6 - The Seven Abilities

In Nether, you have seven abilities. These are sometimes called Stats(short for statistics) and reflect your character's physical attributes. Lifting a heavy object might be easier for someone strong, while someone with a keen mind may find it easier to find hidden rooms in a dungeon. When you make Action Rolls, your abilities are used to give you a bonus to the total, potentially helping you succeed. Below is a quick guide on what each ability is typically used for, as well as how to assign your stats at the beginning of the game. 

Vigor - This is used to reflect your character's physical strength and robustness. Lifting or throwing something heavy, smashing down a barrier, or even resisting poisons, venoms and diseases are all situations where Vigor might come into play.

Finesse - This reflects your character's ability to perform precise maneuvers. Things like picking locks or a pocket, working with delicate machinery, or landing an acrobatic flip; All would likely make use of your character's Finesse bonus.

Agility - Agility represents your character's alacrity and reflexes. Responding to danger at a moment's notice and moving quickly over difficult terrain are the most common uses of your Agility bonus. 

Intellect - Analysis is the trademark of this stat, as it reflects your character's ability to comprehend and catalogue information. Picking up on a hidden message, deciphering the formulae of a potion or recalling an ancient text.  

Acuity - Acuity measures your character's ability to find hidden details and maintain your mental fortitude under extreme stress. Your Acuity bonus will likely be used when keeping watch, tracking and handling animals, foraging the wilds, or even picking up on the subtle tells of someone's lie.

Charisma - Charisma reflects your character's presence, their ability to use their charms to their advantage or maintain their poise while lying. From persuading a merchant, lying to a guard, or intimidating a foe - charisma is an incredibly versatile stat for social encounters. 

Affinity - Affinity is a measurement of your character's connection to the elemental energies found throughout Nether, and their aptitude for utilizing their affinity to the fullest. When taking actions that involve an unusual use of your abilities, your GM may ask you to make use of your Affinity bonus.

Tips For Assigning Abilities 

Above, it's briefly mentioned how your chosen bonuses can help to reflect the themes of your character. Here's some tips that might help to put that into action.

Plan Ahead  - Think about the themes of your character, what do you plan to do with them? What would you like your character to excel at? Choosing abilities that fit best with your vision can help bring it to life within the game. 

Consider Their History - We've established in previous articles how, much like you, your characters often have a history. The circumstances of their upbringing, their interests, their experiences; All of these things can be used when assigning your Abilities. Picking things that make sense with your character's backstory can help them feel more grounded and believable. 

Consider Your Game - The game you're playing shouldn't be a mystery - you should be allowed to know what the biggest themes of your game are. Work alongside your Game Master and fellow players to see what abilities might be useful for your game, if you don't already have a vision in mind. 

Advancing Abilities 

Improving your abilities can be very simple! Over the course of the game, taking certain actions throughout the story can sometimes be rewarded by your Game Master, improving your stats through Role-play. A character who actively works to protect others, throwing themselves into the heat of battle may find their Vigor stat increased overtime thanks to their hard work; While a scholarly character diligently combing over the many scrolls and almanacs they find throughout the story may have their Intellect increased for their trouble.

Role-Playing Your Stats

If you're new to Role-play, one thing that could help enhance your prowess is using your abilities to frame how your character behaves. A character with lower charisma may speak stiffly or avoid small conversation, while a character with higher charisma may know how to appear more friendly, and chat up a stranger on a whim. Everything can be used as a tool both for playing your character and for playing the game. 

It's important to know that this is COMPLETELY optional, and you aren't ever beholden to a certain set of personality traits just because of your stats. There is no “right” way to roleplay, and playing in ways that the whole group enjoys is also just as valuable for a long term game. 

Have fun, that's what games are for.