Exigency Character Creation/Character List

Aug 20, 2015 9:02 pm
You can read the primer but we'll go over a few things in more detail here! As this is a play test, we'll take a casual approach to things like respecifying and balancing on the fly.

For simplicity's sake, consider picking one of the following 25XP attribute/talent arrays:

4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 0 - Talent A +2, Talent B +1
3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1 - Talent A +2, Talent B +2
3, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1 - Talent A +3, Talent B +1
4, 4, 1, 1, 1, 1 - Talent A +1
5, 2, 2, 1, 0, 0 - Talent A +2
4, 2, 1, 1, 0, 0 - Talent A +4

(XP is spent Shadowrun style, with XP cost being the same as the value purchased. STR 1 costs 1XP, STR 2 costs 2XP/3XP for the cumulative total, STR 3 costs 3XP/6XP cumulatively, and so on.)

You will then have 3 aspect abilities (4 if you only have a single talent): choose which attribute each aspect uses. Try and describe what kind of passive/active abilities you'd like and we'll figure something out in the OOC thread!

You also have 5 Resource slots: Resources are very abstract, taking the place of inventory, reputation, background etc. You might opt to have one or two powerful Resources, or multiple minor ones. The more slots you dedicate to the Resource, the more impactful it'll be, but conversely the bigger the downside. Resources can grant stat bonuses and/or additional aspects, but in return boss characters/dangerous events can Compromise them and saddle you with unexpected penalties. And, of course, you get to imply exactly what that Compromise will be when it comes.

Remember that any talent can be used with any attribute, but note that an aspect can only be used with the attribute it's tied to. If a Resource grants an aspect, that aspect can only be used in conjunction with that Resource (i.e., a sword that grants a critical bonus won't let your kicks and punches benefit).

You can present your character stats however you prefer, but if you'd like a suggestion:

Name: and a title if you like, e.g., Bob Bobson the Berserker
Biography:

VIT:
STR:
AGI:
FOC:
WIL:
KNO:

Hit Points: 5 (or your VIT+KNO if higher, potentially boosted by aspects too)
Edge Points: 3

Talents: 1 or 2 out of Bio, Insight, Melee, Mobility, Psi, Social, Stealth, Tech. Remember that a talent is a fairly broad field and represents more than just skill!

Aspects: 3 or 4 with catchy names and a vague idea of what you want them to do

Resources: 5 slots in the form of "description [slots taken up]", things like "martial arts [2]" or "sharp knife [1]" or "infamous hitman [2]" or "heavy cybernetic implants [4]" and so on. The greater the number of slots, the higher their impact in both a positive and negative sense. Losing your knife is very different to losing your robotic limbs!

And then we can see about making you a character card or character sheet! Sample character:

http://i.imgur.com/H9OOMx0.png

Ol' Grunt here doesn't really fit into any of the sample builds mentioned in the primer, but he's a close-quarters fighter with some support abilities, excelling in cover and then breaking that cover to distract enemies and give his friends a bit of a boost (in this system by the way, Advantage is a persistent +2 bonus to one roll in a turn, or you can spend and lose that Advantage for +1d6). No Sell has obvious use in combat, but thanks to his Social rank he could also use it outside of it to make an enemy's attempts at threats and intimidation backfire.

With item Resources, the better the user's stats, the better the Resources they can support. Grunt's armour will grant a little more damage reduction (6, to be precise) than a single-slot Resource normally would due to his impressive STR. The knife is straightforward enough, granting +2 to Melee damage rolls. The rifle is slightly different: it's a 2d8 standard attack that ignores 5 points of armour. Grunt can obviously use it at range, but with a poor to-hit and damage modifier thanks to that low FOC and his lack of Insight talent: but if the target shares his tile, he can use the rifle in Melee combat using his STR/Melee talent rank.

His military rep has more abstract use: you can feasibly invoke it at any time that his background would be relevant for an unconditional +1 bonus, even after rolling. Likewise you can use it in a more narrative sense, such as claiming that you have contacts and leads etc in an otherwise fresh and unfamiliar area.

