Game Effects

In addition to the role-played aspects of rank, certain effects within the game are rank based (for example mass fear). Higher ranked characters are resistant to these effects. The amount of resistance a character has is called the character's power rank. Your power rank is equal to the faction or guild rank that you currently hold, whichever is highest. If an ability is used that has a rank based resistance, then the rank of the effect will be shouted out. If you have a higher power rank than the number shouted, you remain unaffected. For example, a ghost appears in the middle of the ritual circle, frightening the ritual group present. The ghost monster call out "mass fear rank 5!". Everyone in the circle flees in fear (the circle was not sealed), apart from the ritualist who is rank 6 in his faction. Unfortunately, he now faces the creature alone.

It should be remembered that 'rank' is the out of character term for someone's status level. The correct term for a character's standing within a faction or guild is the title, which has been bestowed upon them.

At each rank that is attained in a faction or guild, a character gains the ability to learn a new skill from the appropriate rank skill list, provided they spend the requisite amount of OSP's. Skills brought in this way (by achieving the required prerequisite rank and, if necessary, having the appropriate basic skill_ cost less than they would, should the character attempt to learn the skill alone. This represents the greater access a character would get to methods of training and expert teaching at their new level of social standing and responsibility. See the booklet Occupational skill: A Guide to Advancement for more information on the available guild and faction skills or the OSP section for general skills.