Perks and Flaws
| Perk | Cost | Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Alien artifact (*) | 8 | - |
| Ambidextrous | 4 | DEX |
| Animal Friend | 4 | WIL |
| Celebrity | 3 | PER |
| Concentration | 3 | INT |
| Danger Sense | 4 | WIL |
| Faith | 5 | WIL |
| Filthy Rich | 5 | PER |
| Fist of Iron | 2/5 | STR |
| Fortitude | 4 | CON |
| Good Luck | 3 | WIL |
| Great Looks | 3 | PER |
| Heightened Ability | 8 | Special |
| Observant | 3 | WIL |
| Photo Memory | 3 | WIL |
| Powerful Ally | 4 | PER |
| Psionic Awareness | 3 | INT |
| Reflexes | 4 | DEX |
| Reputation | 3 | WIL |
| Tough as nail | 4 | STR |
| Vigor | 2/3/4 | CON |
| Willpower | 4 | WIL |
| Flaw | Cost | Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Bad Luck | 6 | WIL |
| Clueless | 2/4/6 | INT |
| Clumsy | 5 | DEX |
| Code of Honor | 3 | WIL |
| Delicate | 3 | STR |
| Dirty Poor | 5 | PER |
| Forgetful | 5 | INT |
| Fragile | 3 | CON |
| Infamy | 2/4/6 | PER |
| Oblivious | 4 | WIL |
| Obsessed | 2/4/6 | INT |
| Old Injury | 2/4/6 | STR |
| Phobia | 2/4/6 | WIL |
| Poor Looks | 3 | PER |
| Powerful Enemy | 2/4/5 | PER |
| Primitive | 2/4/6 | INT |
| Slow | 6 | DEX |
| Spineless | 2/4/6 | WIL |
| Temper | 2/4/6 | WIL |
(*) Redesigned
Perks Description
Alien Artifact
An alien artifact is a strange device or relic that the hero doesn’t know anything about. It could be an object of alien origin, or a one-of-a-kind experimental gadget, or even an experimental process used on the character at some point in the past.
Somewhere during his travels, the hero came to possess the artifact or the abilities it provides. Any alien artifact that is an item is small enough to be easily carried around or worn as an accessory to the hero’s outfit.
The hero doesn’t know his item’s function or purpose; he has to discover exactly what the artifact does as the campaign progresses.
An alien artifact provides mostly advantages—but every artifact also has its negative side.
Some provide a constant benefit; others require that the hero make a perk check to activate the artifact.
After you select this perk the GM will design an alien artifact for you hero.
Once per game session the character can make spend an hour of time and make an intelligence feat check to realize some of its features.
| Check Result | Effect |
|---|---|
| Critical failure | Something about the artifact is misunderstood, +1 cumulative step penalty for the purpose of understanding the artifact function. |
| Failure | One of the drawbacks is activated without earning any meaningful insight |
| Ordinary | earn an insight on the object functions, -1 cumulative bonus for the purpose of understanding the artifact function. |
| Good | realize some important fact about the artifact, -2 cumulative bonus for the purpose of understanding the artifact function. |
| Amazing | the character will understand one of the artifact function or one of its drawbacks |
The bonuses and penalties accumulate until one feature or drawback is understood.
Understood functions can be freely activated (within the limits of the artifact), including the possibility of triggering its drawbacks.
Understood drawbacks have there effects reduced.
Ambidextrous
A hero with this perk can use both hands at the same time with more ease than someone who is not ambidextrous. A hero without this perk suffers penalties when using his off-hand or when attempting to use two weapons in combat.
With this perk, the penalty for the action using the off-hand is reduced to +2 steps, and the penalty for the primary hand is eliminated.
Attacking with two weapons
A character can arm himself with two weapons, so long as each weapon is an object that can be wielded with one hand. These weapons can be of any type.
Any attack a character makes with the weapon in his off-hand (the one he normally doesn’t use) receives a +4 step penalty, and any attack with the weapon in his skilled hand receives a +2 step penalty.
