Character Creation

Discussion and notes for character creation. The system is a minor modified FATE Condensed one. You can have:

*A High Concept

*A Trouble / Flaw

*A Relationship (either with another PC or with an NPC)

*3-5 Free Aspects

*Skills: You can have all skills that are in the FATE Condensed book but there is Drive (Vehicle), Pilot (Vehicle) and Pilot (Mecha) added. You will be able to train on skills during the game.
One Great (+4) skill
Two Good (+3) skills
Three Fair (+2) skills
Four Average (+1) skills
All other skills at Mediocre (+0)Stunts:You have access to stunts, as described in FATE Condensed.

Refresh / Fate Points:You start with 3 Fate Points, as described in FATE Condensed.

Stress and Consequences:As described in FATE Condensed.

Memento:You can choose one personal belonging that you were allowed to get just before you got frozen. (This cannot be a large item, like a fridge or a car)

Species:There are 3 species in the game. Human [1], Mutant [2] and Synthetic Organism (Synth) [3]. You can read the game Mutant Year Zero (Core, GenLab Alpha) for a Mutant character [2] and Mutant Year Zero (Mechatron) for a Synth character [3]. Or tell me to add more details here. All characters can have prosthetic parts. Take note that there will be a limit to how many parts you may have before the body collapses from the strain (still working on this rule).

Vehicles:There are vehicles in game. Their stats will be posted here.

Mechas:There are mechas in game. Their stats will be posted here.

Fuel Consumption:At the start of each day, the GM will roll a die for each player's vehicle. A result of 1 means that the vehicle runs out of fuel during the rest of the game (i.e. it runs dry, it sprang a fuel leak, etc). Sometimes Stunts can be used to overcome this.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but are there anything like psychic abilities or other mutations/abilities for Human characters?

Thinking about a Mech pilot, one who by necessity is also a mechanic. @Alepous Are you stating the mechs up, or shall we?

I haven't formalized my high concept yet. But I am thinking:

- Pink cowboy hat
- Two revolvers
- Post apocalyptic junkyard motor cycle

@Nuttyartist Yes, there are psychic mutations. You start with one mutation and can get more along the way, accidental or not. I want to have a mechanic where you can remove mutations too. As a mutant, you can also be an animalistic human too. Mutant Year Zero starts with one mutation per PC and lets you have a second one with a penalty on your stats. We can use this too if you want.

@JoshuaMabry I am thinking of having 4 classes of Mechas.
1.Powersuit "eggs" (think MaschinenKrieger)
2.light mecha (Titanfall Stryder)
3.standard mecha (Titanfall Atlas)
4.heavy mecha (Titanfall Ogre)
5.super heavy mecha (probably needs 2 pilots)

I am reading 2 mecha rpgs now to flesh out the mecha construction. This is separate from the character creation rules, which follow the FATE system. Mechanic+Mecha pilot is not mandatory, however it may help to get some Stunts when the time comes.

*Vehicles have also classes. You can find fuel (both conventional and nuclear) in the Wasteland but it won't be as easy as going to the gas station.

*I am also thinking of adding aging along the way but for now I want to keep the game simple.

*You can have prosthetics but beware of psyberpsychosis™. Synths do not get this penalty.

Have our characters been out of cryostasis for a while or are we waking up at the start of the game?

I’m not sure what type of character I want to run yet but I’m thinking as he was being put into cryostasis his brain was injected with a mutagen which altered his brain as he slept. No visible mutation (maybe a lump on his head, or something minor if you require it), but gave him some psionic ability (not sure exactly what yet, perhaps pyrokinesis/hydrokinesis/magneticism/or some form of mental or emotional manipulation.)

Also I was thinking of making him 17 or 18.

I was thinking of playing a robot character. Something like a family helper unit who's been waiting patiently for a family who never made it out of cryo sleep. Presumably they've have finally realised that the family they served aren't coming back and they are now searching for a new purpose.

Does this sound like the sort of character that we want in the game?

