Character Creation Rules
Starting Stats for Player Characters • Strength: More dots in this attribute give the
NB: At creation, the 5 dot in every trait costs double
th
and no Character can have traits above 5. This limit is
lifted when a Character has at least one Attunement
rating at 6 or higher, which then becomes the new limit
Generic Info: This section is for things that cannot be
put in numbers but are an integral part of the Character
and how they interact with the world
• Name: The Character's full name
• Player: The name the Player is known by
• Concept: A couple of words or a short phrase
describing the character, it can be as simple as
“mousy scholar” or as complicated as “Indiana
Jones wannabe who likes carnations”
• Origin: The birthplace of the Character, it can be
as generic as “Taralsia” or as detailed as “a
picturesque fishing village 40 miles south of
Venice, Italy”
• Species: The Character's Species, one of the
15 available
• Race: The Character's Race, one of the 5 for
each Species
• Element: One of the ten Elements that define
the Character's personality (see relevant file)
• Ideal: One of the five Ideals that define the
Character's lifestyle (see relevant file)
• Faction: The Faction the Character belongs to,
one of the five for their territories
Attributes: 15 dots, Starting at 1. This section is about
that set of traits that defines the Character at the most
basic level and affect some of the other traits
• Charisma: This dictates how much people are
affected by the Character's presence around
them, it has nothing to do with good looks
• Dexterity: The higher this attribute is, the faster
one can more and the more delicate and precise
their movies can be
• Stamina: Taking damage and walking away is
the purview of this attribute. It also defines how
far someone can push their body
Starting Stats and XP Costs for Realm of Illusions
Page 1
Character a better chance at doing damage or
lifting heavy objects and running
• Composure: As the rating of this attribute gets
higher, the easier it is for the Character to
control their emotions and reactions
• Intelligence: Smart Characters can understand
things easier and that is what this attribute is all
about, raw brainpower
• Resolve: Some people can walk through a
sandstorm just to keep a promise, those people
have pretty high rating in this attribute
• Wits: When it comes to thinking fast, this is the
attribute a Character needs to develop. It applies
both to physical and mental actions
Racial Stats: 4 total. This section is for those traits the
Character inherits from their Species and Race, and are
not dependent on other Character traits
• Bonuses: Each Character has one Bonus from
their Species and another from their Race,
common for all the members
• Weaknesses: Each Character has one Bonus
from their Species and another from their Race,
common for all the members
Traits: This section is for traits that either depend on
Attributes, or require RolePlay in order to advance
• Size: 5 for most Races, depends on Merits
• Health: Size + Stamina
• Defense: Highest of Dexterity and Wits
• Armour: Starting at 0, depends on equipment
• Speed: Strength + Dexterity + Species Factor
• Initiative: Dexterity + Wits
• Fame: Starting at 0, depends on actions
• Infamy: Starting at 0, depends on actions
• Willpower: Composure + Resolve
• Energy: Starts at 10/01, depends on Attunement
• Experience: Starts at 0/0, depends on XP slot
 Character Creation Rules
Primary Skills: 15 dots, Starting at 0. This section is
about skills any person can have without the need for
special training
• Physical
◦ Athletics: The ability of a Character to run,
jump, climb or perform any intense physical
act that requires skill
◦ Driving: Whether it is a car, plane, carriage,
horse, submarine or sand worm, this is the
skill needed for it
◦ Medicine: Patching someone up after an
injury and performing surgery are both
dependent on this skill
◦ Performance: Acting, playing an instrument,
singing and juggling all fall under this skill,
dictating how good someone is at it
◦ Stealth: Hiding in a crowd and ducking out
of sight depend on this skill. The higher the
rating, the harder for one to be found
• Social
◦ Empathy: The ability to understand what
others feel is quite useful, as is the skill of
reading their body language
◦ Expression: Artists need this skill as much
as public speakers do, since it dictates how
well they can convey their message
◦ Intimidation: Glares, veiled threats, bending
iron bars and flashing weapons all fall under
this skill, scaring other people
◦ Persuasion: When you meet someone who
can talk you out of your skin, you know you
have met a master of this skill
◦ Subterfuge: Lying through one's teeth can
be handy, as can be misdirection and giving
half-truths, this is the skill for it
• Mental
◦ Academics: This skill indicates how well
someone can use their book knowledge or
remember their schooling
◦ Common Lore: This skill measures how
familiar one is with the stories and legends of
their territory
◦ Investigation: It takes a keen eye and high
rating in this skill for someone to become a
Starting Stats and XP Costs for Realm of Illusions
Page 2
successful detective
◦ Science: Physics, chemistry, astronomy, this
skill measures how educated someone is in
those and similar fields
◦ Technology: Only people with this skill know
how to operate advanced equipment like
computers and remote controls
Secondary Skills: 5 dots, Starting at 0. Skills in this
section require special training or circumstances and
are usually not available to the average person
• Combat
◦ Brawl: The ability to kick someone's teeth in
falls under this skill, as does knowledge of
more advanced fighting styles
◦ Firearms: Knowing how to shoot a gun as
well as taking care of one is the purview of
this skill, it works for crossbows too
◦ Melee: If you can beat someone to a coma
with an umbrella, chances are your rating in
this skill is fairly high
◦ Ranged: Ancient weapons like slings, blow
darts, bows and crossbows depend on this
skill to be used successfully
◦ Tactics: Knowing when to fight and how is
an integral part of war, those skilled in tactics
can outwit their opponents
• Practical
◦ Animal Ken: Some people can understand
animals better than others, husbandry and
training also fall under this skill
◦ Crafts: From wood carving to knitting a
sweater, this skill represents aptitude for
creating or assembling things
◦ Economics: Understanding the rules of
trade and having a good eye for opportunity
fall under this skill
◦ Larceny: When it comes to lock-picking or
taking things from other people, this is the
skill that is needed
◦ Survival: Living in the wild takes a special
kind of people, those that posses a decent
rating in this skill
 Character Creation Rules Page 3

