There are five ability scores in the Shadoweave: Fortitude, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Your ability scores provide a bonus to what is known as derivatives, saving throws, and lastly, it provides a boost to related skills.
You have limited points to spend on your ability scores to determine their starting values. This limit depends on the style of game you are looking to play (or the potential of an NPC you are creating). Use the below list to determine your point buy value. Some example arrays are included as suggestions.
- Heroic: 38 points
- Specialist Array: 18, 15, 14, 12, 10
- General Array: 17, 16, 14, 12, 11
- Solo Array: 16, 16, 16, 12, 12
- Normal: 30 points
- Gritty: 22 points
In order to calculate your ability scores, you can use the following table. The point cost is how many points must be spent to have an ability score of a specific value.
| Ability Score | Point Cost | Skill & Save Point Limit |
| 1* | – | 0 |
| 2* | – | 0 |
| 3* | – | 0 |
| 4* | – | 0 |
| 5* | – | 0 |
| 6 | -3 | 0 |
| 7 | -1 | 1 |
| 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 11 | 3 | 3 |
| 12 | 4 | 3 |
| 13 | 5 | 3 |
| 14 | 7 | 4 |
| 15 | 8 | 4 |
| 16 | 10 | 5 |
| 17 ** | 14 | 7 |
| 18 ** | 17 | 8 |
| 19 * | – | 9 |
| 20 * | – | 10 |
| 21+ * | – | +1 |
Each ability score shares the Skill Limit derivatives. In addition, each ability score also has it’s own list of derivatives that are listed below.
Derivatives
Some of the core mechanics of the Dungeons and Dragons systems are spread out and are more obscure on where they are located. Things like how long a character can hold their breath, how far they can jump, or the characters carry capacity. These types of features have been all wrapped together are are now known as Ability Score Derivatives, as they are derived from a characters abilities scores quite directly.
Unlike the core system, this modified version is not based around some easily calculated formula or methods. Instead you will need to review the ability scores table and use that to determine what your derivatives are. Generally a derivative gets more of a benefit or bonus from each ability score increase than the last one, making higher scores provide better results per ability point investment than average ones.
There are few mechanics present in this collection that are not a part of the core system, such as Presence. As well, two of the new mechanics are replacements for other features, these are the Awareness and Insight mechanics. They are replacements for the Passive Perception and the Insight skill. The implication is that characters never actively attempt to insight or read another creature, Insight is a defensive tool. All of these derivatives will be explained in details on the ability scores page.