2. CHARACTER CREATION

This section covers the process of creating a player character for Basic Roleplaying. The procedure for creating a non-player character is less involved and is covered later.

2.1 The Character Sheet

Each player needs a copy of the character sheet presented on page 22 of this book. It’s possible to just write everything on a blank sheet of paper, but the character sheet makes things a lot easier. The character sheet includes the following sections:

• Identity: This is for the character’s basic information: aspects that don’t have any game effects but help detail who the character is.
• Characteristics & Rolls: These values describe qualities of the character such as how strong and smart and fast and attractive they are, etc. Rolls are based off characteristics and are percentage values rolled to see if the character succeeds or fails at a task.
• Hit Points: A value measuring how much damage a player character can take before they die. Bigger and/or healthier characters have more hit points (HP) while smaller and/or frailer characters have fewer.
• Skills: These are the abilities the character has some innate knowledge, training, or education in. Each is expressed as a percentage chance, rolled to see if the character succeeds.
• Weapons: These are weapons or attacks the character uses, along with descriptions of how they do damage to other characters.
• Armor: Any armor worn by the character, which may reduce any damage they take from an attack.
• Equipment: Other items the character may carry that may be of use.

2.2 Identity

This is the area where the character’s basic information is fleshed out, the aspects of existence with little (if any) game effect. These are roleplaying aspects—the things that define the character as a character, not simply as a list of characteristics and skills. The player can fill out this information now in full, or partially, and skip to characteristic and skill generation, or can hold off until they know more about the character’s game system aspects.

Identity includes the following:

• Name: A suitable name for the character.
• Race: These basic rules cover ‘Human,’ but other races are certainly more than possible.
• Gender: Write ‘Female’ or ‘Male’ or whatever other gender works in a particular setting—there are no game system differences between genders.
• Handedness: Is the character right- or left-handed? Pick one—there are no game system differences.
• Height and Weight: Choose these using the Size (SIZ) characteristic (see below) as a guideline. These don’t have to be specific numbers, and could be as vague as ‘Tall,’ ‘Average,’ or ‘heavy.’
• Description: This is a brief physical description of the character, and might include coloration (hair, eyes, skin), attitude, mode of dress, etc. • Age: Pick an age appropriate to the character, keeping characteristics in mind.
• Distinctive Features: Using the Appearance (APP) characteristic as a guide (see below), does the character have any notable features? This can be an impressive scar, a broken nose, an exotic hairstyle, or an unusual mode of dress. Make up a few. The higher or lower the APP, the more distinctive features.
• Profession: The character’s career or the occupation they are most identified with, or how they make their living. A list of professions is provided in section 2.7.

2.3 Characteristics

Characters in Basic Roleplaying are rated in a variety of ways. The most basic are their characteristics. These are the innate abilities a character has, such as how smart they are, how tough, how charismatic, etc. They are not learned abilities but can sometimes be increased through training and successful use. Normal humans have characteristics ranging from 3 (abysmally low) to 18 (a pinnacle of human potential), averaging at 10 or 11. The higher a characteristic, the more potent the character is in that ability.

The characteristics are: Strength, Constitution, Size, Intelligence, Power, Dexterity, and Appearance, and are described below.

