Aspects List

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Aspects List

Aspects are a phrase, a quote, or a sentence that defines a truth about a character or a game truth in a number of games systems ranging from Risus, Fate, Houses of the Blooded, PDQ, Universalis, etc. This is a list of useful aspects that can be of use to narrators and players using these game system.

Advice for Good Aspects

  • a good aspects should have both positive and negative elements
  • a good aspect should worded so that the player can invoke them for a bonus, and the narrator compell them for a fate point.
  • a good aspect can reveal something that the character may not even know.


Character Aspects

Archetypes / High Concepts

For more information on some common archetypes, see Character Role Catalog.

  • (Elvish) Archer
  • Absent-Minded Savant
  • Ace Reporter
  • Alien Companion
  • Amateur Sleuth
  • Amateur Archeologist
  • Amazon Warrior
  • Anarchist
  • Armchair Scientist
  • Art Collector
  • Artist
  • Bad Boy
  • Bad Girl
  • Bard
  • Believer
  • Biker
  • Bimbo
  • Black Sheep
  • Boisterous Barbarian
  • Bored Aristocrat
  • Brash Pilot
  • Broker
  • Brooding Swordsman
  • Champion
  • Civilized Barbarian
  • Computer Geek
  • Con Man
  • Conspiracy Theorist
  • Cowboy
  • Dangerous Servant
  • Dark Elf
  • Dashing Officer
  • Desert Nomad
  • Devout Priest
  • Drifter
  • Dungeon Delver
  • Eccentric Mentor
  • Emo
  • Ex-Soldier
  • Ex-Space Marine
  • Fae
  • Femme Fatale
  • Film-fan
  • Flying Ace
  • Friend of All People
  • Gadget Guy
  • Gadgeteer
  • Gambler
  • Gangster
  • Geezer
  • Gentleman Thief
  • Girl Who Become a Boy
  • Grizzled Police Detective
  • Gruff Sergeant
  • Grumpy (Dwarven) Warrior
  • Gumshoe Detective
  • He Who Is Foretold in the Prophesies
  • Heir to the Throne
  • Honorable Assassin
  • Hot-Tempered Sorcerer
  • Hustler
  • Independent Wizard
  • Independent Woman
  • Innocent Farmboy
  • Inquisitor
  • Inscrutable Mystic
  • Jack-Of-All-Trades Mechanic
  • Jive-Talking Wizard
  • Joker/Jester
  • Jungle Lord
  • Kid
  • Knight
  • Knight in Black
  • Lady
  • Likable Theif
  • Loner
  • Lord
  • Lost Love
  • Mad Scientist
  • Magician
  • Magus
  • Man of Mystery
  • Martial Artist
  • Maverick Cop
  • Mechanic
  • Mercenary
  • Mobster
  • Musician
  • Mysterious Gypsy
  • Mysterious Stranger
  • Nerd
  • Network Hacker
  • New Recruit
  • Noble Savage
  • Novelist
  • Officer Fresh from the Academy
  • Outdoorsman
  • Parapsychologist
  • Plucky Reporter
  • Policeman
  • Popular Girl
  • Preppy Student
  • Private Detective
  • Prodigal Son
  • Prophet
  • Psychiatrist
  • Psycho-analyst
  • Quarterback
  • Redeemed Hero
  • Righteous Youth
  • Roommate
  • Sacrificial Virgin
  • Salesman
  • Scholar
  • Scoundrel
  • Seductress
  • Shrewd Lawyer
  • Silent Stranger
  • Soldier
  • Sorcerer
  • Spitfire Tomboy
  • Star-crossed Lovers
  • Starship Captain
  • Straight Talking Lawman
  • Street Samarai
  • Stuck-up Paladin/Knight
  • Stupid Orcs
  • Super Spy
  • Temperamental Police Chief
  • Texan
  • Traveller in a Strange Land
  • True Beauty
  • Trusty Companion
  • Two-Fisted Pilot
  • Unconventional Genius
  • Urban Villain
  • Veteran
  • Vixen
  • Wise Old Man
  • Wizard
  • Young Hero

