Common Attribute Names
Attributes are commonly referred to by their first two or three initials.
- Strength aka Body, Might, Brawn, ...
- A measure of how physically strong a character is. Strength often controls the maximum weight the character can carry, melee attack and/or damage, and sometimes hit points. Armor and weapons might also have a Strength requirement.
- Constitution aka Stamina, Endurance, Vitality, ...
- A measure of how resilient a character is. Constitution often influences hit points, resistances for special types of damage (poisons, illness, heat etc.) and fatigue. Many games combine Constitution and Strength.
- Dexterity aka Agility, Reflexes, Quickness, ...
- A measure of how agile a character is. Dexterity controls attack and movement speed and accuracy, as well as evading an opponent's attack (see Armor Class).
- Intelligence aka Intellect, Mind, Brains, Knowledge, ...
- A measure of a character's problem-solving ability. Intelligence often controls a character's ability to comprehend foreign languages and their skill in magic. In some cases, intelligence controls how many skill points the character gets at "level up". In some games, it controls the rate at which experience points are earned, or the amount needed to level up.
- Charisma aka Presence, Charm, Social, ...
- A measure of a character's social skills, and sometimes their physical appearance. Charisma generally influences prices while trading, and NPC reactions.
- Wisdom aka Spirit, Wits, Psyche, Sense, ...
- A measure of a character's common sense and/or spirituality. Wisdom often controls a character's ability to cast certain spells, communicate to mystical entities, or discern other characters' motives or feelings.
- Willpower aka Sanity, Personality, Ego, ...
- A measure of the character's mental resistance (against pain, fear etc.) when falling victim to mind-altering magic, torture, or insanity. Some games combine willpower and wisdom.
- Perception aka Alertness, Awareness, Cautiousness, ...
- A measure of a character's openness to their surroundings. Perception controls the chance to detect vital clues, traps, or hiding enemies, and might influence combat sequence, or the accuracy of ranged attacks. Perception-type attributes are more common in more modern games. Sometimes combined with wisdom.
- Luck aka Fate, Chance, ...
- A measure of a character's luck. Luck might influence anything, but mostly random items, encounters and outstanding successes/failures (such as critical hits).
Read more about this topic: Attribute (role-playing Games)
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