Character Creation Discussion

Use this thread to discuss your characters, and while we are at it discuss the setting a little bit.

I figure I can work with some of the world I've already had a partially made with other play tests. So we'll begin in the city of Miletus large sized walled city that is the intersection of several major trade routes.

It's meant to be a blank slate world defined as we need it. However, I used to make 'broadsheets' for this game, and this is the one I had made for Miletus when the party was there, so this gives you a sense of some things going on and vauge setting details. Broadsheet Link

A character consists in a Belief, Edge, Weakness and Traits.

Your Belief is a code or ethical stance that captures how your character views the world. It should be a brief statement.

Your Edge is a skill, talent or ability that makes your character unique. Describe it, then I will come up with a mechanical benefit.

Your Weakness is a circumstance in which your character is severely hindered be it because of fear, obsession, distraction or some other reason.

Your Traits represent skills, training, knowledge, talents and background. Traits are what you will use while playing the game to determine the outcome of dice rolls. A Trait is 2-3 words. You get 7 points to spend on creating and improving Traits, and Traits have a max rating of 5. Note, a Trait at Rating 1 is something you are committed to learning, but are not yet competent at doing.

A sample character:

Warklegnaw, Forest Giant Elder

Belief: Nature is our supplier, creator and ought be protected.
Edge: I was a Shaman to my people because of my ability to knit wounds and repair the mind through ritual magic.
- Effect: During a Rest you may spend Experience earned in your Forest Shaman Trait to remove conditions with Severity 2 or less. Every Experience point spent counts as a 1 Check for this purpose.
Weakness: I am advanced in age, and sometimes my bones simply need rest.
Traits: Forest Shaman 4; Improvised Club Fighter 2; City Speak 1

Here are some ideas I have for a martial artist / gardener.

Belarigen, Reman Gardener

Belief: Prune the weak to grow the strong.
Edge: Vineborn - uses ropes and vines as others use sticks and clubs.
Weakness: I am in hiding and am deathly afraid that my identity might become known.
Traits: Gardening 3, Ninja 3, Liar 1

I love this system so much. There's always at least one funny one in every bunch of characters; but then it ends up totally serious in play. Great stuff.

A bit more fluff, Rema was 'created' by a previous player as an analog to Ancient Rome. Other than superficial similarities in governance, and having a similar military structure, no other details of Rema were settled, so you can, as you like, fill in details to make your character fit as a Reman (or, otherwise adjust your character to fit the 'Roman' theme).

What kind of things do you imagine Vineborn allowing your character to do?

Not sure... I was imagining kung fu like rope dart master, and thought that "Vineborn" would fantasy it up a bit. Perhaps some sort of rope animation ability, as in the animated vine or rope tries to grapple things that it touches.

I quite like the Roman idea of Rema. I'll draft up some background notes and plop those to you.

What sort of tone are we aiming for here on the spectrum of zany to grim-dark?

Here's what Candi wrote in the initial forum:
I take the first two descriptors ("High Action" & "Gritty") to indicate a fairly serious, albeit action-oriented, tone.

Dasclaw Zhen

Belief: Magic is the beginning and the end; all else is secondary.

Edge: Dasclaw is a magivore. He can absorb magic and use it to power his spells.

Weakness: Dasclaw will risk it all just for a chance at learning a new spell.

Traits: Magician 3, Researcher 2, Manipulator 2

0. What is your character's name? Dasclaw Zhen
1. What is your character's primary motivation? To discover and master new magic.
2. How would others describe your character's appearance? Foreign; Dasclaw looks different than any other human they've seen, though it's hard to pinpoint exactly what is different. The angle of the eyes, perhaps the shape of the nose, the posture of the head...all are just slightly off from the norm.
3. What personality traits or mannerisms would someone who just met your character immediately notice? His nose twitches when his interest is piqued.
4. Is your character religious? If so, describe the deity they worship. Not at all.
5. Your character has been ambushed by a trio of brigands. They draw their weapons and move to attack. How does your character respond? He observes closely to see if they were using any magic to sneak up on him, or in the committing of the crime. If they employ any, he tries to ask them questions about it, before draining the magic. If they don't employ any, he shrugs and tries to think of a novel use of an existing spell to eliminate them.
6. Your character has offended a nobleman, who is now threatening to summon the town guards. How does your character respond? He apologizes for assuming that all noblemen were into that sort of thing, and suggests that the noble instead name a form of payment he would accept for the right to examine his family jewels closely. "They are steeped in magic, you know, and I simply must investigate!"
7. How will your character die? He will be busy locked in a heated contest of magic with an enchanted monster, slowly getting the upper hand, and a commoner he inadvertently slighted years ago uses the opportunity to slip a very mundane dagger in between his ribs.