Beliefs, Convictions & Mottos

  • A Good Day to Die
  • A Worthy Foe Should Be Respected
  • Alone, We Stand Together
  • Always Strike First
  • By Fidelity and Military Service
  • Carrot, Not the Stick
  • Chivalry Is Not Dead
  • Conquer or Die!
  • Contentment Is Preferable to Riches
  • Dare to Fail, for It Is the Only Way to Truly Experience Success. ~ Matt Maresca
  • Desire Is Tamed With a Kiss
  • Do Your Duty, Happen What May
  • Every Man, Woman and Child for Themselves
  • Failure Is Not an Option
  • Faith Demands Sacrifice
  • Family Before All Others
  • Fight First, Talk Later!
  • First, Do No Harm
  • Friendship Often Ends in Love; but Love in Friendship - Never
  • Glory Is Forever
  • Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That He Lay Down His Friends for His Life. ~ Jeremy Thorpe
  • I Always Pay My Due
  • I Am the Land
  • I Have Killed Men for Less!
  • I Wait
  • I Want to Know
  • I Want to Make a Difference
  • I Will Have Vengeance
  • I'll Be Back
  • I'll Make Captain One Day
  • Imagination Is More Important Than Knowledge. ~ Albert Einstein
  • It's Not the Size of the Dog in the Fight, but the Size of the Fight in the Dog. ~ Mark Twain
  • It's the Last Inch That Counts
  • Ladies First
  • Liberty of Death!
  • Life Is a Great Big Canvas, and You Should Throw All the Paint on It You Can. ~ Danny Kaye
  • Life Is Either a Daring Adventure, or Nothing. ~ Helen Keller
  • Live Life to the Fullest
  • Mercy Has No Place in the Law
  • My Favorite Dish Is Revenge
  • My Weapon Is Myself
  • Never Surrender
  • Never Throw the First Punch.but Be Sure You Throw the Last.
  • No Mercy, but No Cruelty
  • No Reason Why We Can't Be Civilized
  • Nobody else for the Job but Us
  • Non-Traditionalist
  • Nothing in Life Is Permanent
  • Nothing Personal, It's Just Business
  • One for All and All for One
  • Only the Strong Are Fit to Rule
  • People Need to Wake up!
  • Politics Is My Favorite Game
  • Precision Trumps Power
  • Protect the Innocent
  • Serve the Public Trust
  • Speak Softly but Carry a Big Stick
  • Stay Alive
  • Subtlety Is Its Own Power
  • Tears Are Not Enough
  • Technology Is the Great Equalizer
  • the Best Way out Is Always Through. ~ Robert Frost
  • the Price of Glory
  • the Road Is My Home
  • the Snake Lurks in the Grass
  • to Sacrifice Even Life to Truth
  • Uphold the Law
  • Virtue Despises Danger
  • Wants to Live in Peace
  • We Must Be the Change We Want to See in the World. ~ Mahatma Gandhi


