Each character has four stats:
-Body: Anything physical. Lifting rocks, sliding under a closing door, or resisting a poison
-Mind: Your mental prowess. Research, memory, and logic
-Heart: Social skills. Disarming tense situations, bartering, or lying
-Soul: Your connection to the arcane and the world around you. Sensing danger, understanding magical phenomenon, or calming beasts
When your GM calls for a card pull for any situation with a possibility of failure, draw a number of cards from the check deck equal to the relevant stat. If you draw a number of successes equal to or greater than the difficulty the GM sets, the action is successful, with additional successes increasing the effectiveness of the success. If you do not draw enough successes, the action fails, and the number you fail by can determine the severity.
In addition, your GM may decide that certain elements of your surroundings may affect your draw. Disadvantages such as trying to find something in dim light, or trying to run on ice may mean you will draw less cards, while helpful situations like using a rope to help climb a wall may mean you will draw more cards, as determined by your GM.
Step 1: Choose a Species
Many different sentient species roam the isles of Aeco, and you are one of them. Each species has a stat bonus and a unique ability that is accessible at any time, as well as general information about their culture that might influence your character.
Step 2: Assign Stats
Divide 12 in any ratio between your four stats and add your species bonus. No single base stat can have a total of more than 5 unless modified by a skill or item.
Step 3: Choose a Background
Your background informs where you come from and what you do. Your background gives you a useful feature that will help you fill that role.
Step 4: Choose 3 Traits
Traits are additional talents that you are particularly proficient with. When you attempt an action related to one of your Traits, you draw an additional card.
Step 5: Spend XP(Experience) and VP(Value Points) to get Skills and Gear
When building a character, you begin with 4 XP and 20 VP to spend on Skills and Gear, but GMs may determine you can start with more if beginning at a higher level of play. Aeco has no standard currency, so everything has an inherent value, or Value Points (VP).
Step 6: Build Your Deck
In addition to your Skills, you also add 5 each of Attack, Block, Dodge, and Move cards.
Step 7: Base Stats
At the beginning of the game, you start with 12 Health, 3 Stamina Points, and a speed of 6 Hexes. Add the 12 Health and 3 SP tokens to your playing field, and note your speed on your stat card.