• Strength (STR): Strength is essentially how strong the character is. It doesn’t necessarily mean raw muscle mass, but how effectively the character can exert that muscle to accomplish a strenuous physical feat. Roll 3D6 to determine STR.
• Constitution (CON): Constitution is a measure of how tough and resilient the character is. It helps aid in resisting diseases, but the most significant aspect of CON is determining how much injury a character can suffer before dying. Roll 3D6 to determine CON.
• Size (SIZ): Size is a measure of how large the character is. It doesn’t necessarily translate to raw height—it’s instead a general guide to physical mass. A high SIZ character could be very tall (and thin), or short and thick, or average height and overweight. Roll 2D6+6 to determine SIZ.
• Intelligence (INT): Intelligence is how smart the character is: not necessarily as a measure of how much information the character has memorized, but reasoning power, intellectual acuity, problem-solving ability, and intuition. Roll 2D6+6 to determine INT.
• Power (POW): Power is an almost intangible measure of force of will, personal dynamism, and spiritual energy. A high-POW character is a beacon of energy, lucky, and forceful in presence, while a low one is often ignored or missed, and is frequently unlucky. Roll 3D6 to determine POW.
• Dexterity (DEX): Dexterity is a measure of hand-to-hand coordination, physical speed, and overall agility. DEX determines how quickly a character may act in combat and provides the basis for the Dodge skill. Roll 3D6 to determine DEX.
• Appearance (APP): This is a measure of several aspects, from charisma, grace, and beauty/handsomeness to how appealing the character is to others. A high APP character is noticeable in a crowd because of an intangible combination of charm and presentation. Roll 3D6 to determine APP. (In some versions of these rules, APP is instead Charisma, or CHA.)

If the characteristics aren’t exactly as desired, the player can move up to 3 points from one characteristic to another. For example, if a strong character is preferable to a smart one, move 3 points from INT over to STR. There is no requirement to move the whole 3 points, or any points at all.

The player should examine the set of characteristics and think about what the numbers represent. Are they strong and clumsy? Small and fast? Average? Is the character more of a thinker than a physical sort?

If the numbers just don’t match the type of character desired, the player should ask the gamemaster if it’s all right to start over and roll up a new set of characteristics. This is fine, so long as all of the players have the same opportunity and are happy with their results.

2.4 Characteristic Rolls

Many capabilities of a character are measured in skills. There are times, however, when a simpler roll is needed to determine if a character is successful at an activity based on a characteristic. If there is an opposing value, use the resistance table (described later). If there is no obviously opposing value, use a characteristic roll.

Each characteristic roll is made against a characteristic multiplied by 5, expressed as a percentage chance. For example, a STR 10 would give an Effort roll of 10×5=50, or 50%.

• Effort Roll: The Effort roll is used for forceful manipulation of an object of environmental aspect. It’s based on STR×5. Trying to complete a hundred pushups requires an Effort roll.
• Stamina Roll: The Stamina roll is used for prolonged physical exertion and tests of fortitude. It’s based on CON×5. Avoiding the common cold or trying to drink an entire bottle of salad dressing requires a Stamina roll.
• Idea Roll: The Idea roll is used for a flash of inspiration, or to determine if the character ‘knows’ something that the player knows or having the character figure out something the player hasn’t. The gamemaster may sometimes use this roll to help prod the players when they don’t know what to do next (but when their characters would). It’s based on INT×5. Spotting the pattern in a series of crime scenes pinned on a map of the city requires an Idea roll.
• Luck Roll: The Luck roll is to determine if fate gives the character a break or manages to squeak by at a situation where random chance may be a deciding factor (roulette, for example). It’s based on POW×5. Determining the winner of a coin toss or draw of the short straw requires a Luck roll.
• Agility Roll: The Agility roll is useful for determining issues where natural hand/eye coordination are more important than any training, such as running on a slippery surface or catching a dropped item before it hits the ground. It’s based on DEX×5. Catching something thrown at a character with a “Think fast!” warning requires an Agility roll.
• Charisma Roll: Raw charisma; being able to rely on good looks and personal charm to gain attention or sway others. It’s based on APP×5. Trying to catch the attention of a bouncer to be let into an exclusive club requires a Charisma roll.

2.5 Derived Characteristics

These are derived from other aspects of the characteristics or may be modified by other aspects, such as race.

