paths into grim darknes8e1

8/21/2019 Paths Into Grim Darknes8E1

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Paths into Grim DarknessA universal Warhammer 40,000 role-playing game character generator

INTRODUTIONThe gala!y o" Warhammer 40,000 is rich an# ro$ust, "lourishing %ith all sorts o" e!otic an#

#angerous locales, an# teeming $illions upon $illions o" in#ivi#ual characters& 'et consi#er the options

o""ere# $y the (st

e#ition D) core rule$oo*+ 4 )ome%orl# types, an# classes& The e!pansion $oo*sintro#uce a##itional options, $ut even then, these options are presente# %ithin an in"le!i$le "rame%or*, an#ten# to $e super"icial an# $oun# $y the narro% pre-e!isting structure& eaving asi#e the cru#e an#

ru#imentary archetypes that "orm the limit o" such a system, such a character generation metho# is neither

realistic nor is it help"ul %hen attempting to "ully #evelop a non-player character& The approach the Dar*

)eresy (st.#ition core employs to%ar# N/s is $asically to use D "iat to slap something together,hope"ully appro!imating %hat is nee#e# 1pg& 223-245&

In this, the #esign o" (ste#ition Dar* )eresy achieves the %orst o" $oth #esign %orl#s+ all o" the

rigi#ity an# limitations o" a class-$ase# system, %ith all o" the comple!ity an# learning curve o" a s*ill-

$ase# system& The most o$vious e!ample o" this is the 0 pages o" class a#vancement ta$les, $ut it runsthroughout the system in smaller an# more o$scure %ays as %ell& In spite o" this, it is a simple matter to

#evise a "le!i$le an# #eep character system that meshes seamlessly %ith those mechanics, $ecause all o" the

core system mechanics are $uilt upon a s*ill-$ase# "oun#ation&

/aths into 6rim Dar*ness is a s*ill-$ase# character creation system, #esigne# to $e compati$le

%ith all W)407 R/6s pu$lishe# an# supporte# $y 8antasy 8light 1an# 9lac* In#ustries previously5&

8amiliarity %ith Only War:s character system %ill $e necessary, as %ill a copy o" the Only War core rules

1speci"ically the Aptitu#e rules5& While this character creation system is $uilt upon that "rame%or* o" rules,this ruleset creates an# merges a "e% ne% Aptitu#es, in or#er to amen# the immensely po%er"ul aptitu#es o"

O""ense an# 8inesse, an# improve the %ea*er ones, among other issues& To see the revise# Aptitu#es, an#

the mo#i"ie# Aptitu#e rules, s*ip ahea# to page ( o" this #ocument&

It is natural to %on#er i" the system is classless, ho% are the archetypes constructe# an#maintaine#; /ut simply, character creation is $ase# on a series o" prere


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THE PATHS

There are several maBor elements that are "un#amental to the creation o" a character& These

represent #i""erent perio#s o" #evelopment in a character:s li"e, as %ell as origin points, an# in#ivi#uale!periences& .ach o" these components ten#s to trans"er #i""erent


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The %ESO&%ES

Asi#e "rom rolle# haracteristics, generating characters essentially involves assigning #i""erent*in#s o" resources to a character& The general types o" resources are+

Traits - Typically an inherent aspect or attri$ute o" a character, %hether o" min# or$o#y, %hich is more comple! than a simple characteristic& These innate or intrinsic aspects o" a

character are typically a result o" 9irth 1/sy*ers an# Untoucha$les5, ingraine# as a result o" some

#evelopmental perio# 1)ome%orl# Traits5, or a result o" choice 1echanicus Implants5&

haracteristic #odi!ier - Directly an# permanently mo#i"ies one o" the character:s rolle# characteristics,

usually #epen#ent on natural #evelopment, $ut sometimes arti"icial& These are typically mo#i"iers

o" G- 2, or G- , though, in some e!treme cases, it can rise to G- (0, or higher 1see Ratlings,

