Academics represents formal education and scholarly knowledge—history, literature, philosophy, and the humanities. For elder vampires, Academics often reflects centuries of study, while younger Kindred may bring modern academic perspectives. This skill is essential for understanding historical contexts, researching supernatural phenomena, and navigating academic institutions that may hold valuable resources.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Accounting (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Accounting represents your ability to understand and analyze financial records, ledgers, and business documents. In the world of 1920s investigation, following the money is often the surest way to uncover criminal conspiracies, cult funding, and hidden connections between seemingly unrelated parties. This skill goes beyond simple arithmetic. It encompasses forensic accounting, detecting irregularities in bookkeeping, understanding corporate structures, and tracing where money has come from or gone to. In Lovecraftian investigations, cults need funding, antiquarian purchases leave paper trails, and mysterious benefactors can be identified through careful financial analysis.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Acrobatics (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Balance, tumbling, and aerial maneuvers.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Acting (Cyberpunk RED)

Acting is the skill of convincing performance—pretending to be someone else, faking emotions, maintaining a cover identity, and generally making people believe something that isn't true through your behavior and demeanor. In Night City's world of deception and hidden agendas, Acting is an infiltrator's best friend. Acting uses your COOL stat and covers all forms of deceptive performance. This goes beyond simple lying—it's about fully embodying a role. You can impersonate a corporate employee to walk through secure areas, fake being injured to lure in would-be helpers, pretend to be a customer in a shop you're casing, or maintain an undercover identity for weeks or months. Acting opposes Human Perception, making it the offensive counterpart to that defensive social skill. A skilled actor in Night City can walk into almost any situation wearing the right persona and walk out with whatever they came for, because nobody questioned whether they belonged there.

Cyberpunk RED

Action Economy

The system governing what you can do on your turn. Understanding action economy means knowing how to maximize your effectiveness with the actions available to you.

Acute senses (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Your senses are unusually sharp, helping you notice details others miss (at the cost of being easier to overwhelm).

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Addiction (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You are addicted to something that affects your behavior.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Advantage

A mechanic where you roll two d20s and take the higher result. Represents favorable circumstances, good positioning, or helpful conditions.

Affiliation (Freeform / Custom)

Groups, factions, or organizations they belong to.

Freeform / Custom

Age (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Your investigator’s age.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Age (Freeform / Custom)

Your character's age.

Freeform / Custom

Agility (Daggerheart)

Speed, reflexes, and physical coordination. Range: -1 to +3.

Daggerheart

Agility (Draw Steel)

Speed, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and nimbleness. Used for ranged attacks, acrobatics, and avoiding danger.

Draw Steel

Ahroun (Warrior) (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Warrior and war leader — the pack's champion in battle against the Wyrm.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Akashic Brotherhood (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Martial arts mystics who see magic as physical and spiritual discipline

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Alchemy (Draw Steel)

Creating and identifying alchemical substances.

Draw Steel

Alertness (Draw Steel)

Noticing threats, ambushes, and subtle environmental changes.

Draw Steel

Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your character's moral and ethical outlook.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Alleycat (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Violent ambusher who takes blood by force in the streets

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Allies (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Allies represent mortals (or occasionally other supernatural beings) who actively support your mage. Unlike Contacts who merely provide information, Allies take action on your behalf, whether lending money, providing shelter, running interference with authorities, or even putting themselves in danger. For Awakened characters, Allies are the Sleeper connections that keep them grounded in the mundane world. In the Ascension War, Allies provide resources and support that magick alone cannot. A police detective Ally can make an investigation disappear. A journalist Ally can publish stories that undermine Technocracy front companies. A lawyer Ally can keep a mage out of prison when mundane law enforcement gets involved. These relationships require maintenance and reciprocity, but they provide Paradox-free solutions to many problems.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Allies (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

People who will help you in times of need.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Ambidextrous (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You can use either hand equally well, reducing the awkwardness of off-hand tasks or fighting styles.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Ambition (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Ambition is a character background note you fill in during creation in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition. Text field. Your character's long-term goal: what they're trying to achieve over the chronicle.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Amnesia (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have gaps in your memory about your past. The missing time can complicate relationships and make your history unreliable.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Anarch (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You reject traditional vampire society and its rules.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Ancestry (Daggerheart)

Your character's ancestry, reflecting their biological heritage and innate traits.

Daggerheart

Ancestry (Draw Steel)

Your character's ancestry, which grants innate traits and ancestry abilities.

Draw Steel

Animal handling (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Calming, controlling, or intuiting an animal's intentions.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Animal ken (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Animal Ken represents your ability to understand, train, and communicate with animals. While Animalism provides supernatural control over beasts, Animal Ken covers the mundane understanding of animal behavior and psychology. Vampires with high Animal Ken can calm frightened animals, train companions, and understand animal behavior patterns. This skill complements Animalism, making supernatural control more effective and nuanced.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Animalism (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Animalism is the Discipline of control and communication with animals, allowing vampires to command beasts, sense their presence, and use them as spies and allies. It grants incredible utility, from gathering information to having animal servants. Animalism is one of the most versatile utility Disciplines, useful for information gathering and survival. Vampires with Animalism can communicate with animals, command them to perform tasks, see through their eyes, and even share their senses. At higher levels, Animalism allows vampires to control swarms of animals, share their consciousness with beasts, and use animals as extensions of themselves.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Anthropology (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Anthropology represents your knowledge of human cultures, both past and present. It covers customs, social structures, religions, myths, and the ways different peoples make sense of the world. In Call of Cthulhu, where investigators frequently encounter isolated communities, degenerate cults, and ancient civilizations, Anthropology provides critical cultural context. This skill helps you understand why a remote village practices strange rituals, recognize the cultural origins of unusual artifacts, and navigate unfamiliar social structures without causing offense. In the 1920s, anthropology is a rapidly growing field, and investigators with this knowledge can connect disparate cultural threads to the deeper Mythos truths beneath them.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Antiquarian (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Dealer in rare books, artifacts, and historical objects

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

APP (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Appearance represents your investigator's physical attractiveness, personal presence, and the impression you make on others. It encompasses not just physical beauty but also grooming, bearing, charisma, and that intangible quality that draws attention. In Call of Cthulhu, APP is rolled on 3d6×5 and primarily affects social interactions. While it doesn't directly modify social skill rolls mechanically, it shapes how NPCs initially perceive and respond to your investigator. In the class-conscious 1920s, appearance carries significant social weight—first impressions matter in gentlemen's clubs, police stations, and when knocking on strangers' doors during investigations.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Appearance (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Appearance measures a mage's physical attractiveness, bearing, and overall visual impression. In M20, Appearance is not just about conventional beauty; it encompasses the entire physical impression a mage makes, from striking features to a commanding bearing. An Awakened character's Appearance often reflects their paradigm, whether a Verbena's wild beauty, a Hermetic's dignified composure, or a Virtual Adept's cyberpunk aesthetic. Appearance affects first impressions, social interactions, and how easily a mage blends into or stands out from crowds. In the Ascension War, looking forgettable can be as valuable as looking stunning. High Appearance draws attention, which can be a blessing when recruiting allies or a curse when the Technocracy is hunting you.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Appraise (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Appraise represents your ability to evaluate the worth, age, and authenticity of objects. From antique furniture to rare Mythos artifacts, this skill lets you determine what something is worth and whether it's genuine. In the world of Call of Cthulhu, investigators frequently encounter unusual objects—strange idols, ancient manuscripts, peculiar jewelry, and artifacts of unknown origin. Appraise helps you determine whether that dusty statuette is a worthless curio or a priceless relic with sinister significance. In the 1920s antiques market, knowing what something is worth can also help you finance your investigations or recognize when someone is trying to cheat you.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Arcana (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Knowledge of spells, magic items, and the planes.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Arcane (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Arcane is a unique Background representing a supernatural field of obscurity surrounding the mage. People overlook you, records about you get misfiled, photographs blur, and surveillance cameras glitch. Arcane is not invisibility; it is cosmic insignificance. You do not vanish, but people simply fail to notice or remember you. Arcane is one of the most distinctive Backgrounds in Mage, reflecting the idea that some Awakened souls exist slightly outside the Consensus. The Tapestry itself seems to route attention around the mage. This makes Arcane invaluable for mages who need to operate covertly, avoid Technocracy surveillance, or simply move through the world without leaving traces. However, high Arcane makes it difficult to maintain lasting relationships or public influence.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Archaeology (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Archaeology represents your knowledge of past civilizations through their physical remains—ruins, artifacts, inscriptions, and burial sites. In Call of Cthulhu, where ancient horrors slumber beneath forgotten cities and Mythos cults have roots stretching back millennia, archaeological knowledge is extraordinarily valuable. This skill covers excavation techniques, dating methods, identification of ancient artifacts, and understanding the significance of ruins and monuments. In the 1920s, archaeology is experiencing a golden age—Howard Carter opened Tutankhamun's tomb just years ago—and the line between legitimate scholarship and tomb raiding is often blurred. Investigators with archaeology expertise can interpret the ancient sites they inevitably stumble upon.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Archery (Cyberpunk RED)

Archery is the skill of using bows and crossbows—weapons that might seem archaic in a world of smart guns and cyberweapons, but retain surprising utility. Bows are completely silent, don't register on weapon scanners, don't require ammunition that can be traced, and can deliver specialized payloads like incendiary or explosive tips. Archery uses your REF stat and fills a unique tactical niche. In Night City, an archer might seem like a novelty, but the practical advantages are real. A crossbow bolt through a window makes no sound and leaves no ballistic evidence. Compound bows can be disassembled and hidden where guns can't go. Some nomad clans and combat-focused edgerunners maintain archery traditions precisely because these weapons operate outside the assumptions that Night City's security systems are built on. When everyone expects guns, the arrow they never heard coming is the one that kills them.

Cyberpunk RED

Architecture (Draw Steel)

Understanding and designing structures and fortifications.

Draw Steel

Arete (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Arete is the single most important trait on a Mage character sheet. It represents the mage's level of magical enlightenment, the depth of their understanding of reality, and the raw power of their Awakened will. Every magical effect in M20 is rolled using Arete as the dice pool. A mage with Arete 3 rolls three dice for every spell, regardless of which Sphere they use. Arete is not merely skill; it is understanding. A mage with high Arete comprehends reality at a fundamental level, seeing through the illusions of the Consensus to the malleable Tapestry beneath. Increasing Arete requires a Seeking, a mystical ordeal guided by the mage's Avatar in which they confront their limitations, overcome trials, and emerge with deeper insight. Arete cannot be purchased with experience points alone; it must be earned through transformative narrative experiences.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Armor Class (AC)

A defensive stat representing how hard a character is to hit in combat. Attack rolls must meet or exceed the target's AC to deal damage.

Armor score (Daggerheart)

Damage reduction from worn armor.

Daggerheart

Art/Craft (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Art/Craft is a specialization skill—each specialty represents mastery in a specific artistic or practical discipline. Specialties include painting, photography, writing, sculpture, cooking, carpentry, plumbing, and many others. You choose your specialty when you take the skill. In Call of Cthulhu, Art/Craft serves dual purposes. Creative arts like painting or writing can be outlets for processing the horrors investigators face, while practical crafts like locksmithing, carpentry, or photography directly support investigations. In the 1920s, practical skills are highly valued, and a skilled craftsperson can create disguises, forge documents, develop photographs, or repair critical equipment when no professional is available.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Artist (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Creative professional who expresses ideas through art

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Athletics (Cyberpunk RED)

Athletics covers all forms of physical exertion—running, jumping, climbing, swimming, and performing athletic feats. In Night City's vertical urban jungle, Athletics can save your life. Athletics uses your DEX stat and is essential for traversing the environment, escaping danger, and performing physical feats.

Cyberpunk RED

Athletics (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Climbing, jumping, swimming, and feats of strength.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Athletics (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Athletics covers all forms of physical exertion and coordination. For vampires, this skill determines how effectively they can chase prey, flee danger, scale buildings, and perform feats of physical prowess. While vampires don't tire in the traditional sense, Athletics still governs the precision and control of their movements. A high Athletics score means your character moves with supernatural grace, whether sprinting across rooftops or swimming through underground tunnels.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Attack Roll

A roll made to determine if an attack hits its target. Compare the result to the target's AC or defense - meeting or exceeding it means you hit and can roll damage.

Attribute

A core stat representing broad innate capability like Strength, Intelligence, or Charisma. Attributes combine with skills or other factors to determine your effectiveness at tasks.

Auspex (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Auspex is the Discipline of supernatural senses and awareness, allowing vampires to perceive the unseen, sense supernatural phenomena, and read auras. It grants incredible information-gathering abilities, from detecting lies to seeing through illusions. Auspex is essential for information-focused characters and those who want to understand the hidden world. Vampires with Auspex can read auras, sense emotions, detect supernatural beings, see through illusions, and perceive things beyond mortal senses. At higher levels, Auspex allows vampires to read thoughts, see the future, and perceive the true nature of reality.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Auspice (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Your Auspice (your moon-sign role in the pack).

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Author (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Writer who creates stories and researches topics

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Autofire (Cyberpunk RED)

Autofire is the specialized skill of firing weapons on full automatic—hosing down an area with bullets to suppress enemies, hit multiple targets, or just put an overwhelming volume of lead downrange. It's separate from the standard Shoulder Arms skill because firing on full auto is a fundamentally different discipline from aimed fire. Autofire uses your REF stat and covers suppressive fire and burst fire techniques. The primary tactical use is suppressive fire, which forces enemies to keep their heads down and take penalties, effectively controlling an area without necessarily hitting anyone. When you do want to hit things, Autofire lets you spray a zone and potentially damage everyone in it. The tradeoff is ammunition—full auto burns through bullets fast, and resupply in the middle of a job isn't always possible. Smart Autofire users know when to suppress and when to conserve.

Cyberpunk RED

Avatar (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

A description of your Avatar (your inner source of Awakening and magical drive).

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Avatar (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Avatar represents the strength, clarity, and personality of the mage's Awakened soul, the inner spark that connects them to the Tapestry and drives their magical potential. Every mage has an Avatar, but its strength varies dramatically. A strong Avatar provides clearer guidance, more vivid Seekings, and a deeper connection to the currents of reality. The Avatar Background is uniquely important in Mage because it directly affects the Seeking process, the mystical ordeals through which mages increase their Arete. A high Avatar rating means Seekings are more accessible and the Avatar communicates its desires more clearly. However, a strong Avatar also has a stronger personality and agenda, sometimes pushing the mage in directions they might not choose on their own.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Awareness (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Awareness represents general alertness and the ability to notice details in your environment. While Auspex provides supernatural perception, Awareness covers the mundane foundation of paying attention. For vampires, Awareness helps detect ambushes, notice surveillance, and pick up on environmental details that might indicate danger or opportunity. It's the difference between walking into a trap and spotting it first.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

B

Background (Cyberpunk RED)

A few sentences about where you come from, who you run with, and what pushed you into the shadows.

Cyberpunk RED

Background (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your character's background, providing skill proficiencies and roleplay hooks.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Backstory (Freeform / Custom)

Your character's history and how they became who they are.

Freeform / Custom

Bagger (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Subsists on bagged blood and medical waste

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Banu Haqim (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The judges and assassins, once called Assamites, who uphold their own ancient code of justice

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Basic tech (Cyberpunk RED)

Basic Tech is your ability to repair, maintain, and jury-rig everyday technology. In Night City, everything breaks eventually—vehicles, weapons, doors, locks, appliances—and someone has to fix it. Basic Tech covers the general mechanical and technical knowledge needed to keep things running when you don't have a specialist around. This skill represents a broad working knowledge of how things are built and how they fail. You can patch a leaking radiator, fix a jammed door mechanism, rewire a busted light panel, or perform routine maintenance on gear. While it won't let you build cyberware or crack encrypted security systems, Basic Tech is the duct-tape-and-ingenuity skill that keeps edgerunners operational between jobs. In a city where calling a repairman might get you robbed, doing it yourself is a survival skill.

Cyberpunk RED

Birthplace (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Where your investigator was born.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Black Furies (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Champions of the marginalized and protectors of the sacred wild. Under the patronage of Gorgon, they fight against oppression and corruption in all forms.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Blacksmithing (Draw Steel)

Forging and repairing metal items and weapons.

Draw Steel

Blood Leech (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Preys on other vampires, dangerous and despised

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Blood sorcery (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Blood Sorcery (formerly Thaumaturgy) is the Discipline of ritual magic and blood-based powers, allowing vampires to cast spells, perform rituals, and manipulate reality through blood magic. It grants incredible versatility, from scrying to combat magic. Blood Sorcery is shared by the Tremere and Banu Haqim clans and requires extensive study. Vampires with Blood Sorcery can cast spells, perform rituals, scry on distant locations, manipulate blood, and create magical effects. At higher levels, Blood Sorcery allows vampires to perform powerful rituals, create magical items, and manipulate reality itself.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

BODY (Cyberpunk RED)

Raw physical toughness and mass. Influences hit points and how much punishment you can take.

Cyberpunk RED

Bonded (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You are bound by Blood to another vampire. It pulls on your choices and loyalty, creating a dangerous leverage point.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Bonds (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Connections to people, places, or events that motivate your character.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Bone Gnawers (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Urban survivors who protect the downtrodden and thrive where others would starve.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Brag (Draw Steel)

Boasting and exaggerating to impress or intimidate.

Draw Steel

Brawl (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Brawl represents your ability to fight without weapons, using fists, claws, fangs, and grappling techniques. For vampires, this includes using supernatural strength and speed in close combat, as well as the instinctive fighting style that comes from the Beast. Many vampires rely on Brawl as their primary combat skill, especially those with Potence or Protean. The Kiss itself is a Brawl-related action, making this skill essential for feeding by force.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Brawling (Cyberpunk RED)

Brawling is the art of fighting with nothing but your fists, feet, elbows, and whatever body parts you can throw at the problem. It's the most basic combat skill—no weapons needed, always available, and surprisingly effective when enhanced with cyberware like Gorilla Arms or Big Knucks. Brawling uses your DEX stat and covers all unarmed combat that isn't formal martial arts. In Night City's bars, back alleys, and underground fight clubs, Brawling is how disputes get settled when nobody draws a weapon. It's also the default skill for Gorilla Arms and other blunt-force cyberweapons, meaning a chromed-up brawler can hit harder than someone swinging a baseball bat. While Brawling lacks the finesse of Martial Arts, it's practical, brutal, and effective—much like Night City itself.

Cyberpunk RED

Bribery (Cyberpunk RED)

Bribery is the art of using money, favors, or other incentives to get people to look the other way, provide access, or share information they shouldn't. In Night City, corruption is a feature, not a bug. Everyone from beat cops to corporate middle managers has a price, and Bribery is knowing what that price is and how to offer it without getting arrested or insulted. Bribery uses your COOL stat and represents the social finesse of corruption. It's not just about throwing money at people—it's about reading the situation, knowing who can be bought, approaching them correctly, and making the offer in a way that lets both parties maintain plausible deniability. Offer too little and you insult them. Offer too much and they get suspicious. Offer the wrong person and you're in a cell. Good Bribery is a precise social skill that greases the machinery of Night City in ways that no amount of hacking or combat can replicate.

