best Trait and adding the Character Tier to it.
EX: If the best Trait is a 12 Spirit and the Character Tier is 3, then the character's base Reaction is 15.

Skills

Character Traits increase character Skills. The Character Trait determines what Skill it will modify.
Athletics is increased by a character's Body Trait.
Crafting is increased by the highest Character Trait.
Language is not increased by any character Traits.
Nature is increased by a character's Spirit Trait.
Perception is increased by a character's Spirit Trait.
Scholar is increased by a character's Mind Trait.
Social is increased by a character's Spirit Trait.
Subterfuge is increased by a character's Spirit Trait.

Weight

What a character can carry around with them and how much they can move.
The Body Trait affects the Athletics Skill which dictates how much a character can carry and what its Max Move weight would be.

These are the major things that are affected by a player’s Character Traits.

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