Attacks with two weapons are considered simultaneous, that is, they both occur in the same phase.
Animal Friend
Animals of all kinds innately trust a hero who has this perk. The hero can easily befriend animals, and he makes all encounter rolls involving normal animals with a -2 bonus. The hero makes Animal Handling skill checks with a -1 bonus, in addition to other modifiers that may apply.
This bonus has the effect of making it possible for the hero to train an animal in less time than would be needed by a hero who does not have this perk. The perk has no effect on sentient or unintelligent creatures.
Celebrity
This perk indicates that the hero is famous in certain circles, as chosen by the player and GM.
The character can be an entertainment celebrity, a renowned scientist, doctor, or war hero, or he can enjoy celebrity status for another reason that the GM approves.
In a circumstance when a hero’s Celebrity might have an effect, the GM may call for a perk check at the start of the scene to determine if the perk makes any difference in what’s about to happen. A movie star may be adored by those who watch his films, but his celebrity status means nothing to those who have never seen a movie or read a personality profile of the star.
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Critical Failure | celebrity status backfires and the hero is mobbed by the crowd |
| Marginal | no modifier |
| Ordinary | -1 bonus |
| Good | -2 bonus |
| Amazing | -3 bonus |
As a celebrity’s achievement level improves, so does the bonus applied to the perk check:
| Hero level | Bonus |
|---|---|
| 0-4 | No bonus |
| 5-9 | -1 step |
| 10-14 | -2 steps |
| 15+ | -3 steps |
Concentration
This perk provides a hero with the ability to concentrate on the task at hand. By using it as an action, the hero makes a Concentration check to improve a stated task that he wants to attempt as his next action.
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Failure | Next action is made with no modifier for Concentration |
| Ordinary | -1 bonus |
| Good | -2 bonus |
| Amazing | -3 bonus |
If a hero is disturbed in any way prior to attempting the stated task, the Concentration perk bonus is lost.
Danger sense
This perk provides a hero with the innate ability to anticipate danger.
This translates as a -2 bonus to all Awareness-intuition checks.
Faith
This perk provides a hero with belief in either himself or a power or agency greater than himself. The player must select what the hero has faith in and the basic tenets of that faith.
Examples include a nation, a religion, or a specific organization.
This faith must be strong and all-encompassing, The hero must truly be fervent in his belief in this faith, not just be a casual observer of form and ritual. A hero with this perk who doesn’t show extreme devotion loses the benefits it provides.
The first time the Faith perk is called upon during an adventure, the hero’s base situation die for the perk check is -d4. Each additional use at this perk in the same adventure receives a cumulative +1 penalty. The moment a hero fails a perk check, he can’t call upon the benefits of this perk until the next adventure or the next game session, as determined by the GM.
With the Faith perk, a hero can appear to perform miracles when the perk is used in conjunction with a skill that doesn’t go against the tenets of the hero’s faith. For example, a member of the clergy can call on Faith to help him solve a problem, apply medical aid to a character, or settle a dispute. But the benefits can’t be applied to firing a weapon at a living foe. The benefits of Faith depend on a perk check:
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Critical Failure | the hero fails not only the perk check but the skill check that follows it,and this perk can’t be used again until the next adventure or game session (as the GM determines). |
| Failure | the perk provides no benefit, and it can’t be used again until the next adventure or game session (as the DM determines). |
| Ordinary | the result of the hero’s subsequent skill check is improved by one degree of success |
| Good | the next skill check result is improved by two degrees of success. |
| Amazing | the next skill check result is improved by three degrees at success. |
a result can never be improved to any degree greater than Amazing.
Example: The Weren shaman Gorrarl must apply first aid to a badly wounded companion, he calls on his Faith perk first, achieving a Good success on the perk check. This grants him an improvement of two degrees at success on his first aid check result. The dice indicate that his first aid check is a Critical Failure, but because of his perk it instead becomes an Ordinary success.
Filthy Rich
This perk suggests a lot about your hero’s background and usually indicates a connection to a wealthy (and perhaps influential) family.
