II: Character Creation!

Step Zero: Concept

Think about the type of character you want to play and try to write a simple sentence that describes them. Example concepts could be as straight forward as, “Ornery Private Eye”, “Calculating Bounty Hunter”, “Introspective Wanderer”, “Unhinged Religious Zealot”, “Devilishly Suave Socialite”, “Brash Gunfighter” or anything else that sounds like an interesting role to assume. Try not to make this too detailed, as it is just a broad overview of your character and gives you their basic, boiled down essence. As a general rule, Concepts should be no more than three words. Don’t worry, you’ll get to flesh out your Star further in the last Step.

Step One: Choose Species

Your game setting will have a list of available Species that you can choose to play, with each gaining their own unique advantages and drawbacks. Some Species require a minimum Stat score of 3+ in order to play, so be sure to keep an eye out. Species often get Edges or Boons for free, as well. Record all these free goodies and proceed.

Step Two: Stats

You begin play with 10 Stat Points to distribute between your 4 Stats of Vigor, Agility, Smarts and Presence. Stats are rated on a scale of 1-5, and all Stats begin at 1.

-A Stat rating of 1 (Dismal) costs 0 Stat Points

-A Stat rating of 2 (Average) costs 1 Stat Point

-A Stat rating of 3 (Good) costs 3 Stat Points

-A Stat rating of 4 (Superb) costs 5 Stat Points

-A Stat rating of 5 (World Class) costs 7 Stat Points

Step Three: Boons

Choose 7 Boons. Keep in mind that each Boon is linked to one of the 4 Stats, and there is a limit on how many Boons you can know for any given Stat that directly correlates to your rating in said Stat.

-Stat Rating 1: You cannot have any Boons related to this Stat

-Stat Rating 2: You can have up to 3 Boons related to this Stat

-Stat Rating 3: You can have up to 5 Boons related to this Stat

-Stat Rating 4: You can have up to 7 Boons related to this Stat

-Stat Rating 5: You can have up to 9 Boons related to this Stat

Example: Dave’s...generous eating habits have certainly caused his flexibility to suffer, and so, he has an Agility Stat rating of 1. This means that Dave cannot learn any Agility Boons at all unless he somehow raises his Agility Stat. On the plus side, his rampant abuse of highly illegal Steroids means that Dave enjoys a Vigor score of 3, which means he can have up to 5 Vigor Boons. Keep chugging those ‘roids, Dave!

Below is a summary of 10 example Boons for each Stat. Fully detailed information on each Boon can be found in Chapter IV.  

 

Vigor Boons 

-Bruiser (Large size. Intimidate as a social action. Spend Spark for feats of strength) 

-Scrapper (Knack on Close Combat rolls) 

-Energized! (Increases Max Energy limit to 125. Reduces raising Energy with EXP by 2) 

-Tough as Nails (Natural armor of 2) 

-Sentinel (Less sleep, food and oxygen needed to survive) 

-Olympian (Knack on all athletic-related rolls) 

-Survivalist (Knack on all rolls to interact with nature. Foraging ability) 

-High Pain Tolerance (Knack on all rolls to resist Wound damage. Your 6’s cannot be nullified) 

-Poison Proof (Immune to common toxins, poisons and addictions. Knack on Contamination rolls) 

-Second Wind (May take a Full Action to regain Energy) 

-Indomitable (You may suffer 4 wounds instead of 3) 

 

Agility Boons 

-Marksman (Knack on ranged combat rolls) 

-Lightning Reflexes (Reroll all 1’s on Initiative rolls. May draw/stow weapons faster) 

-Stealthy (Knack on all rolls to hide or sneak. Ambush ability) 

-Criminal (Knack on all rolls to prey upon the good nature of society for your own personal enrichment) 

-Acrobat (Knack on all Acrobatic rolls or rolls to escape bonds. Flash Dodge ability) 

-Dual Wielder (Can spend a Full action to take two attacks as long as you use light weapons) 

-Navigator (Can pilot vehicles native to your setting) 

-Fluid Strikes (Replaces Vigor with Agility as the Stat used for Melee attacks) 

-Moving Target (All 6’s rolled on attack rolls made against you only count as 1 success instead of 2) 

