Do people just completely make up the number or is there a method behind it?

kain7th said:

A very good point that I can answer.

Firstly I noted down all fate assigned to characters in the 3 alignments. Each alignment has a different average figure. Fate is lower for characters that are strong fighters, magic users generally have middle values of fate, and characters with weaker abilities generally have high fate. Alignment plays a big part too. The average amount of fate levels out at 3, but there are quite a few characters with only 1 fate. 5 fate is the least used, with only 1 character having 6 fate (Chancer/Gambler from mephisto).

Ell.

Ell, do you have figures that account for just official characters from FFG? I'm assuming those received the most alpha and beta level testing, so those are probably the better ones for establishing a sense of balance or at least as FFG has determined such over the course of official releases.

And what were the averages per Alignment that you discovered?

I find that it helps to have a basic number in mind for fate, but that with play-testing you can use fate to "nerf" a character or add to their value if their given abilities are proving underwhelming.  One of our characters went from 3, to 4, then to 1, then to 2 and we have officially decided that 3 will be his final amount in his final printing. 

JCHendee said:

I'll compile my figures for you. Now which pad did I write them in!

Ell.