This perk influences your hero’s starting funds, as described in Chapter 9: Goods & Services.
If the hero ever needs to acquire funds, he can make a Filthy Rich check (with the permission of the GM).
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Failure | funds aren’t forthcoming. |
| Ordinary or better | funds he needs are available. |
The more the hero asks for, however, the greater the situation die penalty.
Finally, Filthy Rich heroes have other advantages due to their social and financial status. This translates into a bonus to Personality-based skills when the hero decides to reveal his status. A perk check is made at the start of a scene. Results follow:
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Critical Failure | the hero’s status backfires, resulting in a +1 penalty to all checks related to Personality skills. |
| Failure | no effect |
| Ordinary | -1 step bonus |
| Good | -2 steps bonus |
| Amazing | -3 steps bonus |
The GM can determine that in some situations the Filthy Rich perk can operate as a flaw, specially among those who have a strong dislike for the wealthy and the upper classes. If a hero reveals his status in such a situation, perk check results become penalties instead of bonuses (or vice versa)
Fist of Iron
This perk provides a hero with a 1-point increase to the damage he inflicts on a successful Unarmed Attack skill check.
The use of this perk requires a perk check at the start of a combat scene. This check requires the hero to spend one action concentrating to increase the power of his punches.
A hero with the power martial arts specialty skill can spend 5 skill points for improved Fists of Iron. The result of the check determines his bonus for the scene:
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Critical Failure | no benefit |
| Failure | 1 point increase to damage |
| Ordinary | 2 point increase to damage |
| Good | 3 point increase to damage |
| Amazing | 4 point increase to damage |
Example: A hero normally dishes out d4s/d4+2s/d6+2s in damage when he makes an Unarmed Attack.
If that same hero has Fists of Iron, he inflicts d4+1s/d4+3s/d6+3s.
With Improved Fists of Iron, the damage can be as high as d4+4s/d4+6s/d6+6s on an amazing perk check result.
Fortitude
A hero with Fortitude receives a -1 bonus whenever he is required to make a Stamina-endurance check.
Good Luck
A hero with the Good Luck perk can make use of this benefit once during a scene.
Immediately before attempting some other type of action(usually a skill check, an action check, or a feat check), the hero can make a Good Luck perk check, the result of this check provides a modifier to the next activity the hero undertakes:
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Critical Failure | bad luck occurs instead and the hero takes a +3 penalty |
| Marginal | -1 bonus |
| Ordinary | -2 bonus |
| Good | -3 bonus |
| Amazing | -4 bonus |
Great Looks
A hero with the Great Looks perk receives a —1 bonus to any Personality-based skill check made when his appearance could have a positive effect on an encounter.
Bear in mind that a human hero’s great looks might not impress an alien, and even some other human cultures may have a different idea of what Great Looks are—it’s a very subjective perk. The GM determines when the perk’s bonus is applied and when it isn’t.
Heightened Ability
This perk provides a hero with 1 extra point in the Ability Score of his choice.
It can’t be used to increase any Ability Score beyond the hero’s species maximum. When this perk is purchased, the player raises the hero’s Ability Score by 1 point, adjusting the Ability’s resistance modifier and any bonuses if necessary.
Observant
This perk provides the hero with exceptional powers of observation, giving him a -1 bonus to any Awareness-perception check.
Photo Memory
This perk give the hero an extraordinary memory. When the player wants to determine what his hero remembers, or if he wants his hero to remember a specific details (such as a license plate number or details of a document he glanced at), then a perk check is made. An Ordinary success is usually enough to provide some details the hero wants. The GM sets the situation die according to the type of detail and memory the hero is trying to recall.
For example, an attempt to remember something the hero knows extremely well might receive a -3 bonus or might not even require a check at all, while recalling the image of a face glimpsed briefly in the dark might receive a +3 penalty.
Powerful Ally
When this perk is selected, the GM and the player should discuss the nature and identity of this ally. There might also be some sort of cost involved for the continued assistance of an ally—the ally might be the hero’s patron, who can call on the hero for help as often as the hero calls on him, or the ally might just collect favors and call them in at some future time.
