I have replaced the characteristic Looks with the minor ability Beauty, as I feel that it is bad to have characteristics with no game mechanic effects. This also parallels the other social advantage, Nobleborn.
Character Points have been included to allow characters that do not conform to the Professions archetypes and to allow the inclusion of additional skills in a structured and balanced fashion. I also think this system allows characters to take more than one Profession (as Duke Darian should have in The Elven Crystals - surely he started out as a Knight and became a Sorcerer).
Players and GMs will want to flesh out the bare bones of the skill system included here, but it allows a uniform approach to non-combat task resolution. Those who have read my articles will know I dislike unnecessary variations in resolution mechanics. Likewise, Combat Training has simplified the penalty structure for fighting in inappropriate armour.
I gave Barbarians a Strength minimum of 9 because it seemed appropriate to me. Thieves are my preferred variant of the Assassin Profession, and a standard write-up can be found in Dusting off the Books. The Skills of the Mighty have been expanded (for Barbarians), simplified (for Knights) and clarified (for Mystics).
Health Points have been increased, Armour Bypass removed, and Armour Factor and Damage rescaled for all manner of things (weapons, poisons, spells). My reasons for doing so are outlined in Building on the Books. Shields, fighting defensively, and Damage ceilings are also discussed there.
My understanding of Difficulty Factors is suggested by the original rules but never set as a guiding principal in this way. I consider it a fundamental part of my proposed skill resolution system. Supernatural Senses have been remodelled yet again from the upgrade suggested in Dusting off the Books so that they use the same mechanic as other tasks.