Cyberpunk RED

Brujah (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The Rabble, rebels, and revolutionaries of the Camarilla

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Build (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Build: a derived value tied to size/strength, used in physical conflicts.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

C

Cabal (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Your cabal — the mage circle you belong to.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Caitiff (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The clanless — vampires with no identifiable bloodline, free to learn any discipline but shunned by Kindred society

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Campaign

An ongoing series of connected game sessions with the same characters and storyline, often spanning months or years of real-world play.

Career (Draw Steel)

Your character's career before becoming a hero, granting a skill and career-related benefits.

Draw Steel

Celerity (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Celerity is the Discipline of supernatural speed and reflexes, allowing vampires to move and act faster than mortals can perceive. It grants incredible agility, reaction time, and the ability to perform multiple actions in a single turn. Celerity is one of the most versatile physical Disciplines, useful in both combat and social situations. Vampires with Celerity can dodge attacks, close distances instantly, and perform feats of acrobatics that would be impossible for mortals. At higher levels, Celerity allows vampires to move so fast they appear as blurs, dodge bullets, and perform multiple actions before their opponents can react.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Celestial Chorus (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Religious mystics who see magic as divine will and prayer

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Cell (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Your hunter cell — the small group you operate with.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

CHA (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Charisma: force of personality, leadership, social magic.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

CHA save (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Charisma saving throw: CHA modifier + proficiency bonus (if proficient).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 1 (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Choose Occupation

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Character creation step 1 (Cyberpunk RED)

Choose Role and Background

Cyberpunk RED

Character creation step 1 (Daggerheart)

Choose Ancestry

Daggerheart

Character creation step 1 (Draw Steel)

Choose an Ancestry (determines innate traits and ancestry abilities)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 1 (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Choose a Race

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 1 (Freeform / Custom)

Define your character's identity and concept

Freeform / Custom

Character creation step 1 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Choose Concept and Creed

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 1 (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Choose Concept, Nature, Demeanor, and Essence

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Character creation step 1 (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Choose concept, clan, predatorType, sire, chronicle, generation (usually 13th).

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Character creation step 1 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Choose Concept, Auspice, and Tribe

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 2 (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Roll 3d6×5 for STR, CON, POW, DEX, APP (range 15-90). Roll (2d6+6)×5 for SIZ, INT, EDU (range 40-90).

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Character creation step 2 (Cyberpunk RED)

Distribute Stats: set each of INT, REF, DEX, TECH, COOL, WILL, LUCK, MOVE, BODY, and EMP between 2 and 8 to match your concept.

Cyberpunk RED

Character creation step 2 (Daggerheart)

Choose Community

Daggerheart

Character creation step 2 (Draw Steel)

Choose a Culture (Environment, Organization, and Upbringing determine languages and skills)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 2 (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Choose a Class

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 2 (Freeform / Custom)

Describe their appearance

Freeform / Custom

Character creation step 2 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Pick a Drive (your personal motivation for the Hunt)

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 2 (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Choose Tradition (or Orphan/Hollow One)

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Character creation step 2 (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Distribute Attributes: 7/5/3 across Mental/Social/Physical (any order). Max 4 per Attribute at creation.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Character creation step 2 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Distribute Attributes: Assign values across all 9 attributes — one at 4, three at 3, three at 2, one at 1 (not divided by category)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 3 (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Calculate Derived Stats: HP, MP, Sanity, Build, Magic Points

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Character creation step 3 (Cyberpunk RED)

Distribute Skills: spread your skill ranks (0–10) across all skills, focusing on a handful of core specialties first.

Cyberpunk RED

Character creation step 3 (Daggerheart)

Choose Class

Daggerheart

Character creation step 3 (Draw Steel)

Choose a Career (your life before becoming a hero, grants a career skill)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 3 (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Determine Ability Scores (Standard Array, Point Buy, or 4d6 drop lowest)

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 3 (Freeform / Custom)

Write their personality traits

Freeform / Custom

Character creation step 3 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Distribute Attributes: assign values across all 9 attributes — one at 4, three at 3, four at 2, one at 1 (not divided by category)

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 3 (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Distribute Attributes: 7/5/3 across Physical/Social/Mental

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Character creation step 3 (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Distribute Skills: 11/7/4 across Mental/Social/Physical (any order). Max 4 per Skill at creation.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Character creation step 3 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Distribute Skills: Choose a distribution — Specialist (one at 4, three at 3, three at 2, three at 1), Balanced (three at 3, five at 2, seven at 1), or Jack of All Trades (one at 3, eight at 2, ten at 1)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 4 (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Distribute Skill Points based on Occupation

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Character creation step 4 (Cyberpunk RED)

Choose Role Ability

Cyberpunk RED

Character creation step 4 (Daggerheart)

Choose Foundation

Daggerheart

Character creation step 4 (Draw Steel)

Choose a Class (your heroic role, determines abilities and features)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 4 (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Describe Your Character (name, alignment, background, personality)

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 4 (Freeform / Custom)

Create their backstory

Freeform / Custom

Character creation step 4 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Distribute Skills: choose one template — Jack of All Trades (1 at 3, 8 at 2, 10 at 1), Balanced (3 at 3, 5 at 2, 7 at 1), or Specialist (1 at 4, 3 at 3, 3 at 2, 3 at 1)

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 4 (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Distribute Abilities: 13/9/5 across Talents/Skills/Knowledges

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Character creation step 4 (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Assign 3 Discipline dots among clan Disciplines (max 2 in any at creation).

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Character creation step 4 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Choose 3 Skill Specialties

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 5 (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Choose Personal Details and Background

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Character creation step 5 (Cyberpunk RED)

Select Equipment and Cyberware

Cyberpunk RED

Character creation step 5 (Daggerheart)

Set Traits

Daggerheart

Character creation step 5 (Draw Steel)

Choose a Subclass (specialization within your class)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 5 (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Calculate Derived Stats (HP, AC, initiative, proficiency bonus)

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 5 (Freeform / Custom)

Set their goals and motivations

Freeform / Custom

Character creation step 5 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Choose 3 Skill Specialties

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 5 (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Assign Advantages: 7 Background dots, 6 Sphere dots, Arete 1

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Character creation step 5 (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Choose backgrounds, merits, and flaws. Distribute 7 dots among backgrounds.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Character creation step 5 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Assign Advantages: 7 Background dots, 2 Merits, 2 Flaws

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 6 (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Select Equipment and Spells

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Character creation step 6 (Cyberpunk RED)

Determine Humanity and HP

Cyberpunk RED

Character creation step 6 (Daggerheart)

Calculate Derived Stats

Daggerheart

Character creation step 6 (Draw Steel)

Choose a Kit (combat loadout that provides bonuses to stats and damage)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 6 (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Choose Equipment and Spells (if applicable)

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 6 (Freeform / Custom)

Add any custom details

Freeform / Custom

Character creation step 6 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Assign Edges: choose 2 Edges and 1 Perk, or 1 Edge and 2 Perks

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 6 (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Spend 15 Freebie Points

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Character creation step 6 (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Choose 1–3 Convictions and 1–3 Touchstones tied to those Convictions.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Character creation step 6 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Assign Renown: 3 dots total (max 2 per category)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 7 (Daggerheart)

Choose Experiences

Daggerheart

Character creation step 7 (Draw Steel)

Set Characteristics (assign Might, Agility, Reason, Intuition, Presence)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 7 (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Choose Proficiencies and Languages

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Character creation step 7 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Choose Backgrounds (7 dots), Merits, and Flaws

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 7 (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Define Focus (Paradigm, Practice, and Instruments)

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Character creation step 7 (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Set derived traits: Health, Willpower, Humanity, and Blood Potency.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Character creation step 7 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Choose 3 Gifts (1 Auspice, 1 Tribe, 1 free)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 8 (Daggerheart)

Choose Domain Cards

Daggerheart

Character creation step 8 (Draw Steel)

Choose Skills (select trained skills from the skill list)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 8 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Pick Touchstones and determine Desperation trigger

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 8 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Pick Touchstones and determine Rage

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character creation step 9 (Draw Steel)

Calculate Derived Stats (Stamina, Recoveries, Speed, Stability)

Draw Steel

Character creation step 9 (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Calculate derived traits: Health, Willpower, Desperation

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Character creation step 9 (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Calculate derived traits: Health, Willpower, Rage

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Character name (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Your character's name. Choose something that fits their background and personality.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Charisma (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Charisma represents force of personality, natural charm, and the ability to inspire others. For hunters, Charisma is essential for building the human networks that support the Hunt -- convincing witnesses to talk, rallying the cell when morale falters, and maintaining the social connections that keep hunters grounded in their humanity. Hunting monsters is isolating work. The things hunters see and do can drive wedges between them and normal people. Charismatic hunters serve as the social glue that holds cells together, the ones who can talk a traumatized witness through what they saw, persuade a reluctant ally to help, or keep the group from falling apart after a devastating loss. Charisma also matters when dealing with authorities, gaining access to restricted areas through social engineering, and presenting a convincing cover story for why your group was found in an abandoned warehouse at 3 AM covered in something that definitely isn't blood.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Charisma (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Charisma measures a mage's force of personality, charm, and ability to inspire. For Awakened characters, Charisma represents the natural pull they exert on others, an echo of the will that allowed them to Awaken in the first place. Charismatic mages attract followers, forge alliances, and rally others against impossible odds. In the World of Darkness, Charisma is power. A mage's ability to convince Sleepers to look the other way, recruit allies for the Ascension War, and maintain Chantry cohesion all depend on personal magnetism. The Traditions are political organizations as much as mystical ones, and Charisma determines who rises to leadership within them.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Charisma (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Personal magnetism and leadership. Used for inspiring others and first impressions.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Charisma (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Charisma represents a Garou's natural magnetism, force of personality, and ability to inspire others. In a society built around packs, septs, and tribal gatherings, Charisma determines how effectively a werewolf can rally allies, calm tensions, and command respect. It is the attribute of leaders who inspire loyalty rather than demand obedience. For the Garou Nation, Charisma is what holds packs together during the darkest moments of the Apocalypse. A charismatic alpha can unite fractious tribe members, negotiate with spirits, and rally a demoralized sept. In dealings with humans, Charisma helps maintain the Veil by projecting normalcy and trustworthiness. Within the pack, it fosters the bonds of loyalty that make Garou more than the sum of their parts.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Charm (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Charm represents your ability to influence others through personal magnetism, warmth, humor, and likability. Unlike Persuade (which uses logic) or Fast Talk (which uses deception), Charm relies on making people genuinely like you and want to help. In Call of Cthulhu's 1920s setting, Charm is a powerful social tool. A charming investigator can talk their way past receptionists, win the trust of suspicious locals, and make allies quickly. Charm works best in face-to-face interactions where your personality can shine—it's about creating a personal connection rather than constructing an argument or spinning a lie.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Children of Gaia (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Peacemakers and healers who seek unity among the tribes and harmony with Gaia.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Chronicle (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The setting and story of your chronicle. Ask your Storyteller for details.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Chronicle Tenets (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Chronicle Tenets is a character background note you fill in during creation in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition. Text field. The chronicle’s moral rules/lines (tenets) your character is expected to struggle with.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Clan (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Your vampire bloodline. Determines your supernatural disciplines and clan bane.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Clan Bane (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Clan Bane is a character background note you fill in during creation in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition. Text field. A note about your clan’s bane and how it shows up for your character.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Clan curse (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Your clan's bane affects you more severely.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Class (Daggerheart)

Your character's class, defining their abilities and role in the party.

Daggerheart

Class (Draw Steel)

Your character's heroic class, defining their abilities, role, and progression.

Draw Steel

Class (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your character's class, defining their abilities and role in the party.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Cleaver (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Maintains a mortal façade and feeds from a household

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Clergyman (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Religious leader who provides spiritual guidance

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Climb (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Climb represents your ability to ascend and descend vertical surfaces—walls, cliffs, trees, drainpipes, and ladders under stress. In Call of Cthulhu, investigators frequently need to reach places they shouldn't be—scaling the wall of a cultist's estate, climbing up to a window, descending into underground caverns, or fleeing across rooftops. This is a physical skill that draws on strength, coordination, and nerve. In the 1920s, buildings often feature architectural details like ledges, drainpipes, and decorative masonry that provide handholds. The Keeper sets difficulty based on the surface, conditions, and height involved.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Climb (Draw Steel)

Scaling walls, cliffs, and other vertical surfaces.

Draw Steel

Community (Daggerheart)

The community your character grew up in, shaping their worldview and social skills.

Daggerheart

Complications (Draw Steel)

Story complications that create drama and provide opportunities for heroic moments.

Draw Steel

Composure (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Composure represents emotional control, self-discipline, and the ability to remain calm when everything is falling apart. For hunters, Composure is what keeps you functional when you witness horrors that shatter normal people's understanding of reality. The Hunt exposes mortals to things the human mind was never meant to process. Vampires feeding on victims, ghosts manifesting from thin air, werewolves transforming before your eyes -- Composure is the inner steel that keeps a hunter from freezing, panicking, or breaking down when confronted with the impossible. Composure also contributes to Willpower, which fuels a hunter's ability to push through adversity and resist supernatural mental influence. In a world where monsters can dominate minds and project overwhelming terror, Composure is a mortal's first line of mental defense.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Composure (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Self-control and emotional stability. Used for resisting supernatural effects and staying calm.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Composure (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Composure represents a Garou's emotional stability and self-control. For a werewolf carrying the fire of Rage within them, Composure is the thin line between purposeful action and uncontrolled frenzy. It governs the ability to keep cool when provoked, maintain focus during chaos, and resist the beast within that constantly threatens to overwhelm. In Werewolf 5th Edition, Composure is particularly critical because of Rage. Every Garou walks a razor's edge between harnessing their fury and losing themselves to it. Composure helps a werewolf channel Rage productively rather than lashing out at packmates or innocents. During tense social situations, diplomatic encounters, or moments when the wolf wants to take over, Composure is what keeps a Garou functioning as more than a mindless predator.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Compulsion (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have a psychological compulsion that affects your behavior.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

CON (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Constitution represents your investigator's health, stamina, and physical resilience. It determines how much punishment your body can absorb, how well you resist disease and poison, and how quickly you recover from injuries. In Call of Cthulhu, CON is rolled on 3d6×5 and is a key component of your Hit Points (calculated from CON + SIZ). Given the physical dangers investigators face—from cultist attacks to environmental hazards to the sheer physical toll of fleeing cosmic horrors—Constitution can be the difference between surviving an investigation and dying in a ditch.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

CON (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Constitution: health, stamina, hit points.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

CON save (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Constitution saving throw: CON modifier + proficiency bonus (if proficient).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Conceal/reveal object (Cyberpunk RED)

Conceal/Reveal Object is the skill of hiding things where nobody can find them—and finding things others have hidden. In Night City, concealing a weapon past security, hiding contraband during a search, or spotting the holdout pistol on a supposedly unarmed contact can mean the difference between success and a body bag. This skill uses your INT stat and operates as a dual-purpose ability. On the concealment side, you know how to hide weapons, drugs, data chips, and other items on your body, in vehicles, or in rooms. On the reveal side, you can search people and spaces to find what they're hiding. The skill is essential for smuggling operations, getting weapons past security checkpoints, and searching suspects. In a city where everyone is carrying something they shouldn't be, this skill sees constant use from edgerunners, security, and criminals alike.

Cyberpunk RED

Concentration (Cyberpunk RED)

Concentration represents your mental discipline and ability to maintain focus under extreme pressure. When bullets are flying, explosions are going off, and everything is chaos, Concentration is what keeps you from freezing up or losing your nerve. Concentration uses your WILL stat and is your primary mental resilience skill. It governs your ability to resist fear, torture, interrogation, and the maddening stress of life in Night City. When someone tries to break your will—whether through intimidation, pain, or psychological warfare—Concentration is your defense. It also covers maintaining focus during complex tasks when there are distractions, like performing surgery during a firefight or picking a lock while alarms blare. In a city designed to overwhelm your senses and break your spirit, a strong mind is as vital as a strong body.

Cyberpunk RED

Concept (Daggerheart)

A short description of your character's core identity and motivation.

Daggerheart

Concept (Draw Steel)

A brief concept summarizing who your character is and what drives them.

Draw Steel

Concept (Freeform / Custom)

A brief summary of who your character is.

Freeform / Custom

Concept (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Who you were before the Hunt and what you do now.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Concept (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

A one-line character concept (who you are and what you do).

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Concept (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

What your character does or is known for (e.g., 'Detective', 'Artist', 'Gang Leader'). This should complement your clan choice.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Concept (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

A one-line concept that captures your role and vibe.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Connections (Daggerheart)

Bonds to other player characters and NPCs established during character creation.

Daggerheart

Connections (Draw Steel)

NPCs, organizations, and relationships that tie the character to the world.

Draw Steel

Consensualist (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Feeds only with consent, upholding a personal code

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Contacts (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Contacts are people who provide information, tips, and rumors. Unlike Allies who take active risks on your behalf, Contacts are sources of intelligence: a bartender who overhears conversations, a clerk at City Hall who can look up records, a beat cop who shares patrol schedules. Contacts answer questions but generally do not put themselves in danger for you. For mages navigating the Ascension War, Contacts provide vital intelligence without the Paradox cost of using Correspondence or Mind magick to gather information. A well-placed Contact in a Technocracy front company can provide early warning of operations. A Contact in the local occult community might relay rumors about Nephandi activity. Information is power, and Contacts are its most reliable mundane source.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Contacts (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

People who provide information and favors.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Conversation (Cyberpunk RED)

Conversation is the art of talking to people in a natural, engaging way—building rapport, putting them at ease, and steering discussions toward the information you need without them realizing they're being pumped for intel. It's social engineering at its most basic and most effective. Conversation uses your EMP stat and represents your ability to connect with people on a human level. While Persuasion pushes people toward a decision and Interrogation forces information out, Conversation is the subtle approach. You chat, you listen, you share stories, and somewhere in the flow of natural dialogue, people tell you things they wouldn't tell someone who was obviously probing. In Night City, where paranoia is a survival skill, the ability to seem genuinely friendly and interested can bypass defenses that aggression and pressure can't touch. Bartenders, neighbors, coworkers, and random strangers all have information—Conversation is how you get it without making enemies.

Cyberpunk RED

Cook (Draw Steel)

Preparing meals and identifying edible substances.

Draw Steel

COOL (Cyberpunk RED)

Nerves of steel and presence under fire. Helps you keep it together in tense social or combat situations.

Cyberpunk RED

Correspondence (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Correspondence is the Sphere of space, distance, and connection. It allows mages to manipulate space, create connections between distant locations, and understand spatial relationships. Correspondence mages can teleport, create portals, and sense distant locations. Correspondence is essential for any mage who wants to travel quickly or understand spatial relationships. It pairs well with other Spheres to create effects at a distance.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Craft (Draw Steel)

Creating and repairing mundane items.

Draw Steel

Craft (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Craft covers the creation and repair of physical objects, from simple repairs to masterwork art pieces. For vampires, this skill often connects to their mortal lives or becomes an obsession during their eternal existence. Toreador are particularly known for their Craft abilities, but any vampire might use this skill to create havens, modify vehicles, forge documents, or pursue artistic expression.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Credit rating (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Credit Rating is unique among Call of Cthulhu skills—it represents not a learned ability but your investigator's financial standing, social class, and reputation. It determines your standard of living, the resources you can access, and how society treats you. In the class-conscious 1920s, Credit Rating opens doors that no amount of skill can. A high Credit Rating means you can afford hotel suites, hire help, access exclusive clubs, and be taken seriously by banks and officials. A low Credit Rating means you struggle for basic necessities and are dismissed by polite society. Credit Rating also determines your spending level and cash on hand, making it mechanically important for equipping your investigator.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Creed (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Your Creed — your approach to hunting and your hunter organization's philosophy.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Criminal (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Lawbreaker who lives by scams, theft, or violence, and knows how to avoid trouble (or disappear when it arrives).

