It is important to realise that this time encompasses all their practice at the various skills in the character's life up to the time of `creation'. Therefore, a realistic picture of their past life should be envisioned. Having a character spend 50% of their skill points at swordplay is ridiculous if that character was supposedly brought up on a farm, working hard all their life. Skills should be chosen realistically, emphasising the character behind the skills.

For each skill, allocate a suitable number of skill points, representing the amount of time the character has invested in that skill over the years, and work out the governing value for that skill. The governing value is determined by the character's Attributes and Affinities, with each skill being defined in terms of which factors affect it (see Table 5).

If the character has any of the Demeanour Traits, each one is worth +4 to the governing value. If the character has opposing traits (e.g. Fearful and Cautious, in this case), each is worth -2 to the governing value. Each Concept Affinity (e.g. Rivers) is worth +2 and each Aversion is worth -2. Lastly, the Attributes which affect the skill are given, and these are worth between +5 and -4, per Attribute (see Table 3: Attributes and Governing Values).

Once the governing value is known, and the number of skill points allocated has been decided for each skill, the player needs to look at Table 10, below, cross-referencing the skill point total (down the side) against the governing value + 1d20 (along the top) to determine the starting level for that skill. Each additional 5% of time spent above 40% is worth +1, so a person spending 60% of their time on a certain skill with a Governing value of 12 and a roll of 7 would have a skill of 32 + 4 = 36.

Table 4, below, gives some idea of what the skill levels mean. In game play, 1d20 is added to the skill level and the resulting value is compared to a Task Difficulty, with success occurring when the skill roll exceeds the Task Difficulty. More on this subject can be found in Chapter 4.

The descriptions used in Table 4, above, have no game meaning, and are provided simply to provide a rough benchmark as to how `good' a particular skill level is.

Table 5: Skill List

Skill	Governing Demeanour Traits	Governing Concepts	Governing Attributes
Ambush	Cautious, Subtle, Pragmatic	Concealment	Awareness
Camouflage	Cautious, Subtle, Pragmatic	Concealment	Awareness
Carousing	Arrogant, Courteous, Hedonistic, Inquisitive, Subtle	Drugs, Drink	Endurance
Cartography	Candid, Erudite, Inquisitive, Truthful, Persistent, Pragmatic	Communication, Documentation, Exploration	Awareness
Climb	Bold, Intrepid, Reckless	Challenge, Cliffs, Height, Mountains, Stone	Strength, Endurance, Agility
Combat	See Table 6: Fighting styles	See Table 6	See Table 6
Craft	See Table 7: Crafts	See Table 7	See Table 7
Disguise	Cautious, Deceptive, Fearful, Secretive, Suspicious	Concealment	Awareness
Dodge	Cautious	Survival	Agility, Awareness
Evade	Abeyant, Cautious, Sedate, Subtle, Pragmatic	Concealment, Survival	Awareness
First Aid	Cautious, Compassionate, Constructive, Sedate	Healing, Survival	Dexterity
Forgery	Avaricious, Deceptive, Persistent, Selfish, Subtle	Challenge	Dexterity, Awareness
Gambling	Capricious, Impulsive, Mystical, Reckless	Chance	Awareness, Phase
Jump	Bold, Intrepid, Reckless	Challenge	Strength, Agility
Knowledge	Erudite, Inquisitive	Documentation	-
Language	Erudite, Inquisitive, Persistent, Conformant	Communication, Language	-
Literacy	Erudite, Inquisitive, Persistent, Conformant	Communication, Documentation, Language	-
Legends	Erudite, Inquisitive, Mystical, Religious	Documentation	-
Magic	See Table 8: Schools of Magic	See Table 8	See Table 8
Memorise	Abstemious, Erudite, Inquisitive, Persistent	-	-
Navigation	Intrepid, Pragmatic	Exploration, Travel	Awareness
Pick Lock	Avaricious, Inequitable, Persistent, Sedate, Selfish	Technology	Dexterity
Plant Lore	Erudite, Inquisitive, Pragmatic	Cultivation, Food, Plants, Survival	-
Play Instrument	Emotional, Erudite	Entertainment, Music	Dexterity
Ride	Bold, Sedate, Trusting	Horses, Speed, Travel	Agility
Rowing	Pragmatic	Rivers, Seas, Travel, Water	Dexterity
Sailing	Bold, Erudite, Pragmatic	Air, Seas, Travel, Water	Agility
Search	Inquisitive, Persistent, Pragmatic, Secretive	Concealment	Dexterity, Awareness
Set Trap	Constructive, Cruel, Deceptive, Pragmatic, Secretive, Violent	Survival, Technology	Dexterity, Awareness
Shadow	Deceptive, Persistent, Secretive, Subtle	Concealment	Awareness
Sing	Emotional, Erudite	Air, Entertainment, Music	-
Survival	Abstemious, Cautious, Pragmatic, Stoic	Nature, Plants, Survival	Endurance, Awareness
Swim	Bold, Reckless	Rivers, Seas, Water	Strength, Endurance, Agility
Teach	Candid, Erudite, Inquisitive, Persistent, Sedate, Trusting, Truthful	Communication, Humanity	-
Thief	Avaricious, Cautious, Deceptive, Inequitable, Intrepid, Secretive, Sedate, Selfish	Challenge	Dexterity, Awareness
Theomancy	See section 7.12	See section 7.12	See section 7.12
Tie Knot	Erudite, Pragmatic	Rope	Dexterity
Track	Inquisitive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Earth	Awareness

