the mastery progression
Here is the list of what each level of mastery provides to a character upon reaching it.
LEVEL ZERO
Checks made using this skill have a major detriment added to the modifier.
Total Modifier = [Skill Attribute -5]
LEVEL ONE
The major detriment applied to the modifier is reduced to a minor detriment.
Total Modifier = [Skill Attribute -2]
LEVEL TWO
The Minor detriment applied to the modifier is removed
Total Modifier = [Skill Attribute]
LEVEL THREE
A minor benefit is added to the modifier for checks made using this skill.
Total Modifier = [Skill Attribute + 2]
LEVEL FOUR
Another minor benefit is added to the modifier for checks made using this skill.
Total Modifier = [Skill Attribute + 4]
LEVEL FIVE
Another minor benefit is added to the modifier for checks made using this skill.
Total Modifier = [Skill Attribute + 6]
The Skills
Here are the different ways in which your character can be skilled, and the areas in which their mastery may grow.
Might
- StrengthA character's physical strength and bodily power. The practised application of one's trained strength and speed.
Might influences a character's success when trying to climb sheer surfaces, leap across gaps, break down doors or barriers, shove or grapple opponents, carry heavy burdens, or perform any feat of brute strength.
Precision
- AgilityA character's fine motor control, coordination, and accuracy. The marriage of focus and finesse under pressure.
Precision influences a character's success when trying to pick locks, disarm traps, perform sleight of hand, aim ranged attacks, craft delicate items, or execute acrobatic maneuvers requiring exact timing.
Stealth
- AgilityA character's ability to move unseen, unheard, and unnoticed.
Stealth influences a character's success when trying to move silently, hide in shadows, pick pockets, physically hide oneself, blend into crowds or escape pursuit without trace.
Knowledge
- IntellectA character's education, lore, and learned understanding of the world, and how they apply that understanding to the world around them.
Knowledge influences a character's success when trying to recall historical facts, decipher ancient languages, identify symbols or artefacts, understand novel ideas or theories, or comply with Byzantine bureaucratic systems.
Investigation
- IntellectA character's ability to scrutinise, deduce, and uncover hidden truths, not just notice details, but piece together patterns.
Investigation influences a character's success when trying to search a room for clues, reconstruct a crime scene, detect forgeries, solve puzzles or riddles, or follow a trail of evidence.
Engineering
- IntellectA character's grasp of construction, mechanics, and the manipulation of physical systems as well as their skill in the construction and maintenance of complex machines and automatons. It is the understanding how things fit together, and how to make them fall apart.
Engineering influences a character's success when trying to construct or sabotage structures, operate complex machinery, assess architectural stability, design, create or disable clockwork devices and automatons.
Awareness
- Intellect / WillA character's perceptiveness of objects and their surroundings.
Awareness influences a character's success when trying to spot hidden enemies, notice traps, hear distant sounds, detect ambushes, perceive invisible or ethereal presences, or maintain alertness while resting.
Naturalism
- Intellect / WillA character's understanding of the fauna, flora, and the complex systems they inhabit. Their ability to survive and thrive in the wild and untamed places of the earth.
Naturalism influences a character's success when trying to track creatures, identify plants or poisons, navigate the wilderness, calm or direct animals, predict weather, forage for resources and identify the Natural from the Supernatural.
Medicine
- Intellect / WillA character's expertise in providing medical care, their understanding of anatomy and wounds.
Medicine influences a character's success when trying to stabilise the dying, nullify poisons, perform surgery, diagnose and treat.
Esotericism
- Intellect / WillA character's capacity to comprehend, withstand, and wield the knowledge and powers that underpin reality. Not mere scholarship, but the dangerous art of touching the infinite without being consumed by it.
Esotericism influences a character's success when trying to decipher grimoires and encrypted rituals, identify supernatural entities, perform or disrupt magical ceremonies, resist psychic assault or mind-shattering truths, commune with entities or traverse otherworldly realms, as well as recognize the signs of creeping corruption or dimensional bleed.
Religion
- WillA character's understanding of the divine, the profane, and the hierarchies of higher and lower powers. The practical knowledge of rituals, ceremonies, spirits and the specific practices of various religions, not just your own.
Religion influences a character's success when trying to identify holy or unholy symbols, perform or counter religious rites, recognize certain supernatural entities, interpret omens, navigate the internal politics of religious institutions and recall religious rules, practices and teachings.
Insight
- WillA character's intuition and observations of others' motives, thoughts, intents and feelings.
Insight influences a character's success when trying to detect lies, discern someone's emotional state, predict a person's actions, sense hidden motives, or determine if someone is being magically influenced.
Oratory
- WillA character's command of speech, persuasion, and social influence. Their mastery of the spoken word and the performance that accompanies it.
Oratory influences a character's success when trying to deceive, intimidate, charm, negotiate, deliver compelling speeches, rally allies, or convince someone of something.