Ogryns, etc5&

Primary Aptitudes - An Aptitu#e matching one o" the characteristics, in#icating an inclination or

inherent a$ility %ith that characteristic& 6enerally, these Aptitu#es #o not change a"ter character

creation, e!cept in certain ra#ical cases 1such as Warp mutation5&

Secondary Aptitudes - /artly learne#, these aptitu#es represent a much #eeper investment o" timeresources an# energy than any single s*ill or talent #oes& Instea#, a character learning a ne%

Aptitu#e is $uil#ing the groun#%or* "or #eveloping an entire s*ill-set& @ometimes, some =n#aryAptitu#e are lost as others are gaine#& This represents the character neglecting certain areas in

or#er to "ocus on other areas& )o%ever, the "act that this character ha# that Aptitu#e shoul# $e

recor#e# on the character sheet& I" any character learns any =n#aryAptitu#e three times, that

Aptitu#e is permanently ac


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omrades*'ollowers - #erive# "rom the Only War mechanic, this represents assistants, or#erlies,

"ollo%ers, an# other ai#es to the character& In e!treme cases 1such as a Warmaster or the captain

o" a rogue tra#er vessel5 these "ollo%ers can num$er in the thousan#s to millions&

Startin+ Equipment - sel"-e!planatory in the long term, this is usually the least important element o"

character generation, though in the case o" starting /o%er Armor or )eirlooms, this is less true

B)%TH

While typically only one o" these options is chosen 1i" any5, there is no game-$rea*ing reason one

coul# not select $oth Ratling an# /sy*er to apply to the same character, "or e!ample, or No$le an# /sy*er

1the $eginning o" many a %arp-%itch an# %arloc*5& Traits are ,olded&

B)%TH Options

DI@ORDANT J see pgs 4- o" athe Worl#s, Denormal 'ault, Sysop 'ailure, #echanical

Disruption, Discordia may never gain or select+ /sy rating, any cy$ernetics, /ure 8aith, Warp-$ase# orpsychic po%ers

)UAN @TANDARD J the #e"ault option, no mo#i"iers

AT).@[email protected] J pg& 4K athe Worl#s A&7&A& @


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HO#E(O%-DS

The possi$le )ome%orl# origins liste# here, though longer than the list in the D) or RT core, arestill cursory "urther su$#ivisions are possi$le, even #o%n to the level o" in#ivi#ual regions on in#ivi#ual

home%orl#s& All characters start %ith the @pea* anguageGinguistics 1o% 6othic5 s*ill, 1e!cept those

originating 9eyon# the .mperor:s ights, at 6 #iscretion5&

9eyon# the .mperor:s ight /rimary .#ucational Options

-/lanet - Dregs, 8eral, 8eu#al, ilitary, No$le

-@pace @tation - Dregs, ilitary, No$le, Loi#

8eral

-Dea# - Imperial @tan#ar#, 8orge, Loi#

-Death - 8eral, Imperial @tan#ar#, ilitary, 1.cclesiarchic5-8rontier - 8eral, 8eu#al, Imperial @tan#ar#, 1.cclesiarchic5

-War - Dregs, 8eral, Imperial @tan#ar#, ilitary, 18eu#al5

-8ortress - .cclesiarchic, Imperial @tan#ar#, ilitary, 18orge5

8orge Worl# - 8orge, Imperial @tan#ar#, Loi#

Imperial Worl#

-)ive F anu"actory - Dregs, Imperial @tan#ar#, No$le, 1.cclesiarchic5, 18orge5-@hrine - .cclesiarchic, Imperial @tan#ar#, No$le

emetery - .cclesiarchic, Imperial @tan#ar#, ilitary

-Agri - 8eral, Imperial @tan#ar#, No$le, 1.cclesiarchic5, 18eu#al5-/leasure - Dregs, Imperial @tan#ar#, No$le

