Minor Update on Aptitude Progression and Trait Generation

I altered the Aptitude progression tables from the first class drafts. The originals had a really dramatic range of success rates (25%-40% at low ranks with with 75%-90% at highest) that just didn't work for me. While it wasn't too bad for contests, saves and checks have you attempting to roll under these scores. Low ranked characters almost always failed and higher level ones were so adept I think it'd be dull.

These new tables have a much more gradual range and allow lower ranked characters to be reasonably competent and higher ranked ones to be less boringly so. These will be included in the second draft of the classes, assuming I don't change my mind again.

Warrior Aptitude Progression

Rank	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
Might	10	11	12	13	14
Deftness	8	9	10	11	12
Insight	7	8	9	10	11
Grit	9	10	11	12	13
Aura	8	9	10	11	12

Specialist Aptitude Progression

Rank	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
Might	7	8	9	10	11
Deftness	9	10	11	12	13
Insight	9	10	11	12	13
Grit	8	9	10	11	12
Aura	9	10	11	12	13

Battle Princess Aptitude Progression

Rank	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
Might	8	9	10	11	12
Deftness	8	9	10	11	12
Insight	7	8	9	10	11
Grit	9	10	11	12	13
Aura	10	11	12	13	14

Another thing it does is make it so PC's of the above classes are getting an aptitude increase on odd levels, and a new ability on even ones. I like the rhythm of this, to be honest.

On to Trait Generation!

Every character has a starting Trait. To reiterate something I'm sure I mentioned at some point, this is a couple of characteristics or a sentence with a set of innate modifiers for a character's aptitudes attached. This is mainly to help keep characters unique, as well as give players a starting point for their personality.

Typical trait generation is the first thing rolled for character generation. The player rolls on the below table three times. 

Random Trait Bonus/Penalty

d10	Aptitude	Example (+)	Example (-)
1-2	Might	Powerful, Thunderous, Fearsome	Puny, Feeble, Anemic
3-4	Deftness	Adroit, Gifted, Quick	Clumsy, Graceless, Blundering
5-6	Grit	Rugged, Stalwart, Determined	Soft, Weedy Gutless
7-8	Insight	Brilliant, Alert Sharp-Eyed	Oblivious, Distrait Simple
9-10	Aura	Attractive, Fascinating, Overwhelming	Unbecoming,Forgettable Loathsome

The first two results give a +1 to the aptitude rolled, while the last one applies a -1 penalty to the one that comes up. These can stack or cancel each other out, so the result is always

• +1 in a single Aptitude
• +2 in one Aptitude and -1 in another
• +1 in two separate Aptitudes and -1 in a third

I like this, it keeps things varied without changing the totals too much. I don't mind people being on an even keel.

I am thinking about including an alternative method, one for Gm's and players who like characters that are all over the spectrum. In this system, a player would roll a d6 for every Aptitude, and applying the below modifiers.

D6 Roll	Modifier
1-2	-1
3-4	+0
5	+1
6	+2

This can result in anything from a character who is a bit incompetent to one who has is good at everything; I think it's a fun dichotomy but I don't think it should be the standard. It definitely has legs as an optional method, though.