• Move (MOV): Move (MOV) is a game value, determining how far the character can move in a combat round. All humans have a MOV of 10. MOV is a flexible value, but generally each point of MOV equals one meter of movement. If running, it is equal to three meters per point.
• Hit Points: Hit points (HP) are equal to the character’s CON+SIZ, divided by two (rounding fractions up). These are subtracted as the character takes damage from injury or other sources. When a character reaches 1 or 2 hit points, they fall unconscious. When a round of combat ends and a character is at 0 hit points, the character is dead.
• Power Points: Power points are equal to POW and are spent to use magic or other powers. When a character reaches 0 power points, they fall unconscious. All power points regenerate after one full day that includes a night’s rest.
• Damage Bonus: Bigger, stronger characters do more damage when hitting their foes with melee weapons. The damage modifier is applied to the damage rolled for any melee weapon attack the character makes. Add STR+SIZ and consult the following table.

2.6 Skills

This is a list of the skills a character may use. Skills are rated as a skill chance, or the percentage chance a character attempting the skill has of succeeding, a value somewhere between 0% (no chance whatsoever) to 100% or more, meaning, except in the case of a fumbled roll, it always succeeds. The base chance of using that skill is in parentheses after the skill name, so if the skill number is higher than 00%, you always have at least a 1 in 100 chance of using the skill successfully. Succeeding at a skill with a 01% rating generally means a lucky guess. If the skill is at 00%, it simply can’t be attempted with any hope of success.

Any skill points a character has in a skill are added to the base skill chance. Skill base chances may be adjusted by the gamemaster based on the setting.

A character with below 05% in a skill is a hapless novice. Someone with 06–25% is a neophyte. Skill of 26–50% represents an amateur level of proficiency. Skill in the 51–75% range indicates a competent professional. Experts have skills in the 76–90% range, and 91% or higher indicates mastery of a skill. Skills above 100% indicate some degree of secret knowledge or competence not accessible to others.

Skill ratings can also be considered as basic competency. A skill rating of 25% does not mean that someone using the skill in daily activities fails three quarters of the time—it means that under stressful situations (like adventuring, combat, etc.) the character succeeds only a quarter of the time. Most mundane activities, such as driving to work, don’t require a skill roll so long as they’re within the reasonable range of competence, but, for example, making a high-speed turn through a busy intersection while firing a pistol out the window almost definitely requires a roll.

Many skills have specialties, as noted in parentheses with each skill name. Specialties are specific sub-skills that define the skill. For example, a character may have Knowledge (Law) 70%. This does not mean they know all Knowledge skills at 70%, but instead knows Law at that percentage. All other skill specialties, unless skill points are spent on them, are at the base percentage chance.