-8eu#al - Dregs, 8eral, 8eu#al, No$le

Hining - Dregs, 8orge, Imperial @tan#ar#, No$le, Loi#

H/enal - Dregs, .cclesiarchic, Imperial @tan#ar#, ilitary

in#-leanse# - Any e!cept Dregs, typically possess value# trait or s*ill

@pace arine hapter 8ie" - 18eral5, 18eu#al5, 18orge5, 1Imperial @tan#ar#5, 1ilitary5,1Loi#5, 1Dregs5

Loi#-9orne

-@pace @tation - Dregs, .cclesiarchic, 8orge, Imperial @tan#ar#, No$le, Loi#,1ilitary5

-Tra#ing artel - Dregs, Imperial @tan#ar#, No$le, Loi#, 18orge5

-Imperial Navy - ilitary, No$le, Loi#, 1.cclesiarchic5, 18orge5

-achine ult .!plorator - 8orge, Loi#

@election options in parentheses are su$Bect to 6 #iscretion&


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Homeworld Details

/lanet 9eyon# the .mperor:s ight,There is, o" course, a #i>>ying array o" planets $eyon# the .mperor:s ight, mirroring Imperial

%orl#s 1i&e& Death, )ive, War, Agri, etc5, as %ell as %orl#s o" sorts that %oul# $e unthin*a$le %ithin the

.mpire&

Outlan# @pace @tation, 9eyon# the .mperor:s ight

8eral-Dea#

-Death

-8rontier

-War-8ortress

8orge Worl#

Imperial Worl#

-)ive F anu"actory

-@hrineemetery

-Agri

-/leasure-8eu#al

Hining

H/enal

in#-leanse#

@pace arine hapter 8ie"

Loi#-9orne

-@pace @tation

-Tra#ing artel

-Imperial Navy-achine ult .!plorator


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Primary Education

#m$erial StandardJ Intelligence, Willpo%er, 8ello%ship F choose one o" W@ or 9@ then any t%oe!cept W@ or 9@

EcclesiarcicJ Toughness, Intelligence, Willpo%er, 8ello%ship F choose one o" 9allistic @*ill

an# Weapon @*ill an# then choose any one%eralJ 9allistic @*ill, Toughness, Agility, @trength, /erception F any one o" choice%eudalJ Weapon @*ill, Toughness, @trength, Agility F choose one o" /erception or 9allistic @*ill

an# then choose any one

%orgeJ Intelligence, Toughness, @trength, Weapon @*ill F hoose t%o o" 9allistic @*ill,

Willpo%er an# /erception, may N.L.R gain the 8ello%ship /rimary Aptitu#e&ilitar'J Weapon @*ill, 9allistic @*ill, Toughness, @trength, Willpo%er F choose one o" Agility

or Intelligence

oleJ 8ello%ship F choose one o" Intelligence, /erception, an# Agility an# then choose any

three*regs1or o%er Dec*s5 JAgility, /erception, Toughness, 8ello%ship F choose Weapon @*ill or

9allistic @*ill an# choose any one

!oidJAgility, Intelligence, /erception F choose three o" Weapon @*ill, 9allistic @*ill, Willpo%er,

an# 8ello%ship

Secondary Education1mostly =n#aryAptitu#es, traits,olded5

=n#aryAptitu#es gaine# here are still su$Bect to the stan#ar# character ma!imum& 8or e!ample, i" a

@econ#ary .#ucation grants "our =n#aryAptitu#es, $ut the character:s ma!imum is three =n#aryAptitu#es, then

the character receives only three selections "rom that .#ucation&

Ade$t and RememrancerJ 7no%le#ge, Analysis F choose any t%o 1Int F W/ re


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Occupational Experience

In gaining an occupation, a character simply nee#s to meet the prere


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lericJ Re


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@*ills+ harm, && 1Imperium, Imperial ree#, War5, 8&& 1)eresy, ults5, /er"orm 1@inger5, @&&

1Imperial ree#5, @p& a& 1)igh 6othic5

Talents+ )atre# 1any =5, Unsha*ea$le 8aith, Weapon Training 19asic, hain, 8lame5Other+ 8ello%ship or Intelligence

