2023 Character Creation Challenge

[Bunch]

Post your characters here.

 

[A Fiery Flying Roll]

System: Neverwhere
Version: 3rd ed

Name: Sebastian

Profession: Master Information Broker

Traits:

Extremely Small
Very Quick
Perceptive
Super Smooth
Amoral
Fragile

Background: Anybody who knows anything about London Below knows that Sebastian is one of the finest information brokers in the Undercity. A much smaller number are aware that his area of influence expands across the entire Tube network (he seems to have come to some kind of arrangement with Earl's Court). What only a handful of Undercity dwellers know (the Marquis de Carabas naturally being among them) is that Sebastian is in fact a tube mouse. He has agents and allies everywhere, including a few ratspeakers who pass on his messages. He is also unfraid to get his whiskers dirty. Underdwellers should know not to assume that every animal is unable to understand them, yet few of them think of the mice in the walls. He prefers to trade his information for new information and favours. He cares little for who his goods might harm, although he might try to avoid anything that could threaten London Below as a whole.

 

[thebigh]

System :: GURPS
Version :: 4th Edition

For my first character I'm going to start with just a pretty basic gangster type in GURPS, an 80 point mobster from New York called Gilbert Cromarty. I might save this guy for when I need an NPC.

 

[Bunch]

I have a request. If you could please start each post like this:
System :: System_name
Version :: Version_name

I hope to crawl the thread at end and parse this out for future reference.

 

[Ravenswing]

System: Fantasy Trip

Ziemin

ST 8, DX 10, IQ 14

Curse, Charisma, Literacy, Master Physicker, Physicker, Priest, Quarterstaff, Theologian.

A wandering priest of Lady Winter, the goddess of death, Zieman's a beginning character for TFT. Death comes to all, sooner or later, but Lady Winter is patient, and so Zieman is a skilled healer: if it's your time, it's your time, but until then, the goddess doesn't begrudge you further life and health.

He's not much of an asset in a fight (not without a fair bit of XP), but he's got intimidation down to a fine form, and that his curses and prayers have some teeth to them helps. Any party he's in will have to put up with him gathering everyone together to hear a prayer before battle, and the degree to which the party members are respectful towards his faith is the degree to which he's enthusiastic about patching them up afterwards.

 

[Telok]

System :: Traveller
Version :: Classic

Step by step...
Strength 5, dexterity 5, endurance 8, intelligence 5, education 9, social 10

So... we're an inbred overeducated noble?
Spoiler step by step generation

Spoiler

Got into Navy with the +2 from edu.
1st term skills - electronics & navigation
Yay, we're useful for more than our relatives.
Survival - ok
Commission - no
Reeinlist - yes
Survival - easily
Commission - just barely
Promotion - no
2nd term skills - +dex & +soc
Got knighted!
Reenlist - yes
Survive - yes
Promotion - easy
3rd term skills - +end & +edu
Reenlist - yes
Survival - barely
Promotion - easily
4th term skills - forward observer & +soc
Aging - failed all three, -str & -dex & -end
Muster out, check for boxcars on the reeinlist roll - no boxcars, got out
Mustering out benefits, 4 terms, commission & 2 promotions is 6 rolls.
2x $50,000
A high passage ticket.
+2 edu
2x blade(dagger) skill

Lord Percy Percy, Baronet of Somewhereorotherdontchaknow
UPP 4585CC
34 years old, electronics-1, navigator-1, forward observer-1, dagger-1, ceremonial retirement dagger, $100,000, and a high passage ticket to "anywhere but here".

 

[AsenRG]

System :: Traveller
Version :: Classic

Step by step...
Strength 5, dexterity 5, endurance 8, intelligence 5, education 9, social 10

So... we're an inbred overeducated noble?

...seems about right!

 

[Godfather Punk]

Day 1
System :: Simulacres - Aventures Extraordinaires & Machinations Infernales
Version :: 1.0

Things lost in translation are all my fault. And Google Translate.


In an alternate 19th century France during the Second Empire, where the imagination of Jules Verne is more than fantasy, where colonial powers are secretly undermined by conspiracies and anarchists, while building new world wonders and launching grand endeavours in a world still largely unexplored.

