Odd -- according to Runesmith, my abysmal memory is 1 point below the racial average of 5000, and my second highest stat.
Maybe a bugged description?
5000 is not only average, but also min and max for generated elves. The description is RELATIVE, so while the medium difference is 0, 1 is considered a HUGE gap.
And I think it dropped due to an attribute rust, that's all. 1 point is easy to get rusted.
now this makes me wonder, what raises atributes?
I can definitely say my Intuition made mad jumps up to max when I was training Misc Objects. Willpower and Focus both maxxed while I was fighting a Colossus with a bronze warhammer; not sure if it was the hammer training or fighting while Drowsy was in the red.
So then how did my characrer manage to max out linguistics? It's not like he could talk to anyone...
With each skill "level" upgrade you get random attr. increase.
I don't think Memory stat is necessary
I'm pretty sure it's just a placeholder for a soul mechanic.
As Toady One said before, we now have separate "a soul" and "a body" objects. Physical stats are now attributes of a body while mental stats are attributes of a soul. And a creature can have multiple souls in one body.
It's not used anywhere yet, but the system for future magic and possible soul reincarnation/transferring is already in.