Bonus-based Stats

Table of Contents

System
Each of the six stats ranges in value from -5 (the minimum) to ... well, infinity, really. The human average for a given stat is +0.

Stats at Character Creation
All stats begin at -1. Characters receive points that can be allocated to increase their stats as they see fit. The costs for doing so are as follows: The number of points a character gets at character creation depends on the tier of game being played. A "mundane" tier character gets 8 points; a "hero" tier character gets 12; an "elite" tier character gets 14, and an "epic" tier character gets 16 points.

Stat Boosts and Penalties
Any spells, effects, or items that affect stats have their published effects reduced by half. Thus, gauntlets of ogre power provide a +1 to STR, as does the spell enlarge person.

Improving Ability Scores
Characters improve one ability score by 1 every six levels. In normal-tier play, this happens at levels 6, 12, and 18.

Rationale
As it is, the 3d6-based attribute system is a relic of the older eras of play. Having run games for a number of new players who are not spectacularly good at math, I'd rather tell them that "Your enlarge person spell and rage mean that you have a +3 to your STR, which means your attack rolls go up by +3" than have to explain that the +6 they get to their STR score translates to a +3 bonus to attack and so forth. The actual number of your attribute is completely irrelevant except for determining the bonus, so let's just cut right to the chase.

As an added benefit, this change opens the door to a World of Darkness-style "Attribute + Skill" roll system.