Table 6: Fighting styles

Style	Governing Demeanour Traits	Governing Concepts	Governing Attributes
Archer / Crossbowman	Cautious, Destructive, Persistent, Predictable	Weaponry	Dexterity, Awareness
Assassin	Cautious, Cruel, Deceptive, Impulsive, Suspicious, Pragmatic	Weaponry	Dex, Agl, Awa
Berserker	Angry, Bold, Destructive, Emotional, Impulsive, Reckless, Violent	-	Strength, Endurance
Bladesman	Persistent, Predictable, Violent	Challenge, Weaponry	Dexterity, Awareness
Brawling	Angry, Capricious, Destructive, Emotional, Impulsive, Reckless, Violent	-	Strength, Endurance, Agility
Feral	Angry, Bold, Emotional, Violent	Survival	Str, End, Dex, Agl, Awa
Footpad	Abeyant, Capricious, Cautious, Inequitable, Suspicious	-	Strength, Dexterity, Agility
Gladiator	Arrogant, Bold, Cautious, Suspicious, Persistent, Pragmatic, Violent	Challenge, Weaponry	End, Dex, Agl, Awa
Horseman	Bold, Persistent, Trusting	Horses, Weaponry	Dex, Agl, Awa
Hunter	Bold, Persistent, Pragmatic, Predictable	Survival, Weaponry	Str, End, Dex, Agl, Awa
Knight	Arrogant, Bold, Intrepid, Persistent	Weaponry	Str, End, Dex, Awa
Legionnaire	Cautious, Conformant, Loyal, Persistent, Pragmatic, Predictable, Trusting	Weaponry	Strength, Endurance, Agility
Martial artist	Bold, Cautious, Persistent, Pragmatic	-	Dex, Agl, Awa
Shieldman	Cautious, Pragmatic, Predictable	Weaponry	Str, End, Dex, Agl, Awa
Skirmisher	Bold, Destructive, Intrepid, Violent	Weaponry	Str, End, Dex, Agl, Awa
Spearman / Poleaxeman	Bold, Cautious, Destructive, Pragmatic, Violent	Weaponry	Strength, Dexterity, Agility
Specialist	Bold, Persistent	Weaponry	Str, End, Dex, Agl, Awa
Swashbuckler	Bold, Emotional, Impulsive, Intrepid, Reckless	Challenge, Weaponry	Dex, Agl, Awa

