Characteristics

Characteristics measure natural talent or ability in various fields, ranked in Levels usually ranging from 1–10 (but sometimes above or below).

Characteristic Level Comparison

Level 0 or less: Disabled. Scores below 1 are unusual, and normally indicate the character is crippled (or dead). TECH below 1 would indicate a complete lack of motor control, INT would indicate brain death, PER would indicate a coma, STAM would indicate death, COOL would indicate mental breakdown, and so on.
Level 1–2: Weak. This indicates an obvious deficiency, and possibly a crippling inability. People at these levels are challenged in daily life.
Level 3–4: Low. A common score, indicating an everyday but low ability: out of shape, dim, unremarkable, but capable of leading a normal life.
Level 5: Average. This is the average score in everything for adults.
Level 6–7: Able. Most people have at least one score in this range, indicating they are capable at it, but not exceptional.
Level 8–9: Strong. This is the range of the exceptional and noticeably good, and most people do not have abilities in this range. An ability at this level is likely to guide a person's life: professional athletes, renowned academics, and politicians.
Level 10: Great. This is the pinnacle of unaugmented human ability. Very few people have even a single Characteristic at this level.
Level 11+: Superhuman. This level is only achieved through cybernetic or biotechnical augmentation.

Reflex (REF): Agility, reaction speed, coordination, and balance. Covers combat and movement.
Stamina (STAM): Endurance, health, physical tolerance. Used to resist injury, poison, and disease.
Strength (STR): Muscle mass and tone. Used to exert force.
Technique (TECH): Manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and manipulation of tools.

Intelligence (INT): Cleverness, memory, reasoning ability, and facility for learning and comprehending things.
Perception (PER): Sensory acuity and awareness, used for noticing things and processing or separating sensory information.
Cool (COOL): Willpower, attitude, and coolness. How tough you act as well as mental fortitude. Used both to resist influence and to influence others.
Empathy (EMP): Capacity for understanding people and empathizing with them, including compassion and conscience. Used to understand people and influence them through their own empathy.