Name: Leonard Paquet
Age: 28
Father: Abélard Paquet
Mother: Nadinah Hassan (Algerian)
Education: Technical engineer
Religion: catholic
Nationality: French, parbleu!
Income: medium (when employed)
Wealth: 6 months savings
Domicile: Small house in Marseille

History:
Born in Algeria from a French father who worked for a shipping line, and an Algerian mother, Leonard grew up dividing his education between school and the streets of Algiers. This made him fluent in French and Arabic, and complemented his book learning with some streetsmarts. After an ilness his father returned to France, where Leonard completed his studies as a Mechanical and Electrical Engineer. At the moment he works at one of the shipyards, but sometimes his mind wanders to the wider world he has known in his youth. Laurent is courting Bernadette Bourdillon, the daughter of a local watchmaker. He hasn't asked her hand in marriage yet, but plans to do so soon...

Spoiler: Generation steps

Attributes : Divide 18 points with minimum 3 and maximum 6 over the 4 Attributes
Capabilities : Assign 10 points between 0 and 4 to the Capabilities
Domains & Boosts : Assign 8 points between 0 and 2 to the Domains & Boosts

Profession: Technical engineer
Talents: Tinkerer, Foreign customs, Savate
Disadvantages: Collector (will get distracted by watches, clocks... and will try to aquire them any chance he gets).

Attributes
Body : 4
Instinct : 5
Heart : 4
Spirit : 5

Capabilities
Perception : 3
Action : 3
Desire : 2
Resistance : 2

Domains
Mineral : 1
Vegetal : 0
Animal : 1
Humanism : 2
Mechanic : 2

Boosts
Strength : 0
Speed : 1
Precision : 1

Spoiler: Sheet

 

[AsenRG]

System: Strange Tales of Songling (by BedrockBrendan )
Version: N/A (or you could argue that SToS is itself a version of his house system).
Character: Demon Hunter

歐陽 霄雲 (a.k.a. Ouyang Xiaoyun) was born in the West. Not the Far West (known elsewhere as India), but in the Xianjian, where his father was part of a successful trading company.
Alas, but the young Ouyang wasn't interested in whatever plans the elder Ouyangs had for his future! Soon after the kid was born, he was presented, in accordance with local custom, the items of various trades...except the items of the traders' trade were two, and one was scented with nice perfumes, while the other had been left in the kitchen near the best-cooked food. Small tricks to ensure good fortune are all fine!
But surprise! Time and time again young Ouyang picked the ritual dagger (first time, after which it was exchanged). Then the kid, a toddler really, chose a toy soldier, and then, a book.
The last his father took as a good omen for a future in trading...except the book had been a Tao Te Ching copy that the diviner had proposed. One which had been used in a demon-binding ritual, unbeknownst to family.
Not too long after, the head Ouyang was murdered during a raid on his caravan. His brother, taking the reins of the family finances, sent the kid to a local monastery when he was 10, "to be educated" - and conveniently forgot to call him back!
Thus the fate of the young Ouyang, as predicted after birth, was realized. For the monastery had long been the abode of a sect of the Ghost-Hunting Brotherhood!
*sounds of rolling thunder*
Today, Ouyang is an accomplished adept, who follows the Buddhist canons almost to the T (well, as much as any dob-dob, really - he mostly abstains from fleshly pursuits and alcohol, and mostly abstains from non-meat food, arguing a ghost-hunter must be fit...an argument the monastery's abbots had accepted generations ago-and other people just took it as "another indulging monk").
One of his travel took him to the town of Whereadventurebegins...

System Info:
Hardiness 5, Evade 5, Wits 7
Specialist Skills: Medicine-1, Divination-2, Ritual-2, Survival-1
Combat Skills: Arm Strike 2, Melee 1, Ranged 2
Physical skills: Muscle-1, Speed-1
Creatures-2, Religion-1, Command-1, Detect-1
Max Wounds 2

Magic Technique: Exploding Talisman

Technically, I think I should make a spare character as part of chargen, but that one would be for tomorrow! Or after-tomorrow, I just might do a LotW character tomorrow (something I wouldn't even consider without having a free day).

Also, the length of chargen in SToS is exactly right for my tastes, lately...



BTW, Black Leaf I just love your choice for first system of the year!

