Category:Mental

Mental Attributes are qualities of the mind, such as reasoning, intuition and sharpness of the senses (which is as much a matter of understanding what the senses tell one as the quality of the sensorial organs). Depending on the individual, high Mental Attributes can represent wide-ranging genius or more focused cleverness.

Perception
Perception is the ability to accurately sense one's environment. It combines keen senses with the intuitive grasp of what may or may not be significant, without needing to pause for labored analysis. It contributes to efforts at concealment and finding what others have concealed, as well as preparing for and defending against ambushes and to interpreting clues.

• Poor. You may be bright but self-absorbed or simply unattentive. •• Average. Subtlety may elude you, but you don't miss the obvious, and you can do all right with the obscure if you have time and good circumstances. ••• Good. You're aware of your environment in significant detail without having to strain at it. •••• Exceptional. Little can remain hidden from you when you choose to find it. You see all things clearly. ••••• Outstanding. The book of the world opens its every page to you.

Intelligence
Intelligence includes a character's ability to master facts and knowledge, recall them at need and put them together to produce new insights. Problem-solving and logic lie within the domain of Intelligence. It does not include common sense, moral judgement or other useful qualities, and the clever but inept scholar is as much a medieval stereotype as a modern one. Depending on the individual, low Intelligence many indicate actual impairment in mental faculties or poor use of one's potential.

• Poor. If you're not actually a half-wit, surely you have less than one full wit. •• Average. You're remarkable, and you manage to get through life without too much bewilderment. ••• Good. You're insightful, and you can count on making sense of many mysteries. •••• Exceptional. You learn much, forget little and routinely make innovations in your chosen field. ••••• Outstanding. You're a latter-day Solomon or Odysseus.

Wits
Wits is the capacity for quick thinking: not necessarily for brilliant intellectual reaosning or even for careful appraisal of the environment, but rapid response based on available information and survival instinct. It also contributes to more deliberate efforts to idenfity clever courses of action and ways around others' defenses and recall precisely the necessary datum at the key moment.

• Poor. Your jokes fall flat and you're the lats to notice. •• Average. You get through life without too many unpleasant surprises. ••• Good. You're quick on the uptake, and you often get the best of others when speed is essential. •••• Exceptional. You're the one who makes everyone else think, "I wish I'd thought of that." ••••• Outstanding. You have the Psalmist's gift for the appropriate response for every occasion.