Creating Beings

By lollypopalopicus, in Anima Rules Questions

Posted at
A few questions regarding the creations of beings based on the Core Rulebook (Page 284) rather than the exxet.


Firstly, I assume the "Superhuman/Supernatural Physical/Spiritual Characteristics", simply allows you to spend the DP needed to acquire the given number. Ex: supernatural physical characteristics for 40 DP, then a Str of 15 for 60 DP (Page 282).

However, then I come to the "Divine Supernatural/Spiritual Characteristics: The GM can grant any value to the supernatural/physical characteristics". Does this mean that, if the 160 DP (80 each) was spent, and the GM decided to go off the deep end, they could just make every stat 20 for no cost? I ask because there seem to be some creatures whose stats don't add up in terms of cost break down.


The second, is Attribute increase +3. It states that you can acquire it multiple times, (though the Gnosis required goes up by 5 each time starting at 15) but the amount it gives goes up by +1. I read this as meaning one of two things.

1.) It gives you +3 for 60, then +1 for 60, for a total of +4.

Or

2.) It gives you +3 for 60, then gives a +4 for 60, for a total of +7. Seems high, but again, the Divine Characteristics one seems more ludicrous by its wording.


This one I ask about because the local number cruncher asked me because they wanted to see what the level adjustment would be to something that has +7 to a stat. Either it would be 120DP (+2 levels), or 360DP (+4 levels). They also wanted to know just how high they could get the +X to be if you had something with a Gnosis of 50. I think they want to create a some Wizard monster with a power or int higher than 20 as some end game thing. Seems odd, but then again the final spell of Destruction (pg.135) and Creation (pg.131) both have a base cost of 1000 zeon (the max you can get with a 20 in a stat and a x50 maximum zeon), but also has rules for added effects, implying you can have a stat higher than 20.

I suppose that also begs the question, what is the Gnosis needed for divine spells? 45? 50?

Either that, or they want to make some sort of ancient super race with a +7 in every stat.


Thanks for any answers in advance, or at least, thanks for taking the time to read the question.

Posted at
Firstly, I assume the "Superhuman/Supernatural Physical/Spiritual Characteristics", simply allows you to spend the DP needed to acquire the given number. Ex: supernatural physical characteristics for 40 DP, then a Str of 15 for 60 DP (Page 282).
However, then I come to the "Divine Supernatural/Spiritual Characteristics: The GM can grant any value to the supernatural/physical characteristics". Does this mean that, if the 160 DP (80 each) was spent, and the GM decided to go off the deep end, they could just make every stat 20 for no cost? I ask because there seem to be some creatures whose stats don't add up in terms of cost break down.
Two things here. Divine just allows you to buy any value, not to assign any value. I know the word "grant" might make you think otherwise, but it's just a logical progression with different wording.
Second thing: Don't ever expect all examples to add up, especially not in Anima, and especially since the stat buy section indicates "There is also the problem of their characteristics. Given that it is the warlock himself who decides its values, instead of throwing dice or choose them freely, he has to acquire them by investing DP in them, just as it is indicated in Table 81" (English Core 282). The stat buys are not required by all beings, only magical ones, though most GMs will use it anyways to make certain things are balanced.
The second, is Attribute increase +3. It states that you can acquire it multiple times, (though the Gnosis required goes up by 5 each time starting at 15) but the amount it gives goes up by +1. I read this as meaning one of two things.
1.) It gives you +3 for 60, then +1 for 60, for a total of +4.
Or
2.) It gives you +3 for 60, then gives a +4 for 60, for a total of +7. Seems high, but again, the Divine Characteristics one seems more ludicrous by its wording.
"That is to say, it provides a +4 is acquired twice..." (Core 284). It's, again, an even progression, so option 1.
They also wanted to know just how high they could get the +X to be if you had something with a Gnosis of 50. I think they want to create a some Wizard monster with a power or int higher than 20 as some end game thing. Seems odd, but then again the final spell of Destruction (pg.135) and Creation (pg.131) both have a base cost of 1000 zeon (the max you can get with a 20 in a stat and a x50 maximum zeon), but also has rules for added effects, implying you can have a stat higher than 20.
I suppose that also begs the question, what is the Gnosis needed for divine spells? 45? 50?
At Gnosis 50, you're talking about the gods themselves. The description for Gnosis 50 literally says "We are dealing with entities who are almost omnipotent, whose
slightest thoughts or desires can create great changes in the reality that surrounds them. Although it would be possible to describe all the abilities and powers that this score grants, it is preferable to leave it up to the GM’s interpretation. In general, they can do anything that they propose to do, without regard to their antagonists" (Core 277). They get 15 CP, 750 DP, they're essentially immortal, and they really can't fail against anyone with a Gnosis of 35 or below without very special powers (which is pretty much everyone in existence).
Stats at 20 are not a hard rule but, even if we assume it is, there are ways to lower the costs of those spells so that the added effects can still be a thing without allowing for stats over 20.
As stated in the Magic chapter "There are two kinds of special magic: High Magic (spells of a Level 81–90) and Divine Magic (spells of Level 91 and above). High Magic spells are restricted to creatures that have a Gnosis score of at least 25. Divine Magic requires a Gnosis score of 40 or above" (Core 113).
Hope this all helps.
Posted at

Two things here. Divine just allows you to buy any value, not to assign any value. I know the word "grant" might make you think otherwise, but it's just a logical progression with different wording.