Disadvantages / Trouble / Consequences

  • A Squirrel!
  • Addicted to Speed
  • Alone in a Crowd
  • Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride
  • Backstabber
  • Been Here Too Long
  • Broken Heart
  • Brooding
  • But for a Nail!
  • By the Book? What Book
  • Certifiably Nuts
  • Caught Red-Handed
  • Craves Control
  • Curiosity Killed the Cat
  • Dandy Living Rough
  • Dark Past
  • Day Dreamer
  • Desperate
  • Devoid of Magic
  • Easy Mark
  • Empty Inside
  • Entertain Me
  • Entitlement Complex
  • Ever the Bridesmaid
  • Everything Has a Price
  • Faints at the Sight of Blood
  • Fly by Night
  • Folds Under Pressure
  • Forbidden Tastes
  • Generous to a Fault
  • Guilty Conscience
  • Gullible
  • Haunted
  • Haunted by Dreams
  • He'll Eat Anything!
  • Heir to a Terrible Secret
  • Hermit
  • Home-wrecker
  • I Can't Get Involved
  • I Don't Trust Me, and You Shouldn't Either
  • I Get Paid to to Crazy Stuff
  • I Hate the Outdoors
  • I Have No Idea How Much I Don't Know
  • I Want It Now
  • I'd Take a Bullet for Xxx
  • I'm Too Old for This
  • if One Is Good, Ten Is Better
  • if Only I Had My Trusty Toolbox
  • Impetuous
  • in My Own Time
  • in over His Head
  • Indulgent & Indulged
  • Infamous
  • Insatiable Appetite
  • Intolerant
  • It Was Fine in My Workshop!
  • It Wasn't My Fault!
  • Ivory Tower
  • Just a Poser
  • Just Following Orders
  • Just Use More
  • King’s Wrath
  • Knows Too Much
  • Let Me See How This Works!
  • Liar and a Cheat
  • Loner
  • Look, a Kitty!
  • Loose Cannon
  • Loyal to the Bone
  • Loyalty for Sale
  • Materialistic
  • Math Is Hard
  • Momma's Boy
  • My Daughter Died in My Arms
  • My Ex Drives Me Crazy
  • Naïve
  • Never Good Enough
  • New in Town
  • Obsessed
  • Obsessive-Compulsive
  • Obviously Landed on His Face
  • One Step Behind
  • over My Head
  • Overly Blunt
  • Paranoid
  • Perpetually Broke
  • Picks Scabs
  • Rude and Crude
  • Scavenger
  • Self-Destructive
  • Shady Past
  • Shattered
  • Short Fuse
  • Silver Spoon
  • Snakes! Why Does It Always Have to Be Snakes!
  • Snarl
  • Something to Prove
  • Soul of a Killer
  • Stage Fright
  • Sucker
  • Sucker for a Pretty Face
  • Sweet-Tooth
  • Sweetheart, Would I Lie to You?
  • the Awful Truth
  • the Darkness Always Threatens
  • They Can't Know I'm an Alien
  • This Is Bigger Than I Thought
  • Troublemaker
  • Vagabond
  • What I Wouldn't Give for Real Power
  • Who Needs Backup?
  • Why Won't You Die!
  • Withdrawn
  • Work in Progress
  • Work Is a Four Letter Word!
  • You'll Never Take Me Alive!


Dispositions

  • A Fine Line Between Cynicism and Realism
  • A Fistful of Truth
  • A Girl in Every Port
  • Approachable
  • Art Is Pleasure
  • Benevolent Dictator
  • Born of the Storm
  • Brother to All Who Know Me
  • Calm in a Sea of Insanity
  • Caution Above All
  • Chance-Taker
  • Civilized
  • Cold As the Winter Wind
  • Compassionate Heart
  • Court Gossip
  • Cuts It Close
  • Cutthroat
  • Dastardly
  • Dead Calm
  • Death Defying
  • Defender of the Defenseless
  • Devastating Glance
  • Disciplined
  • Dogged Dreamer
  • Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down
  • Fae-Touched
  • Faith Fears Not
  • Famous
  • Fierce and Passionate
  • Fiercely Independent
  • Give the voters what they want
  • Hard Boiled
  • Hard Working
  • Heart of a Saint
  • Heart of Gold
  • I Must Survive!
  • I Neither Envy nor Despise
  • I Succeed by Kindness
  • Imposing Stare
  • Intrepid
  • Irreproachable
  • Irritatingly Sunny
  • Just Do the Job
  • Keep It Simple
  • Keep It Tidy
  • Kind-Hearted
  • Loner
  • Marked by Destiny
  • Muckraking
  • Never Trust a Man
  • Nosy
  • Nothing Left to Loose
  • Obsessed
  • Office Gossip
  • Overtime
  • Plucky
  • Poker Face
  • Practical
  • Pride Goeth Before Everything
  • Privilege Makes Me Cynical
  • Proud of My Heritage
  • Pushed over the Edge
  • Quick to Anger
  • Quick to Love
  • Quiet Confidence
  • Reclusive
  • Regal Bearing
  • Respectable
  • Ruthless Heart
  • Salt of the Earth
  • Scrappy
  • Secretive
  • Sense of Honor
  • Shadowed Glare
  • Slow to Forget
  • Soft-Spoken
  • Stone Cold
  • Strength in Silence
  • Stripper With a Heart of Gold
  • Suspicious
  • Take That, You Fiend!
  • the More Thorny the More Fragrant
  • Thick Skinned
  • This Is My Post
  • Tolerant
  • Touched
  • Troublemaker
  • Twitchy
  • Two-Fisted
  • Uncivilized
  • Undying Devotion
  • Unflappable
  • Unshakeable
  • Wary
  • Well-Mannered
  • Wiseass