When in trouble, a hero can call on his Powerful Ally for favors or help. A perk check determines what kind of aid the ally provides. Bear in mind that the hero needs a way to contact his ally, and the ally needs a way to respond.
| Check results | Effects |
|---|---|
| Failure | no aid is forthcoming |
| Ordinary | ordinary help |
| Good | good help |
| Amazing | amazing help |
These terms are defined in the GM Guide.
Psionic Awareness
A hero with Psionic Awareness is entitled to an Intelligence feat check to determine whether he realizes that a psionic power is being used in his vicinity. (Heroes without this perk are not normally allowed checks to determine whether they can detect psionic activity.)
The GM will determine when such a check should be made, and will roll the check secretly: only giving the player of the hero any information when the check is successful.
This perk can only be selected if the GM allows the use of psionics.
Reflexes
A hero with the Reflexes perk receives a +1 increase to his Dexterity resistance modifier. So, a hero with a Dexterity score of 11 who has a resistance modifier of +1 step increases the modifier to +2 steps with this perk.
Reputation
This perk provides a hero with a reputation that’s known far and wide. Unlike the Celebrity perk, which indicates a positive reaction due to the influence of a hero’s Personality, the Reputation perk helps the hero by making others fearful of or impressed by his supposed accomplishments.
In game terms, this perk provides a situation die bonus whenever the hero attempts to use certain encounter skills. The player and the GM need to work aut just what the hero’s reputation is, and which encounter skills it provides a bonus to.
As a character’s achievement level improves, he becomes better able to take advantage of his reputation:
| Hero level | Bonus |
|---|---|
| 0-4 | No bonus |
| 5-9 | -1 step |
| 10-14 | -2 steps |
| 15+ | -3 steps |
Tough as Nail
This perk provides the hero with a +1 step increase to his Strength resistance modifier. So, a hero with a Strength score of 11 who has a resistance modifier of +1 step (the penalty to his opponent’s rolls) increases the modifier to +2 steps with this perk.
Vigor
This perk allows a hero to increase the amount of damage he can sustain.
For 2 skill points, a hero can increase his stun rating by 1 point.
For 3 skill points, a hero can increase his wound rating by 1 point.
For 4 skill points, a hero can increase his mortal rating and his fatigue rating by 1 point each.
Each of these benefits may be Purchased once. So, if a hero spends 9 skill points, he can increase all of his ability ratings (stun, wound, mortal, and fatigue) by 1 point each.
Willpower
This perk provides the hero with a +1 step increase to his Will resistance modifier. So, a hero with a Will score of 11 who has a resistance modifier of +1 step (the penalty to his opponent’s rolls) increases the modifier to +2 steps with this perk.
Flaws Description
Flaws are disadvantages you can select for your hero that provide additional points for the purchase of skills. A player can never select more than three flaws for his character, but additional flaws may be assigned to a hero over the course of a campaign.
Bad Luck
A hero with this flaw suffers a Critical Failure result whenever a 19 or 20 comes up on the control die.
Clueless
A hero with the Clueless flaw thinks he’s proficient in a particular specialty skill, when in fact he’s not as good as he thinks he is. The specialty skill is chosen by the GM secretly—the hero must discover the fact that he’s clueless over the course of the campaign, and he may not ever realize it at all. The chosen specialty skill is never one that’s associated with a hero’s profession; it will either be a skill from the Open group or from one of the other profession groups.
For 2 bonus skill points, the hero receives a +1 penalty to the skill in question.
For 4 bonus skill points, the hero receives a +2 penalty to the skill in question.
For 6 bonus skill points, the hero receives a +3 penalty to the skill in question.
Clumsy
A hero with the Clumsy flaw has poor coordination and an unsteady hand. He receives a +1 penalty to all Dexterity-based skill checks.