• Appraise (15%): Judging the value of an item or determining some aspects of its capabilities that are not immediately apparent.
• Art (various) (05%): Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, or another form of visual art. Each type of art is a specialty, so a character would have Art (Photography) as one skill, and Art (Painting) as another. Suggested specialties for Art include Architecture, Calligraphy, Film, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, etc.
• Artillery (various) (% by weapon): Using heavy mounted weaponry, such as catapults, cannons, missile launchers, etc. Each type of artillery weapon is a specialty, such as Artillery include Cannon, Rocket Launcher, Siege Engine, etc.
• Bargain (05%): Negotiating financial matters successfully. A successful use of this skill lowers the price of an item from one price range (unattainable > priceless > expensive > reasonable > inexpensive > cheap > free) to the one below, at the gamemaster’s discretion. These ranges are suggested and can be modified as desired.
• Brawl (25%): Hitting someone in hand-to-hand combat, whether with a punch, head butt, kick, or even bite. A successful Brawl attack does 1D3 points of damage to an opponent.
• Climb (40%): Scaling a wall, rope, or other difficult surface.
• Command (05%): Leading a small-to-large group of followers in combat or through some other difficult activity requiring discipline and coordinated actions. If this skill fails, everyone is on their own and does not work together effectively.
• Craft (various) (05%): The creation of some physical item for use, like woodworking, blacksmithing, sewing, cooking. Craft is generally more practical than Art, though less likely to achieve fame and recognition. Each type of Craft skill is a specialty.
• Demolition (01%): Setting and detonating explosives to achieve maximum effect. Anyone can pull a pin on a grenade—use Demolition to jury-rig a bomb from household chemicals or to set explosives in the right places to bring a building down.
• Disguise (01%): Concealing identity or appearance, or using some combination of makeup and costume to appear as someone or something else.
• Dodge (DEX×2%): Avoiding injury from a physical attack.
• Drive (various) (20% or 01%): Piloting a ground vehicle. For characters from the modern world, Drive is 20%; for others it begins at 01%. Each type of vehicle (Automobile, Cart, Chariot, Truck, etc.) is a specialty.
• Energy Weapon (various) (% by weapon): Pointing and shooting an energy weapon at a target. Each type of Energy Weapon skill is a specialty, such as Energy Pistol and Energy Rifle.
• Etiquette (05%): Knowing what to say and how to behave in a social situation, as well as understanding the various niceties of a particular social class.
• Fast Talk (05%): Talking one’s way out of a rough situation or bluffing when there is no time for a reasoned argument or debate.
• Fine Manipulation (05%): Finger dexterity, particularly important for disassembling things in a hurry or completing complex tasks requiring hand coordination. This might be used for picking locks.
• Firearm (various) (% by weapon specialty): Pointing and shooting a firearm at a target. Each type of Firearm skill is a specialty, such as Machine Gun, Pistol, Revolver, Rifle, Shotgun, and Submachine Gun.
• First Aid (30% or INT×1): Treating minor injuries. For characters from the modern or future eras, the base skill is 30%; for historical periods it’s INT×1. Each successful use restores 1D3 hit points to a wounded character. A special success restores 1D3+3 hit points.
• Fly (DEX×½ or DEX×4): If the character has a technological means of flying (a jet pack, for example), the chance is DEX×½. If it’s a natural ability (like wings) the chance is DEX×4. Basic flight doesn’t require a roll—the skill is for use with maneuvers, in combat, and performing complex flying stunts.
