Character building

## Introduction

Love of Magic has RPG elements, and with that come character stats. While these will never impede the player from experiencing the main storyline, some side content will be locked behind attribute checks.

## Attributes

#### Strength

Strength(STR) affects the following:

1. +10 hitpoints for each point
2. +1% bonus damage to base/**primary** damage as well as the bonus damage from Rage

#### Intelligence

Intelligence(INT) gives:

1. A multiplier to experience gained from combat in Elsewhere, through the formula (100\*INT)/(INT+50)
2. 1% bonus per point to **secondary** gem effects, such as Lightning, Fire and Shield
3. 1% bonus per point to some companion abilities, such as Emily's Shield or the duration of Dylan's Regen.

#### Charisma

Charisma(CHR) affects the speed at which your Poker/Companions can **recharge** their abilities, by 1% per point

#### Swordsmanship

Unlocked once you acquire Excalibur, the Swordsmanship(SWORD) attribute is not used in combat until Book 2, however it does affect some side content in Book 1.

In book 2, reaching 30 Swordsmanship increases Excalibur's damage from 1000 to 1500. Higher sword skill also speeds up Excalibur's recharge rate.

#### Power

Although not shown in game, certain main story events will give the player character a sizable boost in their abilities, which is represented in the following way:
Per power level:

1. +5 moves in Elsewhere
2. Gems can be slotted 1 level higher than normal(eg at power level 2 the player could use a level 4 gem in the slot for 2 pairs)

#### Level

Levels are gained while exploring the Paths in Elsewhere. Each time the player character levels up they can choose to add a point to either STR, INT or CHR. The player level affects what kind of monsters may be encountered, modified by the difficulty level.

## Stat Checks

The following are various stat checks that you will experience in the game.

These are not required to progress the game, but are good things to shoot for along the way to open up different scenes and options you could otherwise miss.

If the day has a '+' after it, it becomes available on that day but can be done later.

## Self improvement

There are any number of ways for the player character to improve their stats. Some main story events give stat points, where on occasion the player gets to choose. There are a number of smaller side-events that also give a small boost. Besides all that whenever the player is free to choose on how to spend their time they can opt to do so in a way that improves the character, where the more effective methods are typically more expensive. These activites typically occupy 1 timeslot. The following options are available in Book 1:

#### Walking the Paths

Every free morning on day 13 or later the player can choose to take up to 3 companions, go to Elsewhere and fight or loot whatever they find. Any won fight results in XP and enough XP results in a level, whereupon the player can choose to put 1 point into either STR, CHR or INT.

#### Working out

Starting day 3 Katie invites you to use her gym to work out. This is free and available in the morning and evening, although there's a period in book 1 where Katie is away, making the gym unavailable. Gives +1 STR every 2 sessions.

#### Studying

Starting day 14 you gain access to the private library at the university in the morning and evening where you can study in quiet and for free. Gives +1 INT every 3 sessions.

#### Socializing

Drinking coffee and hanging out with random people at Starcucks. Requires you to purchase coffee for £ 5. Increases your Charisma by 2 points every second encounter(4 times), with a +4 to Charisma for the final encounter after which you can't earn any more points this way. Expect some cameos from famous Edinburgh denizens. Can be done in the morning and evening.

#### Night on the town

Starting day 4, you can have a drink at night in the Grassmarket. Costs £ 10 and has a roughly 50% chance to give 1 point in either STR, INT or CHR.

#### Fancy dinner

After the first date with Emily on day 6 you can return to the Khukuri at night to have dinner for £ 30, gaining you one statpoint depending on what meal you choose(Vindaloo -> STR, Aloo Gobi -> INT, Tikka Masala -> CHR).

#### Showering

Grabbing a shower in the Crowley at night(**not** Late Night). Costs nothing, but only has a 30% chance of giving +1 CHR.

*Book 2* - Grabbing a shower in Camelot at night (**not** Late Night). Costs nothing, and can result in +1 INT or +1 CHR making it preferable to showering in the Crowley.

#### Practicing the Blade

After obtaining your new weapon you can choose to practice in Elsewhere in the mornings. Gives +1 SWORD each session. DroidProductions has indicated that use of Excaliber in combat in Book 2 is driven by this skill, making improving it advisable despite its limited value in Book 1.

#### Sparring with Emily

Starting day 63, you can invite Emily to spar with you as part of your weapons training, allowing you to increase SWORD by +1 each session until you beat her, at which point the event becomes unavailable.

## Reading

There are a number of books available that allow the player to upgrade their stats in an easy (and relatively quick) way.

In order to read in Book 1 the player needs to own at least 1 unread book and go to Starcucks in the morning or evening and order coffee for £ 5. Completing the sidequest Perfect Black Rose, part I removes the cost of the coffee **and** makes Starcucks available for reading at night as well. Note that the book "The Exquisite Art of Domination" only serves for this quest and grants no stat improvements.

In Book 2 you can read books in the Camelot Library (free) or Starcucks, with the exception of "Book of the Winter Child" which must be read in Starcucks.

The following books can be obtained to improve the player's stats: