House Rules/Advantages Disadvantages Skills

Specific Advantages, Disadvantages, and Skills are interpreted in specific ways in Westaven as described hereafter.

[edit] Advantages

Extra Attack [B53]: This Advantage is allowed with the understanding that it constitutes use of a second hand; not two attacks with the same extremity (or weapon). See also the Combat Rules.
Status [B28]: Social power and levels are shown on the various Peerage tables. Bonus Status levels may be given for certain Rank [B29] and/or Wealth [B26] levels. These peerages may or may not develop equivalents in other lands such as Aeneus, Odalisk, or Xenophy. See the Pollexian Peerage tables.
True Faith [B94]: This advantage is not available in the Westaven campaign.
Wealth [B26]: Power and status generally depends on certain levels of wealth. Wealth provides bonus levels of Status which do not count towards any Cost of Living requirements [B26]. For changes in Wealth levels during gameplay, see the ruling under the "Disadvantages" section below.

Code of Honor [B127]: Various Codes of Honor exist in Westaven and new expressions are listed here.

Order of Aenean Knights ("OAKS") [-15]: The motivation, goals, secretive nature, and Rule of the Order has bred its own Code of Honor. Because this is a mental disadvantage, one that a person chooses to impose upon themselves, it can technically be bought off or broken. It is up to the GM to allow this or not. It is suggested that before it can be bought off, it must first be converted into a "Secret" or "Enemy" disadvantage through play and resolved using those rules. It is similar to a Code of Honor (Chivalry). It is interpreted as a knight will do the following: (1) Fight and die for the honor of the Order; (2) Respond to any insult to the Order; (3) Fight and die for their honor; (4) Respond to any insult to their honor; (5) Never retreat before an enemy; (6) Follow orders from all lawfully appointed superiors; (7) Wear the Order's symbols and heraldic gear (uniform) with pride; (8) Maintain the Order's and their own gear; (9) Be tough but fair to his charges and lead from the front; (10) Take care of those under his charge; (11) Treat an honorable enemy with respect, while dishonorable oppenents deserve death; (12) Except in open warfare, never take advantage of an oppenent; (13) Never lie, but remain faithful to the pledged word (never break his word); (14) Respect all weaknesses and appoint himself their defender (defend the weak).

Wealth [B25]: Wealth becomes difficult if the character's financial worth suddenly changes, such as a "Poor" character coming into money or a "Rich" character losing theirs. Below is the ruling for this situation.

If a player-character earns or wins money at odds with their Wealth disadvantage, the PC must buy off the status with earned character points ASAP, most likely with the all subsequent CP earned. Until that time, only as much money as fits within that PC's wealth level may be spent; the rest MUST EITHER be lost permanently OR otherwise affect the PC in a serious, game-affecting way (your choice, with GM's approval). Examples:
- PC is so obsessed over their newfound wealth they will not drop it from their hand;
- PC acts like a starving man given fifty cakes: "overdoes" & overindulges in unhealthy manners. Quickly.
- PC alienates friends or relatives because of pride in the newfound wealth, ostentatiousness, etc. (this may result in new, temporary disadvantages &/or quirks)(at no character point change; these are "free")
- PC suffers -1 IQ (or more, depending upon the amount of money) because mentally obsessing over it all the time, etc.)

Note: the GM may deem the newfound wealth is a bonus worthy of instant awarding of sufficient CP to buy off the Wealth disadvantage.

If a negative change occurs in Wealth as an advantage (eg, the PC loses all their money & access to future moneys, inheritance, etc.) , the points spent on the advantage are simply lost, to be reflected in the character's lower point total.

Change in normal Wealth levels shall be handled in either of the above two manners.