Traits

We have updated and expanded traits to create a more flexible use of them during character creation. Traits are now much more effective at allowing players to create unique and back-storied characters. Here are the highlights from these updates:

• Traits now allow players to increase their starting characters attributes.
• Want to start the game as an early Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne? With the wealth attribute, it is now possible to start the game as a character with a wide range of starting assets to liquid capital.
• For all the traits, we have applied a point cost system that is consistent across all the traits with a variable cost structure.

As a reminder, in Spectrum, we care zero about the physical appearance of your character. Traits are mechanical elements that effect the rules applied to your character during gameplay. Traits have absolutely nothing to do with the aesthetic of your character unless you want them to.

Metaphysics

Now, time for an update on metaphysics. A reminder: instead of forcing players into one specific genre that is story limiting, metaphysics is Spectrum’s solution to what other systems commonly refer to as “magic”, “mysticism”, “advanced technology”, “mutations”, “psionics”, “special abilities”, etc.

We have added two new categories and effect trees to the Grimoire of Metaphysics: “nature” and “death”.

• Nature is a reference to abilities that are commonly associated with the wilds of the outdoors; mountains, deserts, forests, marshes, plains, tundra, jungles, rivers, etc. Of course what your world defines as “nature” is entirely up to you but we hope that this listing of effects helps add to your stories and world building.
• Death is a more esoteric grouping of metaphysical effects. The term “death” is not just a reference to the end of natural biological functions, but more a broader application in regard to the natural functioning of entropy as we commonly experience them. Of course these effects could not possibly account for all of the various entropic forces that are experienced, but we hope that it accounts for the most common applications that you will use in various genres and stories.

Black Coffee Games is diligently working to ever expand the metaphysical resources to help fuel your games. Next on the dev list for metaphysical effects are the categories of knowledge and mind/perception. As you might imagine, applying the level of quality and consistency that Spectrum is becoming known for, is turning out to be surprisingly challenging with the philosophies of these two metaphysical categories. But we are excited for what these next categories will offer the narrators and players.

So stay tuned!