 

[sharps54]

System: Risus

Fletch



Description: Irwin Maurice Fletcher (you would go by “Fletch” too if your name was Irwin Maurice) is an independently wealthy, retired investigative reporter who manages to find himself in sticky situations. He is college educated, earned a Bronze Star in the U.S. Marines that he has never been present at an awards ceremony to pick up, and has two ex-wives. He has a small fortune built on some money he fell into. Fletch has a sarcastic wit, a distain for just about any institution, and a surprising sense of justice. He elicits strong emotions, people either love or hate him. Women tend to love him. Fletch is tall, lean, in good physical shape and appears younger than he is. He has a number of contacts from his days in the Marines and at various newspapers that he isn’t shy about reaching out to for help

Cliches: Controversial Investigative Reporter (4), Witty Ladies Man (3), Questionably Wealthy (2), Reluctant Combat Veteran (1)

Although I’ve used a photo of Chevy Chase from the movie this version of the character is based on the Gregory McDonald series of novels that film was loosely based on.

 

[AsenRG]

I suspect Risus shall be overrepresented in this thread!

 

[sharps54]

I suspect Risus shall be overrepresented in this thread!

Ha, my plan is not to repeat systems too much although I may do a few different Palladium games which are essentially the same system across the board.

 

[AsenRG]

Ha, my plan is not to repeat systems too much although I may do a few different Palladium games which are essentially the same system across the board.

I mean simply that when you're short of time to get to the challenge, Risus might well seem like a better option than when you're starting a campaign...

So Risus and similar systems might well end up with more characters in this thread than their share of campaigns would warrant.

 

[sharps54]

I mean simply that when you're short of time to get to the challenge, Risus might well seem like a better option than when you're starting a campaign...

So Risus and similar systems might well end up with more characters in this thread than their share of campaigns would warrant.

Which is a shame as Risus is a system that deserves more love and table time

 

[Stan]

System: Forbidden Lands

I'm going to start off with several Free League games as I just picked up a few more.

Forbidden Lands (FL) is your typical ability scores, plus skills, plus talents/feats breakdown of character abilities. Your 4 ability scores typically vary only between 2 and 4, but can be 5 if it's key to your race or profession, 6 if both. As a goblin hunter, I decided to go all out with 6 agility.

Several free league games let you decide your general age category, younger gets more ability points, older gets more skills/talents. I decided to be old so 6 agility is nearly half of my ability scores.

You can go up to 3 skills points in skills related to your profession but I went with 2 each to spread around the points. Also, with 6 agility, my success rate should be super high - maybe overkill but extra successes increase damage so it might work out. Also, I'm weak and want to make sure I dodge every attack, which played into my talent selection. You start with almost no gear in this game. I guess that's ok as I'm pretty weak.

Spoiler: Character sheet

 

[BedrockBrendan]

Also, the length of chargen in SToS is exactly right for my tastes, lately...

I'm glad to hear that lol. I timed character creation during playtest to make sure it was easy to quickly make new ones when peoples characters die so they can get back into the game.

 

[Dyrnwyn]

Day 1

System: OSRIC
Version: Updated 2nd Edition
Publisher: Usherwood Publishing

System Notes: This is a retroclone of AD&D 1E with some minor changes, so I'm assuming most people here are familiar with character generation. I went with 3d6 and assign for the ability scores, as 3d6 in order is not stated to be the default method, but rather one option of several.

Name: Thaldrek Greatmountain
Race: Dwarf
Class: Fighter
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Level: 1

Strength: 17 (+1 to melee hit and damage, +50 lbs encumbrance, minor test 1-3 on 1d6, major test 13%)
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 12 (survive resurrection or raise dead 85%, survive system shock 80%)
Intelligence: 5 (cannot learn additional languages)
Wisdom: 6 (-1 to mental saving throws)
Charisma: 6 (maximum henchmen 2, -15% loyalty penalty, -10% reaction penalty)

Hit Points: 9
Armor Class: 7 (Ring Mail)
Move: 90’
THAC0: 20

Saving Throws: Aimed Magic Items 16, Breath Weapons 17, Death/Paralysis/Poison 16, Petrification/Polymorph 15, Other Spells 15

Age: 51
Build: Stout
Height: 4’4”
Weight: 172 lbs

Dwarf Abilities: +1 Constitution, -1 Charisma (except with dwarves), +1 to hit vs goblins/orcs/half-orcs/hobgoblins; -4 penalty to be hit by giants/ogres/ogre mages/titans/trolls; Infravision 60’; Detect Stonework/Engineering (Variable Depending on Type)

