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This is a peak at some design elements of my TTRGP Tales from the Aether. This is not dnd. If you think some of these ideas are interesting, check out my Masterpost linked above and feel free to send me feedback :D

Skills and their accompanying Feats are the bulk of designing your character in this system. Skills are improved as you level up through Skill Points that you distribute between the Skills you want to level up. Once a Skill reaches a certain threshold, it increases in Rank; increasing the bonus to rolls using the Skill in question as well as unlocking more Feats to choose from.

Skill Ranks are as follows: Untrained, Novice, Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, and Master.

All players start the game with 1 Journeyman Skill, 3 Apprentice Skills, and 6 Novice Skills of their choice - but I'll go over the player's starting array and Leveling up later ;P

Feats are where your characters will shine. All players start with 3 and gain more as you level up. All Feats are tied to a Skill Rank and will be unlocked as you level up your Skills. Additionally, certain Feats have prerequisites such as using certain types of weapons, knowing specific Spells, or unlocking other Feats. On another note, most Feats can only be taken once but many - such as Feats that increase Health or Speed - can be taken multiple times.

Now, coming into the system blind, being bombarded with over 25 Skills to build your character from the ground up can be overwhelming. This is why Archetypes have been added! This module provides over 20 Archetypes that act as guides for building various types of characters from Sword Dancers to Barbarians to Spell Blades. These Archetypes are not strict Classes but are guides that can be modified as needed :D

Next week I'll talk about Magic and Spells :>

Boulder is the best character in rba

Masterpost // Previous // Next

This is a peak at some design elements of my TTRGP Tales from the Aether. This is not dnd. If you think some of these ideas are interesting, check out my Masterpost linked above and feel free to send me feedback :D

There are three main categories players will use to determine their PC's strengths and weaknesses: Attributes, Vitality, and Skills.

Attributes are the main stats that will affect everything else about your character including their Hardiness and Skills. These are Social, Survival, Combat, and Magic. All Attributes begin at zero when you create your character and you are given 5 points to distribute between the four as you see fit.

Vitality is your Hit Points, Stamina, Arcana, and Resistances. Hit Points are connected to your Survival Attribute and determine how much damage your character can take before falling unconscious or dying. Stamina is connected to your Combat Attribute and determine how many physical actions, such as attacks, you can take on your turn. Arcana is connected to - you guessed it - Magic and determines the strength of a spell you wish to cast on your turn. Resistances are gained through ancestry, equipment, and spells and determine how punishing different types of damage are for you.

Both Stamina and Arcana are pools that regenerate a small amount at the start of your turn but your character is penalized if you run out of either - thus incentivizing players to strategize and seek to end combat encounters as quickly as possible. I'll go more into detail about these two and Resistances when I discuss combat :D

Lastly are Skills, which are broken into four categories by - surprise surprise - Attribute. Skills are the bread and butter of your PC as every Skill has over a dozen Feats that will grant you unique abilities in and out of combat. You have complete freedom to mix and match Skills but there are suggested Archetypes that act as guidelines to introduce inexperienced players to the game without overwhelming them. The available Skills are as follows:

Social: Awareness, Deception, Diplomacy, Intimidation, Luck, Performance, Slight of Hand, and Knowledge

Survival: Agility, Endurance, Medicine, Nature, Security, Stealth, and Willpower

Combat: Blocking, Heavy Armor, Light Armor, Unarmored Defense, One Handed, Two Handed, Ranged, Unarmed Fighting, and Tactics

Magic: Abjuration, Alteration, Evocation, Necromancy, Conjuration, Glamor, Mysticism, and Primal

When planning for retirement, choosing the right savings vehicle is crucial. Both TFRA and Roth IRA accounts offer tax advantages, but they work very differently. Let’s explore which option might be the better fit for your financial future.

What Is a TFRA Account?

A Tax-Free Retirement Account (TFRA) is not an official IRS retirement account like a Roth IRA. Instead, it's a high-performing strategy built around permanent life insurance policies. These accounts grow cash value over time, offering a flexible tax-free income source during retirement.

The best TFRA accounts are designed with low fees, strong guarantees, and reliable carriers. TFRA plans work best for individuals seeking predictable returns and tax-free withdrawals without IRS contribution limits.

What Is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA is a retirement savings account with after-tax contributions. The funds grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are also tax-free. However, Roth IRAs have strict income and contribution limits set by the IRS.

With a Roth IRA, you're limited in how much you can invest each year. In 2025, that cap is $7,000 if you're under 50, or $8,000 if over. Unlike TFRAs, Roth IRAs require you to wait until age 59½ for penalty-free withdrawals.

Key Differences Between TFRA and Roth IRA

1. Contribution Limits

TFRA: No IRS-set contribution limits.

Roth IRA: Strict annual contribution limits.

If you want to save more aggressively, a TFRA gives more freedom.

