Ability Scores & Skills

The core mechanical systems that drive every roll, check, and decision in Einsol's Razor — from Ability Scores to Skills and the Aptitude system.

Ability Scores & Modifiers

Ability Scores are numbers that represent your character's natural capabilities — they determine how strong, smart, quick, and charming your character is.

STR

Strength

Physical power, melee combat, carrying capacity.

AGI

Agility

Speed, reflexes, dodging, stealth.

END

Endurance

Health, stamina, resistance to poison/disease.

COG

Cognition

Intelligence, problem-solving, technology use.

INT

Intuition

Awareness, perception, reading people and situations.

CHA

Charm

Personality, persuasion, leadership.

Why They Matter

These scores affect almost everything your character does — from swinging a sword to hacking a computer to convincing a guard to let you pass.

Which abilities matter most? It depends on your Class and eventual Subclass. Each Class has different Optimal Abilities that bolster their capabilities, and each Subclass has a specific Core Ability that reflects the key talents needed to excel.

Ability Scores can also be modified by factors like Genotype/Lineage, magic, and equipment.

Ability Score Modifiers

Depending on your Ability Score, it will offer a different Modifier. These Modifiers are used when rolling dice for Skill Checks, Attacks, Defense Rolls, and more.

Ability Score	Modifier
1	-3
2–3	-2
4–5	-1
6–7	+0
8–10	+1
11–13	+2
14–16	+3
17–18	+4
19–20	+5
21–22	+6
23–24	+7
25–26	+8
27–28	+9
29–30	+10

Defense Scores

Your three Defense Scores are calculated from your Ability Score Modifiers:

Fortitude

Endurance Mod + Strength Mod

Reflex

Agility Mod + Cognition Mod

Will

Intuition Mod + Charm Mod

Ability Score Generation

There are three methods to determine your character's Ability Scores. The method used will be chosen by the GM.

Point Buy

Recommended

Start with 28 points to buy Ability Scores
Each score costs more as it increases
Scores start at 6 and cannot exceed 12 during creation

Score	Cost
6	0
7	1
8	3
9	4
10	5
11	7
12	9

Random

For each Ability, roll 3d6
Sum the highest two results for the Ability Score
A Natural 1 on the dice may be re-rolled, subject to GM's discretion

Standard

Using the following scores, place them in the abilities you desire:

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Don't forget! Remember your Genotype Ability Score Variations. Some Genotypes specify an Ability Score that gets bumped, others let you choose. View Genotypes →

Skills

Skills represent abilities your character possesses that allow them to perform certain tasks more effectively. Each Skill is tied to a specific Ability Score Modifier.

Skill Checks

Roll dice to see if your character succeeds at something that isn't automatic — like sneaking, climbing, or persuading someone.

Skill Aptitude

Aptitude represents your training and proficiency. When you have Aptitude in a Skill, you can use it effectively and add your Aptitude Dice. You acquire your first Aptitude Dice (d4) at Level 1.

Duplicate Aptitude: When you already have Aptitude in a Skill but another Feat or ability grants it again, you instead gain a permanent +1 to that Skill's Modifier. This bonus can stack.

Strength (STR)

Brute Force

Using raw power to break down doors, smash locks, or push through barriers.

Intimidation

Projecting dominance and threat to persuade or manipulate others into compliance.

Endurance (END)

Durability

Gauging the ability to survive environmental hazards, negative Conditions, or avoid Injuries.

Stamina

Sustaining athletic movements like grappling, sprinting, climbing, jumping, and swimming.

Agility (AGI)

Parkour

Quick, precise movements over challenging or vertical terrain without losing balance or speed.

Stealth

Sneaky movements to avoid detection and traverse terrain unseen and unheard.

Stunts

Performing acrobatic actions with agility, skill, and daring.

Thievery

Quick and discreet actions like pickpocketing, stealing objects, and lock-picking.