#issionaryJ Re


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@*ills+ A%areness, hem-Use, 8or$i##en ore 1Archeotech, 7oronus .!panse, ?enos5, iteracy, ogic,

Navigation 1@tellar5, Operate 1Loi#ship5, @urvival, Tech-Use (0

Talents+ 9inary hatter, 6un 9lessing, )eightene# @enses 1Lision5, Technical 7noc*

Other+ Intelligence or Agility.oid #asterJ Re


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ustice, not a% -must select leric as starting Occupational .!perience, Ra#ical:s

)an#$oo* pg& 23, cost+ J =00 ?/

ustice, not a% -must select Ar$itrator as starting Occupational .!perience, Ra#ical:s

)an#$oo* pg& 2M, cost+ J =00 ?/

/enal egionnaire - must select 6uar#smanG@ol#ier as starting Occupational .!perience,Ra#ical:s )an#$oo* pg& 3

all o" the Loi#These $ac*groun#s generally assume the / is $ecoming part o" a Rogue Tra#er cre%, an#

accor#ingly lists $ac*groun# #etails "rom Rogue Tra#er supplements&

A igrating /eople -

rusa#er -"or the Throne, the .cclesiarchy, or )umanity

Dynast:s Duty -typically o" No$le $irth, $ut non-No$le characters may o%e #uty to a

#ynasty, an# may even $e elevate# to no$ility %ith success"ul service

.!ile 1riminality5 -ten# to $e No$le $irth option1Un#er%orl# 8eu#5 -many possi$le, )ive most common home%orl#

1Re"ugee "rom calamity5 -typically War or Dea# home%orl#

18ree Thin*er5 -re"ugee "rom emetery or @hrine %orl#

@ee*er -Lision-uest

-o" Destiny

-o" Reno%n

Trail o" Lengeance -o"ten $ecome or are $ounty hunters an#Gor assassins

Warp .ngul"e# -survivor o" a vessel lost to the %arp, then recovere#

Am,ition and Experiences

A##itional Aptitu#e J ma*e an ne% =n#aryAptitu#e @election

@upplemental .#ucation J gaining a supplemental e#ucation is a U) greater un#erta*ing than simply

gaining a ne% =n#aryAptitu#e, an# is really


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SEO5DA%8 APT)T&DE %&-ES

Allotment o" @econ#ary Aptitu#es

Un#er this system /rimary Aptitu#es 1those matching a haracteristic5 are ac


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select his starting three =n#aryAptitu#es "rom& De"ense is re


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THE %EO%GA5):ED APT)T&DES

This system presente# here reorgani>es the Aptitu#es in or#er to #o a%ay %ith certain #isparities

in the Aptitu#e system o" Only War& As an e!ample, lets consi#er some =n#aryAptitu#es in that system+

8iel#cra"t or 8inesse on one han#, an# Tech on the other&

Aptitu#e haracteristics @*ills Talents8iel#cra"t ( 3 (2

8inesse = 0 =0

Tech 0 = (( 1M re


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The %eor+ani1ed haracteristics and Aptitudes

haracteristic Aptitu#es 1/rimary5 atching @econ#ary Aptitu#e.ea+on &*ill Ofenceallitic &*ill Marksmanship(+lit rom Finee)&tren#th Resolve(+lit rom Ofene)

Tou#hne %eene

/#ilit Fineentelli#ence !no"led#eerce+tion Fieldcrat.ill+o"er Anal'sis1incorporates PsykerandTech)Fello"hi+ &ocial (include Leadership)

The resulting @ummary Ta$le loo*s li*e this+

Assoc& haracteristics @*ills TalentsOfence 1 0 10

&arksmansi$ ( 0 (2HH

Resolve ( 0 3

De"ense ( = (4HHFinee 1 0 12

!no"led#e 1 - $Fieldcrat 1 $ 13Anal'sis ( 3 1Inclu#ing /syniscience5 =3 1(25 HHH&ocial 1 $ 1-H@pecialist s*ills 1inclu#es #i""erent speciali>ations o" 8or$i##en ore, o" @cholastic ore, etc&5

