Can Traits be “burned?”
No. Unlike Descriptors, Traits provide Auto Odds, and they cannot be “burned.”

Do Descriptors have “levels?”
No. Descriptors do not have “levels.” The sample characters in the rules list numbers next to the Descriptors, but these are just “buying costs” to help explain how to build a character using the Point Based system.

Can I use a Descriptor if it does not make any sense in the scene?
Yes and no. You can’t “burn” a Descriptor unless you can explain its relevance to the scene, like “I use my STRONG ARMS to hang onto the rope” or even “thanks to my LITHE PHYSIQUE I squeeze through the door before it closes.” However, all Descriptors count towards your Aspect total, regardless of their relevance. A character with BEAUTIFUL EYES (Matter) always counts that Descriptor towards their Matter total, even in fight scenes or other times when it may not seem to apply.

Do “burnt” Descriptors still count towards my Aspect total?
Yes, they always count towards a character’s Aspect Total, even if they have been “burnt” to get an extra die.

What is the most current version of the rules?
Story Engine Revised Edition is the most current version of the rules (HG1100B in print or HG1100C in PDF). The rules first appeared in Maelstrom Storytelling, using the “Engine1” rules. Story Engine has the new “Engine2” rules. The “revised edition” of Story Engine book uses the same Engine2 rules, but they are explained a little better and more examples are provided.

When running games, when should I say “no” to the use of Traits or the “burning” of Descriptors?
This is a judgment call that only the narrator can answer. Each story has its own feel, and each group of players does as well. The two suggestions we have are: be fair, and err on the side of generosity. By fair, we mean make sure you apply your “rulings” universally to all of the players. By generosity, we mean that it best serves the story to work with the players and encourage them to be creative—however, if you know a player is really stretching it, or is trying to abuse the rules (or your goodwill), then say “no.”

In bid scenes, do you have to reveal the number of Auto Odds your side has?
No. This is an advantage that “skilled” characters have, and adds a degree of guess-work to the bidding process. Likewise, narrators do not have to tell you how many Auto Odds your opponents have.

How do you “subdue” an opponent instead of killing him?
There are two ways to “win” a scene and capture/subdue the opponent without killing them. The first way is to “win” the scene using an objective such as “capture” or “subdue.” This kind of objective is hard if the opponent is willing to fight to the death, and the Hard Rate will reflect that. If, however, the objective is simply “to defeat them” or “kick their butts,” remember that the winning side does not have to inflict the maximum amount of injuries. If it only takes 3 health levels to defeat the opponent, and you win by 6, you can do UP TO 12 levels of injury (6 times 2 for Complete Success) but you only need to use 3 to take your opponent down to “out.”

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