• Gaming (INT+POW): Knowledge of the rules and odds of various games of chance (cards, dice, etc.) and winning.
• Grapple (25%): Wrestling or other means of open-handed combat relying on leverage and positioning to maneuver or immobilize an opponent.
• Heavy Machine (various) (01%): Handling and maintaining a heavy machine, like a factory press, a thresher, etc. Each different type of Heavy Machine skill is a specialty.
• Heavy Weapon (various) (by weapon specialty): Pointing and shooting a heavy weapon. Each different type of Heavy Weapon skill is a specialty, such as Bazooka, Heavy Machinegun, Mini-gun, Rocket Launcher, etc.
• Hide (10%): Concealing oneself or an item from view. Often used in conjunction with Stealth.
• Insight (05%): Evaluating another character’s concealed thoughts and/or motives based on subliminal clues. In some settings this might have specialties like Insight (Elves) or Insight (Aliens).
• Jump (25%): Leaping over an obstacle or across a span. Success for most humans usually equals a jump of roughly three meters horizontally or one meter vertically.
• Knowledge (various) (05% or 01%): Familiarity with a specific branch of study. For characters from the modern or future eras, the base skill is 05%; for historical periods it’s 01%. Each type of Knowledge skill is a specialty. Specialties are numerous, and include Anthropology, Archaeology, Area (a region), Folklore, Group (an organization), History, Linguistics, Literature, Mythology, Occult, Politics, Streetwise, etc.
• Language (various) (Own INT×5, Other 00%): Speaking and understanding a language. Language (Own) is a character’s ‘own’ native language and begins at INT×5. Generally, player characters do not need to make Language rolls to converse in their native languages with other speakers of the same language. Language (Other) is another language and begins at 00%. Each other Language skill is a specialty.
• Listen (25%): Hearing a noise or faint sound, such as someone sneaking by or a monster approaching.
• Literacy (various) (% equal to starting Language): Mainly appropriate for settings where education is not commonplace. Understanding and comprehension of what the character is reading. In settings where literature is not assumed, this might begin at 00%.
• Martial Arts (01%): Using disciplined trained fighting techniques to deliver more powerful blows against an opponent or to block with one’s hands and feet without taking damage. The gamemaster may restrict who can use Martial Arts and adjust starting skill levels. Unlike other skills, Martial Arts is not rolled separately: if a character makes a Brawl attack and also rolls under Martial Arts skill, the damage die (but not the damage bonus) is doubled. When parrying a melee weapon with the Brawl skill, the character ignores 3 points of damage.
• Medicine (05% or 00%): Treatment of serious medical conditions through pharmaceutical, therapeutic, or surgical means. For characters from the modern or future eras, the base skill is 05%; for historical periods it’s 00%. This is a time-consuming process and does not restore hit points immediately.
• Melee Weapon (various) (% by weapon specialty): Using a hand-to-hand (melee) weapon in combat, including striking a target and parrying attacks. Each type of Melee Weapon skill is a specialty, such as Axe, Club, Dagger, Flail, Hammer, Mace, Polearm, Spear, Staff, Sword, etc.
• Missile Weapon (various) (% by weapon specialty): Aiming and hitting a target with a ‘hand-powered’ weapon. Each type of Missile Weapon skill is a specialty, such as Bow, Crossbow, Spear, etc.
• Navigate (10%): Charting and following a path through recognizable landmarks, constellations, or using a map to find a course.
• Perform (various) (05%): Entertaining or performing in some fashion, whether through music, acting, acrobatics, comedy, etc. Each type of Perform is a specialty.