HH@pecialist Talents 1inclu#es talent su$-speciali>ations5

HHH@pecialist Talents in this group, $ut also (2 re


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Talents =n#ary Aptitu#e+ Analysis!ills9e#icae, /syniscience, @ecurity, Tech-Use, ogic F InterrogationAll echanicus Implants trait re


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Iron Discipline

unitorum In"luence

Into the a%s o" )ell

aster Orator

Skills -ist with %eor+ani1ed Aptitudes5ame Primary Aptitude Secondary Aptitude Descriptors

/cro4atic /#ilit 5eneral Moement/thletic &tren#th 5eneral Moement/"arene erce+tion Fieldcrat Charm Fello"hi+ &ocial neti#ation,nteractionCommand Fello"hi+ &ocial nteractionCommerce ntelli#ence !no"led#e neti#ation, nteractionCommon Lore ntelli#ence 5eneral neti#ation,

nteraction%eceie Fello"hi+ &ocial neti#ation,nteraction%od#e /#ilit %eene Moement, Com4atFor4idden Lore ntelli#ence !no"led#e neti#ation,nteractionn8uir Fello"hi+ &ocial neti#ation,nteractionnterro#ation .ill+o"er /nali neti#ation,nteractionntimidate &tren#th &ocial neti#ation, nteractionLin#uitic ntelli#ence 5eneral Lo#ic ntelli#ence /nali neti#ation

Medicae ntelli#ence /nali 9ai#ate ntelli#ence Fieldcrat O+erate /#ilit Fieldcrat arr .ea+on &*ill %eene Com4atnicience erce+tion /nali &cholatic Lore ntelli#ence !no"led#e neti#ation,nteraction&crutin erce+tion 5eneral neti#ation,nteraction


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&ecurit ntelli#ence /nali &lei#ht o :and /#ilit !no"led#e &tealth /#ilit Fieldcrat Moement&urial erce+tion Fieldcrat Cratin#, Moement

Tech;


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Lo#ic ntelli#ence neti#ation

nalysis Medicae ntelli#ence nicience erce+tion

= &ecurit ntelli#ence

Tech;9? :?/L95"alue# $00@+Prere$uisites# .n#urance or )ealer, /sy Rating 4, Toughness 20, e#icae 40Focus Time# Full /ctionFocus Power# %iAcult (B10) .ill+o"er Tet or Threshold# 21


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%ange#TouchSustained# Full /ctionSu&type# ConcentrationDescription# Divine )ealing is a sustaine# po%er, %hich heals the target o" ( %oun# per roun# 1"oright Woun#s5, ( %oun# per minute 1"or )eavy Woun#s5, an# ( %oun# per (0 minutes 1"or ritical

Woun#s5& Woun#s are heale# in or#er o" severity, starting %ith the most severe "irst& Thus, ritical

Woun#s are heale# "irst, then )eavy Woun#s, then ight Woun#s& While a character is un#er theministration o" Divine )ealing, their con#ition N.L.R #eteriorates on its o%n, inclu#ing #ue to to!ins&

)o%ever, a ne% %oun# in"licte# on a character $eing heale# $y this po%er still has the normal e""ects&

Woun# lass Time per /oint A##itional osts per Woun# point heale#- ight ( roun#

- )eavy ( minute ( point o" Toughness characteristic-ritical (0 minutes ( level o" 8atigue per point o" ritical DamageH

HThis 8atigue is su""ere# $y the recipient, NOT the psy*er 1unless they are the same5 this 8atigue cannot

$e remove# $y any /sy po%er& The Toughness characteristic points are lost an# recovere# normally $y the

psy*er mani"esting the po%er&

While this healing occurs, the recipient is consi#ere# @tunne#, the psy*er must $e in physical

contact %ith the recipient, an# no a##itional po%ers may $e mani"este# $y the psy*er 1though previously

sustaine# po%ers may continue to $e sustaine#5& While the psy*er maintains the po%er, the only a##itionalactions availa$le to him at all are #e"ensive reactions 1Do#ge only5, an# the psy*er may ma*e /erception

