0. vicky_molokh chargen

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Let's continue with the mechanical parts of character generation in here. The next steps are:

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A. Choose something else to add at D10. It can be a skill specialization of one of your D8s (ie. You roll a D10 instead of the regular skill in some situations. For example, Kirae rolls 1d10 instead of her 1d8 Melee Combat, when she uses daggers). It can also be an extra ability/not listed skill (Lion Tamer D10), special power (Darkvision D10) or gear (Heirloom sword D10). Some of those D10s will be used in addition to the regular skills, depending on the situation. Write it down in the "Other traits" section or as another line in the skills list.

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B, Which of the 8 schools available here and listed in the "Magic" section of your character sheet does Zix have the most affinity with? You will start this school with a D6 ability, rank 1 and a base skill of D6. You should also choose two secondary schools of magic to start the game as a D4. For now, if you choose this, your character won't be able to cast spells from other schools (but you may learn them as a D4 in the University)

After all the variations and adjustments, I'd like to ask for some clarifications. Some of these might be silly, but it's to avoid ambiguity and misunderstandings, of which at this point there seem to be some on my end.

1. At a recent point, I took 'I can become anyone!' as a Pride for Zix, on the assumption that it could serve as the bonus (1d8?) for taking on the persona of someone else (or, in some cases, of a fully artificial persona that does not correspond to anyone in particular) and ensuring everyone is convinced Zix is actually The Bulk or whoever. But I see a mention of other exotic capabilities such as Dark vision taking up one of the two d10 slots. So should I keep it as a Pride, or do I need a d10 slot to be spent on shapeshifting? And if the latter, do I need to up Deceive to d8 before I can do that?

2. I don't think I really understand when to use a specalisation (replace d8 with a d10) and when to use an unlisted Skill or Ability (add a d10). Could you help me figure it out, please?

3. Not sure if the enchanted clothes even need to have a dice rating, or if it's enough for them to just grant permission to extend shapeshifting to clothes, and negate all penalties relating to lacking the right attire when impersonating.

4. There are some magical effects that I'm interested in. Which schools would you think they correspond to? (Note that while they're all described in dream-related trappings, their function might fall within different schools.)

4a. Dream step. Often in dreams, one does not *travel*, and instead happens to just realise one is already at the destination. (Essentially a quick teleportation-like effect, initially short-range.)

4b. Tall Tale Made True / Mythic Tale's Blessing. Enhancing an already present capability with mythic qualities (i.e. instead of providing a bonus, provide an outrageous or unbelievable qualitative permission). E.g.: a competent thief becomes able to steal a trinket through solid glass while nobody is looking; a strong barbarian becomes able to lift an enemy one-handed without falling over; a jian fencer good at balancing on a slackrope becomes able to stand balanced on a flimsy tree's flimsy branch.

4c. Dream projection / communication / weaving / &c.

4d. Stealth-enhancing effects (the Shadow's mind-clouding, light-and-shadow manipulation, dispelling of one's scent to avoid attracting animals - various sorts of sneaky stuff).

Depending on those answers, I may need to convert the concept to a sheet differently.

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Also, my replies will probably become slow for the next few days as I seem to suddenly be much much busier than before.

1. You can keep it as a Pride. You can also add "Shapeshifting" as one of your D10s, but that would be an extra dice, if both apply. Your call.
2. The difference starts with the roleplaying/reasoning behind it... Is it an specialization of a skill, something that could be learned by everyone that is good at it, or something extraordinary (ex: darkvision) that you're "born with" or so unique that doesn't fit a single skill and could be seen as a combination of multiple ones?
3. They do. They can break/fail or otherwise help you with the disguise even if your attribute+skill rolls lower. That's represented by the dice in it.
4a. Teleportation is not possible in this magic system, at least not that the PCs know of. Seeing/hearing other places is possible through the Perceptio school.
4b. Some of that is not possible in this magic system. You can enchance an already present capability to extraordinary levels, balance in a flimsy branch or transmute matter, but not to steal through solid glass or something like that
4c. Changing/influencing other people's dreams is covered by Dominatio. Seeing/hearing, even something in other people's dreams, is possible through the Perceptio school.
4d. Light manipulation is covered by Illusio. Pure shadows (ie. just make it dark) by Excidium. Mind-clouding is Dominatio or Illusio. Dispelling of one's scent can be Mutatio or Excidium, depending if you're supressing or replacing it with another scent.

4a. Ah, so the 8 schools are not meant to cover everything. Thanks, now I have a better grasp of the setting.

I think given the explanations 1 and 2, I'll ditch the lie detection specialisation (but keep Insight d8), spend one d10 on shapeshifting (not sure when it would be useful mechanically, but it's a big part of the concept . . . conceptually, so I might as well try choosing it mechanically), and the other d10 on some bunch of magical capability (almost surely the first steps of the two eloquence schools, not sure about the third; that's assuming I'm to follow the 1+2 schema as was offered to others).

Yup. One school at D6 + two at D4. Any combination of colleges. =)

I have decided. The primary aptitude is with the school of Amplifico. Use of language to enhance properties already possessed by an entity seems close to the ideas of tall tales made true, even if it's not a perfect fit.

Perceptio seems to fit well with being tempted by secrets and having some clandestine aptitudes. Illusio likewise.

Also, you mention that teleportation is impossible, but Creatio mentions "creation and summoning" - might want to remove that.

Oh. "Summoning" a generic dog or fire elemental is Creatio. Teleporting Doug, your favorite pet, from your farm to your current location is not. =)

Regarding the long-term and short-term goal, what kind of scope is appropriate for those two? I have a hard time imagining a character who has only one short-term goal, unless the goal is allowed to change every scene (at which point it makes little sense to write down), so presumably it's for something bigger, but unsure how big. With the long-term goal, the concern is similar: dream too big and it becomes something that can never happen in the campaign (given the typical scope of campaigns and their typical duration); dream too small and it starts looking like the goal is not worth its title.

For the short-term, aim for something that you can achieve in one thread / chapter (roughly a TTRPG session). Long-term goals are used to guide the campaign, even if you don't achieve them. But aim for something around 3-5 sessions.

I have to admit, that still is a difficult benchmark to estimate, given that my prior long-term PbP experience comes from other GMs and locales, but I think I get some idea of the estimate now. I still think it would be awkward to have precisely one short-term goal 'active' at a time. Long-term it makes more sense by comparison. Is it okay to think of several short-term goals that are pursued in parallel instead of a single one? Asking because I think that makes more sense for plausible, coherent characters.

You can. =) Just write a sentence about them =)