My sincerest apologies for the delayed reply; I was away on vacation and am only just catching up on messages now. These are all fantastic questions that get to the heart of character creation.
Let’s break down your questions.
Trait Types (CYBN and TLNT)
On the top right of the Trait Cards, the abbreviations stand for the Type of trait you have acquired. While the document doesn’t provide a direct acronym list, based on the game’s context and rules, we can clarify them for you.
- CYBN: This stands for Cybernetic, representing the advanced technology and cybernetic enhancements central to the iXe world.
- TLNT: This stands for Talent, which covers the innate talents and special abilities of your Avatar.
Traits can come in many forms under CYBN/TLNY, as:
- Culture
- Gear
- Innate Talent
- Abilities
So, “CYBN” would fall under the broader category of Gear/Technology, while “TLNT” would be an Innate Talent or Ability.
Assigning Traits and the Meaning of Suits
This is where the creative freedom of iXe truly shines. The four poker suits (♠, ♥, ♦, ♣) on your Avatar Sheet do not have predefined, universal meanings. Instead, you, the player, get to decide what each suit represents for your character. This is a core part of crafting a unique Avatar. For example, you might decide that ♠ represents your Avatar’s combat prowess, while ♥ represents their social skills or relationships.
Therefore, to answer your other questions:
- Unless a Trait card explicitly states where it should be placed, you can add it under any of the four feature suits you feel is most appropriate for your character’s story.
- It does not matter what suit you assign a custom character trait to. The choice is entirely yours! The goal is to build a character that is narratively consistent and compelling to you.
- For more guidance on this process, we highly recommend reviewing “Crafting Your Avatar” on page 11. Step 8, in particular, encourages you to “give your digital Avatar some flair!” by filling the attribute boxes with features that make your character unique.
We hope this clears things up and empowers you to build an amazing Avatar. The system is designed to be a flexible and creative tool for your storytelling journey.