I suppose what tripped me up is the fact that "Divine Stats" (16-20) aren't listed in the chart on pg.282, and it just stops at 15.

"That is to say, it provides a +4 is acquired twice..." (Core 284). It's, again, an even progression, so option 1.

I guess I will have to break the bad news to the number cruncher.

Thanks for the response man!

Edited by lollypopalopicus
Posted at

I suppose what tripped me up is the fact that "Divine Stats" (16-20) aren't listed in the chart on pg.282, and it just stops at 15.

This is true. I've always written this one off as the creatures with Divine Characteristics possessing things like Gnosis 30+ (granting CP and DP that may have been spent on those higher stats), a high level (which, if we assume the creature began at a lower level, would give bonus characteristic points by the default rules), and (if all else failed) I just extended the table logically. Of course, I never actually hit the last point, but I've also not yet worked out the DP spend of all the creatures in the books yet either (just a few here and there).

But, if you don't believe in any of those things, then I suppose I'd talk to your GM about what they want to do, since the only option left would be... arbitrarily saying 17 instead of 20 despite them costing the same amount. But that's life, I suppose. ^_^ To each their own, and you're welcome.

Posted at

Of course, I never actually hit the last point, but I've also not yet worked out the DP spend of all the creatures in the books yet either (just a few here and there).

I was literally just wishing that someone would break down creatures and costs of powers like Promethium does. It would make life so much easier sometimes.

Posted at

Of course, I never actually hit the last point, but I've also not yet worked out the DP spend of all the creatures in the books yet either (just a few here and there).

I was literally just wishing that someone would break down creatures and costs of powers like Promethium does. It would make life so much easier sometimes.

The main problem with doing so is that there are some creature powers which are simply not listed anywhere, much like how Prometheum simply makes up values for things in the Appendix half the time with no clear guidelines on how they're doing it. Some Monsters you really have to guess at balance. For example, what would the requirement that some playable races have which says they must choose The Gift or Access to Psychic Powers be, a penalty or a bonus? The Gift is definitely an advantage, so are Psychic powers, but being required to have one or the other seems like a drawback because the option to have neither is removed. There are several ways to go about it, everything from a discount on buying either for the race or simply writing it off as a 0 cost mod, but there's not really a clear answer and nor does the Anima team tend to care much for their own rules when making things.

"Rule of Cool" often trumps "Rules We Told You to Follow" in Anima (See Prometheum Exxet for examples on just about every page), but I'll still see what I can do. I know I've broken down several monster costs before and I can do it again. Maybe a compendium for Scissura, neh? ;)

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It would definitely be a great addition to Scissura, but dont stress yourself if it is looking impossible. You have already done an awesome thing by adding in all that you have. Right now, I use Scissura as my general compendium, and only have to access Elrics files for Impossible Weapons and some of his Blood Bonds.

Posted at

It would definitely be a great addition to Scissura, but dont stress yourself if it is looking impossible. You have already done an awesome thing by adding in all that you have. Right now, I use Scissura as my general compendium, and only have to access Elrics files for Impossible Weapons and some of his Blood Bonds.

Some of those things will be added into Scissura at some point, though they'll likely be changed quite a bit from where they are. Elric's stuff tends to be (as I've said on the other forum) geared towards pretty powerful characters/high level play, and so it's balanced a bit towards that end of the spectrum as-is. He's got a lot of great ideas though, most of which can be toned down fairly easily to make something usable by everyone (or at least within a certain 'range' of power levels), which is what I'm trying to do with the rules in Scissura (though whether or not I'll succeed is another matter entirely).

Honestly though, the process of converting monsters wouldn't be that difficult in the end. In fact, it'll sort of be a side benefit of the Monstrous DP section I've been adding to my autocalcing sheet once it's done, because it'll be able to build monsters with some minor tweaks. After that, it'll just be a matter of plugging things in.

So... it'll probably happen eventually, though how eventually will depend on how busy I get and how motivated I am. XD

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Please, don't mind the tears that may be pouring through the internet right now. Monsters have always been the bane of my existence as a GM, mostly because it takes away time from me writing the story. Streamlining the process would make me melt into a puddle of happiness.