+10 Bargain, +25 Craft:

Type A, +15 Craft: Type B, +15 Organization Lore: Guild, +10 Folk Ken

THREE YEARS: +10 Bargain, +15 Craft: Type A, +10 Craft: Type B, +5 Organization Lore: Guild, +5 Folk Ken

A cultist has spent years worshiping an evil force in secret. If the character has the Ceremony Virtue, he can apply some of his experience points in Infernal Lore to that Ability instead. This package might also represent a pagan (in which case substitute Faerie Lore for Infernal Lore), or a devotee of a mystery cult (substitute Organization Lore: Cult and Magic Lore for Infernal Lore).

FIVE YEARS: +15 Guile, +50 Infernal Lore, +10 Stealth

THREE YEARS: +15 Guile, +30 Infernal Lore

Knows the local legends and the ways of the fae.

THREE YEARS: +10 (Area) Lore, +5 Bargain, +30 Faerie Lore

A cutter is trained in patching up the wounded and administering first aid; alternatively, he could be an empiricus, a traveling surgeon.

THREE YEARS: +40 Chirurgy, +5 Folk Ken

The character must have the Failed Apprentice Virtue to take this package, which permits her to take Arcane and Academic Abilities. She probably has several years of Student to account for her Academic Abilities. It is assumed that she has no Art scores; either she has not been Opened to the Arts, or else her ability to work Hermetic magic has been destroyed.

FIVE YEARS: +5 Artes Liberales, +5 Code of Hermes, +5 Concentration, +5 Finesse, +10 Latin, +25 Magic Theory, +15 Organization Lore: Order of Hermes, +5 Penetration

THREE YEARS: +5 Concentration, +10 Latin, +20 Magic Theory, +5 Organization Lore: Order of Hermes, +5 Penetration

FIVE YEARS: +15 Animal Handling, +15 Area Lore, +5 Folk Ken, +40 Profession: Farmer

THREE YEARS: +10 Animal Handling, +5 Folk Ken, +30 Profession: Farmer

FIVE YEARS: +15 Area Lore, +30 Profession: Fisherman, +15 Survival, +15 Swim

THREE YEARS: +5 Area Lore, +20 Profession: Fisherman, +5 Survival, +15 Swim

FIVE YEARS: +15 Athletics, +15 Guile, +15 Legerdemain, +30 Stealth THREE YEARS: +5 Athletics, +5 Guile, +15 Legerdemain, +20 Stealth

Carouse is most appropriate for an alehouse strumpet or street-corner

working girl, whereas Etiquette is more suited to a courtesan or mistress. They typically gain an Organization Lore appropriate to their clientele. The Trader package (taking Profession: Prostitute) is also appropriate.

FIVE YEARS: +30 Charm, +30 Carouse or Etiquette, +15 Organization Lore THREE YEARS: +20 Charm, +20 Carouse or Etiquette, +5 Organization Lore

FIVE YEARS: +10 (Area) Lore, +30 Chirurgy, +5 Folk Ken, +30 Profession: Apothecary

THREEYEARS: +5 (Area) Lore, +30 Chirurgy, +10 Profession: Apothecary

This package can also be used for troops trained in the sling.

FIVE YEARS: +20 Athletics, +15 Awareness, +40 Thrown Weapon THREE YEARS: +10 Athletics, +5 Awareness, +30 Thrown Weapon

FIVE YEARS: +20 Athletics, +15 Brawl, +40 Profession: Laborer THREE YEARS: +10 Athletics, +5 Brawl, +30 Profession: Laborer

A lay brother works at a monastery, but has not taken Holy Orders. This package is also suitable for novices preparing for ordination. In the latter case, some years of Student are appropriate. The Profession Ability could be Scribe, Gardener, Brewer, or any other suitable trade.

FIVE YEARS: +50 Organization Lore: Church, +10 Folk Ken, +15 Profession (see earlier)

THREE YEARS: +30 Organization Lore: Church, +15 Profession (see earlier)

Suitable for characters with Supernatural Abilities, although the scores in these Abilities are purchased with extra years, as detailed earlier. The wizard can also buy Enriched Objects of Virtue by sacrificing 5 experience points per object (see Realms of Power: Magic, page 124).

FIVE YEARS: +15 Concentration, +30 Magic Lore, +30 Penetration THREE YEARS: +15 Concentration, +15 Magic Lore, +15 Penetration

FIVE YEARS: +15 Carouse, +5 Charm, +5 Folk Ken, +50 Music THREE YEARS: +15 Carouse, +30 Music

This hermit spends his days in contemplation of the Divine, but the same package could be used for a different Realm of Power.

FIVE YEARS: +20 Concentration, +5 Organization Lore: Church, +30 Dominion Lore, +20 Survival THREE YEARS: +10 Concentration, +20 Dominion Lore, +15 Survival

A natural philosopher seeks to uncover the wonders of the natural world through his studies. The focus of a natural philosopher could equally be Artes Liberales or Medicine. For rules on formulae, see Art & Academe, Chapter 5.

