Attribute Types

The PbtA system support several attribute types. Each attribute type has a required type property

Common Properties

All attribute types support the following common properties, which are optional:

• label - The label placed above the input on the character sheet.

• description - Descriptive text below the label and above the input.

• default - The default value of the attribute.

• customLabel - If set to true, this will turn the label for the attribute into a text field that can be overridden on each character sheet.

Short Syntax

Some attributes can alternatively be written using a short syntax format by only specifying the type and allowing the label to be inferred from the option name. If attributes have required properties, such as the max property on Clock attributes, they cannot be entered using the short syntax.

armor = "Number"
harm = "Clock"

Number

Basic number input.

[character.attributesTop.armor]
  type = "Number"
  default = 0

Text

Basic text input.

[character.attributesLeft.nickname]
  type = "Text"

LongText

Text area field, used for larger text descriptions.

[character.attributesLeft.look]
  type = "LongText

Resource

Numeric resource with both current and max values.

[character.attributesTop.mana]
  type = "Resource"
  label = "Mana"
  max = 4
  default = 4

Clock

Numeric resource that uses checkboxes to determine the current amount (like Harm in Apocalypse World). Clocks also support an optional "inputStyle" that lets you specify if the inputs should be checkboxes or radios (circles).

Example of clocks with checkboxes:

[character.attributesTop.harm]
  type = "Clock"
  label = "Harm"
  max = 6
  default = 0

Example of clocks with circles:

[character.attributesTop.improvement]
  type = "Xp"
  label = "Improvement"
  max = 7
  default = 0

Checkbox

Single checkbox with label. If using the "default" property on checkboxes, it should be entered as either "true" or "false" (no quote marks).

[character.attributesLeft.wounded]
  type = "Checkbox"
  label = "Wounded"
  checkboxLabel = "Untreated wounds"
  default = false

ListMany

Multiple checkboxes with labels. ListMany does not support the "default" property at this time.

ListMany attributes can also be used as conditons. If you set condition = true in your attribute, any numeric modifiers in the condition labels will be available as modifiers during move rolls.

To enable multiple checkboxes for an option, add |n onto the end of the option, such as Afraid (-2 to engage)|3 to create an option named "Afraid (-2 to engage)" with 3 checkboxes.

To enable a custom textbox for an option, set its value to [Text]

This can be combined with the multiple checkboxes option, such as [Text]|2 for a custom textbox with 2 checkboxes.

[character.attributesLeft.conditions]
  type = "ListMany"
  label = "Conditions"
  description = "Choose all that apply:"
  condition = true
  options = [
    "Afraid (-2 to engage)",
    "Angry (-2 to comfort)",
    "Guilty (-2 to provoke)",
    "Hopeless (-2 to unleash)",
    "Insecure (-2 to defend)|3",
    "[Text]",
    "[Text]|4"
  ]

ListOne

ListOne is only available in PbtA 0.8.0+

Similar to ListMany, but uses a single-select Radio input rather than multi-select Checkboxes. Configuration is similar to ListMany with two caveats:

• Conditions are not supported

• default values can be assigned

[character.attributesLeft.status]
  type = "ListOne"
  label = "Status"
  description = "Character's current status"
  default = 2 # values are numeric, starting with 0 as the first option
  options = [
    "Healthy",
    "Wounded",
    "Near Death",
    "Unconscious",
    "Dying"
  ]

Roll

A single text field and a roll button to make a dice roll based on its value.

[character.attributesLeft.damage]
  type = "Roll"
  label = "Damage"
  default = "d10"

Track

Track attributes are only available in PbtA 0.8.0+

Tracks are an advanced field used for use cases like the Root RPG's reptuation tracks. It tracks 3 values: value (the actual bonus that would be applied to rolls) and negative.value / positive.value (how close you are from changing the bonus).

Screenshot of a Reputation track from n1xx1's original merge request

[character.attributesTop.reputation]
  type = "Track"
  label = "Reputation"
  default = 0
  [character.attributesTop.reputation.negative]    
    label = "Notoriety"
    steps = 3
    max = 3
    default = 0
  [character.attributesTop.reputation.positive]
    label = "Prestige"
    steps = 5
    max = 3
    default = 0