Attributes (Morrowind)

Attributes are intrinsic characteristics that are quantified to indicate the quality of one's traits or abilities, such as Intelligence or Personality. There are eight primary attributes, and four secondary attributes that are derived from the primary.

Attributes differ from skills. Although both can be improved over time, skills involve performing specific tasks and/or the use of various items that can be directly learned or practiced, such as fighting with a long blade weapon, repairing damaged equipment, or casting spells from a specific school of magic.

Overview
For additional details, including the influence of race, gender, class, birthsigns, items, and spells upon attributes, see individual articles.

Increasing attributes
Primary attributes are slowly increased throughout the game by the use of skills. Each attribute governs three to five skills, and practicing them allows an increase the corresponding attribute at level-up. The increase in an attribute is related to the number of times a skill has been used since the previous level-up. This is indicated by a multiplier, which can range from 1× to 5×. The only exception is Luck, which does not govern any skills and therefore can never have a multiplier.

Secondary attributes are determined by simple mathematical formulae, and are automatically recalculated with any change in primary attributes.