Note: I seem to have an unhealthy predeliction for playing robots, so really any chance I get I'm going to go there.

@Nuttyartist you wake up at the start of the game. You have been in cryostasis for some years and do not know anything that has happened to the outside world. Yes, that will work for your character, to have had a mutagen injected into him just before the stasis or while he was sleeping. As far as gameplay aging, I have not thought the mechanics, so there won't be anything specific yet. You can be whatever age you want for the flair. Don't forget, a mutation is an Aspect.


@dunderklumpen yes, that character background works fine. You make what character you like / want to play. I will upload mechanics of how you can build your robot and upgrade it. Only problem will be getting the resourses needed in the Wasteland.

@Alepous, I wouldn't have thought that you'd need to do anything extra to cope with a robot PC. Fate will handle that fairly well through the standard character stuff (Aspects and Stunts)

I am fairly new to fate and I am coming from games with more rigid construction systems. I am thinking of having the construction aspect to be just as added flair, rather than pure gameplay mechanics.

So, by way of an example. Here's the sort of thing I would be thinking of. The robot aspects can be invoked for advantage or compelled as weaknesses or complications.

Stunts can be used to fill out some specific robot-y style stuff. Maybe something like easier interface with technology, ignoring pain, that sort of thing.

Oh wow. I love this idea!

I have been thinking a bit about my character and why she'd be cryo-ed. How she would be really interesting to play and I have to admit, I am quite inspired by Lucy from the fallout series. With a different story, I kinda like to go for the bit chipper naivity. Okidoki? ;)

Wok in progress:

High concept Pre-apocalyptic nepo baby
Relationship
Trouble Spoiled brat
Aspect B-star actress
Aspect
Aspect

@dunderklumpen what do you mean by "built to take it"?

@ClaCle I like the idea for a naive character thrown into a post apocalyptic story. There is no special reason that you were "frozen". You just "won" the lottery for the vault just before everything went south. You wake up and do not know (yet) if outside is better or worse.

It was an Aspect to express a robot body that is robust, as in "built to take a lot of punishment"

I see we stalled a bit. How are you with your characters? Still waiting for Bendy, I can wait some more days and we can either start or search for another player.

I have a half-finished character. Still need to think of one stunt and a memento and a few other details. Shall I already post her or wait until finished?

I apologize, I've been busy both at work and at home. I'll have at least a partial character submitted tomorrow.

Ok, no rush. I am still working some kinks.

I'm pretty happy with my character, but I assumed that there wasn't much happening in the game as there was no activity.

I need to take another stab at the Fate rules book. It's so alien to me as a system.

It is very different. What's giving you pause?

Started a character which I will work on of the next couple days. Joseph Smith, High Concept Ace Mecha Pilot, Trouble Cocky as the Day is Long. I've submitted it so you can approve as we go.

I should give it another proper read (my questions may be answered in plain text) but in general I'm trying to wrap my head around Aspects for the character, and how they relate to other game mechanics.
Eg. My human character will have some sort of mutation (don't want to give it away and haven't 100% decided either) so let's say Pyrokinesis. GM said that should be an aspect. So if I throw a fireball (hypothetically) do I use the attack/ranged skill in combination, or is it just a descriptive aspect thing "my scary fireball ignites the enemies eyebrows".

Having an aspect like Pyrokinesis gives you in game permission to do something like throw a fireball. You'd likely use the Shoot skill to actually make the roll. So Aspects grant narrative permission, and are ALWAYS TRUE. If my character had the aspect Half Atlantean I might use that to justify the fact that I can breathe underwater, or an Expert Sniper can be expected to pull off improbable trick shots.

I'm building an Ace Mecha Pilot, so it will make sense that I can do things with a Mecha that your average pilot can't, some of which will be represented by stunts.

Think of your High Concept, which is your primary aspect, as the elevator pitch for your character. Who and What they are, summed up in brief.

That helps, thanks. So, Pirate King Velociraptor it is.

I would like to be in that game sir!

All, I don't think I'm going to suit this kind of game, so I think it's best if I vacate the player spot for someone who's going to suit it better.