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Criminal underworld (Draw Steel)

Navigating criminal networks and understanding illegal operations.

Draw Steel

Critical Failure

An exceptionally bad roll that causes additional negative consequences beyond normal failure. Often dramatic or humorous, representing bad luck or spectacular mistakes.

Critical Success

An exceptionally good roll that grants bonus effects beyond normal success. The definition varies by system but typically represents lucky or spectacular outcomes.

Cthulhu Mythos (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Cthulhu Mythos represents forbidden knowledge of the true nature of reality—the Great Old Ones, the Outer Gods, and the cosmic insignificance of humanity. Unlike other skills, you cannot put points into Cthulhu Mythos at character creation. This skill is gained only through exposure to Mythos texts, entities, and experiences. Each point of Cthulhu Mythos permanently reduces your maximum Sanity by the same amount, representing the irreversible damage of knowing too much.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Cult of Ecstasy (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Hedonistic mystics who see magic through altered states and experience

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Culture (Draw Steel)

Your character's cultural background, consisting of Environment, Organization, and Upbringing.

Draw Steel

Culture (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of customs, traditions, and social norms of various peoples.

Draw Steel

Cybertech (Cyberpunk RED)

Cybertech is the specialized skill of working with cyberware—the cybernetic implants that define life in the Time of the Red. Installing chrome, repairing damaged implants, maintaining existing cyberware, and understanding the complex intersection of biology and technology all fall under Cybertech. Cybertech uses your TECH stat and is the defining skill for ripperdocs—the street surgeons who install and maintain cyberware for Night City's chromed-up population. Cyberware is everywhere: Kiroshi optics, neural processors, cyberlimbs, reflex boosters, and countless other implants. All of it needs installation, maintenance, and occasional repair. A skilled Cybertech can install new chrome, repair battle-damaged implants, diagnose cyberware malfunctions, and even modify existing implants for enhanced performance. For edgerunners, having a Cybertech specialist in the crew means cheaper installations, field repairs to damaged chrome, and the ability to salvage cyberware from fallen enemies.

Cyberpunk RED

D

Damage bonus (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Damage Bonus: extra damage from physical attacks, derived from the STR + SIZ table.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Damage Roll

A roll made after a successful attack to determine how much damage you deal. Add relevant modifiers and subtract from the target's HP.

Dance (Draw Steel)

Performing and understanding dance forms.

Draw Steel

Danger (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Danger is a scene-level tracker that represents how close the cell is to catastrophic failure. It escalates as the situation deteriorates -- a monster discovers the hunters, an escape route is cut off, reinforcements arrive, or a civilian wanders into the crossfire. Danger works in tandem with Desperation to create the escalating tension that defines the Hunter 5e experience. As Danger rises, the Storyteller increases the Desperation level, which in turn makes Desperation Dice more available but also more risky. This creates a feedback loop of mounting pressure: things get worse, hunters push harder, the risk of Despair increases, and the stakes climb higher. Danger is primarily a Storyteller tool, but hunters can influence it through their actions. Good tactics, successful rolls, and clever planning can prevent Danger from rising. Reckless behavior, failed stealth checks, and unexpected complications push it higher. Understanding how Danger works helps players make informed tactical decisions about when to press forward and when to pull back.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Deceive (Draw Steel)

Lying convincingly and creating false impressions.

Draw Steel

Deception (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Lying, misleading, and disguising the truth.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Deed name (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Your Garou name — earned through deeds.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Demeanor (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

The face you show the world — how others perceive you.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Demolitions (Cyberpunk RED)

Demolitions is the skill of working with explosives—setting charges, defusing bombs, understanding blast patterns, and using controlled detonation for breaching, demolition, and destruction. In Night City, demolitions expertise serves both creative and destructive purposes. Demolitions uses your TECH stat and covers everything from rigging a door charge to breaching a wall, from planting a car bomb to defusing one someone planted for you. The skill includes understanding explosive materials, calculating blast radii, placing charges for maximum effect with minimum collateral damage (or maximum collateral, if that's the goal), and working with detonation systems. For edgerunners, Demolitions provides breaching capability that no amount of lockpicking can match, the ability to create diversions, and the critical skill of recognizing and defusing explosive traps before they end your career in a flash of light and shrapnel.

Cyberpunk RED

Derangement (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You struggle with a persistent mental health condition that can surface under pressure and complicate your decisions.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Desire (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Desire is a character background note you fill in during creation in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition. Text field. Your character's short-term desire: what they want right now, in this story.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Despair (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Despair is the worst thing that can happen to a hunter during the Hunt. It occurs when Desperation Dice betray you -- when one of those extra dice shows a 1 on a failed roll, the hunter's fear, trauma, and overwhelming dread break through their defenses and take control. Despair represents the moment when a mortal's psyche buckles under the weight of confronting the supernatural. Despair is not simply failing a roll. It is a narrative and mechanical crisis that forces the hunter to confront the fundamental horror of what they do. The specific manifestation depends on the hunter's creed: a Martial hunter might freeze in combat, a Faithful hunter might suffer a crisis of belief, an Inquisitive hunter might be paralyzed by the implications of what they've learned. Despair is Hunter 5e's answer to the vampire's Bestial Failure. Where vampires lose control to the Beast within, hunters lose control to the terror without. It reminds players that their characters are mortal, breakable, and in constant danger of being overwhelmed. Recovery from Despair requires the hunter to reaffirm their Drive -- the personal motivation that keeps them hunting despite everything.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Desperation (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Desperation is the core risk mechanic of Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition, replacing the Hunger system used by vampires. It represents the mounting tension, fear, and adrenaline that builds as hunters face increasingly dangerous supernatural threats. Desperation is not an individual stat but a shared pool for the entire cell, reflecting the collective pressure the group faces. As Desperation rises, hunters gain access to Desperation Dice -- additional dice added to their pools that represent the edge that fear and adrenaline provide. These extra dice can turn failures into successes, representing those moments when terror sharpens your focus and survival instinct kicks in. However, Desperation Dice come with a terrible cost: if any Desperation Die shows a 1, it can trigger Despair. Desperation embodies the central tension of Hunter 5e. Hunters are mortals fighting things that vastly outclass them. The only way to bridge that gap is to push themselves to the breaking point -- to channel their fear into power. But push too far, and the fear consumes them. Managing Desperation is the core tactical challenge of every Hunt.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Destiny (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Destiny means your mage has a fated purpose, a prophesied role in events yet to unfold. This Background provides tangible mechanical benefits: Destiny dots can be added to rolls that advance the character toward their fate, and the cosmos itself seems to conspire to keep the mage alive long enough to fulfill their purpose. However, Destiny is a double-edged sword. The universe pushes the mage toward their fate whether they want it or not. In the context of the Ascension War, Destiny might mean a mage is fated to discover a lost Horizon Realm, unite warring Tradition factions, or confront a powerful Nephandus. The scope of the Destiny scales with the Background's rating. A one-dot Destiny might be personally significant; a five-dot Destiny could reshape the Ascension War itself.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

DEX (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Dexterity represents your investigator's agility, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and speed of movement. It determines how quickly you react, how nimbly you move, and your base ability to avoid attacks. In Call of Cthulhu, DEX is rolled on 3d6×5 and serves multiple critical functions. It determines your Dodge skill's base value (DEX÷2), affects initiative in combat, and influences any action requiring physical finesse. When horrors emerge from the darkness, DEX determines whether you react quickly enough to survive the first moments of an encounter.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

DEX (Dexterity) (Cyberpunk RED)

Fine motor control and agility. Helps with stealth, aiming, and delicate physical tasks.

Cyberpunk RED

DEX (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Dexterity: agility, reflexes, stealth, ranged attacks.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

DEX save (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Dexterity saving throw: DEX modifier + proficiency bonus (if proficient).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Dexterity (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Dexterity represents agility, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and fine motor control. For hunters, Dexterity governs everything from aiming a firearm to picking a lock, dodging an attack, and moving silently through a monster's territory. Hunters rely heavily on Dexterity because it directly supports the tactical advantages that keep mortals alive against supernatural threats. You can't outmuscle a werewolf, but you can outmaneuver one. You can't overpower a vampire, but you can put a crossbow bolt through its heart from across the room. In the field, Dexterity determines how quickly you react when things go wrong, how accurately you shoot, and how effectively you can navigate dangerous environments. A hunter with high Dexterity is nimble, precise, and hard to pin down -- qualities that matter enormously when your enemies are faster and stronger than any human has a right to fight.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Dexterity (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Dexterity represents agility, hand-eye coordination, and reflexes. For mages, Dexterity governs everything from dodging Technocracy agents to performing intricate ritual gestures. Many magical practices demand precise physical actions, whether drawing a Hermetic circle, performing Akashic kata, or manipulating delicate Etherite machinery. In the Ascension War, Dexterity keeps mages alive. Dodging gunfire, picking locks on a Technocrat laboratory, and escaping Paradox Realm manifestations all depend on agility and reflexes. Dexterity also governs firearms use and stealth, making it critical for mages who operate covertly against the Technocratic Union or Nephandi threats.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Dexterity (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Agility, reflexes, and coordination. Used for ranged attacks, dodging, and fine motor skills.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Dexterity (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Dexterity measures a Garou's agility, reflexes, and coordination. Whether dodging a silver bullet, landing precisely on a ledge in Lupus form, or weaving through a chaotic battlefield, Dexterity governs how nimbly a werewolf moves. It covers both gross motor skills like acrobatics and fine motor control like picking locks or performing delicate tasks. For Garou, Dexterity is critical in combat for landing attacks and avoiding counterstrikes. In Lupus and Hispo forms, high Dexterity translates to incredible speed and maneuverability. Pack tactics often rely on flanking and coordinated movement, making Dexterity essential for executing complex battle strategies against Wyrm-corrupted foes.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Dice Notation

The standard way to write dice rolls: NdX+M means roll N dice with X sides and add M. For example, 2d6+3 means roll two six-sided dice and add 3 to the total.

Dice Pool

A dice mechanic where you roll multiple dice at once and count successes or take the highest result, rather than rolling a single die and adding modifiers.

Difficulty Class (DC)

A target number that a dice roll must meet or exceed to succeed. Higher DCs represent harder tasks. The GM sets the DC based on circumstances.

Dilettante (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Wealthy amateur who pursues interests as hobbies

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Disadvantage

A mechanic where you roll two d20s and take the lower result. Represents unfavorable circumstances like bad positioning, fear, or hindering conditions.

Disguise (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Disguise represents your ability to alter your appearance, mannerisms, and voice to pass as someone else or simply blend into a crowd where you don't belong. In Call of Cthulhu's investigation-heavy gameplay, Disguise lets you infiltrate restricted areas, attend cult meetings undetected, or escape pursuit. This skill covers makeup, costume, posture, voice alteration, and the ability to adopt a convincing persona. In the 1920s, without modern surveillance technology, a good disguise can be remarkably effective. The skill also covers maintaining the disguise under scrutiny—staying in character when questioned or challenged.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Dislikes (Freeform / Custom)

Things your character avoids or hates.

Freeform / Custom

Disrupt magic (Draw Steel)

Interfering with magical effects and enchantments.

Draw Steel

Distinguishing features (Freeform / Custom)

Scars, tattoos, unique traits, or other notable features.

Freeform / Custom

Doctor of Medicine (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Medical professional who treats injuries and illnesses

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Dodge (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Dodge represents your ability to avoid attacks through quick movement—diving aside, slipping free, and staying out of reach. It's your primary defense in combat when you can't fight back. Dodge is based on DEX and serves as your reactive defense. Unlike Fighting (which can be used to defend in melee), Dodge works against all attacks including firearms at close range.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Domain (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Territory you control or claim within the city.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Domain cards (Daggerheart)

Cards from your class domains that grant special abilities and spells.

Daggerheart

Dominate (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Dominate is the Discipline of mind control and mental domination, allowing vampires to command others, erase memories, and control thoughts. It grants incredible social power, from forcing obedience to rewriting memories. Dominate is essential for manipulative characters and those who want complete control over others. Vampires with Dominate can command mortals and weaker vampires, erase memories, implant suggestions, and control thoughts. At higher levels, Dominate allows vampires to control multiple targets, create long-term conditioning, and completely rewrite personalities.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Dreamspeakers (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Shamanic mystics who communicate with spirits and the spirit world

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Dress (Draw Steel)

Creating disguises and presenting a particular appearance.

Draw Steel

Drifter (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Wanderer who lives on the road, surviving on odd jobs, street smarts, and knowing when to move on.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Drive (Draw Steel)

Operating vehicles and mounts at speed.

Draw Steel

Drive (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Your personal reason for continuing the Hunt.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Drive (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Drive covers the operation of vehicles, from everyday driving to high-speed chases and evasive maneuvers. In the modern world, this skill is essential for mobility, especially when the hunt requires following prey across a city. Vampires who neglect Drive limit their options. Those with high Drive can use vehicles as weapons, escape pursuits, and access areas that would otherwise require supernatural abilities.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Drive auto (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Drive Auto represents your ability to operate automobiles, especially under stressful conditions like chases, bad weather, or difficult terrain. In the 1920s, cars are becoming common but still require skill to operate well. This skill covers not just basic driving but also pursuit, evasion, and handling emergencies. Anyone can drive casually, but Drive Auto determines how you perform when it matters.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Drive land vehicle (Cyberpunk RED)

Drive Land Vehicle represents your ability to operate ground vehicles—from sleek sports cars to armored trucks, from motorcycles to massive rigs. In Night City, getting around fast can save your life. Drive Land Vehicle uses your REF stat and is essential for chases, escapes, and mobile operations.

Cyberpunk RED

E

EDU (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Education represents your investigator's accumulated knowledge from formal schooling, self-study, and life experience. It's a measure of what you've learned over your lifetime, covering both academic education and practical knowledge gained through experience. In Call of Cthulhu, EDU is rolled on 2d6+6 then multiplied by 5 and is one of the most mechanically important characteristics. It determines your occupation skill points (EDU×4 for most occupations), your base Language (Own) skill, and your Know roll. Higher EDU means more skilled investigators with broader knowledge. EDU also influences your investigator's minimum age, as extensive education takes time.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Education (Cyberpunk RED)

Education represents your breadth of general knowledge—history, geography, politics, culture, current events, and the kind of well-rounded understanding that comes from formal schooling, voracious reading, or dedicated self-education. It's the "what do I know about this?" skill for general topics. Education uses your INT stat and serves as the catch-all knowledge skill for anything that doesn't fall under a more specific skill like Science, Local Expert, or Language. In the Time of the Red, formal education is a luxury—corporate schools teach propaganda, public schools barely function, and most people learn from the street. Characters with high Education stand out as unusually knowledgeable, able to recall historical context, understand political dynamics, and make connections that less educated people miss. This knowledge advantage translates into practical benefits: understanding corporate history to predict behavior, knowing enough about foreign cultures to avoid offense, or recognizing historical patterns in current events.

Cyberpunk RED

Electronics/security tech (Cyberpunk RED)

Electronics/Security Tech covers your expertise with electronic devices and security systems—from alarm panels and surveillance cameras to electronic locks and sensor grids. Night City runs on electronics, and every corp, gang, and paranoid citizen has security systems protecting their stuff. This skill lets you install, repair, modify, and bypass electronic security. You can rewire a camera to loop footage, crack an electronic lock, disable an alarm before it alerts the building, or set up your own security perimeter. While Netrunners handle the virtual side of security through the NET, Electronics/Security Tech is the hands-on, physical approach. Someone has to actually touch the wires, swap the circuit boards, and physically tamper with the hardware. In a world where everything is wired and watched, this skill opens doors—literally.

Cyberpunk RED

EMP (Empathy) (Cyberpunk RED)

Your connection to other people and what's left of your humanity. Heavy cyberware can drag this down.

Cyberpunk RED

Endurance (Cyberpunk RED)

Endurance represents your body's ability to withstand physical punishment, fatigue, and harsh conditions. It covers resisting the effects of drugs, toxins, and disease, enduring long periods of physical exertion, and powering through pain that would stop lesser people. Endurance uses your WILL stat and is your physical toughness beyond simple hit points. Night City tests your body constantly—running from pursuit through polluted streets, staying awake for days on a stakeout, resisting the effects of combat drugs wearing off, or enduring torture without breaking. Characters with high Endurance keep going when others collapse. In a world where stim patches and combat drugs are common, Endurance also determines how well you handle the chemical cocktails that edgerunners pump into their bodies to keep fighting.

Cyberpunk RED

Endurance (Draw Steel)

Withstanding physical hardship, fatigue, and environmental effects.

Draw Steel

Enemy (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The Enemy flaw means someone out there wants to see you fail, suffer, or die. This could be a rival vampire, a hunter, a mortal you wronged, or even a former ally turned adversary. Enemies provide the Storyteller with a recurring antagonist who can complicate your plans and create dramatic tension. The more powerful or resourceful your enemy, the more points the flaw is worth.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Engineer (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Technical professional who designs and builds systems

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Engineering (Draw Steel)

Designing and understanding mechanical devices and siege equipment.

Draw Steel

Entertainer (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Performer who works crowds for a living. Good at reading a room, keeping attention, and getting people to talk.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Entrepreneurial (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Hunters who use money, influence, and connections to fight the supernatural. They fund operations, acquire equipment, and build networks.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Entropy (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Entropy is the Sphere of chance, fate, and decay. It allows mages to manipulate probability, understand fate, and cause decay or preservation. Entropy mages can affect luck, read fate, and cause things to break down or resist decay. Entropy is powerful for mages who want to manipulate chance and understand fate. It's essential for Euthanatos and useful for any mage who wants to affect probability.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Equipment (Daggerheart)

Weapons, armor, and gear your character carries.

Daggerheart

Equipment (Draw Steel)

Weapons, armor, gear, and other items the character carries.

Draw Steel

Essence (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Your Avatar's nature — how your Awakened self expresses itself.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Etiquette (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Etiquette covers formal social behavior, from Kindred court protocol to high society gatherings. For vampires, understanding Etiquette is essential for navigating Elysium, addressing elders correctly, and avoiding deadly social faux pas. Kindred society has elaborate rules of conduct, and violating them can result in anything from social ostracism to Final Death. Etiquette knowledge helps you avoid these pitfalls and present yourself appropriately.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Euthanatos (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Death mystics who see magic through the cycle of life and death

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Evasion (Cyberpunk RED)

Evasion is your ability to not get hit—dodging bullets, ducking melee swings, and getting out of the way of explosions. In Cyberpunk RED's lethal combat system, not getting hit is often better than wearing armor, because even armored characters take damage from powerful weapons. Evasion uses your DEX stat and is one of the most important defensive combat skills. When an attacker fires at you, your Evasion determines your Difficulty Value (DV)—the number they need to beat to hit you. Higher Evasion means you're harder to hit, period. In Night City's deadly firefights where a burst of assault rifle fire can end your career, every point of Evasion matters. The skill represents a combination of instinct, training, and awareness that lets you read incoming attacks and react before they connect.

