Character Creation

Quickly sum up a character. This method does not produce any point values or detailed sheets of characters, but can be used to quickly come up with a character concept or to store character ideas. Also most NPCs can be kept at this level as most details are not needed for playing a side character.

Write up a quick one-line concept of the char, that defines him/her. Examples:

• Clumsy Ninja
• Heroic Knight
• Bad-Ass Biker
• Ass-kicking Black Orc
• Lazy wizard ¹⁾

Attributes can be noted down as specifically as Strength (or any/all of the other attributes): Good(3), but it's enough to note that the character is “not strong” or is “pretty agile”, has “good wit” or is “very strong in magic”. Whatever that accurately *enough* tells what the characters physical/mental/etc attributes are. Usually it's not needed to note anything on attributes that are Fair (as in average).

Write down if the character has any extraordinary powers (most human characters do not, however). For example, if she's a vampire she has various powers (but noting just “Vampire” is usually enough, for we know what that generally includes.) or if the character can fly or has some other supernatural powers. Any magic ability should be noted here. Advantages also go here.

(Note that Skills are not Powers, they are written down next.)

Note down any important skills. For example it might be a lot relevant in a fantasy setting to know what languages the character can speak, but in a present-day campaign almost all know English, so it's not much of a point. Secondary skills (craft skills etc.) need not be noted here, except if they are relevant to the character concept. “Legendary Blacksmith” -concept would have “Crafts:Blacksmithing” as a main skill, for example.

Describe on general terms what the character looks like. Is she tall? Fat or thin? Does she have long hair or is he bald? Is her hair green or is his head tattooed? be sure to note any important details, but ones that aren't are better left out. (If the character is of average build, you don't need to jot down every height, weight and such on.)

• Character Details
  • Note down all details on the character sheet.
  • Pay attention to race as this affects the CP cost of the character.
• Attributes
  • Average - Fair - score in any attribute costs 0 CP. Anything higher and you must pay CPs, go lower and you gain points.
  • For normal humans the range is 1..5.²⁾
  • Score of 6 may be possible for a human to have, but GMs should disallow it if they feel so.
  • Modify Skills
    • If ATTR is higher than Skill, gives +1 to Skill.
    • If ATTR is 1 lower or same as the Skill, modifier is 0.
    • If ATTR is 2 or more lower than the Skill, gives -1 penalty to Skill.
• Skills
  • Range is 0..5, with 2 being Fair (meaning that the character could have a profession requiring that skill).
  • Skills are modified with attributes, so note which skills you should choose based on your attributes.
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Secondary Skills
• Weapons, Armor & Equipment

After adventuring with your character, you eventually acquire experience. Experience is noted and used in two ways. On one place, you note the total experience your character had acquired in her lifetime (XP) (this just goes up, you never diminish it) and on another place, you note the experience your character currently has (EP). This can be used in various ways during your travel. You can always use EP right on the spot, even mid-battle. (vs. Character Points, which are only used while not actively adventuring.)

On calculating experience: Each character has a Threat Lvl³⁾ that is used to calculate how much XP she gets in relation to other characters in the same party. The final say is, as always, GM's on how much experience she gives out to the party in total, but you can easily count the amount modified by TLvl if you know

1. Total XP that the party will receive, all the party's TLvls and the number of persons in the party.
2. Total XP value that an average member of the party should receive and the TLvls and number of party members.

Calculate the average TLvl of your party, and divide that with the actual TLvl of a party member. Multiply that with Total XP divided by number of party members (or the amount an average party member should get) and you have the amount that particular member should get. (You can also download an application to do this for you from the Appendices.)

Although XP is not used, you still get special bonuses for having it. For every x points (see note) of XP your character can do or get special bonuses, most of these are applicable once per adventure (usually means 1/day).