So, if I understand the rules correctly, in order to gain a new power you need to spend an advance. If the power is of a higher rank, you spend a number of extra advances equal to the difference between the rank of the power and your rank (for example, taking a rank 2 power at rank 1 costs 2 advances total). Is that correct? If so, how do players calculate taking higher rank powers in terms of general career advances? For example, in the above example would a player gain 2 general career advances towards their class? But, what if their career only offers one general career advance towards powers? Would that mean that taking a higher rank power with that career must be done at cross class costs? And, for that matter, how does one count the advances spent increasing an attribute towards their general career advances? The advances box doesn't list "characteristics" for any class. Does that mean that raising an attribute, even if it is a primary attribute for your class, is always considered to be a non-career advance?

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions in advance.

Cyber-Dave said:

For some reason I can't seem to find the rules about buying action cards of higher rank, I know there are rules somewhere though and if my memory serves me correctly they are optional and the GM decides if it is even possible to buy actions of higher rank than the character's current rank. Your other question I can answer though. Do you have a page reference on the rule?

Cyber-Dave said:

No, if you spend them on a careers primary characteristics they are considered a career advance, just check the appropriate number of open career advance boxes for the characteristics raise. In the core rulebook on page 37 there is a section about "Characteristics Upgrades" which describes how it's done. It is also described (better) in the Errata/FAQ on the support page for WFRP.

Cyber-Dave said:

1. WFRP does not have anything called "Powers" that people acquire with advances.

2. Assuming you are asking about Action cards ... The only action cards that currently have ranks are Spells and Blessings.

Advances spent on a higher-rank action card that is in career (which must be, since you cannot acquire a Spell or Blessing unless you're in the career), use up Open Career advance slots. The lists on the career card indicates the number of that action/ability that may be purchased, not the number of slots used.

So, hypothetically say my Wizard career card shows a 1 for Action cards. I would technically be able to buy 2 action cards, one for the required action card purchase (listed on the advance sheet) and one for the career card advance list. There are six open career advance slots, plus the one required action card slot. I essentially have 7 slots that could be theoretically used to purchase two higher-ranked spells. For example, I'm 1st rank and buy two 3rd rank spells. Each spell costs 3 advances. On my advance sheet slots I would mark off the 1 required action card slot and 5 of my 6 open career advance slots, using a total of 6 advance slots.

Otherwise, Action Cards only ever cost 1 advance each, so there is nothing to worry about.

Attributes work the same way. They use the Open Career advance slots, of which there are 6. Thus, no characteristic may ever be increased to more than 6, since there are only 6 slots available. The characteristics that you may increase are the ones listed on your career sheet.

dvang said:

Small nitpick: There are a few Troll Slayer action cards that have ranks.

What cards for the Troll Slayer have Ranks?

-ashe-

I'll need to double-check, but I agree with Asgardian. Which non spell/blessing cards have ranks, if you know? I don't recall any, but I admit I don't have them all memorized. Heck, mentioning more than one Troll Slayer specific card would be good too.

I don't have them in front of me, but I remember one from Omens that allows you to go into an "I'm going to die after killing you all" rage.

Ah, I am least familiar with the Omens of War material, so it could be there are one or two in there.

Anyway, regardless, any non-spell/blessing ranked action card will work the same. It will cost a number of Career Advance slots, either just Open slots, or the 1 required Action card advance slot + # Open slots.