Code of Honor
The Code of Honor flaw represents a standard the hero decides to live by. A Code of Honor must have real consequences to the life of the hero and the campaign in general, and living up to the code shouldn’t always be easy or even the right decision. A Code of Honor that requires a hero to attack any evil aliens he meets isn’t that much of a burden, but defending all aliens in a human-dominated galaxy is.
The player and the GM need to work out the hero’s Code of Honor when this flaw is selected. They should also discuss the types of events that might trigger the hero’s overblown sense of duty, honor, and commitment.
Examples of characters who have codes of honor that could be flaws include clergymen, law enforcers, government officials, business administrators, and doctors.
The achievement points a hero receives for participating in an adventure can be reduced if this flaw isn’t roleplayed as part of the hero’s basic makeup.
Delicate
A hero with the Delicate flaw suffers 1 point of stun damage whenever he makes a successful Unarmed Attack against an opponent. If the hero suffers enough stun damage to leave him with less than half of his stun points, he can’t attempt an Unarmed Attack—he must regain a number of stun points sufficient to bring him back to the halfway mark (at least) before he can use the skill again.
Dirty poor
The Dirt Poor flaw suggests a lot about a hero’s background and usually indicates an impoverished upbringing. This flaw influences a hero’s starting funds, as detailed in Chapter 9: Goods & Services(TODO Reference).
In addition, it adds a +1 penalty to any use of the hero’s Personality-based skills when he tries to deal with situations involving characters from a higher social or financial standing.
The GM also determines a character (not another hero) to whom the hero owes money. As the campaign progresses, the hero must make payments to this character to remain in good standing. How this works in a particular campaign is left to the GM.
Forgetful
A hero with the Forgetful flaw has trouble remembering details—his recollection of a name, face, or fact has a tendency to slip away when the hero needs it most. A Forgetful character receives a +1 penalty to all Intelligence-based skill checks.
Fragile
A hero with the Fragile flaw is hampered by a +1 penalty to all Stamina-endurance skill checks he makes as a result of damage he has suffered.
Infamy
Infamy is a state of being publicly known for an evil or criminal act.
The player and the GM need to agree on what the hero is infamous for (it could be trumped-up charges, or the hero can have a genuinely shady past) and what triggers the flaw. It could be a phrase the hero always says, or the weapon he uses, or when he’s in the presence of a particular alien species or a member of a particular nation. Once recognized for his Infamy, a hero suffers penalties to the use of Personality-based skills and may even wind up hunted or in a battle.
For 2 bonus skill points, a hero is infamous for a minor crime or is known throughout a small area of the campaign setting. He receives a + 1 penalty to all Personality-based skill checks.
For 4 bonus skill points, a hero is infamous for a moderate crime or is known throughout a moderate-sized area of the campaign setting. He receives a +2 penalty to all Personality-based skill checks.
For 6 bonus skill points, a hero is infamous for a severe crime or is known throughout a large area of the campaign setting. He receives a +3 penalty to all Personality-based skill checks when this flaw is triggered.
Oblivious
A hero with the Oblivious flaw has trouble noticing things, suffering a +1 penalty to all Awareness-perception skill checks.
Obsessed
This flaw indicates that a hero is obsessed with a particular person, place, or thing, which is known as the trigger for the flaw. An Obsessed hero may forget what he’s doing or turn his attention to the object of his obsession even in the middle of a tense situation.
The player and the GM need to decide on a trigger when this flaw is selected. The trigger should somehow be tied to the hero’s background or personality.
For example, a scientist might be obsessed with exotic insects, or an engineer with new and interesting technology. Less cerebral heroes might be Obsessed with another character, a fast vehicle, or a type of food.
For 2 bonus skill points, a hero is moderately distracted by the triggering event. He receives a +1 penalty to any actions not related to the obsession.
For 4 points, a hero is substantially distracted by the triggering event. He receives a +2 penalty to any actions not related to the obsession.
For 6 points, the hero is almost completely distracted. He receives a +3 penalty to any actions not related to the obsession.
