Attributes
As in most RPG's, ∞ Infinity characters have a number of Attributes, which represent innate abilities of the character (whereas skills are learned abilities). The six Attributes are Dexterity, Strength, Endurance, Intellect, Influence, and Spirit.
Each Attribute has a number of associated skills. Dexterity skills include acrobatics and climbing; Strength, lifting and melee weapons; Influence covers charm and persuade.
Attributes provide a small bonus to associated skills and influence how easy it is to improve those skills. In addition, each Attribute has certain inherent uses.
Dexterity
This represents flexibility, fine motor skills, reflexes, eye-hand coordination, running speed, and other related areas. Characters with a high Dexterity are gymnasts and athletes of every sort, escape artists, stage magicians, parkour aficionados, and martial artists.
Mechanic: Dexterity is used in Initiative. The higher the Dexterity, the faster one reacts.
Strength
This represents a character's physical prowess: how much they can lift and carry, how hard they punch and swing a sword. Characters with a high Strength are weightlifters, circus strong-men, and so forth.
Mechanic: Strength determines the amount one can lift and carry and the base amount of damage with hand-to-hand weapons.
Endurance
Endurance describes a character's health: their ability to resist poisons and disease, to endure physical stress and exertion, and other related areas.
Mechanic: Endurance resists damage, poisons, etc.
Intellect
A high Intellect makes a person "smart". They learn faster, have a deeper understanding, retain more information, react quicker, and notice more. Scientists, college professors, inventors, engineers, and so on all have a high Intellect.
Mechanic: Intellect determines bonus skills during character creation.
Influence
Influence is the ability to successfully affect others socially. People with a high Influence are persuasive, charming, and adept at fitting in with others and building strong relationships. Salesmen, con men, politicians, rock stars, actors, the popular kids, and serial killers all have high Influence.
Mechanic: Influence determines the base attitude of strangers, i.e. how well they treat you.
Spirit
Spirit is the mental and spiritual strength of a character. A high Spirit entails self-reliance, confidence, a strong will, and stubbornness.
Mechanic: Spirit resists mental damage.
Next post, I'll cover Attribute Ratings.