Table 7: Crafts

Craft	Governing Demeanour Traits	Governing Concepts	Governing Attributes
Animal trainer	Bold, Persistent, Pragmatic, Trusting	Animals	Phase
Armoursmith	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Leather, Metal	Dexterity
Artist	Constructive, Emotional, Persistent	Art	Dexterity, Awareness
Blacksmith	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Fire, Metal	Dexterity
Bowyer	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Wood, Weaponry	Dexterity
Brewer	Constructive, Hedonistic, Persistent, Pragmatic	Drink, Drugs, Recreation	Awareness
Carpenter	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Wood	Dexterity
Cook	Constructive, Hedonistic, Persistent, Pragmatic, Romantic	Food, Drink, Recreation	Awareness
Courtesan	Altruistic, Carnal, Compassionate, Courteous, Hedonistic	Recreation	Dexterity, Awareness
Fletcher	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Wood, Weaponry	Dexterity
Jewelsmith	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Jewels, Stone	Dexterity
Leatherworker	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Leather	Dexterity
Potter	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Art, Earth	Dexterity, Awareness
Raconteur	Candid, Emotional, Erudite, Inquisitive, Intrepid, Mystical, Romantic	Entertainment	-
Rope maker	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Rope	Dexterity
Sculptor	Constructive, Emotional, Persistent	Art, Stone	Dexterity, Awareness
Stone mason	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Stone, Earth	Dexterity
Weaponsmith	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Fire, Metal, Weaponry	Dexterity
Weaver	Constructive, Persistent, Pragmatic	Art, Fabric	Dexterity, Awareness

Table 8: Schools of Magic

School	Governing Demeanour Traits	Governing Concepts	Governing Attributes
Alchemy	Arrogant, Bold, Constructive, Erudite, Inquisitive, Mystical, Pragmatic	Challenge	Phase
Alteration	Arrogant, Bold, Inquisitive, Mystical, Pragmatic	Challenge	Phase
Divination	Arrogant, Bold, Erudite, Inquisitive, Mystical	Challenge	Awareness, Phase
Elementalism	Bold, Emotional, Inquisitive, Mystical	Air, Earth, Fire, Water	Phase
Illusionism	Arrogant, Bold, Emotional, Inquisitive, Mystical	Art, Challenge	Awareness, Phase
Mentalism	Arrogant, Bold, Inquisitive, Mystical, Pragmatic	Challenge	Phase
Naturalism	Bold, Emotional, Inquisitive, Mystical	Nature	Phase
Necromancy	Arrogant, Bold, Inquisitive, Mystical	Challenge	Phase
Summoning	Arrogant, Avaricious, Bold, Inquisitive, Mystical, Pragmatic	Challenge	Phase
Translocation	Arrogant, Bold, Inquisitive, Mystical, Pragmatic	Challenge, Travel	Phase

Table 9: Language and Literacy

Education	Enlightened			Trading/Invading			Isolationist			Empire	Literacy
Highly educated	40	30	10	30	20	10	30	10	-	20	+0
Well educated	30	20	10	25	10	5	25	5	-	15	-10
Average	25	10	5	20	5	1	20	1	-	10	-15
Poorly educated	20	10	1	20	1	0	20	0	-	5	-20
Uneducated	20	5	0	20	0	-	20	-	-	1	None

Three of the Skills - Combat, Craft and Magic, are not specific Skills, but groups of Skills. The details for these are given in Table 6, Table 7 and Table 8.

Apart from those Skills listed in italics, everyone will have some degree of proficiency in the various Skills listed. If a Skill is listed in italics, a character must put at least 1% of their time into that Skill to gain a Skill level. Note that this means that no-one gets any Schools of Magic, Crafts or Fighting styles (apart from Brawling and Skirmisher) without putting at least 1% of their time into it.For non-italicised Skills that are not chosen by a character, roll for Skill level on the 0 line of Table 10. For unselected, italicised Skills, the starting level is recorded as a dash (-), and any Task Resolution rolls are made at a level of -10. More on Task Resolution can be found in Chapter 4.