Cyberpunk RED

Evasion (Daggerheart)

How hard your character is to hit, based on class and agility.

Daggerheart

Exec (Cyberpunk RED)

Corporate operatives with resources and connections in the business world.

Cyberpunk RED

Experience points (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your accumulated experience points toward the next level.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Experience Points (XP)

A progression currency earned through play and spent to improve your character. Different systems award XP for different activities and spend it differently.

Experiences (Daggerheart)

Narrative tags that describe what your character has done or knows, used to justify advantage on rolls.

Daggerheart

F

Face claim (Freeform / Custom)

Optional: Actor, model, or artwork representing your character.

Freeform / Custom

Faithful (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Hunters driven by religious or spiritual conviction. Their belief gives them strength against supernatural evil and the courage to face the darkness.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Fame (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Your reputation and recognition in the world.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Familiar (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

A Familiar is a spirit entity that has bonded with the mage, providing companionship, magical assistance, and a connection to the spirit world. In M20, Familiars are not simply pets; they are intelligent beings with their own personalities, desires, and capabilities. Some manifest as animals, others as invisible presences, and some take stranger forms entirely. Familiars provide practical benefits: they can store Quintessence for the mage, provide sensory input from distant locations, and even assist with magick. The bond between mage and Familiar is deeply personal and spiritually significant. However, Familiars are also responsibilities. They have their own needs, can be hurt or killed, and their loss causes spiritual trauma to the mage.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Family & origins (Freeform / Custom)

Family background, where they came from.

Freeform / Custom

Farmer (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Feeds from animals, avoiding the moral weight of preying on humans

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Fast talk (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Fast Talk represents your ability to deceive, confuse, and verbally manipulate others in the moment. It's the con artist's skill—bluffing past a guard, spinning a quick lie, creating a distraction, or pressuring someone into a snap decision before they think it through. Unlike Persuade (which builds genuine agreement over time) or Charm (which creates likability), Fast Talk works through speed, confusion, and misdirection. The effects are temporary—once the target has time to think, they may realize they've been duped. In Call of Cthulhu's 1920s setting, Fast Talk gets you past the immediate obstacle but can create problems later if the deception is discovered.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Fears (Freeform / Custom)

What they're afraid of or try to avoid.

Freeform / Custom

Fighting (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Fighting is a specialization skill covering melee combat with various weapon types. While Fighting (Brawl) handles unarmed combat and improvised weapons, other Fighting specialties cover trained weapon use—swords, knives, axes, spears, whips, chainsaws, and more. In Call of Cthulhu, melee combat is dangerous regardless of your skill level. Weapons do increase your damage output significantly compared to fists, but closing to melee range with Mythos creatures is often suicidal. That said, in tight quarters, when ammunition runs out, or against human opponents, a well-armed investigator with a Fighting specialty can be decisive. In the 1920s, knife fighting, swordplay, and other weapon arts are still practiced.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Finance (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Finance covers understanding of economic systems, investments, accounting, and monetary manipulation. For vampires who exist for centuries, Finance skills can compound into vast wealth—or protect against economic ruin. This skill helps manage Resources, invest for long-term growth, and understand the economic levers that move mortal society. Many Ventrue maintain high Finance to manage their domains' wealth.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Finesse (Daggerheart)

Precision, deftness, and manual dexterity. Range: -1 to +3.

Daggerheart

Firearms (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Firearms is a specialization skill covering ranged weapons beyond handguns. Specialties include Rifle/Shotgun, Submachine Gun, Machine Gun, and Heavy Weapons. Each represents proficiency with a category of firearms. In Call of Cthulhu's 1920s setting, rifles and shotguns are common—hunting is widespread, and the Great War left many veterans familiar with military weapons. Shotguns are devastatingly effective at close range, while rifles excel at distance. Military-grade weapons like machine guns and submachine guns are harder to acquire but far more destructive. Against some Mythos threats, concentrated firepower may be your only option.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Firearms (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Firearms covers the use of guns and other projectile weapons. While vampires are supernaturally tough, bullets still hurt, and Firearms provides a way to deal significant damage from a distance. Many modern vampires maintain some proficiency with firearms, as they remain common in both mortal and Kindred conflicts. However, the noise and evidence they create can be problematic for maintaining the Masquerade.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

First aid (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

First Aid represents emergency medical treatment—stopping bleeding, stabilizing injuries, and keeping someone alive until proper medical care is available. In the dangerous world of Call of Cthulhu, First Aid saves lives. Unlike Medicine (which covers diagnosis and long-term treatment), First Aid is for immediate emergencies. Everyone should consider having at least basic First Aid.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

First aid (Cyberpunk RED)

First Aid represents your ability to provide emergency medical treatment—stopping bleeding, stabilizing wounds, and keeping someone alive until they can get proper medical care. First Aid uses your TECH stat and is the basic medical skill everyone should have. While it won't fix everything, it can mean the difference between death and survival.

Cyberpunk RED

Fixer (Cyberpunk RED)

Deal-makers and information brokers who know everyone and everything.

Cyberpunk RED

Flaws (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Weaknesses or vices that can be exploited or create drama.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Fletching (Draw Steel)

Crafting arrows, bolts, and other projectiles.

Draw Steel

Flirt (Draw Steel)

Using charm and romantic attention to influence others.

Draw Steel

Focus (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

How your magic works in practice — your Paradigm, Practice, and Instruments.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Forces (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Forces is the Sphere of energy, motion, and physical forces. It allows mages to manipulate energy, control motion, and affect physical forces like gravity, electricity, and fire. Forces mages can create energy, control movement, and manipulate physical forces. Forces is essential for combat-focused mages and useful for any mage who wants to manipulate energy or motion. It's one of the most versatile Spheres.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Fortitude (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Fortitude is the Discipline of supernatural resilience, allowing vampires to resist damage, supernatural effects, and environmental hazards. It grants incredible durability, making vampires nearly indestructible. Fortitude is essential for survival-focused characters and combat tanks. Vampires with Fortitude can withstand incredible damage, resist fire and sunlight (to a degree), and shrug off supernatural effects. At higher levels, Fortitude allows vampires to survive decapitation, resist mind control, and become nearly indestructible.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Foundation (Daggerheart)

Your character's foundation, which pairs two traits and provides a starting bonus.

Daggerheart

Fudging

When a GM secretly changes dice results to achieve a desired outcome. Controversial - some see it as protecting fun, others as betraying the game's trust.

G

Galestalkers (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Wanderers and survivalists who follow the wind, scouting new territory and hunting on the move.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Galliard (Storyteller) (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Storyteller and bard — the keeper of history who inspires the pack through song and tale.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Game Master (GM)

The player who runs the game: describing the world, playing NPCs, presenting challenges, and adjudicating rules. The GM facilitates the story but doesn't 'win' or 'lose.'

Gangrel (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The wild loners and survivors of the Camarilla

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Gather rumors (Draw Steel)

Collecting gossip and information in social settings.

Draw Steel

Gender (Freeform / Custom)

Your character's gender identity.

Freeform / Custom

Generation (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

How many steps removed from Caine you are. Lower numbers = more powerful. Most neonates are 13th generation.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Ghost Council (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Keepers of the dead and lost knowledge, mediating between the living and the spirit world.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Glass Walkers (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Urban tech-savvy Garou who embrace modern technology and thrive in the city.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Glory (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Glory is the Renown of heroic action, earned through feats of combat, daring rescues, and dramatic accomplishments that the Garou Nation remembers and celebrates. It measures a werewolf's reputation as a warrior and hero, reflecting deeds that inspire others and strike fear into the servants of the Wyrm. In Werewolf 5th Edition, Glory is not merely about killing enemies. It is about performing deeds worthy of song and story. A Garou who single-handedly holds a bridge against a pack of fomori earns Glory. One who charges into a Wyrm-tainted factory to rescue trapped Kinfolk earns Glory. The Galliard sing of these deeds at moots, and Glory Renown determines a Garou's standing as a warrior in the eyes of the Nation. Spirits of war and valor recognize high-Glory werewolves, granting access to powerful combat-oriented Gifts.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Goals (Freeform / Custom)

What they want to achieve.

Freeform / Custom

H

Handgun (Cyberpunk RED)

Handgun is your skill with pistols, revolvers, and other one-handed firearms. In the mean streets of Night City, a handgun is often the difference between walking away and being carried away. Handgun uses your REF stat and is the most common combat skill. Handguns are concealable, widely available, and effective in close to medium range encounters.

Cyberpunk RED

Handle (Cyberpunk RED)

Your street name or alias. This is what other edgerunners and fixers know you by.

Cyberpunk RED

Handle animals (Draw Steel)

Calming, training, and communicating with animals.

Draw Steel

Hart Wardens (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Fierce protectors of the wild places, passionate warriors who celebrate life and nature.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Haven (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Haven is one of the most critical backgrounds for any vampire. It represents where you sleep during the day, protected from the sun's lethal rays. The quality of your haven affects your security, comfort, and ability to conduct business. A haven can range from a simple basement or abandoned building to a fortified mansion with multiple security systems. Higher dots represent better location, security, and amenities.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Heal (Draw Steel)

Treating wounds and diagnosing ailments.

Draw Steel

Health (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Health tracks the physical damage a hunter can sustain before being incapacitated or killed. Unlike vampires who shrug off bullets and heal with blood, hunters are mortal -- every wound is real, every injury carries lasting consequences, and enough damage will kill them outright. This fundamental vulnerability defines the Hunter 5e experience. Hunters cannot afford to trade blows with supernatural creatures. Health is a finite, precious resource that must be managed carefully through tactics, preparation, and knowing when to retreat. A single bad encounter can put a hunter in the hospital for weeks or end their story permanently. Health damage comes in two types: Superficial and Aggravated. Superficial damage represents bruises, minor cuts, and fatigue that heals naturally. Aggravated damage represents serious injuries -- broken bones, deep lacerations, and trauma that requires medical attention. When your Health track fills with Aggravated damage, your hunter is dead. No second chances, no supernatural resurrection.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Health (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Health represents a Garou's physical condition and capacity to absorb damage. It is a derived stat calculated from Stamina, and it tracks injuries using a damage track of Superficial and Aggravated damage boxes. For werewolves, Health takes on special significance because of their supernatural regeneration, which allows them to heal most wounds in seconds. Garou Health is dramatically affected by shapeshifting. In Crinos and Hispo forms, a werewolf gains additional Health levels, making them significantly harder to bring down. This regeneration and expanded Health pool is what makes werewolves terrifying combatants in the war against the Wyrm. However, silver weapons deal Aggravated damage that bypasses regeneration, and fire is similarly dangerous. Managing Health means understanding when to press an attack and when to retreat, when to shift forms for extra durability, and when the threat of silver makes caution essential.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Heavy weapons (Cyberpunk RED)

Heavy Weapons covers the use of serious military hardware—rocket launchers, grenade launchers, flamethrowers, and other destructive ordinance that goes beyond personal firearms. These are weapons designed to destroy vehicles, breach fortifications, and eliminate hardened targets. Heavy Weapons uses your REF stat and occupies the extreme end of the combat spectrum. When shoulder arms aren't enough and you need to crack an armored transport, demolish a building entrance, or deal with a cyberpsycho in full body armor, Heavy Weapons is the answer. The downside is everything you'd expect: these weapons are expensive, the ammunition is rare, they're impossible to conceal, and collateral damage is almost guaranteed. Using heavy weapons in Night City draws immediate attention from law enforcement, corporate security, and everyone else in the blast radius. They're last-resort weapons for desperate situations—or first-resort weapons for people who don't care about subtlety.

Cyberpunk RED

Hecata (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The clan of death, a merger of necromantic bloodlines united under the family of Giovanni

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Herd (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

A stable group of mortals you can feed from regularly (often with less risk than hunting strangers every night).

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Hide (Draw Steel)

Concealing yourself from observation.

Draw Steel

History (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

History represents your knowledge of recorded human events—wars, political movements, famous figures, and the sweep of civilization. In Call of Cthulhu, where ancient evils have influenced humanity throughout the ages, historical knowledge helps you connect the dots between past events and present horrors. This skill covers broad historical knowledge as well as the ability to recall specific facts and place events in context. In the 1920s, historians work primarily from written records, and a good historian can trace patterns across centuries—recurring disappearances in a region, the rise and fall of secret societies, or the true history behind local legends. History provides the context that makes other academic skills more meaningful.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

History (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of historical events, civilizations, and figures.

Draw Steel

History (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Knowledge of historical events, people, and civilizations.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Hit dice (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Hit dice: class die × level, spent during short rests to heal.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Hit Points (HP)

A numeric measure of how much damage a character can take before being incapacitated or killed. Damage reduces HP; healing restores it.

Homebrew

Custom content created by GMs or players rather than official publishers. Can include house rules, new classes, monsters, settings, or entire game systems.

Honor (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Honor is the Renown of integrity and ethical conduct, earned by upholding the Litany, keeping promises, acting fairly, and demonstrating the moral strength that the Garou Nation depends upon. It measures a werewolf's reputation as someone trustworthy, just, and true to the ways of the Garou. In Werewolf 5th Edition, Honor reflects a Garou's commitment to doing what is right even when it is difficult. A werewolf who spares a defeated enemy who surrenders earns Honor. One who keeps a promise at great personal cost earns Honor. The Litany provides the framework for honorable behavior, and Honor Renown tracks how well a Garou lives up to those ideals. Spirits of balance and justice recognize high-Honor werewolves, and the Garou Nation trusts them with positions of authority and judgment.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

HP (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Hit Points: a derived stat showing how much injury you can take before going down.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

HP (Daggerheart)

Hit points representing your character's health. Tracked in slots (typically 6).

Daggerheart

HP (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Hit points: determined by class hit die, CON modifier, and level.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Human perception (Cyberpunk RED)

Human Perception represents your ability to read people—understanding emotions, detecting lies, and perceiving hidden motivations. In a world of corporate deception and street manipulation, knowing when someone's playing you is essential. Human Perception uses your EMP stat and is your primary social detection skill. It helps you navigate social situations and avoid manipulation.

Cyberpunk RED

I

Ideals (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

The principles and beliefs that drive your character.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Infamous sire (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Infamous Sire is the dark mirror of Prestigious Sire. Your vampiric parent is known, but for all the wrong reasons. They may be a criminal, a traitor, a diablerist, or simply someone who made powerful enemies. This notoriety follows you. Other Kindred may distrust you, refuse to deal with you, or assume the worst about your motives. Proving yourself worthy of respect is an uphill battle.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Influence (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Influence represents the mage's pull within mortal institutions: government, business, media, law enforcement, academia, or other organizations. While Allies are individuals who help you, Influence is systemic power. You can make things happen within institutions without needing to call on specific people. For mages in the Ascension War, Influence provides tools to counter the Technocracy on its own turf. The Technocratic Union controls reality partly through institutional power, and mages with Influence can push back through the same channels. Suppressing news stories, redirecting police investigations, securing permits and funding, and accessing restricted records all become possible through institutional Influence.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Initiative

The system for determining turn order in combat or other time-sensitive situations. Higher initiative usually means acting sooner.

Initiative (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Initiative bonus: DEX modifier, determines turn order in combat.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Inquisitive (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Hunters who seek knowledge and understanding of the supernatural. They research, investigate, and uncover the truth behind monsters.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Insight (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Reading body language and detecting lies or hidden motives.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Insight (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Insight is the ability to read people, understanding their emotions, motivations, and whether they're being truthful. For vampires immersed in a society of lies and manipulation, this skill can mean the difference between survival and Final Death. While Auspex provides supernatural perception, Insight covers the psychological understanding of behavior patterns, body language, and social cues that reveal truth.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Instinct (Daggerheart)

Awareness, intuition, and gut feelings. Range: -1 to +3.

Daggerheart

INT (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Intelligence: reasoning, learning, and connecting clues.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

INT (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Intelligence: reasoning, memory, arcane magic.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

INT (Intelligence) (Cyberpunk RED)

How smart and analytical you are. Good for planning, problem-solving, and tech-heavy roles.

Cyberpunk RED

INT save (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Intelligence saving throw: INT modifier + proficiency bonus (if proficient).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Intelligence (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Intelligence represents reasoning ability, memory, education, and the capacity to analyze complex information. For hunters, Intelligence is the Attribute that lets them research supernatural creatures, identify weaknesses, plan operations, and understand the occult lore that reveals how to actually kill things that shouldn't exist. Knowledge is arguably a hunter's greatest weapon. A strong arm and a steady aim mean nothing if you don't know that a particular creature is immune to bullets, vulnerable to silver, or can only be destroyed by a specific ritual. Intelligence is what turns a group of scared mortals into an effective hunting cell. Intelligence also supports the investigative work that precedes every Hunt. Analyzing crime scenes, researching historical records, cross-referencing witness accounts, and identifying patterns in supernatural activity all depend on Intelligence. The best hunters spend far more time preparing than fighting.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Intelligence (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Intelligence measures a mage's capacity for reasoning, memory, analysis, and complex thought. For Awakened characters, Intelligence represents the raw cognitive power that lets them comprehend the Tapestry's patterns, unravel ancient grimoires, and devise new applications of Sphere magick. Many Traditions prize Intelligence as the foundation of magical understanding. In M20, Intelligence drives research, magical theory, and problem-solving. Understanding why a Paradox backlash occurred, deciphering a Technocracy encryption scheme, designing a new Etherite device, or unraveling the metaphysical implications of a Sphere combination all depend on Intelligence. The Awakened world is complex, and raw brainpower helps mages navigate its intricacies.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Intelligence (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Reasoning, memory, and analytical thinking. Used for research, problem-solving, and knowledge checks.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Intelligence (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Intelligence represents a Garou's capacity for reasoning, learning, and recalling information. It covers formal education, logical thinking, and the ability to process complex information. While werewolves are often stereotyped as brutes, many Garou are brilliant scholars, scientists, and strategists who bring knowledge to bear against the Wyrm. In the modern Apocalypse, Intelligence is essential for understanding Pentex's corporate machinations, researching ancient rites, and deciphering the complex spiritual ecology of the Umbra. The Garou Nation faces threats that cannot be solved by claws alone. Understanding pollution patterns, corporate structures, technological surveillance, and ancient prophecies all require sharp minds. A pack without intelligent members is a pack that fights blind.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Interrogation (Cyberpunk RED)

Interrogation is the skill of extracting information from unwilling subjects through questioning, psychological pressure, and intimidation. It's the hard approach to information gathering—when Conversation's friendly rapport and Persuasion's charm have failed or aren't appropriate, Interrogation gets answers through fear and force. Interrogation uses your COOL stat and represents your ability to break someone's resistance through sustained psychological (and sometimes physical) pressure. In Night City, information is currency, and not everyone wants to share. Gang members protecting their crew, corporate employees bound by NDAs, and street criminals who know snitching is lethal all have strong reasons to stay quiet. Interrogation is how you overcome those reasons. It's a dark skill that sits at the intersection of psychology and cruelty, and skilled interrogators are valued—and feared—throughout Night City's underworld and corporate security apparatus.