Languages: Common, Chaotic, Dwarfish, Gnomish, Goblin, Kobold, Orcish

Weapon Proficiencies: Battle Axe, Dagger, Spear, Heavy Crossbow

Weapons: Battle Axe, Dagger, Heavy Crossbow
Armor: Ring Mail
Equipment: Backpack, Bedroll, Quiver with 24 Heavy Crossbow Bolts, Waterskin with 3 Pints of Ale, 4 Days of Trail Rations, Whetstone, Satchel, Large Belt Pouch, Woolen Tunic, Belt, Heavy Boots
Money: 10 gp, 5 sp, 3 cp

Backstory: Thaldrek is a mercenary who wanders the realm in search of his next payday. He cares little for organized society (or social niceties in general), yet is not cruel or malicious by nature – rather, he sees himself as independent and practical. Stubborn even by dwarfish standards, Thaldrek found life in the dwarf holds to be too rigid and inflexible for his liking, which led him to seek his fortune in the wider world.

 

[MoonHunter]

System :: Convergence Point
Version :: 1.9

All this set of characters are based on the "anime" of The Neo Frontiers. The full anime series The New Frontiers is not supposed to focus on any particular character but follows several characters throughout the course of the series. Although each one gets to be a star in one episode some just continue to follow their life. They are all interlinked around the high school "stage" characters. They will be at the level of when they first appear in the "anime".

1) Name: Simone Williamson
Core Trait : Synth-zed Student of the Neo Frontiers Era

Simone is a headstrong and confident young woman going to Unity High School as a sophmore. We meet her sitting in the school office waiting on the principal. She consoles and calms another girl (Kaede Tanaka) who is visibly shaken and worried about meeting the principal. At her meeting, she finds out that because of a change in zone law, she is required to attend "Human Class"/ Social Training class. This class is required for all Synths not decanted as babies. She is annoyed and argues that she has been alive and human for 11 years. Still she will go.

She waits for Kaede to finish her meeting and takes the new girl to a break shop for something to drink (tea/coffee). The two are harassed by the physically imposing Racheal Brown and her "minion" The J's.

Simone becomes the core nucleus of a group of friends the chronicle/ anime focuses on. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and is unwavering in most of her opinions.

The only thing that needs to be defined is that she is a war child. Many people lost people during The Six Year War (and other conflicts). Using Biosynthesis Techniques, many of those people cloned love ones lost. Most of them were decanted as Babies. Simone was one of the first war children clones, before the process was better defined. She was decanted as a toddler. While still counted as a citizen (and person), many of the laws applicable to biosynthetics apply to her.

She is The Second of her line (and there will be no others). Her Prime was Dr Williamson's (and Capt Williamson's) older sister who died in one of the early military conflicts at the start of the Six Year War. She was a dominant woman with an aristocratic bearing. She ran various charities like a dominant and controlling CEO. She died while making sure various goods were being given to the right people in a conflict zone.

Description: She is a tall caucasian brunette with brown eyes. Her chestnut-colored hair is long, thick, volumous, with curls and waves. It and her "better" developed body are her notable features. She has her prime's dominant personality and unwavering sense of right and wrong. Per her "father" Dr Williamson, she is much more empathetic and caring than his sister, her prime.

Write Up - Convergence Point

Name: Simone Williamson
Core Trait : Clone Student of the Neo Frontiers Era
Lv 1 /EP Mod 1.15x (1.15-.2 +.2)

PHY 10 +3/7- "Well Developed"
DEX 13 +4/7- "Graceful"
MEN 12 +4/7- "Sharp as a tack"
EMO 16 +5/7- "Iron Will"
MPY 9 +3/7- "Standard Aura"
CHA 12 +4/7- "Regal Bearing"

Life Focus: STA+CON+CMU+DED -.2x

Status+1 "Notable Family"
Contacts+1 "Students"
Communication+1 "Persuasion" "Commanding"
Deduction+1 "People"

Any Developing /Expanding sets
Stubborn/ Willful (B2)
Family Wealth - L-INF+2 Wealth STA+1 "Notable Family" +.2x
Synth (A1)

 

[Bunch]

System :: Forbidden Lands
Version :: -

Day 1

(I usually use this challenge to explore chargen in a different system each day. I don't typically do much character backstory)

Name	Nissel Wolfkiller
Kin	Goblin
Profession	Hunter
Age	16
Pride	Your arrow always hits its mark.
Key Attribute	Agility x2
Dark Secret	Once, you left a wounded friend to die in the woods to save yourself
Relationships	... is always hungry and eats all the food you catch
Reputation	0
Armor Rating	5
Gear
Bow
Studded Leather
Open Helm
Silver	5
Resources	Food D8, Water D8, Arrows D10
Stats
Strength	3
Agility	6
Wits	4
Empathy	2
Skills
Stealth	2
Move	1
Marksmanship	3
Scouting	1
Survival	2
Talents
Nocturnal	1
Path of the Arrow	1
Sharp Shooter	1