FIVE YEARS: +40 Philosophiae, 7 formulae THREE YEARS: +30 Philosophiae, 3 formulae

FIVE YEARS: +20 Athletics, +15 Awareness, +40 Great Weapon THREE YEARS: +10 Athletics, +5 Awareness, +30 Great Weapon

A physician is assumed to have attended school or university to study Medicine, and so such a character should take at least five years of Student and have a Virtue that grants extra experience in Academic Abilities. Many physicians never learn Chirurgy; for those who do, take the Cutter package.

FIVE YEARS: +15 Folk Ken, +40 Medicine, +20 Profession: Apothecary THREE YEARS: +5 Folk Ken, +30 Medicine, +10 Profession: Apothecary

Suitable for reeves, mayors, and so forth, but also priests who take an active role in local politics, and members of a craft guild.

FIVE YEARS: +15 (Area) Lore, +15 Intrigue, +15 Leadership, +30 (Organization) Lore

THREE YEARS: +10 (Area) Lore, +10 Intrigue, +10 Leadership, +15 (Organization) Lore

FIVE YEARS: +15 Area Lore: Area A, +10 Area Lore: Area B, +30 Profession: Sailor, +5 Survival, +15 Swim THREE YEARS: +5 Area Lore, +20 Profession: Sailor, +5 Survival, +15 Swim

FIVE YEARS: +15 Area Lore, +30 Awareness, +30 Stealth THREE YEARS: +15 Area Lore, +15 Awareness, +15 Stealth

You may replace Latin with any Living or Dead Language that the scribe might be using.

FIVE YEARS: +20 Artes Liberales, +15 Latin, +40 Profession: Scribe THREE YEARS: +10 Artes Liberales, +10 Latin, +25 Profession: Scribe

FIVE YEARS: +30 Awareness, +15 Concentration, +30 Single Weapon THREE YEARS: +20 Awareness, +5 Concentration, +20 Single Weapon

FIVE YEARS: +15 Folk Ken, +20 (Organization) Lore, +40 Profession: Servant

THREE YEARS: +10 Folk Ken, +5 (Organization) Lore, +30 Profession: Servant

FIVE YEARS: +15 Athletics, +20 Brawl, +40 Single Weapon

THREE YEARS: +5 Athletics, +10 Brawl, +30 Single Weapon

FIVE YEARS: +15 Guile, +5 Carouse, +5 Folk Ken, +50 Profession: Storyteller THREE YEARS: +15 Guile, +30 Profession: Storyteller

This package assumes that the character has received academic teaching at a parish school, cathedral school, or monastic school, or from a private tutor. Characters who have attended a university receive additional experience points from their Social Status Virtues (see Art & Academe, pages 90–92). Characters attending a parish school can only take the threeyear package, since these schools only teach Artes Liberales and Latin.

FIVE YEARS (CATHEDRAL SCHOOL): +15 Artes Liberales, +30 Latin, +15 Theology, +15 Civil and Canon Law OR Philosophiae

FIVE YEARS (MONASTIC SCHOOL): +15 Artes Liberales, +30 Latin, +15 Theology, +15 Medicine OR Philosophiae

FIVE YEARS (PRIVATE TUTOR OR UNIVER-SITY): +15 Artes Liberales, +30 Latin, +30 any Academic Ability

THREE YEARS (PARISH SCHOOL): +15 Artes Liberales, +30 Latin

The Teacher package covers the academic life. The character receives experience points in whatever language he is speaking when he teaches, which is usually Latin.

FIVE YEARS: +15 Artes Liberales, +5 Folk Ken, +15 Language, +40 Teaching

FIVE YEARS: +15 Area Lore: Area A, +15 Area Lore: Area B, +15 Bargain, +15 Craft, +15 Survival THREE YEARS: +15 Area Lore, +15 Craft, +15 Survival

Not necessarily a priest, a theologian is assumed to have attended school or university to study Theology, and so should take at least five years of

Student or have a Virtue which grants extra experience in Academic Abilities.

FIVE YEARS: +15 Civil & Canon Law, +15 Organization Lore: Church, +5 Latin, +40 Theology

THREE YEARS: +5 Civil & Canon Law, +5 Organization Lore: Church, +5 Latin, +30 Theology

This package can be used for any individual who makes a living from a profession rather than a craft, by changing the Profession Ability to something more appropriate.

FIVE YEARS: +30 Bargain, +15 Folk Ken, +30 Profession: Merchant THREE YEARS: +20 Bargain, +5 Folk Ken, +20 Profession: Merchant

FIVE YEARS: +50 Athletics, +10 Carouse, +15 Legerdemain THREE YEARS: +30 Athletics, +5 Carouse, +10 Legerdemain

FIVE YEARS: +15 Area Lore, +30 Hunt, +15 Stealth, +15 Survival

These packages represent suites of background skills acquired throughout a person's life rather than specifically learned for a trade. Characters usually take these packages only once or twice.