Cyberpunk RED

Intimidate (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Intimidate represents your ability to coerce others through threats, physical presence, and sheer menace. It's the blunt instrument of social interaction—where Charm creates goodwill and Persuade builds agreement, Intimidate forces compliance through fear. In Call of Cthulhu, Intimidate can be verbal (threats, aggressive tone) or physical (looming over someone, displaying weapons, demonstrating strength). It's effective for getting quick results from reluctant informants or scaring off minor threats. However, intimidated people comply out of fear, not loyalty—they'll turn on you the moment they feel safe, and may alert authorities or enemies.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Intimidate (Draw Steel)

Using threats and imposing presence to coerce others.

Draw Steel

Intimidation (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Influencing others through threats or imposing presence.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Intimidation (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Intimidation is the art of using fear, threats, and presence to coerce others. For vampires, who naturally inspire fear in mortals, this skill helps channel that terror productively. Intimidation can range from subtle menace to overt threats of violence. It's particularly useful for extracting information, controlling territory, and dealing with those who won't respond to charm.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Intuition (Draw Steel)

Awareness, instinct, reading people, and sensing the supernatural. Used for perception, insight, and healing.

Draw Steel

Investigation (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Searching for clues, deducing information from evidence.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Investigation (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Investigation is the art of gathering information, analyzing evidence, and solving mysteries. For vampires, this skill helps uncover secrets, track prey, and understand the machinations of enemies. From crime scene analysis to following paper trails, Investigation provides the tools to find truth in a world of lies. It's essential for anyone who needs to know what's really going on.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Iron will (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Iron Will represents an exceptional force of character that allows a vampire to resist supernatural attempts to control or influence their mind. This merit is invaluable for characters who expect to face Dominate, Presence, or other mind-affecting Disciplines. Characters with Iron Will are often natural leaders, stubborn individuals, or those who have endured significant trauma that hardened their resolve. This merit makes you a poor target for mental manipulation but doesn't make you immune.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

J

Journalist (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

News reporter who investigates stories and uncovers the truth

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Jump (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Jump represents your ability to leap across gaps, vault over obstacles, and land safely from heights. In Call of Cthulhu, investigators frequently find themselves in situations requiring physical agility—leaping between rooftops during a chase, vaulting a fence while fleeing cultists, or jumping across a chasm in underground tunnels. This skill covers both standing and running jumps, as well as the ability to land safely. It's a measure of leg strength, coordination, and the nerve to commit to a leap when the consequences of failure are severe. In the cramped, vertical environments of 1920s cities, or the broken terrain of wilderness and ruins, Jump can be a lifesaver.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Jump (Draw Steel)

Leaping across gaps and over obstacles.

Draw Steel

K

Kit (Draw Steel)

Your combat loadout, providing bonuses to stamina, speed, stability, damage, and distance.

Draw Steel

Knowledge (Daggerheart)

Education, memory, and analytical thinking. Range: -1 to +3.

Daggerheart

L

Land vehicle tech (Cyberpunk RED)

Land Vehicle Tech is the specialized skill of working on ground vehicles—cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other wheeled or tracked vehicles. It covers repairs, modifications, customization, and the deep mechanical knowledge needed to keep Night City's vehicles running. Land Vehicle Tech uses your TECH stat and is distinct from Drive Land Vehicle—driving is one thing, but understanding the machine underneath you is another entirely. A skilled vehicle tech can repair battle damage in the field, upgrade an engine for better performance, install hidden compartments for smuggling, add armor plating, or strip a vehicle for parts. For nomad clans, vehicle tech skills are foundational—their lives depend on maintaining their vehicles in the harsh Badlands. For urban edgerunners, having a vehicle tech means your getaway car actually works when you need it, and your ride performs better than factory spec.

Cyberpunk RED

Language (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Language (Other) is a specialization skill—each specialty represents fluency in a specific language beyond your native tongue. In Call of Cthulhu, where Mythos tomes are written in Latin, Arabic, Greek, and more obscure languages, linguistic ability is a critical investigation tool. Every investigator has their own language (Language: Own) at a base of EDU. Language (Other) covers additional languages. In the 1920s, educated investigators often know French, German, or Latin from their schooling. More exotic languages become important when deciphering ancient texts, communicating with foreign contacts, or reading Mythos tomes in their original language. Some Mythos texts exist only in languages like Aklo, Hyperborean, or R'lyehian.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Language (Cyberpunk RED)

Language represents your fluency in a specific spoken and written language. Night City is one of the most linguistically diverse cities on the planet—a melting pot where English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and dozens of other languages mix on every street corner. Being multilingual isn't just cultural—it's a tactical advantage. Language uses your INT stat and is purchased separately for each language you know. Your native language is assumed to be fluent. Additional languages open up communication with communities that might otherwise be closed to you, let you eavesdrop on conversations others assume are private, and allow you to read signs, documents, and data in foreign languages. In Night City's Japantown, Little China, Heywood's Latino communities, and the international corporate world, speaking the local language is the difference between being an insider and being an outsider.

Cyberpunk RED

Languages (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You speak additional languages fluently.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Larceny (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Larceny covers criminal skills related to theft, breaking and entering, and bypassing security. For vampires, this skill is invaluable for accessing restricted areas, stealing resources, and generally operating outside the law. From picking locks to disabling alarms, Larceny provides the tools to go where you're not supposed to be. Combined with supernatural abilities like Obfuscate, a vampire with high Larceny is nearly impossible to keep out.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Lasombra (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The shadow clan of ambitious predators who wield darkness itself as a weapon

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Law (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Law represents your knowledge of legal codes, judicial procedures, rights, and the workings of the justice system. In Call of Cthulhu, investigators often operate at the edges of legality—trespassing, breaking and entering, carrying weapons, and tampering with evidence are common investigative activities. Knowing the law helps you understand what you can and can't do without risking arrest, how to navigate legal obstacles, and how to use the justice system as a tool. In the 1920s, laws vary significantly between jurisdictions, and understanding local ordinances, property rights, and criminal statutes can provide both protection and investigative leverage.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Lawman (Cyberpunk RED)

Law enforcement officers trying to maintain order in a chaotic world.

Cyberpunk RED

Lawyer (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Legal professional who represents clients

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Lead (Draw Steel)

Inspiring and directing others in coordinated efforts.

Draw Steel

Leadership (Cyberpunk RED)

Leadership is the ability to inspire, command, and coordinate others—rallying allies in combat, directing team tactics, and keeping people focused when fear and chaos threaten to scatter them. In Night City's violent and unpredictable environment, strong leadership can turn a disorganized crew into a coordinated strike team. Leadership uses your COOL stat and represents both the charisma to inspire and the authority to command. It covers rallying demoralized allies, coordinating tactical movements, directing hired muscle or allied NPCs, and maintaining crew cohesion when a job goes sideways. While Cyberpunk RED is about individual edgerunners, those edgerunners work in teams, and someone needs to call the shots. A leader keeps the crew on task, resolves disputes in the field, and makes the hard calls that keep everyone alive. In a city where trust is rare and loyalty is rarer, the ability to lead is genuinely powerful.

Cyberpunk RED

Leadership (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Leadership is the ability to inspire, organize, and direct groups of people toward common goals. For vampires, this skill is essential for managing herds, leading coteries, and commanding positions in Kindred society. True leadership goes beyond intimidation or manipulation—it's about inspiring genuine loyalty and bringing out the best in others. Elder vampires often cultivate Leadership to manage their domains.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Leather working (Draw Steel)

Creating and repairing leather goods and armor.

Draw Steel

Level (Draw Steel)

Your character's level (1-10).

Draw Steel

Level (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your character's level (1-20).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Librarian (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Information professional who manages libraries

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Library (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Library represents access to a collection of magical texts, grimoires, research notes, and occult reference materials. In M20, magical knowledge is recorded in countless forms: ancient grimoires, coded journals, encrypted digital files, oral traditions transcribed by apprentices, and Technocratic research papers liberated from laboratories. A Library gives a mage access to knowledge beyond their personal experience. Library is functionally critical for mages who want to research new rotes, understand unfamiliar magical phenomena, or learn about historical events in the Ascension War. Without Library access, a mage is limited to their own knowledge and what they can learn from mentors or fellow Tradition members. The depth and breadth of a Library directly affects how quickly a mage can expand their magical repertoire.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Library (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have a collection of books and knowledge.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Library search (Cyberpunk RED)

Library Search is your ability to find information through research—searching databases, archives, the Data Pool, public records, news archives, and any other organized repository of knowledge. In the information age, knowing how to find answers is as important as knowing the answers themselves. Library Search uses your INT stat and is the skill of effective research. The Data Pool—the remnant of the old internet that survived the DataKrash—contains vast amounts of information, but finding what you need amidst the noise, corrupted data, and deliberate misinformation requires real skill. Beyond digital research, Library Search also covers navigating physical archives, corporate records, government databases, and academic repositories. For edgerunners, Library Search answers critical questions before a job: Who is the target? What's the building layout? What security has the corporation used before? Who owns that shell company? The crew that does their homework survives longer than the crew that goes in blind.

Cyberpunk RED

Library use (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Library Use represents your ability to navigate research materials and find specific information. In a game centered on investigation and uncovering ancient secrets, this skill is essential for understanding what you're facing. From dusty university archives to newspaper morgues, Library Use helps you find the needle in the haystack—that one reference to the cult, the newspaper article about disappearances, or the family history that explains everything.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Lie (Draw Steel)

Telling falsehoods convincingly under pressure.

Draw Steel

Life (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Life is the Sphere of living things, healing, and biological manipulation. It allows mages to heal, transform living things, and understand biology. Life mages can heal wounds, transform bodies, and manipulate living organisms. Life is essential for healing-focused mages and useful for any mage who wants to affect living things. It's powerful for support and transformation.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Lift (Draw Steel)

Carrying heavy objects and feats of raw strength.

Draw Steel

Likes (Freeform / Custom)

Things your character enjoys or is drawn to.

Freeform / Custom

Lines and Veils

A safety tool where 'Lines' are content that will never appear in the game, and 'Veils' are content that can happen but will be glossed over (fade to black).

Lip reading (Cyberpunk RED)

Lip Reading is the ability to understand what someone is saying by watching their mouth move, without hearing the actual words. In Night City's world of surveillance, espionage, and paranoia, Lip Reading lets you eavesdrop from across a crowded room, through soundproof glass, or via silent security camera footage. Lip Reading uses your INT stat and is a niche but powerful intelligence-gathering skill. While most edgerunners rely on bugs and hacking for surveillance, Lip Reading requires no technology, leaves no trace, and can't be detected by counter-surveillance sweeps. You can read a conversation through a restaurant window, understand a meeting happening in a soundproof office, or decipher what someone said on muted security footage. For spies, investigators, and anyone who deals in information, Lip Reading provides an undetectable intelligence advantage that technology simply can't replicate.

Cyberpunk RED

Listen (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Listen represents your ability to hear and identify sounds—footsteps approaching, whispered conversations, distant gunshots, and the subtle sounds that warn of danger. Listen is the auditory counterpart to Spot Hidden. Together, they provide complete situational awareness. Listen can catch things you can't see, making it valuable in dark environments or around corners.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Local expert (Cyberpunk RED)

Local Expert represents intimate knowledge of a specific area—its geography, people, businesses, secrets, and culture. Every Night City neighborhood has its own character, power structures, and unwritten rules, and Local Expert means you know them from living there. Local Expert uses your INT stat and is purchased separately for each area you know. You might have Local Expert (Little China) and Local Expert (Heywood) as separate skills at different levels. This knowledge includes knowing shortcuts and back alleys, recognizing local faces, understanding the neighborhood's power dynamics, knowing which businesses are fronts, where the safe houses are, and what areas to avoid at night. It's the difference between a tourist and a local—and in Night City, tourists get eaten alive. For edgerunners, deep local knowledge means knowing escape routes, safe houses, friendly businesses, and potential ambush points in your operating area.

Cyberpunk RED

Location (Freeform / Custom)

Where your character lives or is based.

Freeform / Custom

Locksmith (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Locksmith represents your ability to open locks without the proper key, crack safes, and bypass mechanical security devices. In Call of Cthulhu, where vital clues hide behind locked doors, in sealed safes, and within secured buildings, Locksmith is an investigator's best friend. This skill covers understanding lock mechanisms, using picks and improvised tools, cracking combination safes, and defeating other mechanical security. In the 1920s, electronic security doesn't exist—everything is mechanical, which means a skilled locksmith can bypass almost any barrier given time and tools. The skill also covers understanding and disabling alarm systems of the era.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

LUCK (Cyberpunk RED)

How often fate breaks your way. Spent to turn bad rolls into near-misses and clutch moments.

Cyberpunk RED

M

Magic lore (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of magical theory, traditions, and arcane phenomena.

Draw Steel

Malkavian (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The mad seers and prophets of the Camarilla

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Manipulation (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Manipulation represents the ability to influence others subtly -- through careful argument, emotional pressure, misdirection, or outright deception. Where Charisma draws people in through magnetism, Manipulation works through understanding what others want and using that knowledge to guide their behavior. For hunters, Manipulation is a critical tool for operating in a world where the truth would get you committed to a psychiatric facility. You need to lie to police about why you were at a crime scene. You need to trick a ghoul into revealing their master's haven. You need to convince a bureaucrat to give you access to records that should be sealed. Manipulation also governs the darker side of hunter operations -- extracting information from unwilling sources, playing factions against each other, and maintaining the elaborate web of deceptions that keeps a cell's true activities hidden from the mundane world.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Manipulation (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Manipulation measures a mage's ability to influence others through cunning, persuasion, and deception. Where Charisma attracts through genuine appeal, Manipulation achieves goals through whatever argument or approach works best, whether truthful or not. For Awakened characters, Manipulation reflects the same force of will that reshapes reality, turned toward reshaping social situations. The Ascension War is fought as much through influence as through magick. Manipulative mages infiltrate Technocracy front companies, turn enemy agents, extract information from unwilling sources, and navigate the treacherous politics of Tradition councils. In a world where Paradox punishes overt magick, sometimes the most effective tool is a well-placed word.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Manipulation (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Ability to influence and deceive others. Used for lying, bargaining, and social manipulation.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Manipulation (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Manipulation measures a Garou's ability to influence others through cunning, misdirection, and social maneuvering. While Charisma inspires, Manipulation steers. It is the attribute of the schemer, the negotiator who always gets the better deal, and the trickster who turns enemies against each other without ever raising a claw. In Garou society, Manipulation has a complicated reputation. The Garou value directness and honor, and overt manipulation is frowned upon. Yet the Ragabash role exists precisely because the Garou Nation needs those willing to use cunning. Against human institutions like Pentex, manipulation is often more effective than raw force. Within pack politics, a subtle hand can resolve conflicts before they escalate to challenge rites.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Martial (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Hunters trained in combat and direct confrontation. They fight monsters head-on with skill, tactics, and determination.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Martial arts (Cyberpunk RED)

Martial Arts represents formal training in unarmed combat disciplines—karate, judo, taekwondo, krav maga, or any of the countless fighting styles practiced in the Time of the Red. Unlike Brawling's street-fighting approach, Martial Arts provides trained techniques, disciplined forms, and refined combat methods. Martial Arts uses your DEX stat and functions as the advanced unarmed combat skill. It provides access to special techniques that Brawling doesn't offer, including throws, holds, sweeps, and advanced strikes. In Night City's underground fight circuits, martial artists are prized competitors. On the street, a skilled martial artist can disarm opponents, control fights through grappling, and strike with precision that raw Brawling can't match. Combined with cyberware enhancements, a martial artist becomes a terrifyingly efficient close-combat weapon.

Cyberpunk RED

Mask (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

A mortal identity you maintain to navigate human society.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Matter (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Matter is the Sphere of inanimate objects and physical matter. It allows mages to manipulate objects, transform materials, and understand physical matter. Matter mages can reshape objects, transform materials, and create or destroy physical things. Matter is essential for mages who want to manipulate objects and materials. It's useful for creation, transformation, and understanding physical matter.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Mawla (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

An older or more experienced vampire who acts as your mentor or patron.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Mechanical repair (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Mechanical Repair represents your ability to fix, build, and understand mechanical devices—engines, clockwork, tools, weapons, and any non-electrical machinery. In the 1920s, the world runs on mechanical technology, making this skill broadly useful. From repairing a broken-down automobile in the middle of nowhere to rigging a makeshift trap, Mechanical Repair keeps equipment working and creates solutions from available materials. In Mythos investigations, mechanical devices often need repairs after encounters—doors ripped from hinges, vehicles damaged during chases, and equipment broken during panicked escapes.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Mechanics (Draw Steel)

Operating, repairing, and sabotaging mechanical devices.

Draw Steel

Media (Cyberpunk RED)

Investigative journalists and influencers who expose the truth.

Cyberpunk RED

Medicine (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Medicine represents comprehensive medical knowledge—diagnosis, treatment, surgery, pharmacology, and long-term patient care. Unlike First Aid (which handles immediate emergencies), Medicine covers the full scope of medical practice. In Call of Cthulhu, Medicine is invaluable for treating serious injuries, diagnosing mysterious illnesses, performing autopsies, and identifying poisons. In the 1920s, medicine is advancing rapidly but still lacks antibiotics and many modern treatments. A doctor investigator brings both healing capability and forensic expertise to the group. Medical knowledge also helps identify unusual causes of death that might point to Mythos involvement.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Medicine (Draw Steel)

Diagnosing diseases and understanding anatomy.

Draw Steel

Medicine (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Stabilizing the dying, diagnosing illnesses.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Medicine (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Medicine covers medical knowledge including anatomy, diagnosis, treatment, and surgery. While vampires heal supernaturally, Medicine remains useful for understanding the bodies they feed from and for maintaining mortal servants. For Bagger predators especially, Medicine provides access to blood banks and medical facilities. It's also useful for creating cover identities in the healthcare field.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Medtech (Cyberpunk RED)

Street doctors and trauma surgeons who keep people alive in the combat zone.

Cyberpunk RED

Melee (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Melee covers fighting with handheld weapons, from knives and swords to improvised clubs and chains. While less common in the modern era, many vampires maintain proficiency with melee weapons, especially those from earlier periods. Melee weapons can deal significant damage and, unlike Brawl, can be enhanced or enchanted. Some vampires prefer the elegance of swordplay, while others use whatever's at hand.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Melee weapon (Cyberpunk RED)

Melee Weapon is your skill with hand-held weapons—swords, knives, clubs, axes, cyberblades, and any other weapon you swing, stab, or slash with. In a city full of guns, melee might seem outdated, but in Night City's tight corridors, crowded clubs, and close-quarters encounters, a blade can be deadlier than a bullet. Melee Weapon uses your DEX stat and covers armed close combat. Cyberweapons like Wolvers, Mantis Blades, and Monowire all use this skill, making it essential for characters who've invested in bladed cyberware. Melee weapons are silent, never run out of ammo, and can't be detected by standard weapon scanners when they're part of your body. For characters who fight up close and personal, Melee Weapon turns every encounter into a lethal dance of steel and chrome.

Cyberpunk RED

Mentor (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Mentor represents an older, more experienced mage who takes an interest in your character's development. Mentors provide training, advice, magical instruction, and sometimes political protection within the Traditions. The relationship between a mage and their Mentor is one of the most important in the Awakened world, shaping the student's understanding of magick, paradigm, and purpose. A Mentor's value extends beyond simple instruction. They can introduce the mage to important figures, vouch for them at Tradition councils, provide warnings about threats, and offer perspective gained from decades or centuries of experience. However, Mentors also have expectations. They may demand service, assign dangerous tasks, or push the student toward goals that serve the Mentor's own agenda.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Metagaming

Using out-of-character knowledge that your character wouldn't have. Often discouraged because it breaks immersion and can feel unfair.