(edit to add the Q&A)

The game is flexible enough to capture both, in practice it tends to run the line between zany and grim (edging more towards grim; as I said there's always one joker in the character creation mix - last game it was a character inspired by the idea "Birdlock Holmes").

The high action comes from the description based conflict resolution system, which makes combat more like an action movie and less like a real fight. The feeling of grit comes from the condition system, you will feel weighed down over the course of adventuring and this will compel you to find ways to rest and recover (the grit is also mediated a bit by the alchemy mechanics if we use them).

So, we could do either zany or grim. I haven't got a main plot yet (I was considering the Armies of Nex in that broadsheet article though, at least, the release of that paper could mark the first moment of the adventure and we go from there). Personally, I tend to not be very good at GMing zany, as I become a bucket of giggles and my logic circuits (which are highly refined) don't help me as much. So let's go with serious, grim, but open to a dash or pinch of zane on occasion.

Love Dasclaw, reminds me of a character class from Fairy Tail (an anime I quite like). Dragon Mages in that anime are able to eat magic and energy matching their type, which allows them to power up. Thinking about it, so far we've got a bit of a Fairy Tail like group coming together. Different 'magics'.. Could be the start of an adventure theme! Perhaps you are a guild of 'talented individuals' for hire.

How about these mechanical effects:

Vineborn: When you earn at least one Detail from the description of the manipulation of a rope or vine, you may choose to treat your active trait as if it had +1 Rating. If it already has Rating 5, then you treat your active trait as if you had specialization in it.

Magivore: When you use a Defense die to eliminate a Threat, or block a Nemesis attack, assigned to you that is magical in nature, your pool limit is increased by 2 for one round. These bonus dice may only be earned with Descriptions that are magical in nature.

***

If we go with the different 'magics' and make magic a common feature of the world, I'll want to make an adjustment to Magivore and make it limited to magics you have learned to consume. I'll probably tie it back to Traits you have (so it counts as 'consumable' if the magic could be described by one of your known traits) OR, making it an advancable ability where you have keywords attached to Magivore of magic types/sources (Fire, Mystical, etc...) and you can spend X Checks (X = current number of consumable magics) to add a new type/source to the list that you have been subject to. I'm leaning towards the advanceable, I like the idea of an Edge that grows in power as you play.

Also, if it helps to inspire you (or just flesh out your character), this is a character creation survey I like to encourage players to answer:

0. What is your character's name?
1. What is your character's primary motivation?
2. How would others describe your character's appearance?
3. What personality traits or mannerisms would someone who just met your character immediately notice?
4. Is your character religious? If so, describe the deity they worship.
5. Your character has been ambushed by a trio of brigands. They draw their weapons and move to attack. How does your character respond?
6. Your character has offended a nobleman, who is now threatening to summon the town guards. How does your character respond?
7. How will your character die?

Davik Valthorn

Belief: Those who don't protect their belongings well enough deserve to have them taken
Edge: Davik is descended from a long line of shape-shifters
Weakness: Davik has an eye for the ladies and has a hard time denying their requests
Traits: Thief 3, Knife-thrower 2, Smooth-talker 2

Tell me more about the kind of shape-shifter Davik is and the nature of that shape-shifting.

I don't have a preference here, between magic-is-common and magic-is-rare. I've played and run plenty of games where magic is common, and at the same time one of my favorite AD&D campaigns I ran was one in which magic was looked on with suspicion by most people, magic users were illegal, and magic users could only gain levels by defeating and draining the magic out of a rival. So I'm comfortable with either approach.

If you've read the Harry Potter books you may know what a Metamorphmagus is. Tonks, one of the characters, can change her features at will. She couldn't change into another creature, such as a dog or cat, but could easily blend in anywhere or take on someone else's appearance.

Vargas the Jackal

Belief: You've got to evolve if you want to survive.

Edge: Path of the Nomadic Warrior - Vargas has seem some things in his time and he's never walked away from a fight he didn't like, with the tip of a spear or a mug of half drunken grog weapons are everywhere.

Weakness: Da Whispers N the Mutterings - While Vargas might be good in a fight he isn't so much capable of most things social. People who do talk to him seem to realize quickly he's having more than one conversation at the same time. It's unclear if he's talking to himself, has mental issues, talks to someone imaginary, or a ghost. Few people feel the need to ask.

