This is how you create a chararacter in TSOY. (updated for Revised edition on May 8, 2006)

1. Think a little about the kind of story you want to tell with this character.
   • An idea of where your character is from, and what race they are.
   • A few - and I mean a few - sentences about who your character is and what he cares about.
   • A description of your character's appearance, also short.
   • A name. This is totally not optional. Pick a name before you write a number.
2. Split 11 dice between the three attribute pools, with a minimum of 1 and maximum of 7: Vigor, Instinct, and Reason.
3. All characters start with three innate abilities; Write down all three of these and select ranks for them. Set one at Adept, one at Competent, and one at Unskilled.
   • Endure (Vigor) - measure of ability to push through pain and fatigue; tests of physical endurance
   • React (Instinct) - measure of character's quickness of body and mind
   • Resist (Reason) - measure of the strength of a character's will
4. Choose additional Abilities from your setting list. You should choose one at Adept and three at Competent for a starting character. All other abilities are considered Unskilled.
5. Choose one Secret.
6. Choose one Key.
7. Determine the number of starting Advances, usually set by the GM. Usually this number is 5. You will earn earn additional advances during play through collecting experience.
8. Spend your advances to improve your character in some way. You cannot choose the same kind of advance twice in a row. Each use of an advance can do one of the following:
   • Increase by one the maximum size of one of the character's Pools.
   • Increase an Unskilled Ability to Competent.
   • Add one Secret to the character.
   • Add one Key to the character.
9. Use additional Advances to raise Abilities higher than Competent.
   • 1 Advance = Unskilled -> Competent
   • 2 Advances = Competent -> Adept
   • 3 Advances = Adept -> Master
   • 4 Advances = Master -> Grand Master

Mandatory Abilities, Secrets and Keys

Do species abilities/secrets/keys that are mandatory cost advances in character creation?

Mandatory stuff *does* cost advances. Them's the breaks. [1]

Advancement

''Does buying something that costs more than one advance still only count as one advance in a row?

Yes. [2]