It makes sense as he's a soldier, but you might think: that's a constant bonus, I can justify most anything using it. And you'd be right. But every time you invoke that background, a hidden counter goes up. Eventually it'll be Compromised and you might not like what happens (or maybe you will, as the Compromise event could easily be something you came up with in the first place)!

Put short, Exigency encounters are intended to support and enable storytelling and a little world building: but that doesn't mean we don't want them to be balanced and fun too! All questions welcome!
Aug 22, 2015 9:41 am
It might be Sunday or Monday before I get a chance to stat out my character, just fyi.
Last edited August 22, 2015 9:43 am
Aug 22, 2015 11:46 am
That's fine! We're still waiting for a couple more players anyway.
Aug 22, 2015 1:53 pm
Looking to roll with an anti-psionic "witch hunter" more or less. Maybe just a strait up sci-fi Van Helsing type: hunting monsters, witches, and whatever else falls into this category. Probs gonna just build it around the executioner archetype with some modifications.
Aug 22, 2015 2:44 pm
I'm thinking a psion wired up in cybernetic implants. Something not entirely different to Vader. Used to be an amazing telekinetic, is now merely good because the implants detracted from it, but is a lot stronger/tougher than they used to be? Blaster/Specialist, perhaps? I want to be able to slow or block enemies and maybe have an attack passive.

RP wise I might be disgusted by Kenny's job, or maybe I'm bitter now and approve of it. Need to have a think.
Aug 22, 2015 3:34 pm
Kenny: Hmm, Executioner definitely sounds like the right fit. Maybe a high-WIL build that relies on discipline and determination: and obviously the high WIL helps versus telepathy etc. Could maybe be affiliated with one of the Orders, particularly The Hand (aka Bloodied Order, believes that justice and vengeance are one and the same, and that neither can happen without the righteous passion of their followers)

Possible abilities (sort of Hero/Executioner fusion, with a bit of tweaking):

Harder They Fall [Passive]
You gain a +1 bonus for every Size category OR talent rank that a target has over you. Your ability dice is also improved by one category versus these targets.

Fool Me Once [Empower]
Free action. After being hit by a specific Resource or aspect power (or studying it at length), you can Drain that Resource or aspect for one turn.

Brutalise [Encounter power]
Full action. Roll ability dice (default 1d6) as Pure [Attribute] attack, dealing Lethal hit to adjacent target on success, or 1N on fail. Witnesses must make a Mind check or be Slowed.


Albi: first off, welcome aboard! And maybe you needed implants because of a renegade psionor? If you nearly died fighting one of them, you probably wouldn't shed too many tears about the brutal tactics of the people sent to take them down.

Possible abilities (actually Blaster and Powerhouse with a custom one for what I imagine a lightsaber would do :P):

Psi Blade [Passive]
Your attacks consider targets to have half their usual armour value. If an attack bypasses all their armour, or they have none, +1F hit.

Miring Field [Empower]
Standard action. Nominate adjacent tile: occupants gain Priority. If an occupant leaves they gain an Exploit but the tile effect ends.

Smash [Encounter power]
Full action. Adjacent target is afflicted with Knockdown for one round, then Slowed for two rounds. Constitution save reduces to Stunned one round/Slowed for one round.


P.S. An Empower just means you have to spend 1HP to fuel it. An Exploit is a status effect (self-applied by critical failures) that you can spend to guarantee success on a roll. It can also mimic most other status effects, meaning you can use it to mimic Advantage etc
Aug 23, 2015 9:36 am
Very interesting. Does an Exploit also let me guarantee enemy failure: could Miring Field be used in such a way that Kenny could automatically kill his target and slow enemies nearby?

