Artist: Fail!

The first sketch comes out all wrong. Scribbles and out of perspective wacky proportions. The stress of failure makes me grit my teeth and I flip the page angrily. On the bed, Cinnamon's ears twitch.

Artist: Partial Success/Fail!

The second comes out a bit better. The quality miles above anything I'd ever sketched before. Still, it's nowhere near what I want. The basis of the idea I am attempting to convey is there but the overall image is inherently flawed. I need the picture to be perfect down to the smallest detail.

Damn! I tear out the first few ruined pages and crumple them in irritation.

Alright, let's break this down. Think of the problem in game terms. If I'm somehow unconsciously rolling for skills, and operating on the assumption of a 3d6 system, a skill of 11 or less, baring bonuses and penalties, will yield a success rate of I believe around... 60% most of the time? Yeah, I think that is right. That is if my powers of past munchkin-ness can be trusted.

Should I assume that I have to roll for every skill use and interaction? Surely that can't be the case. Nearly every game I've ever played the rules are there to augment the narrative not crush it in endless dice rolling.

Either way, there was another detail that I had noticed during my Crafting preparation. Some things required a minimum skill level. For example a skill of at least 12- and 13- in both Inventor and Magitech to craft my Earings of Whispered Words.

That observation suggests that a Target Number 'Passive' skill system could also be in play.

Usually, during a session, the GameMaster requires players to roll whenever they are actively attempting to push for an outcome.

'Can I tell if the king is lying?' Go ahead and roll me an Insight check.

'I'd like to use the clothesline as a tightrope.' Sounds like an Acrobatics roll to me.

Naturally, game systems that incorporated Passive skills all had their own variances tailored to their individual rules, however, a good general rule of thumb was that it allowed a GameMaster to settle the outcome of a scene or scenario without requiring a roll from the player. This was usually based on a character's average skill level compared to a preset Target number.

They could be used in all manner of situations. A character such as Sherlock Holmes, for example, would have a Passive Investigation so high that he would notice some clues without even trying. The GameMaster could just spout out any details below a certain Target number and move on. Tarzan's Passive Climb and Acrobatics would easily allow him to brachiate through the jungle without ever having to touch the dice.

In a somewhat ironic way, Passive Skills could even be pointed at as a rules explanation for the ‘Rule of Cool.’

If this world utilized a similar approach my current skill level must still be too low to passively auto succeed at my endeavor. And therefore, since I'm actively attempting to use my Artist skill I am simply failing the roll.

I suppose I could keep making attempts and hope I pass, however, most systems did not allow players to repeatedly try the same task over and over again until they magically succeed. Deterrents could include things like stacking penalties, a loss of resources, exponentially increased time between attempts, even just straight-up failing to succeed no matter the roll.

One usually had to wait for either a certain period of time to pass or for a drastic change in the situation to have been made.

(Passive) Deduction: Success!

I lean back in my chair and run my fingers through my long hair in thought. Confident in my sound reasoning and the fortuitous timing of the recently increased levels in my Deduction skill. I still had a couple left over character points that I’d not yet spent. Like the one I'd been saving for the earing for Cinnamon.

As valuable as a cell-phone like earpiece would be the sort of educational rules testing I have in mind is just as important, if not more so if I plan to truly understand and deal with the idiosyncrasies which governed this world.

With a focus that is growing easier with each attempt I go over the details I need to know. Was I still injured? Are any of my core stats still affected by the fight, the alcohol, Cinnamon's roofie, or anything else? If so how were they recovering? Did I pick up any new Skills or Special Abilities? How many points do I have remaining to play with?

I slip into my Jelf trance, back out again then...

You use Special Ability: Perfect Recall

Brian Status: HP: 10 / 12 Stun: 22 / 22 Mana: 5 / 10

Alure: 25 / 23 ( 4.75 Hours Remaining)

Wits: 13 / 13

Vitality: 15 / 15

Alright! Everything looks pretty good. Sure enough, I still have some aches and pains, which would track with my lowered Hit Points but overall it seems that I've nearly fully recovered. Wait? What is going on with my Allure? Oh, I know what it must be the ‘Rejuvenating Soap’ we'd all used. That tracks. I just figured the girls were looking extra gorgeous cause of all the horny.

I give an internal grin. Guess we will all be looking a bit hotter than normal for the next few hours.

Wits and Vitality must have both taken some hits but it looks like they are thankfully back to normal. I probably should have checked to see how low they'd dropped. Yet in one way I don't want to know. I'm guessing they tanked fairly badly judging by how clear-headed and healthy I feel now compared to only a few hours ago.

Free Background Skills:

Knowledge: Monsters 13- > cost to raise: 2 pt

Cooking 11- > cost to raise: 2 pt

Artist 11- > cost to raise: 2 pt

Specialization: Miniature Art x2 Free Specializations Remaining

Specialization? Miniature Art? I boggle for a moment. Did I waste some sort of selection because I unconsciously utilized past skills while resizing the furniture and building the bedroom set for Kryst? Uggh! I groan.

Then I notice the next entry.