Expertise, Advantages

  • A Cut Above the Norm
  • A Fistful of Dollars
  • A Name Within the Field
  • Aikido Master
  • Always Ready
  • Amazonian
  • Archer's Eye
  • Artist's Heart
  • At Home Behind the Stick
  • Aura of Power
  • Been Around a Long Time
  • Been There, Done That
  • Bend With the Wind
  • Best Education Money Could Buy
  • Beware the Wrath of a Patient Man
  • Bookworm
  • Born of Wealth
  • Born to the Blade
  • Cat's Eyes
  • Chance Favors Only Those Who Court Her. ~ Charles Nicolle
  • Competitive Athlete
  • Cuts It Close
  • Dead Sexy
  • Death Defying
  • Dogged
  • Don't Judge Me by My Size
  • Eavesdropper
  • Elven Grace
  • Engineering Prodigy
  • Eureka!
  • Expert Among Novices
  • Eyes Wide Open
  • Favorite With the Ladies
  • First on the Scene
  • From the Future
  • For You Are With Me, Father
  • Gearhead
  • Gentle Touch
  • Ghost Step
  • Gimme a Minute
  • Graceful
  • Grease Monkey
  • Great Expectations
  • Hardy
  • Hawkeye
  • Heart of a Warrior
  • Honest Eyes
  • I Fear No Evil
  • I Have a Bad Feeling About This
  • I Just Happened to Be in the Neighborhood
  • I Know a Way
  • I Know What I'm Doing
  • I Know Your Name
  • I Need No Sword
  • I Never Forget a Face
  • I'll Never Talk
  • I'm Going to Kill You Using Only My Left Thumb
  • I've seen this before
  • Icy Beauty
  • in Acting Justly Fear No One
  • In Shape and Ready to Play
  • Inconspicuous
  • Iron Will
  • It Is Better to Know Some of the Questions Than All of the Answers. ~ James Thurber
  • It Was Always in My Pocket
  • It Would Take a Miracle
  • Jane of All Trades
  • Johnny on the Spot
  • Knowledge Is My Shield
  • Knowledge Is the Great Equalizer
  • Knows the Names of Evil
  • Leads the Hunt
  • Let Me See How This Works!
  • Look in My Eyes
  • Lord of the Treetops
  • Lord, Grant Me the Strength!
  • Man of Two Worlds
  • Man, That Is Going to Hurt Later
  • Master of Blind Fighting
  • Master of Innuendo
  • Meticulous
  • Midnight Eyes
  • Motorhead
  • Moves Like a Ninja
  • Musician's Soul
  • Natural Mechanic
  • Neither Swiftly nor Slowly
  • Nick of Time
  • No Stranger to Pain
  • No, You Do It Like This!
  • Nose for Trouble
  • Not Just a Pretty Face
  • One With the Forest
  • One Tough Customer
  • Order out of Chaos
  • Pack-Rat
  • Plans Within Plans
  • Political Survivor
  • Power Behind the Throne
  • Prefer the Honest to the Profitable
  • Pride in Scholarship
  • Pure Killing Machine
  • Puts in the Long Hours
  • Quick Witted
  • Respectable Authority
  • Ride It Down
  • Rough & Ready
  • Rugged
  • Self-Sufficient
  • Shiphead
  • Silents As Midnight
  • Silver-Tongued
  • Sleeping Bear
  • Social Chameleon
  • Solution Oriented
  • Something's Not Right
  • Sorcerer by Nature
  • Spokesperson
  • Strange Intuition
  • Strange Luck
  • Street Smart
  • Strong and Certain Grip
  • Strong As an Ox
  • Swordsman Without Compare
  • Takes One to Know One
  • That Is Not a Knife. This Is a Knife!
  • The Pen Is Mightier then the Sword
  • There is always more than meets the eye
  • To Know How to Hide One's Ability Is Great Skill. ~ Francois De La Rochefoucauld
  • Too Close to Call
  • Touched by Magic
  • Tough As Nails
  • Two-Fisted
  • Unremarkable
  • Virtue for Its Own Sake
  • Voice Like a Silken Strangling Cord
  • Voice Like Silk
  • Wait, Try This...
  • Was This What You Needed?
  • Weapons Master
  • Well-Known
  • Well-Schooled
  • Well-Travelled
  • While I Have Breath I Have Hope
  • World Traveler
  • You Can't Be Expected to Understand
  • You’ll Never Get Past Me!