• Persuade (15%): Using logic, reason, and emotional appeal to convince someone to agree to a specific course of action or avenue of thought. Unlike Fast Talk, Persuade takes time, supporting arguments, and a willing audience.
• Pilot (various) (01%): Operating an air, sea, or space vehicle. Each vehicle type is a specialty, and some vehicles may require multiple pilots to operate.
• Projection (DEX×2): If powers (magic, super, psychic, etc.) are used in a game, this is the ability to direct a powered attack at a target.
• Psychotherapy (01%): Using psychiatry and psychological analysis to determine a patient’s psychological issues and address them through treatment. First Aid heals the body, but Psychotherapy heals the mind. This is a lengthy process handled through multiple sessions and in-depth personal evaluation and counseling. In historical periods this is spiritual counseling.
• Repair (various) (15%): Fixing something broken, jammed, disassembled, or otherwise inoperable. Each type of Repair is a specialty, such as Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, Structural, Quantum, etc.
• Research (25%): Using a source of references (library, newspaper archive, computer network, the internet, wizard’s grimoire, etc.) to discover desired pieces of information.
• Ride (various) (05%): Riding an animal and controlling it in difficult situations. Each type of animal (horse, dragon, giant owl, etc.) is a specialty.
• Science (various) (01%): Expertise in a field of study from the ‘hard sciences.’ Each type of Science skill is a specialty, such as Astronomy, Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Genetics, Geology, Mathematics, Meteorology, Physics, Zoology, etc.
• Sense (10%): A combination of scent, taste, and touch—being able to detect subtle or hidden things with these senses.
• Shield (various) (% by shield type): Parrying a blow with a shield. Each type of Shield skill is a specialty, such as Buckler, Energy, Full, Half, Heater, Hoplite, Kite, Round, etc.
• Sleight of Hand (05%): Feats of prestidigitation and misdirection, such as picking pockets, palming coins, card tricks, and sleight-of-hand illusions.
• Spot (25%): Detecting those things difficult to notice or otherwise hidden.
• Status (various) (15%): Social standing, or the ability to manipulate one’s social environment in a favorable manner, such as borrowing money, gaining favors, impressing others, etc. Each type of Status skill is a specialty. Specialties might include City (a particular city), Group (one group or organization), High Society, Religion, Species (a particular species), etc.
• Stealth (10%): Sneaking around to avoid detection or making otherwise concealed and furtive movements.
• Strategy (01%): Tactical assessment of a situation and constructing an optimal response, gaining insight into the conditions on a battlefield or the tactics the enemy will use. Often utilized in military or political situations.
• Swim (25%): Guiding oneself through the water with the intent of movement or prevention of drowning.
• Teach (10%): Imparting knowledge to others. See the Experience section on page XX for more information.
• Technical Skill (various) (00%): Use of a sophisticated piece of equipment or technical process. The base chance varies by setting and should be determined by the gamemaster, as appropriate. Each type of Technical skill is a specialty, such as Computer Programming, Computer Use, Electronics, Robotics, Sensor Systems, Siege Engines, Traps, etc.
• Throw (25%): Aiming and tossing something (dart, football, baseball, rock, hat, etc.) through the air towards a target. Unlike the Missile Weapon skill, this is a catch-all for anything that isn’t specifically a weapon, and a successful roll doesn’t necessarily damage an opponent.
• Track (10%): Following a trail of footprints, spoor, etc. in either direction.