2. Tax-Free Withdrawals

Both accounts offer tax-free retirement income.

Roth IRA requires the account to be at least 5 years old.

TFRA can allow withdrawals sooner, depending on policy terms.

3. Access to Funds

TFRA: You can access funds any time through policy loans.

Roth IRA: Withdrawals before age 59½ may trigger penalties.

TFRA wins in terms of liquidity and access.

4. Market Risk and Growth

Roth IRA: Market-based returns can be high, but risky.

TFRA: Typically uses fixed or indexed strategies with guarantees.

If you prefer stable growth with lower risk, TFRA may feel safer.

5. Legacy and Protection Benefits

TFRA: Includes life insurance death benefit, offering tax-free inheritance.

Roth IRA: No insurance component.

TFRA doubles as both a retirement tool and estate planning solution.

Who Should Choose a TFRA Account?

A TFRA is ideal for high-income earners who:

Want to invest more than Roth IRA limits allow

Seek guaranteed returns with tax-free retirement income

Want added protection through life insurance

Prefer flexibility and liquidity over long-term account locks

You also avoid Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) that traditional retirement plans often require.

Who Should Stick With a Roth IRA?

Roth IRAs are best for those who:

Meet IRS income and contribution limits

Prefer self-managed investments with high return potential

Don’t need access to funds before retirement

Want simple, no-frills tax-free income

They’re excellent for younger investors looking for growth and simplicity.

Can You Use Both Accounts?

Yes, combining a Roth IRA and a TFRA account could be a powerful strategy. You diversify your retirement income sources while maximizing tax advantages. Many savvy investors use this dual approach to reduce tax burden and increase long-term security.

TFRA vs Roth IRA – Which Is Better?

The best choice depends on your income, goals, and risk tolerance. If you want higher contribution limits, flexibility, and added life protection, a TFRA account may serve you better. On the other hand, if you qualify and prefer market exposure, a Roth IRA offers straightforward tax benefits.

When my parents got divorced, I worried that maybe that meant they didn't love me any more. I was wrong. They still did. I don't see my dad as much as I would like to, but he does love me. My mom loves me. Even my sisters love me. Love is pretty important. It's like wearing a suit of armor. It makes you strong.

(here is Rachel feeling nervous and hiding it because that’s not her Role for the first time... that we know of)

But even though it was scary, it was also way cool.

Not that it’s a role that she’s particularly unsuited too, though.

<This isn't like being an elephant. If I got in trouble as an elephant I could morph back to my human body. But I'm a long way up. If I morphed back to my human body . . . > I didn't finish the sentence. But I suddenly had this vision of me, real me, Rachel, dropping like a stone toward the hard ground below. I guess Tobias could sense the fear that was building in me.

I want to keep an eye out for this, see if this is a thing with them, that Tobias sees through her bravado more easily than the others. (Not that it’s hard at this point, granted.)

I would have smiled, if I'd had a mouth. Jake is like me. He loves excitement and adventure and being a little crazy. Maybe we're so alike because we're cousins. Also, we're both a little competitive, I guess. It bothered me that he was a faster diver than I was. Just like it bothered him that I could soar better.

Mind you, I don’t remember that anyone else sees this in Jake. (or that Rachel continues to?) 

<I can see them,> Cassie said. She and Marco had joined up with us. They had both morphed the same osprey.

I need someone to seriously analyse the Ani’s bird morphs, and in particular explain this to me. Why Cassie and Marco would both choose to morph osprey, why Applegate chose to have them double up. 

<They're way too young to be drinking,> Marco said in his most parent-like voice.

lol

There's an old, run-down church no one uses any more not far from the beach. It has a bell tower, although the bell is gone. We flew there. That's where we had started from.

That is a cool location. Someone else said they should’ve gone there more often, and I find myself agreeing. Maybe if Cassie’s dad had actually used the barn 

Cassie, still in her osprey body, peered down at her watch lying on the floor. <Good. An hour and a half. We should try never to go over an hour and a half. >

more lol

Morphing takes concentration. When you're going from human to animal, it's harder. You really have to focus. But going back to human is easier.

(huh)

In some places when my skin reappeared, it would have this beautiful feather pattern for a few seconds.

I swear this is mentioned every single time they morph or demorph from birds.

My yellow bill sucked back into my mouth to become white teeth. That part sort of itched... My lips grew out around my teeth.

Here’s a horrible image for you: Rachel, between these two sentences.

As for me, well, it's not that I'm Miss Fashion or whatever, but I do like nice clothes.

Sure, Jan.

Looks are not the important thing. It's what's in your head that counts, and that's what I concentrate on. Of course that's another area where Cassie and I are a little different. I guess she would say, "No, it's what's in your heart that counts."

I swear she would wear overalls to a wedding if someone didn't stop her.

