My PC's are about to complete a major story arc, and I'm going to award them for their heroism by offering them either a fate point, or a small boost to one of their stats. What do people think is a good number for the stat increase to make it roughly as beneficial as a fate point. I'd like to see some of my characters go for either option.

(I was thinking either 3, or 5, with the bonus counting towards their advances.)

It really depends how rare fate points are in your game, though I'd say, from the two options you've given, 5, definitly 5 unless you give them out every two or three sessions.

A Fate Point is probably roughly equal to +5 to any characteristic advance in attractiveness, especially if you're counting it as just a free characteristic advance.

Depending on how your players have built their PCs, and how rare fate points are in your game (and how often they're needed!), I'd guess you'll see a roughly equal spread choosing fate point or the +5.

Sweet, nice to see my suspicions confirmed. Anyone out there thinking something different?

Are elite advances out of the picture? Say for example Talented (Any skill of your choice).

I hadn't really given them any thought. That might work, I suppose. The key idea was for it to be something quite special, to mark the completion of a major story arc.

Talented isn't that special but it helps to diversify characters because talenteds are rare. What might be cool would be to let each player pick between fate point and a +5 advance... but also give everyone talented in the skill of their choice to represent that through the story arc they've gotten more specialized. Just a thought.

The talented special is worth a +10 bonus to the named skill not +5. However....i would give the Talented option for whatever skill they used THE most often. But if talented is on the potential list along with a FP then you could give them perhaps a actually decent bonus in throne gelt AND equipment availability they otherwise would not be able to get yet ( as a sign of favorable thought by their Inquisitor for completing a major story arc ). Its whatever you as the GM feel is good and wont unbalance your games.....Id avoid the talented special personally and rather give the FP or characteristic advance or better equip availability and some extra pocket change...but thats just me...Do whatever you feel best and hope this helped

The free talented is a good idea. I think, though, I'm going to save it for later in my game, when I need another reward to pass out.