Initialize starting traits, levels, and skills

[cubap]

The idea that someone starts without anything is obviously false. Let's identify the basic traits we would track with a new character and what (likely invisible) skills would exist at first.

[cubap]

Attributes

mutable characteristics relating to physical and mental state. Since it is not a visible value, perhaps a % is the most consistent way to think of these.

• strength Carrying capacity, damage dealt, effective tool/weapon wielding, character powered vehicles. Average would be around 25, as humans tend to be weak, but could be trained up.
• endurance Physical effort duration, knockout resistance, stress reactions
• focus Intellectual effort duration, success at learning tests, quality of investigations/experiments
• health "hitpoints" from physical injury, but maybe subspec'ed for illnesses or body part damage?
• hunger Some threshold for wanting to eat, another for needing to. Exceeding the latter affects focus, strength, and eventually health
• thirst Similar to hunger, but more persistent. Some types of foods may satisfy both, of course.
• other candidates include resilience, durability, constitution, insight

Reputation (related to #30 and #6 ) can be noticed by other characters and is calculated through actions only. May include alignment (light/dark style), generosity (based on charity/theft), aggression (fight/flight), membership (following orders, contributing to civics, social/hermit)

Perhaps a label so the character has a name others can see? Maybe this doesn't really matter.

[Caliber08]

I would make a clear distinction between innate "characteristics" (strength, endurance, focus) and and "conditions" (hunger, thirst, health). These are of a different kind and likely will need to be treated differently so we should think of them differently from the start.

Other possible CHARACTERISTICS:

• speed (possibly distinct from quickness)
• dexterity could be useful for some skills
• size
• emotional intelligence (EQ) - maybe not workable or useful, but fun to think about

Other possible CONDITIONS:

• attitude/mental state
• sleepiness
• exhaustion level

[cubap]

Point taken, the distinction is valuable. I also like size as a trait that could be realized in the game UI as well. Sleepiness/exhaustion/fatigue is also an oversight - I can think of a lot of applications for that sort of condition.