Ability
An Ability represents something an entity in the world can do: a defined action, power, skill, or effect that can change the world or its perception. Abilities are performable and traceable: they have causes, consequences, and conditions. They can be passive traits, active powers, or conditional techniques.
An Ability is a performable effect or power. They interact with:
- Characters and Creatures (as actors who employ them)
- Traits (which may grant or enhance them)
- Objects and Constructs (that might enable or constrain them)
- Phenomena (which may result from or trigger them)
- Institutions (which can teach or restrict them)
They are distinct from:
- Traits (which describe qualities, not actions)
- Events (which describe outcomes or occurrences, not repeatable powers)
Fields
Section titled “Fields”Mechanics
Section titled “Mechanics”| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
activation |
text | Method or conditions under which the ability is activated |
duration |
integer | Length of time the ability remains active or its effects persist, measured in TIME units |
potency |
integer | Relative measure of the ability’s inherent potency or force, used for scaling or comparison purposes |
range |
integer | Effective reach or distance at which the ability can be used, in the world’s distance unit (World distance_unit) |
effects |
links to Phenomenon | Phenomena that result from the ability’s use, such as environmental changes or sensory effects |
challenges |
text | Describes specific difficulties or constraints that make the ability hard to master or use effectively |
talents |
links to Trait | Traits that naturally enhance or improve performance with this ability |
requisites |
links to Construct | Constructs that must be satisfied for the ability to be used, such as rituals, permissions, or required roles |
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
prevalence |
text | How widely the ability is known or practiced, and potential clues to its origins and cultural diffusion |
tradition |
link to Construct | A construct that expresses the conceptual, social, or institutional system this ability operates within |
source |
link to Phenomenon | The phenomenon that serves as the enabling force or condition that allows this ability to function |
locus |
link to Location | Location where the ability is most strongly rooted, developed, or traditionally practiced |
instruments |
links to Object | Objects or tools required to activate, channel, or perform the ability |
systems |
links to Construct | Magic frameworks or structures that the ability associates with |