Might (Draw Steel)

Physical power, endurance, and the ability to overpower others. Used for melee attacks, feats of strength, and resisting physical effects.

Draw Steel

Mind (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Mind is the Sphere of thought, perception, and mental manipulation. It allows mages to read thoughts, affect minds, and manipulate perception. Mind mages can communicate telepathically, influence thoughts, and control perception. Mind is powerful for social mages and useful for any mage who wants to affect thoughts and perception. It's essential for mental manipulation.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Modifier

A number added to (or subtracted from) a dice roll. Modifiers come from attributes, skills, equipment, magic, or situational bonuses/penalties.

Monsters (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of creatures, their weaknesses, and their behaviors.

Draw Steel

Motivations (Freeform / Custom)

What drives your character forward.

Freeform / Custom

MOVE (Cyberpunk RED)

How fast you move across the battlefield or the street. Important for positioning and getting out alive.

Cyberpunk RED

Move rate (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Move Rate: a derived value based on DEX, STR, and SIZ comparison, modified by age.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

MP (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Magic Points: a derived stat used for spellcasting and supernatural effects.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Music (Draw Steel)

Playing instruments and performing vocal music.

Draw Steel

Mystic insight (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have a natural understanding of the supernatural.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

N

Name (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Your investigator’s name.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Name (Daggerheart)

Your character's name.

Daggerheart

Name (Draw Steel)

Your character's name.

Draw Steel

Name (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your character's name.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Name (Freeform / Custom)

Your character's name.

Freeform / Custom

Name (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Your hunter's name.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Name (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Your mage's name.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Name (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Your werewolf's human name.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Natural world (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Natural World represents your knowledge of the natural environment—flora, fauna, weather patterns, geology, and ecology. In Call of Cthulhu, where investigations often lead to remote locations, this skill helps you understand and survive in the wilderness. This skill covers identifying plants and animals, predicting weather, understanding terrain, and recognizing when something in nature is wrong. In Lovecraftian horror, the natural world itself can be corrupted—mutated animals, blighted vegetation, and unnatural weather patterns are telltale signs of Mythos activity. An investigator with Natural World knowledge can spot these anomalies and understand what normal ecology should look like.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Nature (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of plants, animals, terrain, and natural phenomena.

Draw Steel

Nature (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Knowledge of terrain, plants, animals, and weather.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Nature (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Your true inner self — the archetype that defines your core personality.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Navigate (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Navigate represents your ability to find your way—reading maps, using compass and stars, following landmarks, and maintaining your bearings in unfamiliar territory. In Call of Cthulhu, investigations frequently take you to remote locations, uncharted areas, and disorienting environments where getting lost can be fatal. This skill covers land navigation, sea navigation, and the ability to read and create maps. In the 1920s, GPS doesn't exist, and many areas remain poorly mapped. Navigating through dense forests, across open ocean, through underground tunnel systems, or even finding addresses in unfamiliar cities all fall under this skill. Getting lost in the wrong place can mean stumbling into Mythos territory unprepared.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Navigate (Draw Steel)

Finding your way in unfamiliar territory and reading maps.

Draw Steel

Netrunner (Cyberpunk RED)

Digital cowboys who hack into the NET, breaking ICE and stealing data.

Cyberpunk RED

Nightmares (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You suffer from disturbing dreams that affect your rest.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Node (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

A Node is a location where the Tapestry is thin and Quintessence naturally wells up from the fabric of reality. Ley lines converge, spiritual energy pools, and magick flows more freely. Nodes are the fuel stations of the Awakened world, providing the raw Quintessence that powers enhanced magical effects and fills Wonders. Nodes are among the most contested resources in the Ascension War. Every Tradition, the Technocracy, the Nephandi, and even the Marauders seek to control Nodes for the Quintessence they produce. Owning a Node means a steady supply of magical energy, but it also means defending it against everyone else who wants it. Many Chantries are built on Nodes, and wars have been fought over particularly powerful ones.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Nomad (Cyberpunk RED)

Road warriors with a tight-knit family and vehicular expertise.

Cyberpunk RED

Non-Player Character (NPC)

Any character in the game world controlled by the GM rather than a player. NPCs can be allies, enemies, or neutral parties the players interact with.

Nosferatu (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The hideous information brokers and spies of the Camarilla

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Notable equipment (Freeform / Custom)

Important items, weapons, or possessions.

Freeform / Custom

O

Obfuscate (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Obfuscate is the Discipline of stealth and concealment, allowing vampires to become invisible, hide from detection, and move unseen. It grants incredible utility, from spying to escaping danger. Obfuscate is essential for stealth-focused characters and those who want to operate in the shadows. Vampires with Obfuscate can become invisible, hide from detection, move silently, and blend into crowds. At higher levels, Obfuscate allows vampires to become completely undetectable, hide objects, and create illusions.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Oblivion (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Shadow and death powers. Allows manipulation of darkness, communion with ghosts, and necromantic rituals.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Oblivious (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You are unaware of supernatural phenomena around you.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Occult (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Occult represents knowledge of the supernatural as understood by human occult traditions—magic, witchcraft, mysticism, and secret societies. Importantly, this is NOT the same as Cthulhu Mythos knowledge. Occult covers human understanding of the supernatural: tarot, astrology, Hermetic magic, folk beliefs, and similar traditions. While often inaccurate about the true nature of the Mythos, Occult knowledge can provide valuable context and recognize when something supernatural is afoot.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Occult (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Occult represents knowledge of the supernatural world—vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and the various mystical traditions that interact with them. For Kindred, this skill helps understand their own nature and the broader World of Darkness. Occult is essential for Tremere and others who practice Blood Sorcery, but all vampires benefit from understanding the supernatural forces at work around them.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Occult library (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have a collection of occult knowledge and rituals.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Occultist (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Student of the occult and supernatural phenomena

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Occupation (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Your investigator’s occupation (it helps define your skill focus during creation).

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Occupation (Freeform / Custom)

What your character does (job, role, or calling).

Freeform / Custom

Officer (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Law enforcement officer who maintains order

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

One-Shot

A self-contained adventure designed to be completed in a single session, often with pre-made characters. Great for trying new systems or one-time events.

Operate heavy machinery (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Operate Heavy Machinery represents your ability to operate large industrial and construction equipment—cranes, steam shovels, bulldozers, tractors, printing presses, and similar heavy machines. In Call of Cthulhu's 1920s setting, the industrial age is in full swing, and heavy machinery is central to construction, mining, and manufacturing. While niche, this skill can be dramatically useful when it comes up. Operating a crane to move a massive stone slab blocking a cave entrance, using a steam shovel to excavate a buried Mythos site, or driving a tractor to escape across farmland—Operate Heavy Machinery provides options that other skills can't replicate. The skill also covers understanding how these machines work, which can be useful for sabotage.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Order of Hermes (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Scholarly mages who see magic as science and formula

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Osiris (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Cult leader or influencer who feeds from devotees

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

P

Pack (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Your pack name and affiliation.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Paradox (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Paradox is reality's immune response. When a mage imposes their will on the Tapestry in ways that contradict the Consensus, the collective belief of humanity about how reality works, reality pushes back. Paradox accumulates as points on the character sheet, and when it discharges, the results range from inconvenient to catastrophic: physical damage, temporary derangements, reality warps, or even banishment to a Paradox Realm. Paradox is the central tension of Mage: The Ascension. Every mage wants to reshape reality, but every reshaping carries risk. Vulgar magick (effects that obviously violate the laws of physics) generates far more Paradox than coincidental magick (effects that could plausibly have mundane explanations). The presence of unAwakened witnesses, called Sleepers, dramatically increases Paradox generation, as their belief in the Consensus reinforces reality's resistance.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Parapsychologist (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Researcher who studies paranormal phenomena

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Party

The group of player characters adventuring together. Parties often have a mix of roles (combat, healing, skills, magic) and a reason to stick together.

Passive perception (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Passive Perception: 10 + Wisdom modifier + proficiency (if proficient).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Percentile (d100)

A dice mechanic where you roll two d10s as a number from 01-100 and succeed if you roll equal to or under your skill rating. Lower rolls are better.

Perception (Cyberpunk RED)

Perception represents your ability to notice things—ambushes, hidden enemies, important clues, and danger before it strikes. In Night City, missing a detail can get you killed. Perception uses your INT stat and is your primary defensive awareness skill. It opposes Stealth and helps you notice hidden threats, traps, and important information.

Cyberpunk RED

Perception (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Noticing things through sight, sound, smell, and other senses.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Perception (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Perception measures a mage's awareness of their surroundings, attention to detail, and sensory acuity. For Awakened characters, Perception is especially significant because noticing the subtle flows of reality is how mages first sensed their connection to the Tapestry. Perception governs not just mundane senses but a mage's ability to notice when something in the world is off, even before invoking any Sphere. In the Ascension War, Perception keeps mages alive. Noticing a Technocracy surveillance team, spotting a ward before triggering it, reading the subtle signs that someone is under Mind control, or detecting that a location has been touched by Paradox all fall under Perception. Mages who fail to pay attention to their surroundings rarely survive long.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Perform (Draw Steel)

Acting, oratory, and putting on a show.

Draw Steel

Performance (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Entertaining through music, dance, acting, or storytelling.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Performance (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Performance covers all forms of artistic expression performed before an audience—acting, singing, dancing, playing instruments, and more. For vampires, especially Toreador, Performance is often central to their identity and influence. Beyond entertainment, Performance can be used to create distractions, assume identities, and influence crowds. A skilled performer commands attention in ways that can be leveraged for hunting or political purposes.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Personal grooming (Cyberpunk RED)

Personal Grooming covers your ability to maintain and enhance your physical appearance—hairstyling, cosmetics, skin care, body modification presentation, and overall personal presentation. In Night City, appearance is currency. How you look determines how people treat you, what doors open for you, and whether you're seen as a threat, an asset, or trash. Personal Grooming uses your COOL stat and reflects Night City's obsession with image and style. The city's culture values appearance almost as much as capability. Corporate zones require polished professionals. Club scenes demand cutting-edge style. Even street gangs have distinct aesthetic identities. Personal Grooming lets you present yourself appropriately for any context—cleaning up for a corporate meeting, going full chrome-punk for a club, or maintaining the kind of effortless cool that Night City respects. Combined with Wardrobe & Style, Personal Grooming forms the complete package of looking like you belong wherever you need to be.

Cyberpunk RED

Personality (Freeform / Custom)

Your character's general demeanor and personality.

Freeform / Custom

Personality traits (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Two personality traits that define how your character acts.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Persuade (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Persuade represents your ability to convince others through logical argument, emotional appeal, and credibility. Unlike Fast Talk (which relies on speed and confusion), Persuade builds genuine agreement. In investigations, Persuade helps you gain cooperation from witnesses, convince authorities to help, and negotiate with those who might otherwise be obstacles.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Persuade (Draw Steel)

Convincing others through reasoned argument and diplomacy.

Draw Steel

Persuasion (Cyberpunk RED)

Persuasion represents your ability to convince others to see things your way—through charm, logic, pressure, or manipulation. In Night City, a silver tongue can be as valuable as a quick draw. Persuasion uses your COOL stat and is your primary social influence skill. High Persuasion opens doors that would otherwise require violence.

Cyberpunk RED

Persuasion (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Influencing others through diplomacy and social grace.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Persuasion (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Persuasion is the art of convincing others through reasoned argument, emotional appeal, and personal charm. Unlike Intimidation or Subterfuge, Persuasion aims for genuine agreement rather than coercion or deception. For vampires navigating complex political situations, Persuasion provides a tool for building alliances, negotiating agreements, and winning others to their point of view without supernatural compulsion.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Philodox (Judge) (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Judge and mediator — the keeper of the Litany who settles disputes and upholds Garou law.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Photographer (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Visual artist who documents events through photography

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Physical description (Freeform / Custom)

What your character looks like - height, build, distinguishing features.

Freeform / Custom

Pick lock (Draw Steel)

Opening locks without the proper key.

Draw Steel

Pick pocket (Draw Steel)

Stealing items from others without being noticed.

Draw Steel

Pilot (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Pilot is a specialization skill covering the operation of aircraft, boats, and other specialized vehicles beyond standard automobiles. Each specialty—such as Pilot (Aircraft), Pilot (Boat), or Pilot (Submarine)—represents proficiency with a specific vehicle type. In Call of Cthulhu's 1920s setting, aviation is in its adventurous infancy and sea travel is the primary means of intercontinental transport. Pilot (Boat) is common among coastal and riverside communities, while Pilot (Aircraft) is rare and glamorous—barnstormers and mail pilots are the heroes of the age. These skills become essential when investigations take you across oceans, along rivers, to remote islands, or into aerial pursuits.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Pilot air vehicle (Cyberpunk RED)

Pilot Air Vehicle is the skill of flying aircraft—primarily Aerodynes (AVs), the VTOL aircraft that serve as Night City's premium transportation, air ambulances, and corporate assault platforms. AVs dominate Night City's skyline, and the ability to fly one opens up an entirely different dimension of mobility. Pilot Air Vehicle uses your REF stat and is a rare, high-value skill. Most Night City residents never touch an AV's controls. Pilots are in demand by corporations, trauma teams, law enforcement, and wealthy individuals. For edgerunners, having a pilot in the crew means aerial insertion, rooftop extractions, and escape routes that ground-bound pursuers can't follow. The skill also covers helicopters and other aircraft, though AVs are by far the most common aircraft in the Time of the Red. It's an expensive skill to practice—flight hours aren't cheap—but the tactical advantages are enormous.

Cyberpunk RED

Pilot sea vehicle (Cyberpunk RED)

Pilot Sea Vehicle covers operating watercraft of all types—speedboats, cargo ships, personal watercraft, and submarines. Night City sits on the Pacific coast, and its harbor district, offshore platforms, and coastal smuggling routes make maritime skills valuable for specific operations. Pilot Sea Vehicle uses your REF stat and is a specialized skill tied to maritime operations. While most Night City action happens on land, the harbor and coastline offer opportunities that land-locked edgerunners miss. Smuggling runs along the coast bypass road checkpoints entirely. Offshore corporate facilities are only accessible by water or air. Nomad clans that operate along the coast rely on boat skills for their livelihood. For the right campaign, Pilot Sea Vehicle opens up an entirely different theater of operations where most gangs and even corporate security have limited presence.

Cyberpunk RED

Play instrument (Cyberpunk RED)

Play Instrument represents your ability to play a musical instrument—guitar, synth, drums, saxophone, or any other instrument. In Night City's vibrant music scene, from underground club circuits to massive concert venues, musical ability is both art and currency. Rockerboys live and die by their performance skills. Play Instrument uses your TECH stat and covers technical musical ability. Night City's music culture is intense and diverse—chrome-rock, synthwave, combat jazz, neo-classical, and countless fusion genres fill the city's clubs, bars, and street corners. A skilled musician can earn eddies performing, build a following that provides contacts and reputation, and—for Rockerboys—channel their Charismatic Impact through music to move crowds and change minds. Beyond the Rockerboy role, music is a universal social lubricant that opens doors in subcultures across Night City. Street performers, club musicians, and studio artists all carve out their space in the city through their talent.

Cyberpunk RED

Player Agency

The players' ability to make meaningful choices that affect the game world and story. Good games give players agency while still presenting interesting challenges.

Player Character (PC)

A character controlled by a player (as opposed to NPCs controlled by the GM). PCs are the protagonists of the story.

Player notes (Freeform / Custom)

Any additional notes about the character.

Freeform / Custom

Plot hooks (Freeform / Custom)

Story ideas or hooks for GMs/other players.

Freeform / Custom

Politics (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Politics covers understanding of power structures, political maneuvering, and organizational dynamics. For vampires, this means both mortal politics and the complex hierarchies of Kindred society. From understanding Camarilla protocols to manipulating mortal governments, Politics helps navigate the power structures that shape both worlds. It's essential for anyone with ambitions beyond basic survival.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Potence (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Potence is the Discipline of supernatural strength, granting vampires incredible physical power far beyond mortal limits. It allows vampires to lift cars, break through walls, and deliver devastating blows in combat. Potence is one of the most straightforward combat Disciplines, perfect for characters who want raw physical power. Vampires with Potence can perform feats of strength that would be impossible for mortals, from bending steel bars to throwing opponents across rooms. At higher levels, Potence allows vampires to cause structural damage, break through barriers, and deliver blows that can incapacitate even other vampires.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

POW (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Power represents your investigator's force of will, mental resilience, and innate magical potential. It's crucial for resisting spells, maintaining sanity, and casting magic. POW determines your starting Sanity (POW×1) and Magic Points (POW÷5). It's the key characteristic for confronting the supernatural, making it one of the most important stats for long-term survival.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Powers / abilities (Freeform / Custom)

Any supernatural or special abilities (if applicable to your setting).

Freeform / Custom

Predator type (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

How your character hunts and feeds. Each type grants different bonuses and restrictions.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Presence (Daggerheart)

Force of personality, charm, and leadership. Range: -1 to +3.

Daggerheart

Presence (Draw Steel)

Force of personality, leadership, charm, and intimidation. Used for social interactions, inspiring allies, and commanding attention.

Draw Steel

Presence (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Presence is the Discipline of supernatural charisma and magnetism, allowing vampires to command attention, inspire emotions, and manipulate social situations. It grants incredible social power, from inspiring awe to instilling fear. Presence is one of the most versatile Disciplines, useful in both social and combat situations. Vampires with Presence can entrance mortals, inspire loyalty, command respect, and manipulate emotions. At higher levels, Presence allows vampires to control crowds, inspire fanatical devotion, and cause enemies to flee in terror.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Prestigious sire (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Prestigious Sire means your vampiric parent is a figure of note in Kindred society. This can open doors, grant introductions, and provide a measure of protection through association. However, it also brings scrutiny and expectations. The prestige of your sire affects how other vampires initially perceive you. You may be granted audiences that others would be denied, but you're also expected to uphold your sire's reputation.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Prey exclusion (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You cannot feed from certain types of people.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Prime (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Prime is the Sphere of pure magic, quintessence, and reality. It allows mages to manipulate raw magic, create quintessence, and affect the fundamental nature of reality. Prime mages can create pure energy, power other Spheres, and understand the nature of magic. Prime is essential for understanding magic and useful for any mage who wants to manipulate raw magical power. It's the foundation of all magic.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Private Investigator (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Professional investigator who solves cases for clients

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Professor (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Academic who teaches and researches, with deep knowledge in a field and access to libraries, colleagues, and institutions.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Proficiency

A bonus added to rolls for skills, tools, weapons, or saves your character is trained in. In 5e, proficiency bonus scales with level from +2 to +6.

Proficiency (Daggerheart)

Your character's proficiency modifier, added to relevant rolls.

Daggerheart

Proficiency bonus (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Proficiency bonus: +2 at level 1, increases with level.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Pronouns (Freeform / Custom)

Preferred pronouns (e.g., she/her, he/him, they/them).

