Attributes are the fundamental measurements that define a character's inherent abilities, in contrast with Skills, which generally indicate how well a character performs specific actions. There are eight primary Attributes in the game, several Attributes derived from those, and several Other Attributes that reflect actions taken in the game world. The starting value of each primary Attribute is based upon your character's race and gender. In addition, two Attributes will be "favored" by your character's class with ten extra points.
With the exception of Luck, each primary Attribute governs three to five Skills. Three Attributes of your choice can increase each time you gain a level, with the amount of increase depending on how much you increased the Attributes' governed skills since the last level. The base value of a primary Attribute can't be increased above 100 by leveling, but it can from various effects (e.g., spells, enchantments, and potions) without this restriction.
Primary AttributesEdit
- Strength
- Affects weapon damage, carrying capacity, and increases weapon degradation upon each successful hit. It also increases maximum Fatigue and starting Health.
- Intelligence
- Affects maximum Magicka, and Alchemy and Enchanting results.
- Willpower
- Affects spellcasting success rate and resistance to Magicka (Paralyze and Silence). It also determines maximum Fatigue.
- Agility
- Affects weapon hit rate, evasion, resistance to staggering and knock down, and success rate of Sneaking, Pickpocketing, Lockpicking and Blocking. Agility also affects maximum Fatigue.
- Speed
- Affects character movement speed (i.e. walking, running, swimming, and levitating).
- Endurance
- Affects starting health, amount added to max health per level, and your maximum Fatigue. Also slows down fatigue loss while running, and while fighting. Increases fatigue regeneration.
- Personality
- Affects success rate of persuasion and haggling. Increases your initial disposition with characters and can alleviate initial hostility.
- Luck
- Affects everything you do in a small way, but governs no skills. Luck affects every "dice roll" in the game: an example of this is whether or not your blow will land when you attempt to hit an enemy.
Derived AttributesEdit
- Health
- Affects the amount of damage that you can take before you die.
- Magicka
- Affects the amount of energy available for spellcasting.
- Fatigue
- Affects all actions performed by a character (melee, spells, lockpicking, speech, etc).
- Encumbrance
- Affects carrying capacity and movement speed.
Other AttributesEdit
- Reputation
- Your renown in the world. The more quests you complete, the higher this will be.
- Bounty
- The amount of money you will have to pay for your crimes if you are caught by guards. If you have not committed any crimes, this will be 0.
- Slaves
- The number of slaves you have freed. Freeing slaves opens up a few quests with the Twin Lamps faction.