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Attributes

An attribute is a piece of data (a "statistic") that describes to what extent a fictional character in a role-playing game possesses a specific natural, in-born characteristic common to all characters in the game. That piece of data is usually an abstract number or, in some cases, a set of dice. Some games use different terms to refer to an attribute, such as statistic, (primary) characteristic or ability. A number of role-playing games like Fate do not use attributes at all.

The nature of attributes

There is no uniform consensus on what ability scores are, even if many role-playing games have them, but games that use them have a common theme. According to the Cult TV website "All characters have Attributes — basic physical and mental abilities." and in the "Each character has six ability scores that represent his character's most basic attributes. They are his raw talent and prowess. While a character rarely rolls a check using just an ability score, these scores, and the modifiers they create, affect nearly every aspect of a character's skills and abilities." In some games, such as older versions of the attribute is used on its own to determine outcomes, whereas in many games, beginning with and including more modern versions of D&D, the attribute works with a to affect the overall outcome.

Common types of attribute system

There is no standard amongst role-playing games as to which attributes are important for the game, though there is a school of design which says you pick the attributes after you decide what the game is about.

Set attribute systems

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons used six attributes (there were brief attempts to add a seventh, Comeliness, in Unearthed Arcana and Dragon magazine, but this was short-lived[4]). The six attributes used in D&D are:

"Physical" statistics

Strength - measuring physical power and carrying capacity

Constitution - measuring endurance, stamina and healthiness

Dexterity - measuring agility, balance, coordination and reflexes

"Mental" statistics

Intelligence - measuring deductive reasoning, cognition, knowledge, memory, logic and rationality

Wisdom - measuring self-awareness, common sense, restraint, perception and insight

Charisma - measuring force of personality, persuasiveness, leadership and successful planning

These range from about 3 to 20 (depending on the edition).

The original attribute sequence in D&D was Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom, Constitution, Dexterity, and Charisma in the original 1974 rules. This listed the three "prime requisites" of the character classes before the "general" stats: strength for fighters, intelligence for magic-users, and wisdom for clerics.

The attribute sequence in D&D was changed to Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom, Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma, sometimes referred to as "SIWDCC". This change was made due to the addition of the thief class, which used dexterity as a prime requisite.

The current "SDCIWC" sequence was introduced in AD&D 2nd edition in an attempt to divide physical and cognitive traits into two groups.

Other games

Many other notable games have followed suit while slightly varying the attributes, like Traveller (Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, Intelligence, Education, Social Standing) or like Cortex System games such as the Serenity RPG and the Cortex Plus Leverage with Agility, Alertness, Intelligence, Strength, Vitality, and Willpower.