Sexual Techniques 11- > cost to raise: 2 pt

Specialization: Tongue Tricks Specialization: Squirt Stimulation x1 Free Specialization Remaining

Welp. Looks like I ended up using up my last Free Background Skill after all. For a fraction of a second, I'm a little bummed that I've done so, that is until my brain catches up and points out the glaringly obvious point that being a toe-curling bad-boy in bed is not a bad skill to have.

Especially with a couple of lava hot ladies like Cinnamon and Kryst around.

However, I will need to be careful not to randomly get some useless Specialization by mistake. I suppose that did mean background skills could be tailored a bit more. Although they did seem to be based on skills I had previously possessed. Or at the very least 'topics' that I'd done... ‘research’ on.

It seemed each one allowed for three more focused Specializations too. That was a good key bit of knowledge. Still. Miniature Art? When am I ever going to use that again?

Special Abilities Available for Purchase:

Iron Will: lvl 1 – (Passive): You have a stronger will than normal. [+2 Wits] bonus on Wits and Fear based Saves and [+2 Mental Defense] vs Psychic and Abilities/Effects. (Time Limited Purchase: 22 hours remaining) Cost: 3 points

Looks like I have managed to pick up a new Special Ability too. Awesome-sauce! It makes sense with the recent trials that these two have subjected me to. Looks to be a fairly good one. Not too expensive and gives me some type of Mental shields. I check out how many remaining points that I have left to spend.

Character Points: 19

Hole. Lee. Crap-Ola! Where the hell did I get 19 points! Hot Diggity Damn! That Blyght must've been worth some crazy experience. I actually feel bad for the burst of joy that washes over me regarding the killing of the poor transmogrified fairy. But, maybe some good could come of it.

I think back to my earlier Character point spending trance and the Special Abilities I have yet to purchase.

FlashBang Shot: lvl 1 – (Action): The Gunslinger may fire their weapon close to an opponent's head imposing the blinded and deafened condition for a short time. Cost: 5 points

Gunslinger Swagger: lvl 1 – (Passive): The Gunslinger has [+5 Presence] only for Faceoffs, Presence Attacks, or similar situations. Cost: 3 points

I could actually afford both of the Special Abilities I had to pass up before. Should I get them? The Iron Will is tempting, especially with a Time Limit on it.

I go over details. Mulling pros and cons until I decide on what my point spends will be.

Concentrating again, I pop in and out, spending points in… record time? I check my watch.

Three minutes! I'm getting good at this.

A wave of energy pours through my body as I take a breath. I feel fantastic! The slight fatigue in my muscles is completely gone, replaced with an active strength. Not like a fake caffeine-induced rush. This is pure, clean inherent stamina.

I know what it is and had even expected to feel a bit of a change. I wasn't prepared for this level of 'oOmpf ' though.

The encounter with the Blyght had left me with concerns. If we faced another of those creatures or something similar that hacked away at core stats like Constitution-eer Vitality then it might be best to be a little more prepared. With that mind, I’d dropped three points into Vitality, which raised it to18 and four points on Stun, rounding it up to a respectable 30.

Brian Status: HP: 10 / 12 Stun: 30 / 30 Mana: 5 / 10

Alure: 25 / 23 ( 4.75 Hours Remaining)

My biggest spend, I dropped six points on Artist taking the skill to 14-. I've always wanted to be an artist and it is a bit of a risk using so many points up at once but I figure it would help out when it came to things like blueprints or Magitech designs later. Also, by raising it to such a high level, and if my munchkin-calculations are correct, that should take the skill up to around a 90% success rate. In optimal conditions.

There was something else I had noticed before I had come out of my point spend trance. A pop-up in the fraction of a second after I'd spent the points that I didn’t have time to read. I do a quick double check with Perfect Recall.

Artist 14- (Current Max Allowable Skill Level Reached)

Specialization: Miniature Art x2 Free Specializations Remaining

Well, that is interesting. It seems that a skill level of 14- is the highest attainable level that I can reach. At least for now, judging by the word ‘current.’ Is it that I can only spend a maximum of 6 character points to raise a skill?

My Charm is a 15- but that is based on my maxed out Allure. I'm positive I hadn't seen any 'Max Skill Level Reached' notation on that particular skill, and Artist doesn't seem to have a core stat that is connected too either.

That could be puzzled out later. For now, I run through my last expenditures.

Just because I couldn't resist any longer ‘Gunslinger Swagger’ had claimed three points.

I'd justified the purchase to myself by focusing on the fact that we would be headed into a social situation at this party tonight and if the confrontational exchange with Karabos and his puppy secretary was any indication, it might come in handy. If I was being truly honest though, it was simply because, the very sexy Captain Raven had made an off-hand comment, and damn if it didn't sound hella cool to actually have the trait she accused me of possessing.

Unfortunately, that meant I didn't have enough points to pick up 'FlashBang Shot.' A shame, as I really would have liked to acquire all the Gunslinger Special Abilities.

Which left me with a total of three Character points left.

As good as I feel I'm tempted to go back in and spend them. Increase another stat or two? Level up Charm to test if it can go higher. Sexual Techniques, perhaps?

