Interface question

For my second question of the night, on the top of the screen between the fate point button and the rest button is an area with a wood background that has empty squares. I was toying with some character points last night and noticed when I bumped my intel to 16, a fourth square was added to that area. When I bumped my intel to 20, I got a fifth empty square. At that point, it appears that no more squares can fit. I've been playing the game for a while and never really noticed it before. Intuitively, empty squares should be able to be filled, but I couldn't figure out what they did or what to do with them. To my knowledge, I've never seen anything in one, but like I said, I never noticed them before. I tried hunting around in the manual, but didn't find anything. Frankly, I presently have no intention to bump his intel to 20, but I'm very curious to know what this is all about. I apologise in advance if this is a stupid question, but does anyone (probably everyone) know what gives?

 

The squares can be filled with spell effects. I mean, if your character is under the effect of, say, Agility of Fire or Invisibility, the icon for the spell will appear in one of the little squares. Presumably the number of spell effects your character can handle is limited by those little squares, and the number of little squares is limited by, oh I don't know, intelligence or level or god-knows-what. Haven't quite figured that one out yet. :grin: I'm sure later someone else will come in and give you a better answer.

I love the Arcanum manual, but sometimes it just makes my nose bleed.

 

Yes, it's the max number of spell effects you can have running on yourself at once.

It's Intelligence/20 for # of boxes, I believe, and 5 is the max (at 20 Intelligence, obviously enough).

You'll never see this used if you're a techie, which I suspect is the case.

 

Thanks for you're help! Since I'm a tech type, I've never used any spells. I guess that's something to look forward to in my next game.

 

Close, but not quite right. They are the number of enchantments you can carry, no matter who they are cast on. Cast Charm on someone & the square is filled. Summon an undead & a square is filled. You click the square to turn them off.