Character and World Creation

We should put together our ideas about the World and the Characters at the same time, these choices will definitely affect each other and we may have to go back and change a previous choice based on new information ("Oh? That's sounds like a fun idea... but if the world is like that, then I would rather play a < ... >", or "If I am playing a < ... > then that means we need to make < this > must be true about the world.").

Urban Shadows is not the most versatile game, so we probably won't be able to run our favourite setting in it, but we can talk about what Urban Fantasy books, TV, or movies we like to help us all get on the same page. I might add an Appendix N thread if that turns out to be a thing we do a lot of.

I have thrown together a first rough draft two possible character sheets samples, the only differences is the order in which the Stats/Circles and Moves are presented.

They should be visible below the Rolls box. I think I prefer Character Sheet test 1. This also probably works better on mobile or any single column view.

They also include an out of date version of the Aware playbook text for us to think about how we want this information laid out. Once we have decided which we like I will make proper Templates for the each of the playbooks. You can get an idea of what each character type is like from the Playbook PDF.

Okay, so I like the Wizard and the Veteran playbook. What is everyone else thinking about their characters?

I’ve got my eye on the Vamp! I was reading over the playbook and the Harbour feature gave me an idea for a vampire busker whose harbour is the train station where he usually performs.

Both the character sheet options look good to me on mobile!

When reading that chapter I was also drawn to placing the harbour/haven in a bustling train station. It adds so many cool complications... (and opportunities, but the complications are more fun). :)
I don't test very much on mobile, I find it to be too inconsistent. I have one device where they look fine and another where the Stats checkboxes end up offset and vertical if any Scars are checked. /shrug.

The character I envision is a fighter. A though guy, not a party face, not a learned character. Swinging swords & fists is more what I am looking for.

I have a (in my mind) pretty exotic idea of a sworn that speaks by fare the most to me. Hand of Destiny, Bringer of Justice, Oathkeeper, Destroyer of Dangers, ...
My second choice would be a wolf character. This one would be as close to OWoD as possible. *g* Coming from an old bloodline of lycanthropes, deeds done by his ancestors remembered through the ages, ready to ... well ... RAAAAAGE! ;)

Do I understand it correctly, that the wolf can change NEVER excapt when the character sees the moon? *wonders*

There are many Playbooks that can provide that experience, but do keep in mind that Urban Shadows is a game of city politics and not an action adventure.
The Sworn sounds like good fit for what you describe as they are more of a 'justice orientated' character than most. The Wolf could also be that way orientated, though on a different scale (from my reading of the book you are homeless and alone). Both are tough, fight capable, and probably care for a community.
I am not sure that is possible. Read the playbooks and see what options they give you and see. Maybe set aside your previous concepts of what a character would be in other systems, that way lies inevitable disappointment.
By default, you can change into your wolf form —at will— in the sight of the moon, even during the day, so long as you can see the moon, whatever phase except 'new moon'.

The book does not talk about what happens on an overcast day, but 'sight of the moon' kinda implies that you have to be able to see it, or at least see where it is, so if you can see the clear glow through the clouds at night you might be able to transform, though you may have to make an extra roll first to overcome such challenging situations.

You can also, always, under any circumstances, transform by Letting It Out (one of the Basic Moves (we can talk about Moves in the Rules clarifications thread if they are not clear to you after you have read the relevant sections of the book)) and choosing your option to transform from one form into the other without seeing the moon, so you always have the option, it just might cost you.

I’m looking at Hunter (likely demons) primarily and Aware as a second in case hunter conflicts too much.

If your Hunter hunts demons then there will be demon problems that need to dealt with. People will consider demons a problem.

If another player wants to play a demon (Imp or Tainted, I think) then we will talk about conflicts. But we have all seen vampires working with vampire slayers.

Hunter it is then. I’ll work on a sheet tomorrow

Then sworn it is for me. I am gone on tuesday until sunday (holiday with the gang) and will start to read when I return.

Are we supposed to be able to copy the new sheets?

Halloo hurrah, I have created Playbooks!

I did not put them in [ charsheet] tags, so they don't appear peach-coloured and collapsed. This makes it one less click to view them, but mean a lot more scrolling. Let me know what we prefer, I can easily add [ charsheet] to them.

They also don't display quite right in the thread (they never do), but you can see a sample of what the Aware looks like below, in 'Character Sheet test 1'.

Let me know if you spot any problems or errors or omissions in any sheet you are interested in using. We can make changes later, but it is slightly harder once people are using the sheets.

To copy them to you own sheet, make a Custom Sheet, hit the Quote button at the bottom of the post of the sheet you are interested in, trim off the [ quote] [ /quote] text (else they will appear in your sheet, and it will be pretty obvious and you can just remove them later, no biggie:), and paste it into your sheet. You can do more than one in a sheet, though only to experiment, it will be strange to have one start halfway down the page.

You are all welcome to submit empty sheets to this game. I will blindly approve them and we can see where we stand more easily as you make your characters.

Remember, for others to see them you have to Add them the Library (see Help!).

Thanks for putting all those character sheets/playbooks together! I think you might need to unlock the thread in order for us to be able to use the quote button

Mutter mutter, always demands ... :) and always mistakes. :(

Yeah, unlocked now, you should be able to quote. Thanks.

Don't discuss stuff in the Resources subforum, let's keep that as a neat reference.

When it becomes relevant we will find a place to discuss things. General Chat should work for now; or here if it is about character sheets, though I don't want to clutter the Character Creation thread too much either. /shrug

I’ve submitted a character sheet! Mostly blank right now. Are we limited to the names in the provided list or can we pick our own?

Hi!

So, perhaps we should start agreeing about which city we're we going to play in? Also, I guess we're playing in modern times, but we should agree on that too.

I see how an Irish Fae from 2020s would play very differently from, say, a wizard in soviet Russia.

They do encourage (page 61) you to use the Look and Demeanor options, but the Names are mostly for flavor. Either try to keep something consistent... or go with something jarring and incongruous (or whatever feels right).

Your 'name' could also be your 'nickname', of course. It is what you are know by in the City and what we will call you in posts.

If the name is hard to type, make sure you have the familiar form in the character sheet's 'Character Name' box so we can two-click paste it into our posts using the quill icon on the Characters menu at the bottom of the screen.