A WORD ON NORMAL FOLKS
What follows below are rules for making heroic, bold and skilled Player Characters. As you might expect, people like this are quite rare, and your average mook off the street does not have anything close to the starting capabilities of a Player Character.
Birthrights: If you’re playing in a game with multiple Species (Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Martians, Mutants, whatever), each Species will have various benefits and drawbacks related to their heritage. These are called Birthrights. All Species have one Negative Birthright and two Positive ones to keep them balanced. Below is just a sample of some of the Birthrights that would be appropriate to include in your game. Even if your game only allows one Species for play, you can give Birthrights to Classes or Backgrounds and just call them something different.
Example Positive Birthrights
-Two Skills at Novice for free at Character Creation
-One free Edge at Basic rank for free at character creation
-Special Sight (Can see in darkness, can see thermal patterns, etc.)
-Photographic Memory
-Natural Weapons (Claws/Fangs add +1 to unarmed attack Damage Value)
-Immunity to Poison
-Resistance (Half damage from any one non-physical source [fire, cold, etc.])
-Aquatic (Can function normally underwater without air)
Example Negative Birthrights
-Limited Stat (One Stat costs double to raise beyond 2 at character creation and with experience points)
-Primitive (Can only use simplest of technology/Cannot spend Luck points when in civilized locations)
-Outsider (Treated poorly by others. Looked upon with suspicion until proven trustworthy)
-Vulnerability (Take double damage from any one source [fire, cold, silver, etc.])
-Special Requirement (Must consume/be around/indulge in certain behavior regularly or else)
-Socially Inept (Disadvantage on most social rolls)
If it ever comes up, most normal people have ratings in 2 in all Stats, d3 Skills at Novice, Maximum Energy Pools of 10, no Luck Points and no Edges. Similarly, the positive Species Birthrights are not necessarily shared by all members of a Species, but are VERY much present in all Player Characters of that Species.
SPECIES
-Choose a Species (your Game Setting will have a list of playable Species)
-Species get two positive Birthrights and one negative one
PERSONALITY
Characters are so much more than numbers and statistics! Your character should be different and unique, and choosing a proper personality gives a blueprint for how they would respond in any given situation. Presented below is a list of Positive and Negative Personality Traits. If you’re playing a standard “Good Guy” game, then choose two Positive personality traits and one Negative one. If you’re playing a “We’re all Evil freaks” game, then choose two Negative Personality traits and one Positive one. Those that are particularly good at roleplaying their character’s Personality traits should be awarded with bonus Experience. Below is a list of 20 Positive Personality traits and 20 Negative ones to choose from. Feel free to think of your own if none of these examples suit your vision for your character.
Positive Personality Traits: Upbeat, Suave, Focused, Energetic, Extroverted, Idealistic, Pragmatic, Empathetic, Outgoing, Courageous, Accepting, Loyal, Tidy, Easy-Going, Humorous, Humble, Modest, Forgiving, Creative, Disciplined
Negative Personality Traits: Melancholic, Scatterbrained, Slovenly, Aloof, Introverted, Opportunistic, Judgmental, Paranoid, Competitive, Cantankerous, Quirky, Vainglorious, Vengeful, Possessive, Greedy, Hedonistic, Obsessive, Suspicious, Messy, Arrogant
STATS
-All your Stats begin at 1. Some Species require a Stat rating of at least 3 to play
-You have 7 points to increase these however you desire
-If your Species has a Limited Stat, raising that Stat above 2 costs double
SKILLS
-You have 10 points to purchase Skills
-Purchasing a Skill at Novice costs 1 point
-Purchasing a Skill at Adept costs 2 points
-Purchasing a Skill at Expert costs 3 points
List of Skills: Aim, Athletics, Bookworm, Entertain, Healing, Melee, Perception, Persuasion, Primal, Stealth, Technology, Thievery, Willpower
EDGES
-Choose 3 Edges
-Purchasing an Edge once makes it Basic
-Purchasing an Edge twice makes it Advanced
List of Edges: Allure, Artisan, Brawler, Charmed Life, Dodge!, Double Trouble, Fast Hands, First Strike, Heirloom, Lifestyle, Mind Over Matter, Mysterious Blood, Tough as Nails, Third Wind
ODDS & ENDS
-Starting Energy: 20 x your Vigor Stat
-Armor Rating: 0 (may be increased by Edges or by wearing Armor)
-Luck: 3 (May be increased by Edges)
-Wealth: You begin play with 500 Units of whatever wealth your Game Setting uses
-Speed: Normal sized Species have a speed of 30 feet. Smaller Species have a Speed of 25 feet.
-Languages: You can speak/read/write your native language as well as the Universal language of your Game Setting.