Old Injury
Sometime in the past, the hero suffered an injury. Now that Old Injury acts up every so often, inflicting wounds on the hero. The player and the GM should agree on a triggering event, but in general it should be something physical: An attempt to run or jump, getting involved in a close-quarters attack, and an attempt to dodge are all acceptable triggers. An Old Injury can be triggered once per scene, though the effects remain until the character is healed. (Note that if a character wants to remove this flaw, a medical procedure must be included as part of the removal process. See Chapter 8: Achievements for more details.)
For 2 bonus skill points, a hero suffers 1 point of wound damage when this flaw is triggered.
For 4 bonus skill points, a hero suffers 2 points of wound damage plus 1 point of secondary stun damage when this flaw is triggered. For 6 bonus skill points, a hero suffers 3 points of wound damage plus 1 point of secondary stun damage when this flaw is triggered.
Note: Wearing armor does not offset or reduce this damage.
Phobia
This Raw represents an irrational fear that hampers the hero in some way. The hero selects a specific fear that may or may not come into play in any given adventure. It should be a general fear (moving vehicles), not a specific one (moving green taxicabs with purple dots and yellow flags), to qualify as a flaw.
When the hero is confronted by his Phobia, he suffers a penalty.
For 2 bonus skill points, a hero suffers a +1 penalty to all actions while this flaw is in effect.
For 4 bonus skill points, a hero suffers a +2 penalty to all actions while this flaw is in effect.
For 6 bonus skill points, a hero freezes or flees as appropriate while this flaw is in effect.
Poor Looks
A hero with the Poor Looks flaw suffers a +1 penalty to all Personality-based skill checks when appearance could have a negative effect. Poor Looks isn’t just a measure of physical beauty; it includes manners, grooming, and overall appearance.
Bear in mind that a human hero’s Poor Looks might not be seen as such by an alien, and even some other human cultures may have a different idea of what Poor Looks are. The GM determines when the flaw’s penalty is applied and when it isn’t, depending on the situation.
Powerful Enemy
A hero with this flaw begins play with a Powerful Enemy who’s out to make his life terrible. This enemy must have a long reach, lots of subordinates, and the ability to affect the hero wherever he may be. How close the enemy’s base of operations is and how often he can affect the hero are determined by the number of skill points the flaw provides.
Examples of powerful enemies include a specific law enforcement agency (especially if the hero is a fugitive), a corporation, a government, a criminal organization, or an alien conspiracy. In all cases the true enemy should remain unknown for a long time, and direct contact between the enemy and the hero shouldn’t occur while the hero is at low achievement levels.
Primitive
This flaw indicates that a hero has come from a primitive culture and upbringing, which causes problems for him when dealing with modem technology.
For 2 bonus skill points, a hero receives a +1 penalty whenever he uses modern technology. For 4 bonus skill points, a hero receives a +2 penalty whenever he uses modern technology. For 6 bonus skill points, a hero receives a +3 penalty whenever he uses modern technology, and he is either awed into inactivity or flees in terror for d4+1 time units in the face of some technological wonder he hasn’t seen before.
Slow
A hero with the Slow flaw has reduced reaction time, which manifests as a +1 penalty to his action checks.
Spineless
The Spineless flaw hampers a hero by weakening his will, making him fearful, indecisive, and easier to manipulate. This is reflected in a reduction to the hero’s Will resistance modifier.
For 2 bonus skill points, a hero’s Will resistance modifier is reduced by 1 step.
For 4 points, a hero’s Will resistance modifier is reduced by 2 steps.
For 6 points, a hero’s Will resistance modifier is reduced by 3 steps.
Temper
A hero with this flaw has a short fuse. The player and the GM must agree on what type of event triggers the hero’s Temper flaw.
For 2 bonus skill points, the hero becomes gruff and mean, suffering a + 1 penalty to all actions until the triggering event ends and he calms down.
For 4 bonus skill points, the hero reacts without thinking, suffering a +2 penalty to all actions until the triggering event ends and he calms down.
For 6 bonus skill points, the hero flies into a berserk rage, suffering a +3 penalty until the triggering event ends and he calms down.