Traits: Prison Gladiator 4, Woodsman 2, Pirate 1

0. What is your character's name? Vargas (It's Vargas right?) Yeah Vargas the Jackal.
1. What is your character's primary motivation? Worlds a big place, plenty to see... shinies to have. And I like to drink and touch Bo- (What? Oh right we got a fine last time we said that.) Uh... Fortune and Fame (That includes da women yeah? Okay, just checkin')
2. How would others describe your character's appearance? Uh Big no wait, (Oy! Describe me! Yeah right now, they asked? Well sorry if you feel like John on the Spot now talk... huh... Like a bear... oh like the mutton... I like mutton.) Big and Grisly (huh) Oh grissly like the chewy fat (Oh that's tendons...) like the chewy Tendons (Well I like it, it's like a meat snack you keep chewing)
3. What personality traits or mannerisms would someone who just met your character immediately notice? Uh I dunno... Hi I'm Vargas the Jackal... well I introduce myself, (You introduce yourself... well I don't know your name... Carl? What kind of name is Carl? Oh it's with a K... well that's kind of the same thing though innit? Wait what happened to Jerry and Derrick?) I guess I'd say they'd notice I was polite *sniff* and possibly have been drinking... a lot.
4. Is your character religious? If so, describe the deity they worship. I don't really do that whole religious thing really. I guess I'd have to meet a deity before I worshipped em... otherwise it's just pretend really. Is there a deity of alcohol or women? (I'm surprised you were quite for once)
5. Your character has been ambushed by a trio of brigands. They draw their weapons and move to attack. How does your character respond? *Vargas snorts and laughs* Just three? Uh ok *snicker* right so two to the right knock their heads together, bloke on the left kick to the jimblies. Oh and then I pull my weapon. *snicker* Three (I know three blocks ambush me... well I know... well yeah if I was on the pot it would be different... wait why would they be waiting for me to pull down my briches... well if that's the case why not just shake it in their face... well of course it's wrong that's why it's funny.)
6. Your character has offended a nobleman, who is now threatening to summon the town guards. How does your character respond? *blinks* well unless his a nobleman who can do magic and summon them immediately I'll remind him I'll summon my foot up his arse. (What? Well if he's yammering on about blah blah blah, how dare you and yak yak yak I'll have you know I'm Boring person who'll get the guards to fight for me over this and that he needs to grow a pair. If he was pissed he should have just said what was off about and if I was sorry I'd apologize, if I wasn't he should get over it.) Yeah so what's it going to be mate? You over it or am I going to have a new shoe?
7. How will your character die I guess after I've been killed (What? Well I don't know how I'll die, I'm not dead yet. Well I don't want to die... well can't I be immortal riding on the back of a dragon with a few buxom wenches? Well I may be missing the point but I'd rather that then dying... Are you crying? Well you're a bit of an emotional one aren't you.

Bonds:
Minor - Belarigen had an incident where he didn't want to get seen. Vargas stepped in since he thought a fight was going to break out. He even remembered to pull up his britches since he was relieving himself in an alley close by. Fun times.

Davik's Edge:
Shapeshifting
When you turn description includes, or is supported by, shapeshifting, you may allocate your successes as Strike or Defense after you roll your dice. When using this ability, you must allocate at least 1 success to Strike and 1 to Defense if you can.

Vargas' Edge:
Nomadic Warrior
As a fearless warrior you see opportunities in battle, and are nearly unshakable. If you are subject to an effect that reduces your Pool Limit, you gain +1 Pool Limit. Additionally, once per Rest, when you would gain a Condition with Severity 1, you may choose not to gain it.

At this point, as well, it's worth thinking about how this rag-tag band found itself together. Another trick I use to get this solved at character creation is asking players to come up with a Minor and Major Bond. A minor bond is an event in whcih you and another character met. A major bond is a strong connection with another character.

Hmm I guess I'll go this route. Let me know if any of these sound good.

@Qralloq Maybe Belarigen had an incident that where he didn't want to get seen. Vargas stepped in since he thought a fight was going to break out. He even remembered to pull up his britches since he was relieving himself in an alley close by.

@Spaceseeker19 Dasclaw does a bit of magical experiments before he gets a spell to work. Vargas likes shiney lights and might take to watching them while drinking.

@Nattkinson Davik started a bar fight when someone else bumped him and almost got caught doing something sneaking (stealing) Vargas had a wench showed in his face and he got to get into a bar room riot... Davik is officially named his 'Wingman'