Friends, Family, Help

  • A Might Fortress Is My Home
  • Apprentice of ...
  • Buddy of ...
  • Chosen of ...
  • Co-Worker
  • Devoted Servant of ...
  • Elf-Friend
  • Ex-Operative of ...
  • Former Cultist
  • Former Reporter
  • Friend of the Beasts
  • Friend of the Family
  • Friends in Dark Places
  • Friends in Low Places
  • Hidden Crush
  • I Know Just the Guy
  • I'm a Member of ...
  • Made Man
  • Manfred, Save Me!
  • My Old Friend, ...
  • Network of Spies
  • Never Without My Minions
  • Nobody Beats up My Sister but Me!
  • of the Xxx Family
  • Pawn of ...
  • Raised by ...
  • Reminds You of Your Uncle
  • Secret Crush
  • Unspoken Love
  • War Buddies
  • Yeah, I Know Him


Enemies & Foes

  • ... Killed My Family!
  • Betrayed by ...
  • Haunted by ...
  • Hunted by ...
  • Jealous Ex-...
  • on the Run from ...
  • Rival to...
  • Sworn Enemy of ...
  • Vendetta With ...
  • Won't Rest Until ...

Gear

  • Ancient Sword
  • Deathbed Legacy
  • I Have My Father's Sword
  • I Have My Mother's Diaries
  • Import/Export Business
  • My Pa's Old Six Shooter
  • Secret Lair
  • Serendipity, Space Freighter
  • She's the Fastest Ship on the Rim


Questions

Some good questions to ask:

  • Death to ...
  • I Hate ...
  • I Intend to ...
  • I Know in My Heart ...
  • I Love ...
  • I'll Make My Name by ...
  • More then Anything I Need ...
  • My Most Immediate Concern ...
  • Sworn Enemy of ...
  • Wants to Be ...
  • ...Must Die!

