Ability Score Limits

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by R. Kevin Smoot

The Alpha Dawn Rules clearly state that characters cannot raise their ability scores beyond a score of 100. This is fine in most campaigns, as typical characters will not reach these heights of advancement. However, there is the occasional circumstance when this top end limit is approached in a high-powered or long enduring campaign.

What is not addressed by this simplistic limitation rule, is why a veteran of a race such as a Yazirian, with their 10 point penalty to STR/STA, can eventually become as strong as a similar veteran Dralasite, with their +5 bonus to STR/STA. It became obvious that the 100-point limit was applied across the board just for the sake of simplicity. Certain races have particular aptitudes or deficiencies, and should keep these aptitudes or deficiencies throughout their career.

The solution is quite simple. The appropriate racial modifiers also modify the upper limit of ability improvement. This means that the Yazirian Veteran mentioned in the example above cannot raise his STR/STA scores above 90. In the case of Humans, the ability score that they boost during character creation is the one score that may be raised to a maximum score of 105.

The following tables summarize both the racial modifiers and the upper limit of improvement. For completeness, the Zebulon’s Guide races, old Dragon Magazine (Ares), and races included in previous issues of the Star Frontiersman are included. For other races, such as home-brew creations or from other sources, simply modify the upper limit of advancement by the racial modifiers as appropriate.

The first figure is the adjustment, and the figure in parenthesis is the upper limit of advancement. These figures do not take into account any considerations for equipment or special circumstances (bionics, cybernetics, Gamma Dawn style mutations, permanent disability, etc).

In Star Frontiersman Issue 4, there is an article that further modifies certain races by gender. If that material is used, the upper end stats should be further modified. An old Dragon Magazine (#108) details rules for aging, and if those rules are being used, the limits in the tables above should be considered the limits of experience point based improvement (before any adjustments for age are applied).

Core Races STR STA DEX RS INT LOG PER LDR
Dralasite +5 (105) +5 (105) +0 (100) +0 (100) -5 (95) -5 (95) +0 (100) +0 (100)
Vrusk -5 (95) -5 (95) +0 (100) +0 (100) +5 (105) +5 (105) +0 (100) +0 (100)
Yazirian -10 (90) -10 (90) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +0 (100) +0 (100)
Human Add +5 to any single score; that single score has upper limit of 105.
Sathar +0 (100) +0 (100) -5 (95) -5 (95) -5 (95) -5 (95) +10 (110)* +10 (110)*
* All Sathar must move 10 points from PER to LDR, and LDR must remain 20 points higher than PER.
Zebulon's Guide STR STA DEX RS INT LOG PER LDR
Humma +10 (110) +10 (110) +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100) -10 (90) -10 (90)
Ifshnit -5 (95) -5 (95) +0 (100) +0 (100) +5 (105) +5 (105) +0 (100) +0 (100)
Mechanon +20 (120) +10 (110) +10 (110) +10 (110) -20 (80) +10 (110) -20 (80) +20 (120)
Osakar +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +0 (100) +0 (100) -10 (90) -10 (90)
Star Frontiersman STR STA DEX RS INT LOG PER LDR
Nagana (Issue #1) -5 (95) -5 (95) +5 (105) +5 (105) -5 (95) -5 (95) +5 (105) +5 (105)
Bora-Kai (Issue #2) +10 (110) +10 (110) -5 (95) -5 (95) -5 (95) -5 (95) +0 (100) +0 (100)
Boon'sheh (Issue #3) -10 (90) -10 (90) +10 (110) +10 (110) +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100)
Yinni (Issue #4) - basic* -20 (80) -20 (80) +10 (110) +10 (110) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105)
Ul-Mor (Issue #5) -5 (95) -5 (95) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) -5 (95) -5 (95)
Vimh (Issue #5) +0 (100) +20 (120) +5 (105) +5 (105) +0 (100) +0 (100) -10 (90) -10 (90)
Arborean (Issue #6) -10 (90) -10 (90) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +0 (100) +0 (100)
Sentient Robot (Issue #6) +10 (110) +10 (110) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) -20 (80) -20 (80)
* Yinni stats are further modified by caste, not shown here; adjust as necessary.
Dragon Magazine STR STA DEX RS INT LOG PER LDR
S'sessu +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100) +10 (110) +10 (110) -10 (90) -10 (90)
Zethra -5 (95) -5 (95) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) +5 (105) -5 (95) -5 (95)
Saurians +10 (110) +10 (110) -10 (90) -10 (90) +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100) +0 (100)