-Speed Demon (Increase your Speed by 10 Feet. Spend 3 Spark instead of 5 for an Extra Action) 

-Whirlwind (Increases the difficulty of your attacks, but may repeatedly attack up to your Agility score) 

 

Smarts Boons 

-Bookworm (Knack on all nerdy academic learning rolls. Chance for extra EXP at end of every Adventure) 

-Scientist (Knack on all Scientific endeavors. Alchemist ability) 

-Perceptive (Knack on all perception-based rolls. Photographic Memory ability. May read lips) 

-Great Communicator (Learn more languages with EXP. Knack to decipher codes and symbols) 

-Grease Monkey (Knack on rolls to repair machinery. Tinkerer ability) 

-Computer Whiz (Knack on rolls to interact with Computers or video games)  

-Master Debater (Knack when using Smarts as a social roll)  

-Iron Will (Immunity to most attempts to coerce or mentally probe. Take less Psychic damage) 

-Doctor (Knack on rolls involving medicine and disease. Combat Medic Ability) 

-Streetwise (Knack on all Underworld lore) 

-Brainpower (Use Smarts score to calculate your Energy Pool. May do complex math in your head) 

 

Presence Boons 

-Charmer (Knack to smooth talk using charisma or salesmanship) 

-Primal Spirit (Knack when interacting with animals. Wild Soul ability) 

-Hearth Healer (Knack on rolls involving medicine and disease. Good Mojo Ability) 

-Born Leader (Knack on all tactics rolls. Can spend Spark for others. Battle Cry ability) 

-Entertainer (Knack on all Performance rolls) 

-Master of Disguise (Can alter appearance/voice) 

-Challenge! (May taunt others and force them to attack you) 

-Serene Soul (You have a very calming, non-threatening Presence. You are the opposite of Dave) 

-Social Butterfly (You seem to have friends everywhere. You are also the opposite of Dave) 

-Intuition (You have an uncanny knack for sensing threats and determining motives of others) 

-Salesman (Knack on all rolls pertaining to economics and finance. Get better prices when selling items) 

Step Four: Edges

Choose 3 Edges. Edges may be purchased twice to increase their effect. Below is a list of some example Edges and a brief summary of their effects. Edges are detailed in full in Chapter IV. 

 

-Berserker (May enter a Rage by spending Spark for temporary combat benefits) 

-Heroic Heart (Increased Spark Pool and more effective Spark use) 

-Artisan (May spend EXP to create lasting works of art) 

-Status (You have a reputation in your game world or are part of a prestigious group) 

-Lifestyle (You have access to great wealth and enjoy a high standard of living) 

-Combat Training (You are trained in advanced Weapons, Armors, and Shields) 

-Allure (You are physically attractive) 

-Bodyguard (You can defend your allies and are more effective with a Shield than normal) 

-Sidekick (You have a loyal follower to keep you company on your travels) 

-Weapon Specialist (You deal more damage and are more effective with a specific weapon group) 

-Heirloom (You own unique items or property) 

-Mysterious Blood (You wield strange forces native to your Game World) 

Step Five: Odds & Ends

Determine your Energy Pool, Spark, Speed, starting Wealth and Armor Rating.

-Your Starting Energy Pool is equal to your Vigor Stat multiplied by 20 (or your Smarts Stat if you have the Brainpower Boon). Therefore, someone with a Vigor Stat of 2 would begin play with a maximum Energy pool of 40. Your Maximum Energy Pool cannot exceed 100 (the Energized! Boon increases this limit).

-You begin play able to withstand 3 Wounds before you are Knocked Out.

-Your Starting Spark Pool is 5 (the Heroic Heart Edge increases this to 6).

-Your Speed differs depending on your Species, but most times, your Speed will be 30 Feet.

-You begin play with 1,000 units of Wealth native to your Setting. This could be dollars, gold pieces, credits, or whatever loony currency your Campaign uses.

-Your Armor Rating begins at 0 if you are wearing no Armor.

-You begin play knowing how to speak, read and write one Language for each point of Smarts you have. Your first language must be your native tongue, and your second language must be the Common tongue of your setting.