Freeform / Custom

Protean (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Protean is the Discipline of shape-shifting and physical transformation, allowing vampires to change their form, adapt to their environment, and become one with the wild. It grants incredible versatility, from turning into animals to merging with the earth. Protean is essential for survival-focused characters and those who want to blend with nature. Vampires with Protean can transform into animals, merge with the earth, grow claws and fangs, and adapt their bodies to their environment. At higher levels, Protean allows vampires to become mist, merge with shadows, and transform into powerful beasts.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Psionics (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of psionic phenomena and mental powers.

Draw Steel

Psychiatrist (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Medical professional who treats mental illness

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Psychoanalysis (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Psychoanalysis represents formal training in the treatment of mental illness through therapeutic techniques. In Call of Cthulhu, where Sanity loss is one of the greatest threats investigators face, Psychoanalysis is the primary tool for mental recovery. This skill covers Freudian analysis, hypnotherapy, talk therapy, and other psychological treatment methods of the era. In the 1920s, psychoanalysis is a relatively new and fashionable field—Freud's ideas are widely discussed, and asylums are the primary institutions for treating the mentally ill. An investigator with Psychoanalysis can help stabilize companions suffering from temporary insanity and assist in longer-term Sanity recovery between investigations.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Psychology (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Psychology represents your ability to understand human behavior, motivations, and mental states. It's essential for interviewing witnesses, detecting deception, and understanding why people behave as they do. In Call of Cthulhu, Psychology helps you navigate social situations, identify cult members who are hiding something, and understand the mental state of NPCs you encounter.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Q

Quintessence (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Quintessence is the raw stuff of reality, the primal energy that flows through the Tapestry of creation. Every object, creature, and concept in the World of Darkness contains Quintessence in some form. For mages, Quintessence is fuel: it powers enhanced magical effects, activates Wonders, and provides the raw material for creating something from nothing. Quintessence is tracked on the same wheel as Paradox in M20, creating a direct tension between magical fuel and magical backlash. As a mage accumulates Paradox, their effective Quintessence capacity shrinks, and vice versa. This elegant mechanic reinforces the core theme of Mage: power comes with consequences. Quintessence is gathered from Nodes, provided by the Avatar at the start of each story, stored in Familiars and Wonders, and spent to enhance magical effects or reduce Paradox.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Quirks & habits (Freeform / Custom)

Mannerisms, habits, or unique behaviors.

Freeform / Custom

R

Race (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your character's race, which grants ability bonuses, traits, and languages.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Ragabash (Trickster) (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Trickster and scout — the questioner who tests the pack's limits and challenges assumptions.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Rage (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Rage is the defining mechanic of Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition. It is the primal fury of Gaia that burns within every Garou, a supernatural fire that fuels shapeshifting, powers devastating attacks, and enables feats impossible for any mortal. Unlike Vampire's Hunger, which must be sated, Rage must be managed. It is both a werewolf's greatest weapon and their most dangerous liability. Rage functions as a volatile resource that fluctuates based on the moon phase, emotional triggers, and combat situations. When Rage is high, a Garou can perform incredible feats of strength and fury but risks losing control to frenzy. When Rage is low, the werewolf is calmer but loses access to their most powerful abilities. Every Garou walks this razor's edge. The Ahroun born under the Full Moon carries more Rage than the contemplative Theurge, but all werewolves must learn to channel this fury or be consumed by it. Rage is what makes the Garou terrifying, and managing it is what makes them heroes rather than monsters.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Railroading

When a GM forces the story along a predetermined path regardless of player choices. Generally considered poor practice because it removes player agency.

Ravnos (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The once-nomadic tricksters, nearly destroyed in the Week of Nightmares, now slowly rebuilding

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Read person (Draw Steel)

Detecting lies, reading body language, and gauging intentions.

Draw Steel

Reason (Draw Steel)

Logic, memory, deduction, and technical knowledge. Used for recalling lore, crafting, and problem-solving.

Draw Steel

Recoveries (Draw Steel)

The number of times you can recover stamina during a rest or through abilities.

Draw Steel

Recurring nightmare (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have a specific nightmare that haunts you.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Red Talons (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Fierce defenders of the wilderness who fight human encroachment with primal fury.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

REF (Reflexes) (Cyberpunk RED)

Reaction time and coordination. Crucial for gunfighters, solos, and anyone who lives by speed.

Cyberpunk RED

Religion (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of deities, religious practices, and divine phenomena.

Draw Steel

Religion (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Knowledge of deities, rites, prayers, and holy symbols.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Residence (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Where your investigator currently lives.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Resolve (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Resolve represents mental fortitude, determination, focus, and sheer stubbornness in the face of adversity. For hunters, Resolve is the Attribute that keeps them going when everything rational screams at them to stop -- to put down the weapons, forget what they've seen, and go back to normal life. The Hunt demands things of people that no sane person would willingly endure. Resolve is what makes hunters choose to walk into the darkness anyway. It fuels the determination to finish a stake-out on the third sleepless night, to keep investigating after a cell member dies, and to face a monster even when you know how outmatched you are. Resolve also contributes to Willpower and is critical for resisting supernatural mental influence. When a vampire attempts to dominate your mind or a ghost tries to overwhelm you with despair, Resolve is the steel wall between your consciousness and the monster's power.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Resolve (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Mental fortitude and determination. Used for resisting supernatural effects and maintaining focus.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Resolve (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Resolve represents a Garou's determination, mental fortitude, and ability to stay focused on a goal despite obstacles. It is the attribute of willpower and perseverance, governing how well a werewolf can resist mental influence, push through exhaustion, and maintain concentration during complex tasks. For the Garou, Resolve is what keeps them fighting when the Apocalypse seems inevitable. It is the determination to protect a caern even when the pack is outnumbered, the focus to complete a complex rite while spirits howl around you, and the mental strength to resist the despair of watching Gaia die slowly. Combined with Composure, Resolve determines Willpower, making it one of the most important attributes for any Garou who must endure hardship and resist supernatural influence.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Resources (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Resources represent a mage's financial assets, regular income, and access to material goods. From a studio apartment and a bus pass to a mansion and a private jet, Resources determine the material comfort and logistical capability available to a character. Money cannot buy enlightenment, but it can buy the tools, space, and time needed to pursue it. In the Ascension War, Resources provide practical advantages that magick alone cannot always replicate. Renting a safehouse, purchasing rare components for foci, funding travel to distant Nodes, equipping a laboratory, and bribing mortal officials all require money. Mages without Resources must spend time on mundane survival that could otherwise go toward magical development.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Resources (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Resources measures your access to money, property, and material goods. Vampires need resources to maintain havens, bribe mortals, purchase equipment, and live the lifestyle their status demands. Unlike mortals, vampires don't need food or most living expenses, but they do need money for maintaining appearances, paying retainers, and solving problems that can't be handled with fangs.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Retainers (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

People who work for you directly (bodyguards, staff, helpers). They show up in the story and can act on your behalf.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Ride (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Ride represents your ability to ride horses and other mounts—staying in the saddle during difficult maneuvers, controlling the animal in stressful situations, and performing mounted activities like shooting or jumping obstacles. In Call of Cthulhu's 1920s setting, horses are still common in rural areas, on ranches, and in police and military units, even as automobiles become dominant. In period-appropriate and globe-trotting campaigns, horses (or camels, mules, or more exotic mounts) may be the only transportation available in remote regions. Ride also covers basic animal handling for mounts—calming a spooked horse, directing it through obstacles, and caring for it.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Ride (Draw Steel)

Riding and controlling mounts.

Draw Steel

Riding (Cyberpunk RED)

Riding covers your ability to ride horses and other mount animals. In the post-collapse world of the Time of the Red, horses have made a comeback in areas where fuel is scarce, roads are broken, and vehicles are unreliable. The Badlands outside Night City, nomad territories, and rural zones all see significant use of horses and other animals for transportation. Riding uses your DEX stat and is primarily a Badlands and nomad skill. Inside Night City proper, you won't see many horses, but beyond the city limits the picture changes dramatically. Nomad clans use horses for herding, patrol, and situations where vehicles would be too conspicuous or loud. Ranches in the agricultural zones rely on riding skills. For edgerunners who operate in the Badlands or interact with nomad clans, Riding provides mobility that doesn't require fuel, makes no engine noise, and doesn't show up on thermal vehicle scanners.

Cyberpunk RED

Rockerboy (Cyberpunk RED)

Rebellious performers who use art and charisma to inspire change.

Cyberpunk RED

Role (Cyberpunk RED)

Your professional archetype in Night City. Each role comes with a unique ability and playstyle.

Cyberpunk RED

Roleplaying

Speaking and acting as your character, making decisions based on their personality, goals, and knowledge rather than your own. The 'RP' in TTRPG.

Rumors (Draw Steel)

Evaluating the truthfulness and importance of gossip.

Draw Steel

Run (Draw Steel)

Sprinting and maintaining speed over distance.

Draw Steel

S

Safe place (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have a secure location where you can hide.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Salubri (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The hunted healers and warriors with the third eye, distrusted and persecuted by other clans

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Sandbox

A play style where the GM creates a world with locations, factions, and situations, but the players choose what to engage with. The story emerges from player choices rather than a pre-planned plot.

Sandman (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Stealthy predator who feeds on sleeping victims

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Sanity (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Sanity: a derived tracker representing your mental stability under horror.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Saving Throw

A roll made to resist or avoid harmful effects like spells, traps, poison, or environmental hazards. Success typically reduces or negates the effect.

Science (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Science is a specialization skill—each specialty represents formal academic knowledge in a scientific discipline. Common specialties include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geology, Forensics, Pharmacy, and Mathematics. Each is a separate skill. In Call of Cthulhu, scientific knowledge can be both a powerful tool and a source of existential dread. Chemistry helps analyze unknown substances, Biology explains (or fails to explain) strange creatures, Astronomy reveals the cosmic scale of what you're dealing with, and Physics may break down entirely when confronting non-Euclidean geometries. In the 1920s, science is advancing rapidly, and investigators with scientific training bring analytical rigor to mysteries that defy rational explanation.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Science (Cyberpunk RED)

Science represents your understanding of scientific principles and technical fields—chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and other academic disciplines. In the Time of the Red, scientific knowledge powers everything from cyberware development to combat drug synthesis, from forensic analysis to understanding experimental weapons. Science uses your INT stat and covers formal scientific knowledge. While Education gives you broad general knowledge, Science provides deep understanding of how things work at a technical level. You can analyze unknown substances, understand biological threats, recognize experimental technology, and apply scientific reasoning to solve problems. In Night City, where biotechnology, nanotechnology, and cybernetics push the boundaries of science daily, this knowledge has practical and sometimes life-saving applications. Understanding the chemistry behind a combat drug, the physics of an experimental weapon, or the biology of a engineered plague can mean the difference between solving a problem and becoming a victim of it.

Cyberpunk RED

Science (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Science covers understanding of the natural sciences—physics, chemistry, biology, and related fields. While the supernatural exists, scientific understanding remains valuable for vampires operating in the modern world. Science can help create weapons, understand forensic evidence, and find rational explanations for phenomena that might otherwise seem supernatural. It's particularly useful for vampires from technical backgrounds.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Scientist (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Researcher who studies natural phenomena

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Sea vehicle tech (Cyberpunk RED)

Sea Vehicle Tech is the specialized skill of working on watercraft—speedboats, cargo vessels, personal watercraft, and other maritime vehicles. It covers the unique mechanical challenges of marine engines, hull maintenance, and the corrosive saltwater environment that destroys unprotected machinery. Sea Vehicle Tech uses your TECH stat and handles all mechanical work specific to watercraft. Marine vehicles face unique challenges that land vehicle mechanics don't encounter—saltwater corrosion, hull integrity, marine engine systems, and the constant battle against the ocean trying to destroy everything. Night City's harbor district, offshore platforms, and coastal operations all depend on functional watercraft, and someone has to keep them running. For crews that operate along the coast or run maritime jobs, a sea vehicle technician ensures their boats don't sink at the worst possible moment.

Cyberpunk RED

Search (Draw Steel)

Finding hidden objects, secret doors, and concealed items.

Draw Steel

Secret (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You have a dangerous secret that could destroy you if revealed.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Secrets (Freeform / Custom)

Things your character hides from others (can be marked private).

Freeform / Custom

Sept (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

The sept (community) you belong to.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Session

A single play meeting, typically lasting 2-5 hours. Sessions may be standalone or part of an ongoing campaign.

Session Zero

A pre-campaign meeting where players and GM establish expectations, discuss themes and boundaries, create characters together, and align on the type of game everyone wants to play.

Sex/gender (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Your investigator’s sex/gender (as you want it recorded on the sheet).

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Shadow Lords (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Ambitious schemers and power brokers who lead through cunning and strength of will.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Shoulder arms (Cyberpunk RED)

Shoulder Arms covers your proficiency with two-handed firearms—assault rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns, and other long guns. These are the heavy hitters of personal combat, offering superior range, damage, and firepower compared to handguns, at the cost of concealability. Shoulder Arms uses your REF stat and is the primary skill for serious firefights. When you know combat is coming and concealment doesn't matter, shoulder arms are the weapons of choice. An assault rifle puts rounds downrange fast, a shotgun clears a room, and a sniper rifle eliminates targets from blocks away. In Night City's gang wars, corporate strikes, and edgerunner operations, shoulder arms are what turn a firefight in your favor. The downside is obvious—you can't hide a rifle under your jacket, and walking the streets armed to the teeth draws attention from law enforcement and gangs alike.

Cyberpunk RED

Significant events (Freeform / Custom)

Key moments that shaped your character.

Freeform / Custom

Silent Striders (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Eternal wanderers and messengers, cursed to never find a permanent home.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Silver Fangs (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Noble-blooded leaders and traditional rulers of the Garou Nation.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Sire (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The vampire who turned you into a Kindred. Leave blank if unknown or if you're an elder.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Siren (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Seductive predator who uses charm and allure to feed

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

SIZ (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Size represents your investigator's overall physical mass and stature—height, weight, and body frame combined into a single value. Unlike most characteristics, SIZ is rolled on 2d6+6 then multiplied by 5, reflecting a narrower human range. In Call of Cthulhu, SIZ is mechanically important because it combines with CON to determine Hit Points and with STR to determine Build and Damage Bonus. A large investigator can absorb more punishment and hit harder, but is also harder to hide and more conspicuous. SIZ cannot be improved through training—it represents your natural frame.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Skill

A learned capability representing training or experience in a specific area, like Stealth, Persuasion, or Medicine. Skills usually combine with attributes to determine success.

Skills & talents (Freeform / Custom)

What your character is good at (no mechanics, just narrative).

Freeform / Custom

Sleight of hand (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Sleight of Hand represents manual dexterity and the ability to perform undetected manipulations—picking pockets, palming small objects, planting evidence, concealing items on your person, and performing stage magic tricks. In Call of Cthulhu, this skill enables subtle but critical actions during investigations. Whether you're lifting a key from a guard's belt, slipping a note to an ally without being noticed, palming a small artifact from a display case, or concealing a weapon, Sleight of Hand is about doing things with your hands that nobody else sees. In the 1920s, stage magic is popular entertainment, and the same techniques that entertain audiences can serve investigators in dangerous situations.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Sleight of hand (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Pickpocketing, concealing objects, and manual trickery.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Sneak (Draw Steel)

Moving silently and avoiding detection.

Draw Steel

Solo (Cyberpunk RED)

Professional combat specialists, mercenaries, and bodyguards.

Cyberpunk RED

Sons of Ether (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Steampunk scientists who see magic as advanced science

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Speed (Draw Steel)

The number of squares you can move on your turn. Modified by ancestry and kit.

Draw Steel

Speed (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Walking speed in feet, determined by race.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Spirit (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Spirit is the Sphere of the spirit world and spiritual entities. It allows mages to communicate with spirits, enter the spirit world, and manipulate spiritual entities. Spirit mages can summon spirits, enter the Umbra, and affect spiritual beings. Spirit is essential for mages who want to interact with the spirit world and useful for any mage who needs spiritual allies or knowledge.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Spot hidden (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Spot Hidden is one of the most essential skills in Call of Cthulhu, representing your ability to notice things others miss. From hidden compartments to lurking cultists, Spot Hidden can mean the difference between finding crucial evidence and walking into danger. This skill covers visual perception, attention to detail, and the instinct to notice when something is out of place. It's used to find clues, spot ambushes, and detect hidden objects or secret doors.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Spotlight

The narrative focus on a particular character at a given moment. Good GMs share the spotlight so everyone gets moments to shine.

Stability (Draw Steel)

Your resistance to forced movement. Higher stability means you're harder to push, pull, or knock down.

Draw Steel

Stamina (Draw Steel)

Your character's ability to absorb damage before being taken out. Determined by class and kit.

Draw Steel

Stamina (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Stamina represents physical endurance, toughness, and the body's ability to withstand punishment. For hunters, Stamina determines how much damage they can absorb, how long they can keep going during extended operations, and whether they survive injuries that would kill most people. The Hunt is brutal on the human body. Stakeouts that last days without sleep, running through sewer tunnels, taking hits from creatures that can bend steel -- all of this demands Stamina. Hunters who lack endurance find themselves flagging at exactly the wrong moment, when the monster is still fresh and they're gasping for breath. Stamina directly contributes to Health, making it a survival Attribute in the most literal sense. Every dot of Stamina is another hit you can take before going down. For mortals who face creatures capable of killing with a single blow, that margin can mean everything.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Stamina (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Stamina measures a mage's endurance, toughness, and ability to withstand punishment. For Awakened characters, Stamina determines how much physical abuse they can absorb before falling, how long they can perform grueling tasks, and their resistance to disease and toxins. Mages are still mortal, and the Ascension War is brutally physical. Stamina directly determines a mage's health levels and soak dice. When a Technocracy HIT Mark opens fire, or a Marauder's warped reality inflicts physical trauma, Stamina is the difference between survival and a trip to the morgue. Extended rituals, sleep deprivation during desperate research, and long treks through the Umbra all test a mage's physical endurance.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Stamina (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Endurance and health. Determines your Health rating and resistance to fatigue.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Stamina (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Stamina represents a Garou's endurance and physical resilience. Werewolves are already supernaturally tough, able to regenerate most wounds in seconds, but Stamina determines just how much punishment they can absorb before going down. It governs the Health track and resistance to toxins, disease, and environmental hazards. In the war against the Wyrm, Garou face horrors that would destroy ordinary beings. Balefire, toxic waste from Pentex facilities, and the spiritual corruption of Wyrm-tainted areas all test a werewolf's Stamina. Pack survival often depends on every member being tough enough to endure prolonged engagements. A Garou with high Stamina can hold a defensive position, shrug off wounds that would cripple others, and keep fighting long after lesser beings would fall.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Status (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Your standing and reputation within Kindred society. High status opens doors; low status makes every request harder.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Stealth (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Stealth represents your ability to move without being detected—hiding, sneaking, and avoiding notice. In Call of Cthulhu, where confrontation often means death, Stealth can be more valuable than combat skills. Stealth covers both hiding in place and moving silently. It's opposed by Spot Hidden or Listen, depending on whether the observer is using sight or sound.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Stealth (Cyberpunk RED)

Stealth represents your ability to move without being detected—sneaking past guards, hiding in shadows, and remaining unnoticed in dangerous situations. In Night City, the ability to avoid notice can be as valuable as combat skills. Stealth uses your DEX stat and is opposed by Perception. High Stealth allows you to infiltrate, escape, and avoid confrontations entirely.