Cognition (COG)

Crafting

Using a Toolkit to craft objects, you can add your Aptitude Dice to Crafting Skill Checks.

Critical Thinking

Analyzing and evaluating evidence and information to uncover truth, solve puzzles, and reveal hidden details.

First-Aid

Treating wounds, diagnosing illnesses, and stabilizing creatures; can reduce effects of Minor and Serious Injuries.

Hacking

Accessing and manipulating digital systems, bypassing security, and gathering sensitive information.

Linguistics

Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing different languages and codes, including ancient or exotic scripts.

Recall

Drawing upon memories and knowledge of past events, personal history, influential figures, religious teachings, or legendary artifacts.

Survival

Applying knowledge of urban and natural environments to ensure survival, including foraging and tracking.

Rationalism

Using scientific knowledge to interpret and understand creatures, mysteries, technology, and artifacts of the cosmos.

Technology

Operating, repairing, and understanding technological devices, including machinery, weapons, and computers.

Intuition (INT)

Awareness

Noticing and detecting physical and sensory information in your environment.

Faith

Performing religious ceremonies, praying for divine intervention, or interpreting divine signs.

Fight-or-Flight

Instinctively sensing approaching danger or threats to your safety from creatures or situations.

Magic

Tapping into Einsol’s ancient magic to explore mystical lineage, uncover lost lore, and master Spell Weaving.

Naturalism

Harnessing an intuitive connection with nature for understanding and interacting with the environment.

Nuance

Using gut feelings to discern intentions and navigate complex social interactions with intuitive finesse.

Charm (CHA)

Coercion

Using force of presence or verbal aggression to coerce or threaten others.

Con-Artist

Assessing the effectiveness of your ruse while offering misleading information or masking your true intentions.

Dishonesty

Deceiving others and concealing information through outright lying.

Diplomacy

Assessing group dynamics in order to resolve conflicts and negotiate for mutually beneficial outcomes.

Insight

Reading emotions and body language of a specific individual to determine trustworthiness and motivations.

Performance

Entertaining others through singing, acting, playing instruments, and other creative endeavors.

Persuasion

Convincing others and influencing their views, beliefs, and actions.

Aptitude System

As characters grow, they hone their expertise through dedicated training and practice. The Aptitude system tracks mastery across armor, weapons, toolkits, and skills.

Aptitude Dice

As characters advance in level, their Aptitude Dice passively grows in power, reflecting increasing mastery. Added to Skill Checks when you have Aptitude.

Maximum Aptitude Bonus (MAB)

The MAB is the highest possible number on your Aptitude Dice.

What Aptitude Allows

Use of specific Armor, Weapons, and Toolkits
Aptitude Dice added to Skill Checks

Aptitude Points

Aptitude Points represent the time and focus characters invest in mastering specific Skills.

Earning Points

Starting at Level 1, gain 1 Aptitude Point per level to invest in any Skill.

Investing Points

Each point invested grants a permanent flat +1 Bonus to that Skill's Checks.

Initial Aptitude

Gaining Aptitude for the first time (from Background, Class, etc.) grants +3 Points in that Skill.

Duplicate Aptitude

Gaining Aptitude you already have grants +2 Points instead. Cap: 10 Points max per Skill from all sources.

Aptitude Point Progression

Points	Unlocked
3	Gain Aptitude in the Skill. Add your Aptitude Dice to Skill Checks.
6	Gain +1 daily Aptitude Dice for this Skill only. Can be rolled alongside your Aptitude Dice. Resets on Long Rest.
9	Gain +1 daily Aptitude Dice for this Skill only. Can be rolled alongside your Aptitude Dice. Resets on Long Rest.
10	Once per day, declare an automatic success on a Skill Check using this Skill. Resets on Long Rest.

Note: Your Ability Score Modifiers are always applied to Skill Checks as normal and do not count towards Aptitude Points.

Ready to Build Your Character?

Now that you understand the core mechanics, put them into practice.

Character Creation Guide Back to Einsol's Razor