Thanks for the opportunity @Alepous, sorry to waste time.

Good luck with the game.

(not sure how long or short the aspects are supposed to be, so just winging it. I may edit in future to add to and change the character, as this is a first draft. If you'd rather there be a new post instead of an edit, let me know)

Character name: Seth Avalon
Age: 17 (not expecting any mechanical differences for his age, it's just for rp stuff.)

High Concept: Upon entering cryogenic stasis his brain was injected with experimental mutagen serum, resulting in TERRIFYING MENTAL CONTROL OVER FLUIDS - HYDROKINESIS.

Trouble: Responsible, though not consciously, for the death of his entire family. His parents and sister were in cryogenic pods next to his, and as his brain mutated it reached out with wild hydrokinetic power and boiled their brains. Seth is not fully aware that he is responsible for their deaths, though dreams and some waking flashbacks make him suspicious that it was him, and not a pod malfunction.
Brain mutation may be causing him to be less moralistic.



Relationships: tbd. Who are the lucky peeps?

Aspect: Seth gives the impression of being other-worldly, has a far-away expression, a sort of hypnotic gaze, charismatic and alluring. At least to some people. They believe, just by being near him, that he must hold some kind of secret knowledge, or answers that they are seeking.
(Not sure if this is what an aspect is? Just winging it)

More Aspects: tbd

Memento: Seth's father worked at a carbonated bottled/canned water company as a Marketing Director (their family was relatively well off financially). The company was founded by pop star Michael Buble', and the brand was called Buble', and had a logo made up of circles kinda joined together resembling bubbles. Seth was bought a car for his upcoming 18th birthday, and the keychain was a silver Buble' logo. The car no doubt is long gone, but he still has the keychain, which he wears around his neck.

Skills: (first draft. Some are chosen because they may be used with Hydrokinesis - eg. Shoot, to attack with Hydrokinesis at range. If this is wrong, let me know)

Great- Will
Good - Shoot
- Notice
Fair - Academics
- Provoke
- Deceive
Average - Fight
- Athletics
- Empathy
- Investigate

Stunt: (possible stunt)
+2 Notice when detecting water using Hydrokinesis. This is to represent Seth being able to sense/detect underground bodies of water, nearby creatures (people are bags of mostly water) or any other source of liquid/water in the vicinity. Gasoline in a vehicle, hydraulic system for machinery (if present). Things like that.

Character looks fine. I like it, it gives a diffrent approach and it may help with surviving in the wastes (although your characters do not know what has happened in the rest of the world yet).

@dunderklumpen what troubles you? It's a rather straightforward system. No problemo if you don't want to participate though. :D

Should I be posting my character somewhere besides here?

Wait a bit because we have some players missing. It seems we may postpone the game a bit. :(

@Alepous Are you counting me as missing? I know I haven't posted much.

No but there are 2 players missing and another one got cold feet in a PM. Soooo, we go with 2 people?

I'm still here as well. Haven't been posting much as the channel fell a bit dead during the week, and I got into a few too much things going on. So I have been a bit more selective with my time.

Three people is good for a Fate game. It's not like D&D where you're balancing encounters.

For some reason I can't connect my character to the game though.

You don't have any characters to submit?

We haven't had any forward movement in a couple days. Are we still on?

Seconded:)
I hope we are, Seth is getting tired of being stuck in his pod.

On a side note, still having trouble coming up with more Aspects. Don't get me wrong, it's fun to brainstorm it, but maybe the 100 years frozen is making it tricky? How much of his past life relevant to now. "Head of his debate team", could be rp applicable I guess. Or, I was thinking of transforming "white male privilege" →just a bit lucky.
But maybe that's too socially contentious??

@Nuttyartist I think it would be hilarious for you to play a character who feels their white privilege in a a post apocalyptic society.

Kinda Fallout Vault dweller vibes - have all your teeth and no skin cancer - so obviously grew up privileged.

Yes, game is a go. I had a work heavy week. I will post in the next couple of days.