Attributes and Vitalities

Attributes
The intrinsic capabilities of characters under the Iron Dice of War are measured by their Attributes, of which there are five.

Fitness
" 'The new soldiers were put through the paces: runs in the early morning and exercise until exhaustion. Every man did his best, for he knew he would come to rely upon the Fitness built up in peace to face the rigorous demands of war.' "Fitness is the sum of a character's physical toughness and well-being as well as his muscular strength and cardiovascular health. A high Fitness individual is likely a prime athlete or a manual laborer, but this can manifest as toned litheness as well as muscular physique.

Coordination
" 'Obtuse courses of complex obstacles, the unflinching precision needed to aim the rifle, and the tiny needle of the stitch kit so painstakingly criss-crossed through a slice on a fruit; each day demanded a greater degree of Coordination than the day before it.' "Coordination is a combination of a character's manual dexterity, agility, reflexes, and balance. A person with high Coordination moves with precision and accuracy, aware of his position and in control of his movements.

Intellect
" 'That is one virtue I never found lacking within the eyes of the Kierstian officers: a keen glint of Intellect that reflected off of the schemes that spun within their overactive minds. I came to respect their analysis, though not always their conclusions.' "Intellect is a character's logic and reason, memory and understanding, and mental swiftness. A character with high Intellect might be a deep thinker capable of solving complex problems, as well as a scholar with a vast depth of memorized bits of knowledge to be recalled at any time.

Intuition
" 'In a flash of crisp Intuition, I understood the scene. Every sound plucked at my mind: their footsteps, and the tink! of the grenade pin, and the soft grunt of exertion as I lobbed the bomb toward the enemy I couldn't even see.' "Intuition is the undefinable sharpness of senses and sureness of instinct. Intuition governs the usefulness of innate reactions and the keenness of perception to sudden stimuli. A character with high Intuition is one who acts competently and without hesitation, and nothing can catch him by surprise.

Willpower
" 'To have a hundred men at your side all equally willing to throw themselves at the enemy even should it mean our deaths. This is what it means to be united by unbreakable Willpower in our defense of the Fatherland.' "Willpower is the force of certainty and strength of resolve. It is the firmness of purpose and the ability to pursue one's goals with unbreakable tenacity. A character with high Willpower is one who knows his path and takes the steps to pursue his goals without meandering aimlessly or wasting time.

Vitalities
A soldier is animated by four essential Vitalities that work together to enable him to fight and strive against adversity, plus an additional Vitality that exceptional warriors may seize.

The Breath in his lungs
" 'In such moments, it was of the utmost importance to stay silent, but our Breath rasped loudly through our throats due to our prior exertion.' "Stamina, Vitality, Energy, Ardor

The Fire in his heart
" 'With Fire shining in our eyes, we jumped screaming over the edge of the trench. Not a man hesitated, and we swooped upon the enemy’s position like birds of prey.' "Spirit, Ferocity, Morale, Passion

The Nerves in his spine
" 'When I laid down on the bed boards in the dugout, I realized that my Nerves had been touched. My teeth were chattering, and exhausted though I was, I could not sleep.' "Fortitude, Perseverance, Focus, Mettle

The Blood in his veins
" 'The tattered cloth pulled away to show a ragged hole from which his Blood dripped out to satisfy the thirsty dust. The bright red rivulets contrasted with his pale, gaunt face.' "Health, Life, Hardiness, Vigor

The Steel in his soul
" 'The soldier cowering in the crater disappeared in a cloud of dirt and smoke, while the officer dragging a wounded man right next to him went unharmed. The shrapnel bounced off him as if he were made of Steel.' "Valor, Courage, Bravery, Selflessness