There’s fic of this, right?

tall, thin, with blonde shoulder-length hair. white teeth. eyes... my normal blue Jake is kind of a big guy, strong-looking, with brown hair and serious, dark eyes Marco is a little self-conscious about being short. He has long brown hair and a dark complexion, and most girls think he's really cute. But being small bothers him. Tobias, who had once had unruly blond hair and eyes that seemed hurt and tender and hopeful all at once.

Physical descriptions of the Animorphs. Oddly, nothing on Cassie. Two paragraphs about her family’s animal thing, nothing on what she looks like (here) except for the wings.

"One of us could jump off the tallest building and it would be totally realistic. Then we just morph into a bird on the way down and fly away."

I googled it, and apparently takes about 8.81 seconds to fall off the Empire State Building. (about) So. Either Jake doesn’t know that at all, or? Cassie morphed her wings into arms in about three seconds and laughed gaily. and she’s the best so I don’t think 9 seconds is remotely possible.

We didn't take the shortcut through the construction site, like we would have in the old days, he took the Andalite and... You know what? I really don't want to talk about that.  We all fell silent as we passed by the site. Then I noticed that Cassie had stopped walking and was just standing there. I went back to her and realized that she was crying. Flying around in the sky had been a wonderful distraction. But my head was still full of awful memories.

"Last night I had a terrible nightmare about the Yeerk pool. I was back down there. Down there in that vast open cave. And I was hearing the screams and cries of the people being dragged to the pool." Cassie nodded. "You know what's worse than the screams? The way they stop screaming once the Yeerk is in their heads. Once they've become Controllers. Then you know they are slaves again. Lost."

we are young and traumatised. ):

Jake kind of stroked Cassie's head. I guess he got embarrassed, because he instantly pulled away.

Marco gave me a sour look. "This is what you want to keep doing? Risking our lives and the lives of everyone we know? For what?" "For freedom," Cassie said simply. Marco didn't have a smart answer to that.

~

"If there were some way for us to get close to Chapman . . ." Jake let the words hang in the air. He carefully didn't look at me. But I knew what he meant. He'd obviously been thinking about this for a while. "Melissa?" I asked.

Hiii Jake.

I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. Jake was right, of course. Chapman was the logical lead to follow. And Melissa was our way to get close. It made sense. It made sense for me to betray an old friend. It also made me feel like dirt.

:( :( :(

I do it because I've always thought of myself as kind of clumsy. My mom says I'm not, but that's how I feel anyway. Besides, it's just cool, hitting the little spring board and flipping through the air to bounce off the vaulting horse and stick the landing. Not as cool as flying, maybe, but fun just the same.

why Rachel likes gymnastics

She has pale gray eyes and pale blonde hair and pale skin. She looks like one of those solemn elves in a Tolkien book. At first glance she looks delicate, but when you look a little closer, you see strength there, too.

It’s kinda sad Melissa never showed up much.

That was a lie, of course. But what was I going to say? Yeah, Melissa, same old same old. Been turning into animals and fighting aliens. You know, the usual.

:(

Frankly, Rachel’s thinking M’s a Controller is, um. Well, rushing over when you’re hurt then drifting off later seems like the opposite of controller signs.

It used to be we were very close. She was my second best friend, after Cassie.

Interesting question: what does Cassie think of Melissa? Did they know each other well? Rachel asks Melissa to the mall and maybe that was their thing before they drifted apart and Cassie’s sort of been drafted into the shopping thing quite recently. Could be.

and then...

He reached for me and missed. I walked faster. He was behind me. I broke into a run. He ran after me.

I had no idea what was going on here as a kid and am really glad of that.

I was shaking like a leaf when I walked into my house.

‘Cause I, like Rachel, was more scared of Chapman than that anonymous guy

She was at the kitchen table, half hidden by a pile of buff-colored books. My mother's a lawyer, and she brings work home a lot so she can be around me and my two little sisters.

:)

I felt like saying, well, Mom, I don't have to watch things that are scary, I am scary. Should have seen me a little while ago with tusks sticking out of my mouth and a three-foot-long nose.

(I feel like “I am scary” ends up mattering a lot about Rachel.)

Cassie gave me an encouraging smile. "It was dumb putting yourself in that position, Rachel. You need to be more careful. But still, I'd have paid my next ten allowances to see the look on that guy's face."

I also feel like at least Cassie should’ve been written to get it more. Lot of victim blaming through this bit.

what are you going to morph into? A cockroach?" We all shuddered at the thought.

you are so young and innocent  (we kind of ignore the very basic trauma of morphing a lot, that your own body shifts into something that might disgust you, and certainly through states that disgust you)

But then I looked at the photos I had mounted in one of those big frames with six different holes. One was of me with my mom and dad on a whitewater rafting trip we took. One was of me visiting my dad at his job -- he's a weatherman on TV. We were grinning in front of a map of storms. Another picture was of Cassie and me riding horses side by side, with Cassie, as usual, looking like she'd spent her entire life in the saddle, and me looking like a total dweeb.