If desired, the gamemaster should modify the skill list to make it more appropriate to any given setting. The gamemaster should feel free to eliminate skills, rename them, or introduce new skills. For example, a medieval fantasy setting probably won’t utilize Energy Weapon, Heavy Machine, Psychotherapy, or Technical Skill. Beginning skill levels can also be adjusted for a specific campaign or setting.

2.7 Professions and Professional Skills

In Basic Roleplaying, a profession is a collection of skills appropriate to a character in that role. Each player character receives 300 skill points to allocate among these skills, as the player sees fit. There are no restrictions about what skills the character can learn in play through experience or additional training, and there is no minimum number of skill points that can be allocated to a professional skill. For example, a soldier has access to training in skills relating to firearms, but they may choose to have no training with Heavy Weapons. These skill points are added to the skill’s base chance, described above.

Following are a dozen professions appropriate to a wide range of settings. Professions using powers (magic, for example) are not provided here.

• Cowboy: Craft (usually knots), Firearm (Rifle), Knowledge (Natural History), Knowledge (Local Area), Listen, Navigate, Ride, Spot, Throw, Track.
• Detective: Firearm (Handgun), Knowledge (Law), Listen, Persuade, Spot, Research, and four of the following: Art, Brawl, Disguise, Dodge, Drive, Fast Talk, Firearm (any), Grapple, Hide, Insight, Knowledge (any), Language (Other), Language (Own), Medicine, Ride, Science (any), Technical (Computer Use), Stealth, or Track.
• Doctor: First Aid, Language (Own), Medicine, Persuade, Research, Spot, and choose four of the following: Insight, Language (Other), Psychotherapy, Science (any), and Status.
• Hunter: Climb, Hide, Listen, Navigate, Spot, Stealth, Track, and three of the following: Firearm (Handgun, Rifle, or Shotgun), Knowledge (Natural History or Region), Melee Weapon (usually Spear), Missile Weapon (any), Language (Other), and Ride.
• Lawman: Brawl, Dodge, Fast Talk, Knowledge (Law), Listen, Spot, and four of the following: Drive, Firearms (any), First Aid, Grapple, Insight, Knowledge (Region or Group), Language (Other), Martial Arts, Melee Weapon (any), Missile Weapon (any), Pilot (any), Ride, Status, Technical (Computer Use), or Track.
• Noble: Bargain, Drive, Etiquette, Language (Own), Language (Other), Literacy, and Status, plus any other three skills as hobbies or fields of interest.
• Sailor: Climb, Craft (any), Dodge, Grapple, Navigate, Pilot (Boat), Swim, and any three of the following: Artillery (any, usually shipboard), Command, Language (Other), Listen, Repair (Mechanical), Repair (Structural), or Spot.
• Scientist: Craft (any), Persuade, Research, Status, Technical (Computer Use) or Heavy Machine, and any five appropriate Knowledge or Science related to field of study.
• Soldier: Brawl, Climb, Dodge, First Aid, and six of the following: Artillery, Command, Drive, Firearm (usually Rifle, but any), Grapple, Heavy Weapon (any), Hide, Language (Other), Listen, Jump, Medicine, Melee Weapon (any), Missile Weapon (any), Navigate, Repair (Mechanical), Ride, Spot, Stealth, or Throw.
• Spy: Dodge, Fast Talk, Hide, Listen, Research, Spot, Stealth, and three of the following: Art (Photography), Brawl, Disguise, Etiquette, Firearm (any), Grapple, Insight, Knowledge (any), Language (Other), Language (Own), Martial Arts, Navigate, Pilot (any), Repair (Electronics), Repair (Mechanical), Ride, Swim, Technical (Computer Use), Throw, or Track.
• Thief: Appraise, Dodge, Fast Talk, Hide, Stealth, and five other skills from the following list: Bargain, Brawl, Climb, Disguise, Fine Manipulation, Firearm (Handgun or Shotgun), Grapple, Insight, Listen, Jump, Knowledge (Law), Persuade, Repair (Mechanical), or Spot.
• Warrior: Brawl, Dodge, Grapple, Melee Weapon (any), Missile Weapon (any), and five other skills from the following list: Climb, Firearm (any), Hide, Listen, Jump, Language (Other), Martial Arts, Ride, Spot, Stealth, Swim, Throw, Track.

As an alternative to the established professions, the gamemaster may allow a player to create a new profession for their character. To do so, pick a suitable title for the profession and ten appropriate skills to spend 300 professional skill points on.

2.8 Personal Skills

Not everyone is entirely their profession, and a character shouldn’t be so narrowly defined. Multiply the INT characteristic by 10 and distribute those points across any skills desired, including skills from the character’s profession. These represent skills and training picked up elsewhere, either prior to their current profession or through personal interests. It could also represent a natural affinity for the skill.

The gamemaster may ask players not to raise any skill higher than 75% (unless the skill’s base is higher than 75%), and that any personal skills selected at this time make sense for the character to have.

2.9 Equipment

Now that the character is almost finished, they still need some gear. This can include weapons, armor, or other important paraphernalia used in their profession. In the course of play there are many chances to get more equipment, but each starting player character has in their immediate possession the following:

• A set of clothing appropriate to the character’s profession and the setting.
• An amount of pocket money; enough to last a little while without hardship. The higher the Status skill, the more money.
• A personal heirloom, keepsake, or some trinket of little relative value.
• Any trade tools or transportable equipment suitable to the character’s profession, if appropriate.
• Any weapon the character has a skill of 50% or higher in, if appropriate.
• Other items as appropriate based on the Status skill, setting, and subject to the gamemaster’s approval.

This can be modified by the gamemaster based on circumstances: characters participating in a commando raid may be fully laden with weapons and tactical gear, while suburban civilians waking up to a zombie apocalypse may be limited to what they reasonably have on hand.

2.10 Final Touches

Any major aspects of characterization or background should be decided at this point. The gamemaster may wish to learn more about the character’s background for use in a campaign. This can include origin, family, education, religion, past actions, or goals. Generally, the more a player knows about the character, the more ‘real’ they become in play, though this is not always necessary. It’s just as bad to create too much background as it is to create too little.

Each player should create as much background as feels comfortable. A one-shot scenario probably doesn’t need lot of character background, but for a longer campaign, the gamemaster and other players may have a hard time imagining the character if enough information hasn’t been provided.

The gamemaster always has the right to veto anything that’s objectionable or does not fit into the desired setting or tone.