In the world of Mada, there are a great many number of strange beasts, fantastic creatures, and terrible monsters.  Many of these creatures are sentient, possessing a life and culture all their own – and there are five among these who are the most well-known.

Players in Fifth Age choose one of five races to be as their character.  Each race will be presented with some background and roleplaying elements, as well as basic appearance.  This will include costume requirements – the way you must look as a player to correctly portray that race.

Each race will then have several “trees” of abilities.  Each race has five such trees, and each tree has three steps.  These special abilities are available to anyone playing that race.  A player has 5 points to spend on his or her racial abilities.  The first step in any tree costs 1 point, the second costs 2, and the third costs 3.  You do not have to purchase all of your abilities from the same tree, though you must purchase abilities in order; you cannot purchase step 2 in a given tree without step 1.

But wait – so you can’t get the last ability in any tree?!?  You can, but at a cost.  Each race also has a weakness; an Achilles’ Heel, if you will.  These weaknesses are optional – no player has to take them.  But if you do, you get an additional point, opening up more options for your racial abilities.

Each special ability will also have additional costume requirements – no two people look exactly alike, and the features of a race may vary.  You do not have to spend all of your racial points, but whatever you choose, that’s final – unspent points are lost, and you never get more.  This is essentially what your character was born with, and it won’t change.