Compellable Scene Aspects and Consequences

  • The obvious

Guards

  • Alert
  • Bad-Tempered
  • Drowsy
  • Drunk
  • Happy
  • Naïve
  • Sleepy
  • Tense

Visibility

  • Blinding
  • Dark
  • Foggy
  • Hazy
  • Obscured
  • Poorly-lit
  • Shadowy
  • Smoky
  • Well-Lit

Terrain

  • Broken
  • Cluttered
  • Cramped
  • Fragile
  • Low Ceiling
  • Overgrown
  • Obscured
  • Noisy (dry leaves)
  • Rough
  • Ruined
  • Slick
  • Slippery
  • Tangled
  • Uneven

Situation

  • Alarmed
  • Alarm Ringing/Tripped
  • Broken Open
  • Crowded
  • Collapsing
  • Exposed to the elements
  • Gloomy
  • Locked
  • Near riot
  • Noisy (concert, machinery)
  • Off-Balance
  • On fire
  • Poor-Quality
  • Patrolled
  • Shoddy craftsmanship
  • Something's not right
  • Too quiet
  • Trapped
  • Under (gun) Fire

Rural

  • Obscuring crops
  • Muddy fields
  • No cover
  • Growing wheat
  • Corn maze

Urban

  • Overwhelming stench
  • Packed crowds
  • Reflected glare
  • Heavy traffic
  • Excessively loud

Airborne

  • Turbulent
  • High winds
  • No winds
  • Cross winds
  • Cloud cover
  • Raining
  • Freezing
  • Lightning storm
  • Unsteady (footing, piloting)
  • Don't Look Down
  • Tight formation

Seaborne

  • Crashing waves
  • Choppy seas
  • Tossing and turning
  • Red skies
  • Rocking boat
  • Circling sharks
  • Thick Fog
  • Salt spray
  • Becalmed
  • Smooth waters

Weather

  • Morning
  • Midday
  • Evening
  • Night
  • Full Moon
  • Half Moon
  • New Moon
  • Scorching hot
  • Hot and humid
  • Chilly
  • Below freezing
  • Arctic cold
  • Blazing sun
  • Partly cloudy
  • Overcast
  • Gloomy
  • Misty
  • Foggy
  • Humid
  • Breezy
  • Windy
  • Gale force winds
  • Blowing debris
  • Sprinkling
  • Raining
  • Heavy rain
  • Torrential downpour
  • Hailstorm
  • Light flurries
  • Snow cover
  • Blizzard
  • Black Ice
  • Flooding
  • Blowing dust
  • Sun in your eyes
  • Thunderstorm

Compellable Situational Aspects

These are temporary aspects, typically used in situations of combat or conflict, often with a single use that goes away after being invoked or compelled . In Fate, these are often the consequence of Shifts or Boosts

Physical

  • Backlit
  • Blinded
  • Blocked
  • Blood in my eye
  • Clogged
  • Clumsy
  • Cluttered…
  • Congested…
  • Covered
  • Covering fire
  • Disarmed
  • Dropped weapon
  • Cramp
  • Jammed…
  • Fallen
  • Fumbled…
  • Grappled
  • Hail of bullets
  • Head start
  • Held
  • Hemmed in
  • Hidden
  • In the shadow of…
  • In my sights
  • Locked down
  • Momentum
  • Numb
  • Opportunity fire
  • Pinned
  • Prone
  • Restrained
  • Sand (mud) in eyes
  • Shortcut
  • Slipped
  • Staggered
  • Stumbling
  • Tripped up
  • Weakened
  • Upright
  • Unbalanced
  • Under cover

Mental

  • Absentminded
  • Aware
  • Confident
  • Disoriented
  • Distracted
  • Dazed
  • Dizzy
  • Enraged
  • Escape Route
  • Hasty
  • Hesitant
  • Inattentive
  • Looking the wrong way
  • Lost
  • Overconfident
  • Scared
  • Shaken up
  • Shocked
  • Spotted
  • Staggered
  • Startled
  • Stunned
  • Stupefied
  • Surprised
  • Unaware

Social

(These are for non-combat conflicts. Many of the mental apply here also)

  • Amazed
  • Astonished
  • Astounded
  • Bowled over
  • Confounded
  • Dumbfounded
  • Dumbstruck
  • Flabbergasted
  • Flummoxed
  • Floored
  • Helpful
  • Nonplussed
  • Scandalized
  • Speechless
  • Talkative
  • Taken aback
  • Thunderstruck