The following is a short list of terms and words that may be confusing to those who are new to Novus.

Action Points (AP)

Every round has 5 Action Points. Players determine how much they may accomplish in a given round through the number of Action Points that their declared action will take.

Armor Rating (AR)

This value is subtracted from the damage dealt to the character. It is subtracted from the total amount of damage that is dealt.

Attack Bonus (AB)

This is the character’s skill bonus for the weapon that he is using, along with any special modifiers for that weapon based upon the situation or the Combat Move being used.

Attack Roll

This is the total of a 2d10 roll along with the attacking character’s Attack Bonus.

Base Damage (BD)

This is the minimum amount of damage that a successful attack deals.

Character Class

This is method of defining certain aspects of the character, such as which skills are Favored Skills and which are not, as well as how many Hit Points he receives each level and any special training or ability the character receives.

Character Points (CP)

This is a pool of points used to develop the character. They can be spent on ranks in specific skills, Talents, Combat Moves, and Spells.

Combat Move

This is a special move that the player may elect for his character to perform while in combat. It often gives modifiers to the character’s AB, his DEF, the number of AP the move will take and the effects of the actual attack.

Combat Skill

This is the character’s skill in combat. There are several different Combat Skills, one for each of a group of similar weapons. Additionally, Combat Styles also count as Combat Skills.

Combat Style

This is a special skill for combat. It is used to allow a character to learn more advanced combat techniques, and most Combat Styles also give discounts on purchasing Combat Moves.

Damage Rating (DR)

This, plus the stat bonus of the skill used in making an attack determine the Base Damage of that attack.

Defense (DEF)

This is the number that must be equaled or beat in order for an attack to hit the target.

Game Master (GM)

This is the person who controls the actions and events of the entire campaign setting. He is NOT the enemy of the players.

Hit Points

This is a measure of how much damage a character can take before going unconscious and before dying. At 0 hits, a character may do nothing except to try and heal himself. At -11 hits, the character is unconscious, and at -(Constitution Stat Value + 10) the character will actually die.

Magic Stat

The stat that is specifically associated with a given spell using Character Class or School of Magic. If a character is not of a spell using class, then he will use the stat, Intelligence, as his Magic Stat.

Non-Player Character (NPC)

This is a character or monster that is controlled by the GM.

Player Character (PC)

This is the character that is controlled by the player.

Saving Throw (Save)

This is a roll to resist or avoid being affected by something (spell, poison, etc.) that is not covered by any other type of roll. There are 8 types of Saving Throws, one for each stat. The basic bonus used for making a Saving Throw is the Stat Bonus of the applicable Stat plus 5, plus any other appropriate modifiers.

School of Magic

This is both a method of casting spells and a philosophy towards casting that colors how a character who knows that School casts spells and what spells they learn to cast.

Spell Points (SP)

This is a measure of how much energy, magical or otherwise, that the character is able to manipulate before he must rest. It could be considered a measurement of mental exhaustion.

Stat Bonus

This is a number that is based on the character’s Stat Value for a given stat. This number is added to skills and is part of the Save Modifier used in Saving Throws.

Stat Value

This is the sum of the raw stat, any racial modifiers and any miscellaneous modifiers from other sources, such as Talents.

Stats

These are numbers that are used to describe various attributes of the character.