The Problem:
There are only four stats in Amber, and as such, they have a tendency, in my mind, to be stretched too far. Warfare, surely a useful skill, governs everything from chess, fencing, tactics, grand stratagems, and even martial arts techniques by some people's definitions. And that's just one of the stats.
The rule I use (influenced by the interaction of the four stats in the diceless system Everway) is that no stat exists in a vacuum. Every activity has one major stat that influences the outcome, and one stat that influences it to a lesser degree. I'm going to try to give an example of all the possible (or at least likely) interactions:
| Swordplay | Warfare + (Strength/2) | Makes Gerard (with, say, a warfare of 50 but a Strength of 200) much more formidable, as he comes out a with a very respectable point total. |
| Tactics | Warfare + (Psyche/2) | Makes Brand a serious threat to everyone, except maybe Benedict, and still gives old Benny a run for the money. |
| Psyche Finesse | Psyche + (Warfare/2) | Used for determining success of psyche/power/spell attacks. or Chess/etc -- As anyone who spars/duels/plays RPG's can attest, the Chess environment does take a different mindset than the battlefield. |
| Brute Psyche | Psyche + (Strength/2) | Put that huge battery of body fitness to use! I use this as a basis for how much damage spells and other blasts of offensive energy will do to the target, as well as for tests of willpower once psychic contact is established. |
| Hand-to-Hand | Strength + (Warfare/2) | Put some oomf into arguments that high Warfare gives good hand-to-hand techniques, but still lets Gerard remain the (very) Big-Dog at the top of the heap. |
| Strength Finesse | Strength + (Psyche/2) | I've heard some good suggestions for this, most notably in tasks like rock climbing, hang-gliding, and other situations where a person's physical power needs to be applied with a little control. |
Explanations for each tier can be read by clicking on the main power name.
[15] Imprint
[5] Shadowwalk to objects/shadows of desire/intangibles/people
[5] Hellride to Objects/Use Royal Way
[5] Hellride Shadow of Desire/intangibles/people
[5] Manipulate Probability
[5] Summon the Sign of the Pattern
[5] Pattern Defense (internalize Sign)
[5] Track Shadowwalker
[5] Imprint: Mindwalk the Summoned Sign
[5] Scrying Lens
[5] Teleport
[5] Shadow Pockets
[5] Edit/Mold/Erase/Gate Shadow
[5] Search with the Lens
[15] Imprint:/Summon the Sign of the Logrus
[5] Logrus Sight (through Sign)
[5] Summon/Control Tendrils of the Logrus
[10] Tendril Magic
[5] Shadow Travel
[5] Logrus Defense
[5] Shadowmastery
[5] Mold Shadow
[5] Logrus Tendril Servants
[5] Summon and Bind Creatures of Chaos (1hr/pt)
[5] Summon Primal Chaos
[20] Basic shifting to Known/Basic Forms.
[5] Automatic Shift/Primal Form
[5] Shift Wounds
[5] Shape Shift Features/Body Parts
[5] Shift Anatomy and Structure, Acquire Forms Abilities
[5] Absorb and Eject Mass
[5] Creatures of Blood
[5] Shift Persona
[5] Shift Aura
[5] Shape Shift Others
[15] Trump Sketches
[10] Novice Trump
[15] Create Trump
[5] Trump Memory
[5] Trump Deception
[5] Quick Transport
[5] Quick Activation/Quick Sketch
[5] Instant Activation
(Trump Artists earn a free Trick for every level of Artistry they purchase)
For the non-Trump Artist, the price is listed below)
[5] Sensing Trump
[5] Trump Defense
[5] Trump Caller Identification
(All of these tricks require Trump Artistry or training, unlike basic tricks)
[5] Trump Blackout
[5] Trump Jamming
[5] Trump Redirect
[5] Trump Spying
[5] Trump Security/Subterfuge
[5] Bypass Call Refuse
[5] Trump Gate
[5] Magickal Potential
[1 each] Power Words
[5] Basic Sorcery Components
[5] Advanced Sorcery Components
[5] Spell Rack
[3] Personal Spell
[2] Bestow Spell
[5] Basic Item Conjuration/Empowerment
[5] Complex Conjuration
[5] True Conjuration
[10] Advanced Powers and Qualities
[5] Item Analysis
[5] High Compelling
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