Players do not determine the ability scores of their characters by rolling dice. Instead, they distribute ability points between the six abilities, and the number of points allocated determines the ability score as follows.
| Ability Score | Ability Points Cost |
| 1 to 8 | 0 (total of 0 for score of 8) |
| 9 to 14 | +1 for 1 (total of 6 for score of 14) |
| 15 to 16 | +2 for 1 (total of 10 for score of 16) |
| 17 to 18 | +3 for 1 (total of 16 for score of 18) |
| 19 to 20 | +4 for 1 (total of 24 for score of 20) |
| 21 to 22 | +5 for 1 (total of 34 for score of 22) |
The table is open-ended, and continues using the same progression.
Players allocate 32 ability points at 1st character level, and then 1 ability point each time the character gains a level. Ability points cannot be saved, but must be allocated during the character design and level advancement processes.
Ability scores do not increase until sufficient ability points have been allocated to meet the full cost of the increase: that is, a character has an ability score of 17 if they have 13, 14 or 15 ability points allocated to that ability. Surplus ability points have no effect on ability damage and ability drain, both of which target ability scores, not ability points.
For comparison, ordinary characters typically allocate 15 ability points, usually in the standard array (three scores at 10, three scores at 11), while above-average characters typically allocate 25 ability points, usually in the elite array (scores at 15, 14, 13, 12, 10 and 8).
Charisma is the ability that governs bonus power points. A high score in Charisma grants bonus power points as follows, with the limitation that bonus power points cannot exceed the character's magic power.
| Ability Score |
Bonus Power
|
Ability Score |
Bonus Power
|
| 1 |
-9
|
16 to 17 |
5
|
| 2 to 3 |
-7
|
18 to 19 |
7
|
| 4 to 5 |
-5
|
20 to 21 |
9
|
| 6 to 7 |
-3
|
22 to 23 |
11
|
| 8 to 9 |
-1
|
24 to 25 |
13
|
| 10 to 11 |
0
|
26 to 27 |
15
|
| 12 to 13 |
1
|
28 to 29 |
17
|
| 14 to 15 |
3
|
30 to 31 |
19
|
The table is open-ended, and continues using the same progression.