I physically shake my head. Ironically having to use my own un-augmented iron will to not slip back in and purchase ‘Iron Will.’ By my reasoning I still had until tomorrow to decide on it that one and since I still need to make Cinnamon's earring it was probably better to keep a few points in reserve.

Reaching over I pick up my sketchbook, still in awe of the new feelings of endurance flowing through, what I considered an already a high-performance Ferrari body. Except now, it's like nitro has been fuel injected into the engine. I'm fairly certain I could run a marathon. Cross country hike for miles. I feel pumped. Powerful. I feel… virile?

I glance over at Cinnamon on the bed, the sun is low in the window as evening approaches. She's beautiful, bathed in a glow of radiance. Innocence mixed with erotic as she sleeps. The contrast raises her to another level, and the beauty I see now begins to stir a different kind of passion in me.

One that I've felt many times before...

You use Special Ability: Perfect Recall

In a heartbeat, I'm twelve years old, at a park bench. Sketching in a lined notebook while pouring over the dog-eared copy of 'How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way' which my father had picked up for me at a yard sale.

I don't dwell. Instead my focus switches and…

I'm in class. Figure drawing to be precise. Held Wednesday evenings at the local art gallery, before my crappy work schedule had forced me to drop out. The model is skinny, posing in the center of the room with a sheet wrapped around her lower body while the teacher points out the fabulous underlying bony landmarks and musculature.

More moments flow and I know what is happening. This time search it out, embrace that pleasurable rush of something taking hold, igniting a part of me that I can only describe as my soul.

Skill: Artist

Specialization: Drawing

x1 Free Specialization Remaining

Back in the bedroom charcoal touches paper. The soft scraping sound becomes a melody. Whispered intensity builds as control over pressure variance I'd always dreamed of but never possessed becomes more and more apparent.

My thumb smudges in a shadow and without thinking I swoop a darker curve overtop. And like the artistic magic in watching Bob Ross paint, form and three-dimensionality suddenly take shape on the slightly rough paper.

Artist + Drawing Specialization Bonus: Extreme Success!

My hand flys over the page, charcoal and chalk blurring as I crosshatch in tonal variation. Skills I'd witnessed in others pour out of me. There is no thought to it, no second-guessing of the lines. I've turned the book horizontally, moved into another page.

Artist + Drawing Specialization Bonus: Extreme Success!

Cinnamon shifts on the bed. I drink her in. This time I let the art take shape almost on its own, unhurried. On and on the pages flip as I keep going, filling them.

Again and again.

(Passive) Artist + Drawing Specialization Bonus: Success!

I've always wanted to be an artist.

Not the passable character artwork I wowed friends with. No, I wanted to create what I considered real art. With proper perspective. A firm knowledge of layout and composition. Figure drawing. Color theory. Light and shadow. How to lead the eye and tell a story with pictures. The ability to add real depth to a flat, two-dimensional image. To work on a sketch and see not a somewhat similar rendition of what I had been attempting to capture but instead what I'd pictured in my head, bought to life on a page, fully realized.

(Passive) Artist + Drawing Specialization Bonus: Success!

I lose myself in the purity of it and only pause when my vision clouds. The back of a finger wipes at my eye to clear the annoyance keeping me from my work. I stop. Stare in confusion at the moisture gathered on my knuckle.

I've always wanted to be an artist.

It had been a pipe-dream.

I tried for years and although I had indeed developed a modicum of skill it was nowhere near the level I'd need to make a living with. The hint of talent I'd attempted to nurture had always little more than an ember.

Now, I have a bonfire. A wildfire. A Goddamned nuclear inferno!

And it had taken me three minutes.

I lean back, look down at the breathtaking rendition of Cinnamon asleep on the page. A few downy feathers captured in negative space detail on her shoulders and hair give her an angelic appearance. From the corner of my eye I notice the torn and crumpled pages of my previous failed sketches.

I've always wanted to be an artist.

I'm not sure how to feel. The joy of what I can do makes my heart swell and ache. Yet, my guts churn and knot in disgust.

It was too easy.

I know it's hypocritical of me. Not but a few hours ago I had made a pocket watch and marveled at how little effort it had taken. Even laughed at how fun it was. On the table are jeweled earrings with miniature magical radio like communicators built into them. One so small a Barbie doll could wear it. I constructed a pair of shades that could rival anything in some high priced sunglass store. My finger has a ring that identifies me as some sort of qualified engineer, and I have paperwork to back it up. And there was even more.

Each achievement has made me pause to some degree. To question the ease at which they had come.

This was different. It hit harder than all the previous combined. I understood, literally, the time, effort and skill involved. This was something I tried to accomplish in my real life. And failed at. Did I have any right to claim this talent? With no effort? By just... choosing to?

I've always wanted to be an artist.

Exhaling a breath, I look over at Cinnamon and then Kryst's plant dome.

It helps. Clears my mind of the cloying negativity welling up inside. On a scrap of cloth I wipe my fingers clean of both moisture and dust then flip to a fresh, clean new page.

I stare into the void of the creamy white emptiness. Focus back on what I had been trying to accomplish with my initial attempts.

Then, I begin.