• Expertise Merits: 7 dots, Starting at 0. Merits can make or break

◦ Bureaucracy: Sometimes you need to know
just who to talk to or what papers are needed
for a job to get done, this skill deals with it
◦ Etiquette: Knowing just the right words to
say or the right gestures to make can keep
someone alive, this is what this skill does
a Character, adding flavour and useful skills and
abilities that are otherwise unavailable
Flaws: 0 dots, Starting at 0, optional. Flaws can help
make a Character more interesting and less of a Mary
Sue. When a Flaw is overcome, it offers more XP

◦ Occultism: Not everything can be explained

by science and there are many legends
around, this skill deals with those things
◦ Politics: A minefield that has gotten many
killed, it is not for the slow or the squeamish
and those with this skill are neither
◦ Religion: With a myriad mythologies and
just as many deviations, it takes skill for
someone to be familiar with rite and ritual
Languages: 1 (native), depends on Merits. All people
speak at least one language, but can learn more
through Merits in order to communicate with others
Attunement Traits: 0, depends on Attunement. For
each 2 dots in a single Force, the Character is affected
in a physical manner, marked by the Ideal or the
Elements associated with the Force

Skill Specialties: 3, starting at 0. Each Character can XP Costs

have a specialty or more in any Skill they have at least
Attributes: 5xp x new rating
1 dot in. Specialties are focused versions of the Skill
and grant 1 extra die when they are applicable. An Skills
example would be “singing” for Performance
• Primary Skills: 2xp x new rating
• Secondary Skills: 3xp x new rating
Attunement: 3 dots, Starting at 0. Player Characters
are assumed to be among the Attuned, the special • Skill Specialties: 3xp
group of people that can tap into the different types of
energy. 2 of the dots must be in their affinity Forces, as
defined by their Element and Ideal Attunement

• Death: These energies deal with death and the • New Attunement: 10xp
memories of the fallen, manifesting through the • Affinity Attunement: 7xp x new rating
elements of Stone and Metal
• Other Attunement: 8xp x new rating
• Chaos: These energies deal with random
chance, change and decay, manifesting through
the elements of Fire and Shadow Merits: 2xp x new rating
• Balance: These energies deal with nature and
instinct, manifesting through the elements of
Wood and Beasts
• Life: These energies deal with growth and the
physical form, manifesting through the elements
of Water and Blood
• Order: These energies deal with patterns and
the interaction between atoms, manifesting
through the elements of Air and Fields

Starting Stats and XP Costs for Realm of Illusions