Attributes and Modifiers
Attributes
Attributes are the main statistics that detail your character, showing their strengths and weaknesses. Every character has them, but the values may differ wildly. There are five of them – Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), Intelligence (INT), Charisma (CHA) and Endurance (END). The value of each of your attribute, whether positive or negative, is added as a modifier when you make a check associated to the given attribute.
Strength (STR) covers physical muscle and exertion of force.
Dexterity (DEX) is responsible for nimbleness, flexibility, balance, hand-eye coordination and precision, as well as reflexes, awareness and being able to react to stimuli.
Intelligence (INT) takes care of things related to logic, deduction, improvisation and intuition, memory, the ability to learn and use knowledge.
Charisma (CHA) covers charm, strength of personality and spirit, individuality, appearance (a bit) and understanding of social situations.
Endurance (END) encompasses willpower and constitution in one, resilience, the ability to withstand outside damage, ability and desire to concentrate on tasks regardless of external conditions and just overall healthiness.
Determining attributes
You get a certain number of points, the exact amount depending on your rank. This information may be found on the table at the Game Stats page. Every attribute starts at a base value of -2. You can increase a given attribute value via said points, one point being equal to a +1 increase in one stat. There is a cap on how high any one attribute can be, equal to your PL. You do not have to use all your points. The attributes and resulting applied modifiers are directly equal to each other.
Derived modifiers
By default, the attributes may be used as modifiers in checks. As a whole, any check utilizing purely one of the modifiers are referred to as an Ability check. Generally, when a character is trying to accomplish something beneficial to them, it’s going to be some sort of an Ability check.
However, there are different types of checks than just Ability checks. They still primarily derive their modifiers from one of the attributes, however some game terms may only apply to them.
Saving modifier is used whenever the creature is trying to avoid a bad situation, this is the modifier to use. By default, all Saving throws use Endurance. However, at times a character may have the option to choose using a different modifier instead of Endurance. This other option (or options) will be noted in parenthesis, such as Saving (Dexterity) or Saving (Charisma or Intelligence).
Spellcasting modifier is the modifier used for casting spells or using spells in any other way. The default is either Intelligence or Charisma, this depending on the class chosen. You may have two Spellcasting modifiers if you have two classes, each using a different attribute as a base. If a class has access to spells from the general spell list and those require a spellcasting modifier as well, they use the same one. If an item requires you to use your spellcasting modifier and you do not have one from your class, use Intelligence.
Attack modifier is used when attacking another creature. By default, melee attacks use Strength, ranged attack use Dexterity and magical attacks use their Spellcasting modifier.