When you first enter Gemstone III, you will be in the Character Manager. This is where you decide what skills, ratings, characteristics and attributes your persona will take on. It is an important process, and one you may want to spend some time and thought on. You also return to the Character Manager any time you wish to check your stats, skills, experience and spells, or when you gain a new level. Once in the game, you can access the character manager by finding the front desk within an inn and typing CHECK IN.
The base mental and physical attributes of a character are represented by ten statistics (referred to throughout as "stats"). The value of a stat is between 1 and 100. Relatively high stats give additional bonuses which help you accomplish certain tasks and objectives.
For each profession, two out of your ten stats are particularly important. These are called "prime requisites" and differ according to profession. Once you choose your profession, your stats in these two areas increase by +10, with a maximum value of 100.
Over time, your stats will rise. Some will rise very quickly, especially those most important to your class. For example, a warrior will gain Strength and Constitution much more rapidly then he will Wisdom or Charisma. Your race will also affect the rate at which your stats rise. Elves tend to have excellent Reflexes, but lack Discipline. Here are the stats:
Constitution (CO) -- General health and well being, including resistance to disease, injury, poison, and other types of damage. Also referred to as "health."
Dexterity (DX) -- Manual dexterity, litheness, maneuvering; the ability to use tools, missile weapons, and also to evade some attacks. A high Dexterity will help you maneuver. Finally, Dexterity affects how well you can cast aimed spells, which is very important to wizards.
Discipline (DL) -- The control of mind over body; the ability to concentrate one's will and being on a goal, or draw upon inner reserves of strength and determination for survival or attainment of an objective. Discipline will also affect the rate at which you learn.
Logic (LG) -- Logic is a measure of mental quickness. It is the mental equivalent of the Dexterity stat. Logic affects how quickly you learn from your experiences.
Intelligence (IN) -- The ability to comprehend and sort information from the world about you for current and future use. It includes the ability to take this information and draw logical, useful conclusions.
Strength (ST) -- Not only a measure of brute force, this also reflects your ability to use your existing physique and stamina to the greatest advantage. Strength also determines how much weight can be carried before encumbrance penalties are applied. A strong character will fare well in melee combat.
Reflexes (RF) -- A measure of quickness and reaction time. Good reflexes provide defensive benefits.
Charisma (CH) -- Charm and wit. Also includes such traits as self-esteem and bearing.
Wisdom (WS) -- A combination of luck, genius, ESP, precognition and the favor of higher powers is embodied in this stat. Wisdom bonuses can help you find what is hidden, be it a trap or a thief. In addition, a high Wisdom is desired for certain spell casting professions (clerics, empaths, rangers and sorcerers), as it determines how much mana they have to power their spells.
Aura (EM) -- The relationship of your character to the universal force that is common to all things natural and supernatural. The degree to which you are in touch with the elemental forces and energy of the worlds around you, seen and unseen. This stat has a direct effect on the power of some spell casting professions (wizards, bards and sorcerers. Note that mana for all warriors and rogues also depends on this stat, should they learn any spells).
Continue on to the Profession Selection Table.
Go back to Full-Gen vs. Quick-Gen.
Return to the Character Generation Index
If you have problems, comments, questions, or complaints about the GemStone III pages you can send mail to Nora Melton (ntm@tamcon.com) aka Wanton Destruction.
Last modified 19 December 1995.