3.13 Basic Skill Descriptions

Ambush:

The art of surprising opponents from a concealed position. See section 5.21.

Camouflage:

Proficiency in concealing items by disguising them to look like their surroundings. Disguising an object in this way is generally quite time consuming.

Carousing:

The ability to acquire information from someone by sociably engaging in drinking of intoxicating beverages or the consumption of recreational chemicals.

Cartography:

Art of constructing maps that accurately describe a certain geographic area, and in interpreting maps.

Climb:

Competence in scaling steep or sheer surfaces, usually without the aid of any apparatus.

Combat:

Any of the various Skills involved in fighting. See Table 6 and section 3.14.

Craft:

Any of the various Skills involved in manufacturing specific objects. See Table 7 and section 3.15.

Disguise:

Ability to alter a person's appearance to resemble someone else.

Dodge:

Adroitness at avoiding objects or strikes that would otherwise impact on the person.

Evade:

Ability to conceal oneself from others, usually by utilising the local environment to maximum effect. This Skill includes the ability to silence oneself such that others cannot detect any sound of movement, but not the ability to follow someone without being detected (given by the shadow Skill). Unlike the camouflage Skill, evade requires no preparation time.

First aid:

Competence at emergency aid and healing techniques. See section 8.2.

Forgery:

The art of producing deceptive copies of objects.

Gambling:

The dubious Skill of rapid wealth accumulation by engaging in activities in which the outcome is uncertain and wagering on the result.

Jump:

Competence at propelling oneself from the ground to a greater height or across a certain distance with a reasonably high degree of accuracy.

Knowledge:

General Skill covering anything which could be learnt academically, and not specifically covered by another Skill.

Legends:

Knowledge of historical events, both actual and fictional.

Magic:

Any of the various Schools of Magic. See Table 8, section 3.16 and Chapter 7.

Memorise:

The ability to fix any piece of information firmly into memory so that it can be recalled at a later date.

Navigation:

Proficiency at navigation, with or without equipment such as maps and compasses.

Pick lock:

Knowledge of suitable techniques to overcome mechanical devices of all kinds, especially locks.

Plant lore:

Knowledge of the plant kingdom, including being able to identify poisons, cures, narcotics and edible substances.

Play instrument:

The ability to produce harmonic or rhythmic expressions from a suitable device.

Ride:

The technique of utilising an animal as a mode of transport. Although all animals are different, once the rudiments have been learned, they can be applied to most kinds of appropriate livestock.

Rowing:

The art of propelling an aquatic vessel through water using oars or paddles.

Sailing:

The art of controlling a wind driven vessel.

Search:

The ability to locate a hidden object, or to find concealed doors, switches, marks or other such items by careful observation and methodical exploration of the surrounding area.

Set trap:

Proficiency at producing snares, traps and other constructions designed for entrapping or injuring other people or animals.

Shadow:

Expertise in tailing people without them realising, including the ability to lose someone who is following you. Shadow does not usually include the ability to tell that someone is following you, and this should be rolled on the Awareness Attribute, unless the player was specifically looking for someone tailing them. In this case, the higher of Awareness and shadow should be used. This does not include the ability to conceal oneself, or to move silently as these are covered by the evade Skill.

Sing:

The art of producing pleasant and harmonious sounds using the voice alone.

Survival:

Knowledge of how to sustain life and health in a predominately hostile environment.

Swim:

The ability to maintain buoyancy and propel oneself through a liquid medium.

Teach:

The art of imparting knowledge to another person. See section 3.21.

Thief:

The art of thievery, including breaking and entering, some forms of shop lifting, and picking pockets. This Skill also includes the art of deceiving someone such that they are unaware that a certain action has actually occurred (slight of hand, for example).

Tie knot:

The ability to construct various firm fastenings.

Track:

Knowledge of how to follow someone from their tracks.