Elements of A Character Sheet

Regardless of genre and character type, A Storygame character sheet is composed of traits and details.

Traits
Traits are qualities or characteristics measured on a scale of 1 (abysmal) to 5 (phenomenal) for attributes and on a scale of -2 (major disadvantage) for +2 (major advantage). Attributes are shared by every character within a character type; the standard attributes should be shared by every character of every character type. Attribute ratings (1-5) are established at character creation and don't normally change except when a character undergoes an applicable Critical Event. Advantages/Disadvantages can be unique to a character. Players establish a few at character creation and then can apply new ones at the end of a scene.

For standardized character creation that relies on 7 attributes, all personal characters are assigned 21 points to divide between them with a minimum of 1 in every attribute. A standardized starting character would be assigned +3 attribute points for each additional attribute included in their character type. In standardized character creation, a starting character must have a balanced number of advantage and disadvantage points. For example, if they have 5 points in major/minor advantages, they must also have 5 points in major/minor disadvantages.

Details
Details are important information about the character like their name, age, species, personality, living relatives and origin story that players are going to want to remember and present as they choose when they write IC posts. Details might be suggestive of how well a character might succeed at certain activity or how well they react to a certain type of stressor and direct a player's narrative. When Event Rolls are made, however, only traits are factored in as modifiers.

Examples of details can be found on all the sample character templates made for each of the Sample Storygame Settings. Because details don't affect Event Rolls, individual players can decide for themselves how much time they want to invest in recording them. There is a list of recommended details is included in the Making Character Templates section of World Building.

Attributes
There is a list of standard attributes that we have found work great for just about any genre including an optional one for metaphysical-based rolls for such things as spellcasting or using psychic powers. Troupes can pick different names for their attributes and add to or subtract from our list. The only thing we recommend is that you have your own standard list for your chronicle and that these are found on all character templates. Any time you want to make a character type with an additional non-standard attribute, it will need its own template that has one included. If it is a power or characteristic that wouldn't belong to the entire character type, insert it into your storygame as part of the advantage/disadvantage system instead.

When a player decides to make an Event Roll, they will choose their most applicable attribute and add its modifier to their dice pool. A character who has exceptional brawn (+5 to dice pool) is much more likely to be able to slam their way through a locked door than own who has abysmal brawn (+1 to dice pool).

Advantages/Disadvantages
Standard attributes are possessed by every single character in the game. Non-standard attributes are possessed by every single character in a character type. Advantages/Disadvantages are measurable traits that characters might have or might not have. They can be as common or rare as the troupe wants them to be.