I imagine we need a spread of talents through the party (someone for Insight, someone for Social). Could I also ask to see what a purer more damage based Blaster would look like?
Aug 23, 2015 3:09 pm
Short answer yes, long answer it depends on the enemy! Some elites and most bosses might have Edge points like PCs do, and they can opt to burn that Edge to survive a Lethal hit. Unless they have the Knockdown status, which renders them helpless

And as for Blaster abilities (damage over crowd control):

Splash [Passive]
If a target's defence beats your skill roll they can only half the damage of your attacks, not negate them.

Collateral [Empower]
Tied to a standard attack. All enemies sharing the tile (including initial target) must pass a Reactions check versus your damage roll or else take 2F hits.

Energise [Encounter power]
Gain a Feat token as a free action. While retaining it deal +5 damage. You cannot use an Edge power while this token is unspent. After spending this token you are Slowed for two rounds.
Aug 23, 2015 3:36 pm
In that case... I'll consider taking the '5, 2, 2, 1, 0, 0 - Talent A +2' array.

VIT - 2
STR - 5 - Melee +2
AGI - 0
FOC - 1
WIL - 2
KNO - 0

Psi Blade, Miring Field, and then I don't know whether to take Smash or Energise. Depends what the rest of the party thinks?

Also from a mechanics sense, these attribute scores feel very low? Having low WIL seems especially egregious if I used to be a high-powered psion. Likewise only having a single talent rank. Am I missing something?
Aug 23, 2015 3:47 pm
Well, a level 5 character isn't exactly world shattering, but keep in mind that attribute scores in Exigency are more like the attribute modifiers in other systems. Your STR is a no-quibbles +5 to a standard attack's damage there, right off the bat.

You can also get a couple of bonus aspects/talent ranks/attribute boosts out of your Resources if you'd like, but of course you'd lose access to them if the Resources get Drained etc
Aug 23, 2015 3:53 pm
Help me understand something.

If an ability is listed as (Empower) does that mean I have to spend HP to use it, or just my action? If I'm just using actions, what does spending HP do?
Aug 23, 2015 4:01 pm
Biography:
Wilhelm Falstaff is from the far reaches of civilization. His home world pulled words like "desolate" to the fullest extent of their meanings. His early life was defined by the fear of what goes bump in the night. Watching his life be destroyed over and over, from the dark corners of his mind came a shout, "No more!" Taking up his strength he struck down that which he once feared. A pact had been made with the beast within himself, no longer would he feel the twinge of fear. He had neither time nor the patience for useless emotions of the like. Now, it is the things that go bump in the night that fear him. Wilhelm Falstaff is a hunter. Of beasts, of men, it matters not. The ones that exploit the dark to be their weapon shall fall before his feet. For the Reaper is coming, and he brought a big-ass scythe.

XP: 0

VIT: 2
STR: 2
AGI: 1
FOC: 2
WIL: 4
KNO: 2

Hit Points: 5
Edge Points: 3

Talents:
Psi +3
Bio +2
Melee +2
Social +1

Aspects:
Harder They Fall [Passive]
You gain a +1 bonus for every Size category OR talent rank that a target has over you. Your ability dice is also improved by one category versus these targets.

Fool Me Once [Empower]
Free action. After being hit by a specific Resource or aspect power (or studying it at length), you can Drain that Resource or aspect for one turn.

Brutalise [Encounter power]
Full action. Roll ability dice (default 1d6) as Pure [Attribute] attack, dealing Lethal hit to adjacent target on success, or 1N on fail. Witnesses must make a Mind check or be Slowed.

Resources:
Psionic Defense Training [2] (+1 to Will and +1 to Psi; Makes him bad at empathizing with people)
Vibro-Scythe [2] (grants a +2 in melee; is the physical manifestation of his willpower, feels somewhat helpless without it)
Hunter Rep [1] (+1 Social; seen as a dangerous threat by some because of his violent occupation and in general makes people uncomfortable being around him)
Aug 23, 2015 4:02 pm
whipstache says:
Help me understand something.

