So I want to trade down Humanity. I pick Will or Stamina, whichever I like better for my character, at 8 (giving me Humanity 8), and the other two attributes at 1. I trade down Humanity to, say, 3. From 8 to 3 is 5 points. I take "the chill" (which is cool anyway), limiting my Humanity to 8. That means I can distribute 6 points, to make two 4s out of the two 1s, e.g.

Now, had I not started with 8-1-1, but with 6-2-2, take a look at my character: He's got "the chill" as well, he's got Humanity max at 6 instead of 8, and 6-4-4 attributes instead of 8-4-4. The rest is the same. So I guess my question is: If I'm trading down Humanity, what reason would there be to not take an 8 in one attribute? Or did I get the rules wrong somehow?

- Frank

It looks like you have the rules correct.  One thing you may have missed is that the humanity trading is limited to certain descriptors.  The character you've created would have to be a monster.  At least two of his stats now have, "Inhumanly" in front of them and the third is something like "Changeling" or "Half-breed."  This guy makes Elric look like a mid-western farm boy.

One of the great things about Sorcerer is that power-gaming on this level bites you in the ass in terms of situation and other in-game events.  Demons are going to flock to this guy practically viewing him as one of their own.  Regular folks are going to hate and fear him.  His Humanity may be capped way up 8 but his opportunities for Humanity Gain are going to be greatly limited.

Why wouldn't I do what you did?  Because I don't want my character to be demon food and a social outcast.

Jesse

This issue has been addressed before and very clearly in this thread: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=8505.0

Thanks for the link, that answers my question.

- Frank

Beat me to it! Good call, Jules.

Best,
Ron