Character

Character Sheet

The character-creation system is designed around a few precepts. Keep these in mind while generating the persona you will assume in the game

You may create a character of any age, from any culture and from any nation or region, subject to the Storyteller’s approval.

The character-creation system is intended more as a persona development device than as a strict mechanical system. The character creation process provides you with the means for your concept to work within the rules by defining your character in terms of Traits. The numbers involved are less important than the concept — your character’s Traits should support and strengthen your concept. Who wants more rules at the expense of an interesting character or a good story? The character cannot exist as mere dots on a page — role-playing is always more important than numbers. The only way your character becomes more than dots on a page is through role-playing his interactions with the world.

Players receive points to spend on each category of Traits, including Attributes, Abilities, and Advantages. Players have a certain number of points to spend on Traits they would like their characters to have. Players also get “bonus points” at the end of the first part of character creation; they may spend these to round out their characters, add personality and further differentiate their characters from those of other players.

A Trait rating of 1 is poor, while a rating of 5 is excellent. Thus, a character with a single dot in a Trait is either not very good with that Trait or is a beginner. Don’t think that your character sucks because she’s only got one dot in Manipulation. Over time, your character can grow and improve their Traits — possibly overcoming their weaknesses — through the experience system. The experience system allows characters to grow and improve. You have an opportunity during character creation to flesh out your character through their weaknesses as well as their strengths.

It is your responsibility to take on a role that’s not destructive to the group. It’s very important to make a character that fits into the group. There has to be some reason you’ve joined up with your companions (the other players’ characters). People don’t usually just hang out for the hell of it. If you make a character who won’t work with the group, or who really doesn’t fit in, then the other players won’t tolerate it. The Storyteller or other players may ask you to modify how you play, or even to create a new character who fits better with the rest of the group. Survival depends on each member of the group helping one another.