Outside of combat rounds, it is expected that all characters will adjust their movement rates so that they all move at the same rate. However, when dealing with the more tactical situation of a combat round, we need to have a more accurate method of dealing with movement.

Each character has a Base Movement given in their racial description. The result is the number of feet that a character may move for each Action Point (AP) spent during the course of a combat round.

Characters are also able to Run, or move at double their Base Movement rate. This also costs a single Action Point. However, all other actions in the round receive a -2 modifier for every Action Point spent on running in that round. If the character spent the entire round running, then the modifier would apply to any actions taken in the first round once the running has stopped. In this situation, the modifier will never be greater than what is appropriate for a single full round of running.

Characters may move faster than a Run, but doing so requires an Athletics skill roll, with the actual number of feet moved per each AP in the round being equal to the character’s actual result of the roll. Every 5’ of movement greater than that which a Run normally allows per AP also increases the negative modifier by 1, so that moving 25’ per AP gives a -3 modifier to all actions and moving 30’ per AP gives a -4 modifier to all other actions, and so forth.

To determine a character’s starting Hit Points, simply add his Constitution Stat Value (not his stat bonus) and his Strength Stat Value to 20, along with any special modifiers from his Character Class or from Talents.

Characters may have a maximum number of Hit Points equal to their Racial Max Base plus their Constitution and Strength Stat Values.

To increase his Hit Points, a character must purchase one of the Physical Training Talents (Minor or Major). Each talent will add a static amount to the character’s Hit Points. However, these Talents can never increase the character’s total Hit Points beyond the maximum number that he is allowed based upon his race and his stats.

Every character starts play with 3 Fate Points. He will then gain one additional Fate Point each level, up to a maximum of 5 Fate Points. A character who has 5 or more Fate Points will not gain any Fate Points automatically upon gaining a new level. However, a character is not limited to how many Fate Points he may have in total.

In addition to gaining Fate Points when going up levels, a character also gains them when they make a Nova Roll (a roll of 10 on one die and a 1 on the other die). There may also be other instances where Fate Points can be earned, but these are up to the GM to determine and award.

Fate Points can be spent to achieve a number of different results. The following list details those that we think are most appropriate and useful.

• Act Now – The player spends a Fate Point to resolve his character’s actions outside of the normal initiative order. When used in this manner, the character’s action will resolve before the actions of the character (or NPC or monster) whose turn it actually is. Refer to p. 42 for more information on Initiative.
• Cheat Death – There may be situations where the character is killed by something that could not normally be avoided. By spending 3 Fate Points, the player can save his character from this death in some unusual or clever manner. The character may still end up being badly injured or trapped, but he will be alive and conscious.
• Extra Action Points – By spending 1 Fate Point, before declaring actions for the round, the player gains an additional 3 Action Points for his character for the round. The player may not spend more than 2 Fate Points on this each round.
• Extra Boon Point – The player may spend 1 Fate Point to gain 1 Boon Point for use with any roll he has just made or is about to make that may possibly earn Boon Points. This Boon Point is gained even if the roll does not generate one normally, and it is simply added to any Boon Points earned normally. Like normal Boon Points, it must be used immediately. The player may not gain more than 3 extra Boon Points on a single roll using this Fate Point option.
• Extra Dice (Other) – The player may spend 2 Fate Points to roll a d10 and add or subtract the result from any single die roll that does not directly affect his character (i.e. he could apply it to the Saving Throw of a bad guy to ensure that he fails it). No roll may have more 3 dice from Fate Points affecting it.
• Extra Dice (Self) – The player may spend 1 Fate Point to roll a d10 and add or subtract the result from a single die roll that directly affects his character (i.e. an attack roll, a Saving Throw, a skill roll, etc). No roll may have more than 3 dice from Fate Points affecting it.
• Inspiration – There may be times when a player gets stuck about what should be done next. When this happens, he may ask the GM to provide a hint. If there is a hint that the GM can provide to the player, then the player spends 1 Fate Point to receive the hint. If the GM determines that there isn’t any hint, then no Fate Point is spent.
• Narrate Story Element – The player may spend 1 Fate Point to be able to narrate some minor point of the story. This should not require any rolls by the GM or other Players, and it should advance the story in some small manner. The GM holds veto power over this Story Element and if he does veto it, the Fate Point is not spent.

• Remove Snag Point – The player may spend 1 Fate Point to remove 1 Snag Point that is earned through a bad dice roll. This option may be used multiple times with no limit.
• Special – It is highly possible, and likely, that a player will want to use Fate Points for something that has not been covered in this list in order to accomplish something that normally would not be possible. This option allows for the GM to set a price of 2 to 6 Fate Points for such actions, with more unlikely events costing more.

• Static Bonus (Other) – This option allows the player to spend 2 Fate Points in order to add or subtract 5 points from a given roll that does not directly affect him. No roll may have more than 3 bonuses, be they positive or negative, from this option applied. This modifier may also be used in conjunction with Extra Dice (Other) and counts as 1 die in regards to the limit on the amount of dice that may be used on a given roll.
• Static Bonus (Self) – This option allows the player to spend 1 Fate Point in order to add or subtract 5 points from a given roll that does directly affect him. No roll may have more than 3 bonuses, be they positive or negative, from this option applied. This modifier may also be used in conjunction with Extra Dice (Self) and counts as 1 die in regards to the limit on the amount of dice that may be used on a given roll.

This is the Target Number that an attacker must equal or beat in order to make a physical attack against your character. Your character’s Base DEF is comprised of several factors as shown here:

DEF = 15 + Spd Bonus + (1/5 ranks melee Combat Skill)

The base of 15 and the Speed Stat Bonus are pretty much self-explanatory. For every 5 ranks that the character has in his best melee-based Combat Skill, he gains a +1 modifier to his DEF. This means that when he gets 5 ranks in a melee skill, he gains a +1, when he gets 10 ranks; he gets another +1, for a total modifier of +2, and so forth.

There are other things, such as special abilities, shields, spells, Combat Moves, and Boon Point results that can alter your character’s DEF for either good or bad. The majority of these are situational, meaning that they only apply in certain situations.

If your character is prone (laying on the ground), caught completely unawares (which is different from just being surprised) or unable to move for any reason, his DEF would be 12 + any magical bonuses.

There are a number of Secondary Stats that are derived from the 8 primary stats, or that are included here simply for completeness. We will go over each one separately.

Defense (DEF)

This is the Target Number that an attacker must equal or beat in order to make a physical attack against your
character.

Fate Points

Fate Points are used to achieve a number of various possible results.

Hit Points

This is a measure of how much damage a character may take before they fall unconscious, and then lapse into death.

Movement

This is how far a character may move for each Action Point spent on moving during a combat round.

Spell Points (SP)

Spell Points are a measure of how much magical energy a character may manipulate before they are required to rest. One might think of this as a form of magical exhaustion.

Starting Languages

Every character has 2 or 3 starting languages.