Blessings and Curses

Blessings and Curses are personality traits, physical features or even experiences that affect the growth of your character.

Blessing Effects

All blessings give a synergy bonus if the blessing applies to a roll. Career blessings - and some other blessings - can be taken multiple times. If you have a blessing multiple times, it counts when comparing synergy bonuses, but can only affect your roll by +2. If I have taken the Courtier blessing three times, I have Courtier III. You also have the Courtier blessing as well as a synergy bonus from having an Etiquette of 8. I count as having three applicable synergy bonuses to your two, and so I get a +2 to my roll, while you get a +0. In an uncontested roll, however, I still only receive a +2 for my Courtier blessing - its "levels" count only in contested situations.

Some blessings give characters particular Expertise. Expertise provides additional bonuses in the following situations:

• Combat Expertise -- Characters with applicable Combat Expertise blessings in combat are particularly adept in a specific combat style or situation. If one character in a melee combat has one or more applicable Expertise blessings and the other character has no applicable Combat Expertise blessings, the character with Combat Expertise always has the Edge.
• Skill Expertise -- In some situations, skill use is capped by an underlying skill, such as when Melee cannot exceed Beastcraft in mounted combat. If you have one related Skill Expertise blessing, treat the cap as 2 points higher; if you have two or more related Skill Expertise blessings, treat the cap as 4 points higher.
• Technical Expertise --
• Scholarly Expertise -- Characters with Scholarly Expertise are particularly well-trained in an area of knowledge. While many uses of Lore and Science skills require access to a library or a lab, a character with Scholarly Expertise can instead call upon his or her knowledge even when away from his materials.

Blessing List

Physical

Size

Tall

The character is very tall, six-and-a-half feet or more. (Synergy, Move +2m)

Tiny

The character is very petite in build. They may have an easier time in small spaces. (Synergy)

Appearance

While appearance blessings have different names, they count as a single blessing with levels as discussed above.

Handsome

The character is good-looking in a striking fashion. (Synergy, Attractive I)

Cute

The character is attractive in a pretty or endearing fashion. (Synergy, Attractive I)

Comely

The character is pleasingly attractive in a winsome way. (Synergy, Attractive I)

Pretty

The character is attractive in a graceful or delicate way. (Synergy, Attractive I)

Beautiful

The character is extremely attractive. (Synergy, Attractive II)

Angelic

The character has unearthly beauty. This blessing is most commonly the result of genesculpting or extensive cosmetic surgery, and may attract attention. (Synergy, Attractive III)

Expertise

Weapons

Knife Trained

Knives, dirks, daggers and the like. (Training)

Fencing Trained

Fencing and dueling weapons. (Training)

Backsword Trained

Single-edged swords, usually curved, like scimitars, sabers and katanas. (Training)

Broadsword Trained

Heavy slashing and stabbing swords used in war. (Training)

Heavy Weapon Trained

Axes, maces, and other unbalances weapons. (Training)

Polearm Trained

Spears, halberds, and other long-hafted weapons. (Training)

Animal

Equestrian

Riding horses. (Synergy, Familiarity)

Camel Jockey

Riding camels. (Synergy, Familiarity)

Spitter Jockey

Riding Pherizia - "Spitters." (Synergy, Familiarity)

Charioteer

Driving chariots. (Synergy)

Teamster

Driving wagons, carts, and sleds. (Synergy)

Careers

Military Careers

Armsman

Service as a military tenant man-at-arms. (Synergy)

Cavalryman

Service in a cavalry unit. (Synergy, Familiarity)

Grenadier

Service in a heavy rifleman unit. (Synergy)

Ranger

Service in an elite scout or commando unit. (Synergy)

Tanker

Service in a mechanized unit. (Synergy)

Army Command

Command of a ground unit. (Synergy)

Sea Command

Command of a surface ship or sea unit. (Synergy)

Void Command

Command of a starship or space unit. (Synergy)

Able Seaman

Service aboard a military sea vessel. (Synergy, Familiarity)

Marine

Service in a sea boarding/landing unit. (Synergy, Familiarity)

Able Starman

Service aboard a military starship. (Synergy, Familiarity)

Marauder

Service in a space boarding/landing unit. (Synergy, Familiarity)

Combat Pilot

Service as a aerospace or void pilot. (Synergy, Familiarity)

General Staff

Service as an officer in a strategic headquarters. (Synergy)

Peasant Careers

Farmer

You farmed your lord's lands. (Synergy)

Fisherman

You fished, from the shore or small boats. (Synergy)

Hunter

You hunted game in the woods and hills. (Synergy)

Drover

You herded cattle, sheep, or other animals. (Synergy)

Smith

You ran a village smithy. (Synergy)

Craftsman (Type)

You produced some good or service. (Synergy)

Bailiff

You served as a local official for a lord or other body. (Synergy)

Court Careers

Courtier

You were a fixture at the court of a greater noble. (Synergy)

Court Official

You held some court office, like a chancellor or seneschal. (Synergy)

Lady-in-Waiting

You were a noble companion to a greater lady. (Synergy)

Equerry

You were a squire, page, or aide to a high noble. (Synergy)

Duelist

You made your reputation as a duelist, either over affairs of honor or as a champion for others. (Synergy, Training)

Artist at Court

You were an artist, noble or not, who was a fixture at court as a poet, painter, sculptor or the like. (Synergy)

Chamberlain

You managed the affairs of a great household, either as a noble or freeman. (Synergy)

Debutante

You were a young lady at court seeking suitors and recognition. (Synergy)

Estate Careers

See also Court and Military Careers, above.

Lord/Lady of the Manor

You ruled a fief. (Synergy)

Country Noble

You lived on a rural or town estate distant from court. (Synergy)

Squire

You were a squire to a knight in peace and war. (Synergy)

Household Knight

You served in the household of a lord as an armed retainer. (Synergy)

Steward

You managed the affairs of a fief. (Synergy)

Guild and Freelancer Careers

Mercenary

You served as a mercenary soldier in a Muster or free mercenary unit. (Synergy)

Slaver

You captured, traded and sold sentient beings. (Synergy)

Bounty Hunter

You hunted down fugitives as a member of the Muster's Ashtati or as a freelancer. (Synergy)

Bodyguard

You hired out as personal protection to important people. (Synergy)

Advocate

You argued in the courts of law of the Known Worlds. (Synergy)

Magistrate

You served as a local judge for a lord, guild or city. (Synergy)

Banker

You lent money for the League or another bank. (Synergy)

Steward

You managed the affairs of a fief. (Synergy)

Guildmaster

You served in the leadership of a guild, representing its political and economic interests. (Synergy)

Star Merchant

You traveled the stars carrying and trading cargo. (Synergy)

Questing Careers

Knight-Errant

You wandered the planet or the Jumpweb as a knight, seeking adventure. (Synergy)