$ase# s*ill chec*s normally& These limitations are impose# $ecause re$uil#ing the tissues o" a living thing

in situ#eman#s the "ull e""ort o" the psy*er&

I" the /sy*er $rea*s o"" healing to ta*e any other action, the po%er is en#e#, an# any Toughnesscharacteristic points #raine# "rom another character an# hel# $y the /sy*er are also lost& There is only one

e!ception to this+ s%itching a%ay "rom Divine )ealing an# $ac* to the eech po%er that %as use# to #rain

Toughness points& When s%itching $ac*, the /sy*er must again ma*e the eech po%er:s mani"est chec*,

or $oth Divine )ealing an# the eech po%er are en#e#, an# any hel# Toughness points are lost& Divine)ealing is consi#ere# a "ull roun# action "or each roun# it is sustaine#, $oth "or the recipient an# the

/sy*er&

This healing is physically e!hausting, an# is, in part, a trans"er o" the li"e energy o" the psy*er to

the recipient& Accor#ingly, each Woun# point heale# 1other than ight Woun#s5 temporarily #rains one

point "rom the Toughness haracteristic o" the psy*er mani"esting it, as %ell as the target o" the po%er&These #raine# haracteristic points are recovere# normally, an# can result in a temporarily re#uce#

Toughness 9onus& I" the psy*er is using this po%er on himsel", his Toughness characteristic is only #raine#

once, NOT t%ice "or (5 using the po%er an# =5 "or $eing the target o" the po%er&-Toughness points are #raine# $y the i"e eech po%er, an# can $e hel# 1Q$an*e#Q5 as long as the

i"e eech po%er is sustaine#Gmaintaine#& Divine )ealing may #rain these a$sor$e# Toughness points

"irst, $e"ore #raining the psy*ers o%n Toughness haracteristic& As these Toughness points are #raine#, the

Unnatural Toughness con"erre# $y the i"e eech po%er is lost incrementally, as normal 1every points5&This po%er may also target natural animals 1i" a ore 19easts5 prere


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heale#, the target heals all o" his ritical Woun#s 1t%o points5, an# all o" his )eavy Woun#s 1"ive points5,

an# no more& The target still has "ive points o" ight Woun#s that must $e heale# separately&

Psychic Disruption

The e""ective Untoucha$le level o" e""ect #ecrements $y ( point at a time, in ( meter ra#ius

intervals& In other %or#s, i" a character is untoucha$le , their #isruption e""ect e!ten#s meters, an# is

level %ithin ( meter, level 4 out to = meters, level 2 out to 2 meters, level = out to 4 meters, level ( out to meters, an# ine""ectual $eyon# meters&

Thus, "or e""ective strength or #egree o" #isruption, measure the #istance "rom the character to the

target in meters, an# su$tract that #istance "rom the $ase rating o" the Null& The result %ill $e the e""ective

#isruption level o" the Untoucha$le at that range&As a result, the most e""ective %ay to ta*e #o%n a psy*er or Warp creature is o"ten to grapple

himGherGit& As long as the Untoucha$le:s $ase Disruption level is e


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)o% much shoul# a 6uar#sman $e pai# then; .asy, start %ith the (st.#& Dar* )eresy core rules,

page (=4& It starts at 0 Throne per month, an# goes up "rom there& An alternate source %oul# $e real-

%orl# pay rates, inclu#ing a#Bustments "or high-ris* an#Gor high-s*ill $illets, as a starting point&

Notes on high level play

-each character is eligi$le "or purchasing @oun# onstitution once per scenarioGchapter complete# no

more&

-each character is eligi$le "or purchasing an A#vance "or a speci"ic haracteristic once per scenariocomplete#, no more& This applies per haracteristic& Thus, a"ter completing a scenario, a character coul#

purchase 4 haracteristic a#vances, as long as each o" the 4 a#vances %ere "or 4 #i""erent haracteristics&

paths into grim darknes8e1

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