If an ability is listed as (Empower) does that mean I have to spend HP to use it, or just my action? If I'm just using actions, what does spending HP do?
You have to spend 1HP and the listed action. If you spend 1HP on a standard attack you can deal an additional hit to your target (i.e., the default Empower ability that everyone has access to is basically just like-for-like HP removal, sacrifice one of yours to guarantee taking out one of theirs)
Aug 23, 2015 4:14 pm
Edcrab says:
whipstache says:
Help me understand something.

If an ability is listed as (Empower) does that mean I have to spend HP to use it, or just my action? If I'm just using actions, what does spending HP do?
You have to spend 1HP and the listed action. If you spend 1HP on a standard attack you can deal an additional hit to your target (i.e., the default Empower ability that everyone has access to is basically just like-for-like HP removal, sacrifice one of yours to guarantee taking out one of theirs)
So, how would I categorize an ability that I don't have to spend HP to use? Something that's just requires a standard action?
Here's what I'm thinking:

Disabling Virus (__________): Standard action. Target any technological component. That component is disabled until an adjacent enemy succeeds on a KNO save. If a HP is spent (making this an Enounter) the enemy must also spend a Full action AFTER the successful KNO save to repair the component. (KNO)
Aug 23, 2015 4:29 pm
Nice one. I'd still call that an Empower, and then we could just think of the non-HP version as a minor passive that just happens to be connected to it. Alternatively you could nix the non-HP part and just state that an enemy has to spend a full-turn action + KNO save to beat it, but either option works for me

By "technological component" I think we could apply that to doors and control panels etc, but when dealing with high-level robotic/cyborg enemies I'd probably define one of their Resources as a component rather than the whole thing (i.e., disabling the mech's legs rather than being able to turn the whole thing off until someone fixes it)
Aug 23, 2015 4:32 pm
Hold on, I think I'm finally understanding something. Could I say "Enhanced limbs [5]" and then give myself +5 STR?
Aug 23, 2015 5:26 pm
Edcrab says:
Nice one. I'd still call that an Empower, and then we could just think of the non-HP version as a minor passive that just happens to be connected to it. Alternatively you could nix the non-HP part and just state that an enemy has to spend a full-turn action + KNO save to beat it, but either option works for me

By "technological component" I think we could apply that to doors and control panels etc, but when dealing with high-level robotic/cyborg enemies I'd probably define one of their Resources as a component rather than the whole thing (i.e., disabling the mech's legs rather than being able to turn the whole thing off until someone fixes it)
Yeah, this is exactly what I was thinking; focusing more on weapons and systems rather than an entire mechanical creature.
Aug 23, 2015 6:00 pm
Albionest says:
Hold on, I think I'm finally understanding something. Could I say "Enhanced limbs [5]" and then give myself +5 STR?
Yes. I probably wouldn't recommend that as you'd be putting all your eggs into one, uh, Resource, but that's entirely rules-legal

Note that such a Resource's downside would be incredibly debilitating, and that's in addition to the 0s and 1s you've already got
Aug 23, 2015 7:00 pm
VIT - 2
STR - 7 - Melee +2, Mobility +1 (I had a spare point, and presumably STR is used for jumping and climbing.)
AGI - 0
FOC - 1
WIL - 4
KNO - 1

Psi Blade, Miring Field, Smash or Energise

Cyber arms [3] +3 STR. When disabled, limbs move sluggishly with speed and strength inferior to even an average human's.
Sword [1] Grants (whatever damage bonus is fair), but is much less skilled in unarmed combat and needs the sword to work.
Bitter former psion [1] +1 WIL, but tends to be unpleasant and snappy around psions.


What does everyone think? I don't know whether to play the above or be a more traditional ranged Blaster. Would I be stepping on Wilhelm's toes?
Aug 23, 2015 7:21 pm
Albionest says:
What does everyone think? I don't know whether to play the above or be a more traditional ranged Blaster. Would I be stepping on Wilhelm's toes?
I don'y think you'd be stepping on toes, but I'm starting to think my party members won't want me (an active psionics user) around. :)
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