Cyberpunk RED

Stealth (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Hiding, moving silently, and avoiding detection.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Stealth (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Stealth is the art of remaining undetected, whether hiding in shadows, moving silently, or blending into crowds. For vampires, this skill is essential for hunting, avoiding hunters, and conducting clandestine operations. While Obfuscate provides supernatural concealment, Stealth covers the mundane foundations of remaining hidden. Even with Obfuscate, a clumsy vampire might knock something over or make noise that draws attention.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Stigmata (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You bear visible marks of your supernatural nature.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

STR (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Strength represents your investigator's raw physical power and muscular development. It determines how much you can lift, how hard you hit in melee combat, and your ability to break down doors or escape restraints. In Call of Cthulhu, Strength is rolled on 3d6×5, giving a range of 15-90. Combined with Size, it determines your Build and Damage Bonus, which affect combat and physical contests.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

STR (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Strength: physical power, athletics, melee attacks.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

STR save (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Strength saving throw: STR modifier + proficiency bonus (if proficient).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Streetwise (Cyberpunk RED)

Streetwise represents your knowledge of Night City's underground—where to find things, who to talk to, what's safe and what's dangerous, and how to survive on the streets. Streetwise uses your COOL stat and is essential for navigating the criminal underworld, finding black market goods, and understanding street culture.

Cyberpunk RED

Streetwise (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Streetwise represents knowledge of the urban underworld—criminal organizations, street culture, where to find illicit goods and services, and how to survive in dangerous neighborhoods. For vampires, Streetwise provides access to mortal criminal networks that can be useful for feeding, territory control, and avoiding law enforcement attention. It's the skill of knowing how the streets really work.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Strength (Daggerheart)

Physical power, endurance, and toughness. Range: -1 to +3.

Daggerheart

Strength (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Strength represents raw physical power -- the ability to lift heavy objects, break down doors, restrain struggling targets, and deal devastating blows in hand-to-hand combat. For hunters, Strength is often the difference between surviving a physical encounter with a supernatural creature and being overpowered entirely. Unlike the monsters they hunt, hunters cannot rely on supernatural abilities to enhance their physical capabilities. A hunter's Strength is entirely earned through training, genetics, and sheer determination. This makes every dot of Strength precious, because when a vampire grabs you by the throat, there are no Disciplines to fall back on -- only muscle and willpower. Strength is critical during the most desperate moments of the Hunt. Whether you're hauling an injured cell member to safety, forcing open a sealed crypt, or driving a stake through a monster's chest, Strength determines your effectiveness. Hunters who neglect physical conditioning often don't survive their first real confrontation.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Strength (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Strength measures a mage's raw physical power, from lifting heavy objects to delivering devastating blows. For Awakened characters, Strength represents the body's potential before any magical enhancement. Many mages neglect Strength in favor of mental pursuits, but the Ascension War has a way of reminding them that reality sometimes demands brute force. In M20, Strength matters when fists fly and doors need breaking. A Verbena blood-witch grappling a Nephandi cultist, an Akashic Brother delivering a Do strike, or a Virtual Adept hauling server equipment to a new safehouse all rely on Strength. While Life magick can temporarily boost physical power, the Paradox cost means wise mages develop at least a baseline of natural capability.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Strength (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Physical power and muscle. Used for melee attacks, climbing, and breaking things.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Strength (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Strength represents the raw physical power of a Garou. For werewolves, this attribute takes on an entirely different dimension than for mortals. A Garou in Crinos form can tear through steel doors, hurl cars, and rend enemies apart with devastating force. Strength determines how hard you hit, how much you can lift, and how effectively you can grapple foes. In the war against the Wyrm, Strength is the attribute that lets a werewolf stand toe-to-toe with fomori, Banes, and other monstrous threats. Pack dynamics often place high-Strength Garou in the vanguard, where their raw power can break through enemy lines and protect weaker packmates. Rage amplifies Strength further, letting a frenzied werewolf perform feats that terrify even other supernatural beings.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Strengths (Freeform / Custom)

What your character excels at or positive traits.

Freeform / Custom

Stress (Daggerheart)

Stress slots representing mental and emotional strain (typically 5).

Daggerheart

Student (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Learner working through school or university, with broad exposure to subjects and a network of peers and mentors.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Style & dress (Freeform / Custom)

How they typically dress and present themselves.

Freeform / Custom

Subclass (Draw Steel)

Your specialization within your chosen class.

Draw Steel

Subclass (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Your character's subclass specialization (chosen at level 1-3 depending on class).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Subterfuge (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Subterfuge is the art of deception—lying convincingly, hiding your true intentions, and misdirecting attention. In Kindred society, where everyone has secrets and truth is a rare commodity, Subterfuge is essential for survival. Unlike Persuasion, which seeks agreement, Subterfuge actively deceives. It's the skill of the con artist, the spy, and the manipulator, useful for everything from small lies to elaborate schemes.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Survival (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Survival represents your ability to live off the land—finding food and water, building shelter, making fire, avoiding natural hazards, and enduring harsh environmental conditions. In Call of Cthulhu, investigations frequently lead to remote wilderness, desolate islands, frozen wastelands, and other inhospitable locations. This skill is a specialization based on environment—Survival (Desert), Survival (Sea), Survival (Arctic), and so on. Each covers the specific knowledge needed to stay alive in that environment. In the 1920s, without modern rescue technology, being stranded in the wilderness can be a death sentence. Survival knowledge can mean the difference between reaching civilization and becoming another unexplained disappearance.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Survival (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Tracking, foraging, navigating, and enduring the wilderness.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Survival (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Survival covers wilderness skills including tracking, navigation, shelter-building, and finding sustenance. For vampires, this skill helps them operate outside urban environments and track prey through natural terrain. Gangrel are particularly known for their Survival abilities, able to endure in the wilderness where other Kindred would struggle. Survival also helps find emergency shelter before dawn.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Swim (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Swim represents your ability to move through water, stay afloat, and hold your breath underwater. In Call of Cthulhu, water is a frequent element—coastal investigations, flooded basements, underground rivers, ocean voyages, and encounters with aquatic Mythos entities all make Swim relevant. This skill covers swimming in various conditions, treading water, diving to depth, and rescuing drowning people. In the 1920s, not everyone knows how to swim well, and drowning is a real danger. Many Lovecraftian horrors lurk in or near water—from the fish-folk of Innsmouth to the deep-sea terrors beneath the waves—making water encounters thematically common.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Swim (Draw Steel)

Moving through water and resisting currents.

Draw Steel

T

Tactics (Draw Steel)

Military strategy, battlefield analysis, and combat planning.

Draw Steel

Tech (Cyberpunk RED)

Inventors and mechanics who build, repair, and upgrade equipment.

Cyberpunk RED

TECH (Technical Ability) (Cyberpunk RED)

Your knack for understanding and working with technology. Important for techies and anyone who tinkers.

Cyberpunk RED

Technology (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Technology covers understanding of computers, networks, and modern electronic systems. In the digital age, this skill is increasingly essential for vampires who need to operate without leaving electronic trails. From hacking security systems to maintaining online cover identities, Technology provides the tools to survive in a world of surveillance and digital records. Elder vampires often struggle here, while younger Kindred may excel.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Terrain lore (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of geographic features, weather patterns, and travel routes.

Draw Steel

Territory (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You are bound to a specific location and cannot leave it.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

The Ministry (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The serpentine tempters, formerly Followers of Set, who believe liberation comes through transgression

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Theurge (Mystic) (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Mystic and seer — the spiritual heart of the pack who deals with spirits and the Umbra.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Thin-Blood (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Duskborn of the last generations, barely vampires, who can walk in sunlight but face prejudice from true Kindred

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Thin-blood alchemy (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Unique blood science of Thin-Bloods. Create alchemical formulas that mimic other discipline effects.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Throw (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Throw represents your ability to accurately hurl objects at targets—throwing knives, rocks, grenades, dynamite, bottles, and anything else that can be launched by hand. In Call of Cthulhu, Throw is the skill for all ranged attacks that don't use a firearm or bow. While it might seem like a minor skill, Throw has critical applications in Mythos investigations. Throwing dynamite into a nest of creatures, hurling a vial of acid at a horror, tossing a grappling hook onto a ledge, or lobbing a Molotov cocktail into a cult meeting—Throw covers all of these. In the 1920s, grenades and dynamite are relatively accessible, making Throw a surprisingly potent combat option.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Time (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Time is the Sphere of temporal manipulation and time. It allows mages to manipulate time, see the future and past, and affect temporal flow. Time mages can slow or speed time, see possible futures, and travel through time. Time is powerful for mages who want to manipulate temporal flow and useful for any mage who needs to see the future or affect time.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Timescape (Draw Steel)

Knowledge of planar travel and the structure of the timescape.

Draw Steel

Toreador (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The beautiful artists and socialites of the Camarilla

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Touchstones Convictions (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Touchstones Convictions is a character background note you fill in during creation in Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition. Text field. Your Touchstones and Convictions: the people and beliefs anchoring your Humanity.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Track (Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition)

Track represents your ability to follow the physical signs of someone's passage—footprints, broken branches, scuff marks, tire tracks, blood trails, and other indicators. In Call of Cthulhu, Track is the skill for finding where someone or something has gone when they don't want to be found. This skill covers tracking through wilderness, urban environments, and even indoor spaces. A skilled tracker reads the story told by physical evidence—how many people passed this way, how long ago, what direction they went, and whether they were hurrying. In Lovecraftian investigations, you might track cultists to their meeting place, follow a creature's trail to its lair, or trace a missing person's last movements.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

Track (Draw Steel)

Following footprints, signs of passage, and trail markers.

Draw Steel

Tracking (Cyberpunk RED)

Tracking is the ability to follow a trail—physical footprints, tire tracks, blood drops, disturbed trash, or any other signs of someone's passage. While it might sound like a wilderness skill, Tracking is surprisingly useful in Night City's urban jungle. Following someone through rain-slicked alleys, tracking a wounded target by blood drops through a combat zone, or tracing tire marks from a getaway vehicle all fall under this skill. Tracking uses your INT stat and represents your trained eye for detail and pattern recognition. In the urban environment, tracks take different forms than in the wild—scuff marks on concrete, displaced garbage, security footage gaps that suggest a route, or chemical residue from a vehicle. Bounty hunters, investigators, and anyone who needs to find people who don't want to be found rely on Tracking to close the distance between hunter and prey.

Cyberpunk RED

Trading (Cyberpunk RED)

Trading is the skill of negotiating deals, haggling prices, and getting the best value in transactions. In Night City's economy—where prices are flexible, black markets thrive, and everything is negotiable—Trading determines whether you pay street price or get taken for a ride. Trading uses your COOL stat and is essential for any character who buys, sells, or brokers deals. Whether you're haggling with a ripperdoc over cyberware installation costs, negotiating payment for a job, fencing stolen goods, or buying weapons from a black market dealer, Trading affects your bottom line. Fixers live and die by this skill, but every edgerunner benefits from paying less and earning more. In a world where eddies are life and corpo scrip doesn't stretch far enough, the ability to negotiate can mean the difference between affording the cyberware that saves your life and going without.

Cyberpunk RED

Tradition (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Your Tradition (your magical faction and worldview).

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Tremere (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The scholarly blood sorcerers and manipulators of the Camarilla

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Tribe (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Your Tribe (your cultural heritage and approach to being Garou).

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Tzimisce (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The old-world flesh-shapers and territorial lords who view their domains as extensions of themselves

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

U

Unbondable (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

You cannot be blood bound to another vampire.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Underground (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Hunters who operate in the shadows, using stealth, subterfuge, and street smarts to fight the supernatural from the margins of society.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

V

Ventrue (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

The blue-blooded leaders and manipulators of the Camarilla

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Verbena (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Nature mystics who see magic through life and natural forces

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Virtual Adepts (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Digital mages who see magic through information and technology

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

W

Wardrobe & style (Cyberpunk RED)

Dressing the part so people treat you like you belong there.

Cyberpunk RED

Weak aura (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Your supernatural presence is diminished.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Weaknesses (Freeform / Custom)

Flaws, fears, or areas where they struggle.

Freeform / Custom

Weapons tech (Cyberpunk RED)

Weapons Tech is the specialized skill of working with weapons—repairing firearms, modifying them for better performance, crafting ammunition, and maintaining the lethal tools that edgerunners depend on for survival. In Night City, where weapons are essential equipment, a skilled Weaponstech is worth their weight in eddies. Weapons Tech uses your TECH stat and covers everything from basic weapon maintenance to advanced modification and custom weapon crafting. A Weaponstech can repair a jammed assault rifle mid-combat, customize a handgun for better accuracy, craft specialty ammunition, add suppressors and scopes, and even build weapons from scratch with the right materials. For edgerunners, this means cheaper weapon upkeep, personalized gear that performs better than off-the-shelf, and the ability to field-repair weapons when the shooting gets heavy. In a world where your gun jamming means death, having a Weaponstech is insurance.

Cyberpunk RED

WILL (Willpower) (Cyberpunk RED)

Mental toughness and determination. Helps resist fear, pain, and mind-bending situations.

Cyberpunk RED

Willpower (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Willpower represents a hunter's mental resilience, inner strength, and sheer determination. It is a spendable resource that allows hunters to push beyond their normal limits, resist supernatural mental influence, and maintain their grip on sanity in the face of horrors that defy rational explanation. For hunters, Willpower is arguably the most critical derived stat. Supernatural creatures routinely employ mental powers -- Dominate, Presence, possession, terror effects -- that bypass physical defenses entirely. Willpower is the only thing standing between a hunter's autonomous mind and becoming a monster's puppet. Every point of Willpower spent is a conscious choice to resist, to fight back, to remain yourself. Willpower also fuels a hunter's ability to take extra actions, reroll failed dice, and push through situations where the odds are impossible. It represents the burning conviction that drives hunters to do what they do -- the refusal to look away, the determination to protect others, and the stubbornness to keep fighting when every survival instinct screams to run.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Willpower (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Willpower measures a mage's mental fortitude, determination, and inner strength. For Awakened characters, Willpower is the mortal foundation upon which magical will is built. Arete represents enlightened understanding; Willpower represents the sheer stubbornness to keep going when that understanding is tested. In the World of Darkness, Willpower is the last line of defense against despair, corruption, and mental domination. Willpower serves dual functions in M20: a permanent rating representing baseline determination, and a pool of spendable points that regenerate over time. Spending Willpower provides automatic successes, resists mental influence, and pushes through situations where talent alone falls short. For mages facing Paradox backlash, Nephandi corruption, and the existential weight of the Ascension War, Willpower is what keeps them functional.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Willpower (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Willpower represents a Garou's mental and emotional resilience, derived from Composure + Resolve. It is a spendable resource that allows a werewolf to push beyond normal limits, resist supernatural influence, and maintain control in desperate situations. Willpower points can be spent to add extra dice to critical rolls, and the Willpower track functions similarly to Health but for mental and emotional damage. For Garou, Willpower is the counterbalance to Rage. Where Rage is primal fury threatening to overwhelm, Willpower is the disciplined mind that channels that fury purposefully. A werewolf with deep Willpower reserves can push through Harano (spiritual despair), resist Wyrm corruption, maintain focus during complex rites, and stay in control when everything goes wrong. In pack dynamics, Willpower determines who can endure the psychological toll of the Apocalypse without breaking.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

WIS (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Wisdom: perception, insight, divine magic.

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

WIS save (Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition)

Wisdom saving throw: WIS modifier + proficiency bonus (if proficient).

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Wisdom (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Wisdom is the Renown of knowledge, spiritual insight, and thoughtful action. It is earned through understanding the spirit world, making sound decisions, uncovering hidden truths, and demonstrating the kind of deep thinking that guides the Garou Nation through its darkest hours. Wisdom measures a werewolf's reputation as someone who understands the deeper mysteries of Gaia and the Umbra. In Werewolf 5th Edition, Wisdom reflects a Garou's connection to the spiritual side of their existence. A werewolf who successfully negotiates with a powerful spirit earns Wisdom. One who discovers a Wyrm plot through careful investigation earns Wisdom. Those who learn new rites, understand Umbral geography, and provide counsel that saves lives all accumulate Wisdom Renown. Spirits of knowledge and foresight recognize high-Wisdom Garou, making them effective spirit negotiators and rite masters.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Wits (Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition)

Wits represents quick thinking, perception, situational awareness, and the ability to react to sudden changes. For hunters, Wits is the Attribute that keeps you alive in the field -- noticing the shadow that moved wrong, reacting before the ambush closes, and making split-second decisions that determine whether the cell survives. The supernatural is fast. Vampires can move faster than the eye can follow. Ghosts appear without warning. Werewolves strike from ambush. Wits is a hunter's ability to process these threats quickly enough to respond. It's the difference between dodging and getting hit, between noticing the trap and walking into it. Wits also governs the ability to detect deception, read a room, and improvise when plans fall apart -- which happens constantly on the Hunt. No operation survives first contact with the supernatural intact, and Wits determines how quickly you adapt.

Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition

Wits (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Wits measures a mage's quick thinking, mental agility, and ability to react under pressure. While Intelligence handles deliberate reasoning, Wits governs snap decisions, improvisation, and thinking on your feet. For Awakened characters, Wits is the Attribute that keeps them alive when plans collapse and they must improvise magick on the fly. The Ascension War rarely goes according to plan. When a Technocracy strike team kicks in the Chantry door, when a Paradox Spirit manifests unexpectedly, or when a Marauder's reality zone warps the world around you, Wits determines whether a mage freezes or acts. Quick-witted mages find solutions others miss and react before threats materialize.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Wits (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Quick thinking and awareness. Used for initiative, perception, and reacting to surprises.

Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition

Wits (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition)

Wits measures a Garou's ability to think on their feet, react quickly to changing situations, and notice details that others miss. Where Intelligence is deliberate reasoning, Wits is instinctive reaction. It is the attribute that lets a werewolf sense an ambush a split second before it happens, come up with a plan on the fly, or find a creative solution under extreme pressure. For Garou engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Wyrm, Wits can be more valuable than raw Intelligence. Battles against fomori rarely go according to plan, Umbral journeys present unexpected dangers, and Pentex operatives use sophisticated traps. A high-Wits Garou adapts to these surprises rather than being overwhelmed. In pack dynamics, the Garou with the best Wits often serves as the early warning system, alerting the pack to threats before they materialize.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition

Wonder (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

A Wonder is a permanently enchanted magical device, an artifact imbued with Sphere effects that can be activated without the user needing to cast the magick themselves. Wonders range from simple talismans that store Quintessence to powerful artifacts that replicate high-level Sphere effects. They are the magical equivalent of technology: tools that extend a mage's capabilities beyond their personal power. Wonders are prized possessions in the Awakened world. A well-crafted Wonder can provide effects the mage cannot yet achieve with their own Spheres, offer backup when personal magick fails, and function without generating Paradox (since the enchantment is already woven into the device). However, Wonders can be stolen, damaged, or drained, and relying too heavily on devices instead of personal growth is considered a trap by many Traditions.

Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary

Writing sample (Freeform / Custom)

Optional: A sample of how you write this character.

Freeform / Custom

X

X-Card

A safety tool where players can tap or hold up a card marked 'X' to immediately skip content that makes them uncomfortable, no questions asked.