THREE YEARS: +30 Athletics, +5 Brawl, +5 Ride, +5 Swim

This package is also good for a character taught the basics of self-defense.

THREE YEARS: +15 Athletics, +30 Brawl

THREE YEARS: +30 Charm, +5 Folk Ken, +5 Guile, +5 Intrigue

Characters who have not had exposure to Latin must redistribute the experience points in that language to the other Abilities of this package.

THREE YEARS: +5 Area Lore, +20 Area Lore: Covenant, +15 Latin, +5 Organization Lore: Order of Hermes

Someone used to relying on the land to supplement his diet would employ this package.

It is often tedious to calculate combat statistics for a grog. The following table has pre-calculated combat statistics for common weapons, with the following assumptions: the character has a 5 in the appropriate Ability with a specialty in the weapon indicated; the character has a Dexterity and Quickness of 0, a Strength of 0 or equal to the minimum Strength required for the weapon (whichever is greater); and the character has zero encumbrance. It is a quick job to apply the appropriate Characteristics to the combat totals and subtract encumbrance from Initiative.

WEAPON	ABILITY	INITIATIVE	ATTACK	DEFENSE	DAMAGE	LOAD
Dagger	Brawl	0	+8	+6	+3	0
Bludgeon	Brawl	0	+8	+6	+2	1
Axe & Buckler Shield	Single	+1	+10	+6	+6	2
Short Spear & Buckler Shield	Single	+2	+8	+7	+5	2
Short Sword & Round Shield	Single	+1	+9	+9	+5	3
Long Sword & Heater Shield	Single	+2	+10	+10	+6	3
Mace & Heater Shield	Single	+1	+9	+9	+8	4
Great Sword	Great	+2	+11	+8	+10	2
Staff	Great	+2	+9	+9	+2	2
Warhammer	Great	0	+12	+6	+14	3
Pole Arm	Great	+3	+10	+7	+8	2
Sling & Buckler Shield	Thrown	–3	+7	+7	+4	1
Javelin & Round Shield	Thrown	0	+8	+8	+5	3
Short Bow	Bow	–1	+9	+6	+6	2

Elaine wants to play a grog who is the younger son of a noble family that has fallen on hard times. Sir Edwin has nevertheless trained for knighthood. He has the Warrior Virtue, allowing Martial Abilities. Sir Edwin had a Social Childhood, and Elaine assumes that he has been a Courtier for three years, a Rider for six years, and a Soldier for eight years. Elaine ends up with a 22 year old character with the following experience points: +30 Animal Handling, +20 Athletics, +30 Brawl, +20 Charm, +30 Etiquette, +20 Folk Ken, +15 Guile, +5 Intrigue, +75 Native Language, +60 Ride, +70 Single Weapon. Since Sir Edwin will be principally using a lance, Elaine decides to change the score in Single Weapon to Great Weapon

instead. This leaves the character with the following Abilities: Animal Handling 3, Athletics 2(5), Brawl 3, Charm 2(5), Etiquette 3, Folk Ken 2(5), Great Weapon 4(20), Guile 2, Intrigue 1, Native Language 5, Ride 4(10).

Since Sir Edwin has taken the Poor Flaw, he is actually 31 years old. She applies 35 of the experience points from the Warrior Virtue to the Great Weapon Ability, taking it to 6 (since Sir Edwin is older than 30), and puts the remaining 15 experience points into Single Weapon 2. She could make this a score of 3 with the left-over experience points in some of the other Abilities (5 from Folk Ken and 10 from Ride, for example) if she wanted.

Further examples include:

BANDIT: Athletic childhood; Fisherman, Woodsman, Scout, Soldier BEGGAR: Exploring childhood; Tinker, Conman, Local

BURGLAR: Mischievous childhood; Local, Footpad, Tumbler

DRILL SERGEANT: Athletic childhood; Soldier, Trainer, Leader

MERCENARY: Exploring childhood; Soldier, Leader, Brawler, Forager

TOWNSMAN: Social childhood; Local, Trader, Public Official

SKIRMISHER: Athletic childhood; Rider, Soldier, Javeliner

WANDERING FRIAR: Exploring childhood; Lay Brother, Student, Churchman, Tinker

VILLAGER: Athletic childhood; Laborer, Farmer, Local, Forager

THREE YEARS: +15 Area Lore, +15 Hunt, +15 Survival

This is suitable for anyone in a position of authority.

THREE YEARS: +10 Folk Ken, +5 Charm, +30 Leadership

A villager or townsman who has good local knowledge of the area and its institutions can claim this package.

THREE YEARS: +15 Area Lore, +15 Folk Ken, +15 Organization Lore

THREE YEARS: +15 Animal Handling, +30 Ride

This package is suitable for drill sergeants, master craftsmen, and so forth.

THREE YEARS: +5 Folk Ken, +5 Language, +5 Leadership, +30 Teaching

Someone who has wasted years of his life in taverns gambling and drinking would acquire these skills.

THREE YEARS: +5 Brawl, +30 Carouse, +5 Folk Ken, +5 Guile