 

[Savage Schemer]

Day 1: WEG D6 (Magnetic Variant)

We begin with a classic game system. It's the D6 system, very slightly modified for Magnetic Press Play's Carbon Grey setting and using the role playing game by the same name and company. The method for making a character is simple: choose a template you find interesting; spend skill points (7D total with no more than 2D in any given skill at character creation); choose a Quirk, a Remarkable Ability and an Obligation; calculate your (static) defenses and you're ready to play. You may also spend the template's starting funds, but the template does come with some starting equipment. With that done, pick a name and a personality and you're ready to play.

Before I get to the characer, I assume most people are going to be unfamilar with the setting. So the brief version is that Carbon Grey is a game based on a comic series by the same name. It presents a fantasy not-Europe in an anachronistic not-World War 1. The anachronisms stem from the fact that reality is unraveling via something called Continuity Fluxes and Surges. Because of this, spacetime bends and sometimes breaks, but some gifted people can manipulate this force and effectively pull tech from alternate timelines into the game's baseline time. Revolution vs Imperialism are two of the more prominent themes of the setting.

I plan to make at least two characters to reflect this. Without further delay, I present the first of them here.

-------------------
Name: Anton Matei
Archetype: Fervent Revolutionary

Background: All around you, people suffer and toil while those in power grow fat off their labors. Now the war effort has taken what little you and your compatriots have managed to eke out of the turmoil. It’s not right, and you are far from the only one who thinks so. You want to take up arms and make a difference, be the voice for the oppressed, but joining an army does nothing but propagate the current regime. What the people need is a revolution.

Once you found your voice, you found your backbone. You will no longer be a sheep to be shorn for the aristocracy, but a hungry wolf gnawing at the very heart of an empire. No mission is too dangerous and no price, even your own life, is too high to pay if it means seeing the regime fall and the people rise.

Personality: Fiery, passionate, and opinionated. You wear your heart on your sleeve and wave your flag proudly. Even when it’s dangerous to do so.

Quirk: Altruistic - In a world at war, your first thought is of others.
Remarkable Ability(pick): Danger Sense - +1D on all rolls using Reflex or Instinct
Obligation: Honor - You live by a code.

Dexterity 3D+1
-- Reflex 1D

Knowledge 3D
-- Survival 1D

Mechanical 2D

Perception 3D+1
-- Instinct 1D
-- Marksmanship 2D

Strength 3D
-- Brawl 1D

Willpower 3D+1
-- Grit 1D

Surprised 9
Ready 9
Psyche 9

Equipment:
Huntsman Right-Fire Rifle [4D DMG]
5 magazines with 5 rifle rounds each
Kreuzotter Highwayman’s Special Revolver
30 loose small arms rounds in a pocket
satchel
heavy clothing

Funds:
250M

Memento: A faded photograph of a lost loved one to remind you of your cause. You get +2 on all Grit rolls.

 

[thebigh]

Jan 2

System :: Dungeons and Dragons
Version :: TSR Basic Set


For this character I dug up my old Moldvay D&D boxes and rolled up a cleric, strictly following the character creation rules. I even used the antique dice that came with it, which normally never see the outside of their bag. I ended up with a sickly, profoundly unlikeable, but tremendously wise fellow. He'll probably end up a bishop one day, if he survives his first adventure- which he almost certainly won't. This sort of thing is why point buy, rather than rolled stats, is my preference.

Meet Rastos Ladletithe!

 

[Silverlion]

I like superhero games and simple ones like H&S2E, Marvel, Icons or something else. What should I do?

 

[Bunch]

I like superhero games and simple ones like H&S2E, Marvel, Icons or something else. What should I do?

Make a character! Make a team! Make villains!

 

[VisionStorm]

Ima go against the grain and choose current ed D&D...

System: D&D
Version: 5e (D&D Beyond; 4d6, drop lowest)

Name: Linnellia Greenclaw
Race: Wood Elf
Class: Ranger 1
Background: Folk Hero
HP: 13; AC: 15 (Leather); Proficiency Bonus: +2

Strength: 15 (+2)
Dexterity: 18 (+4)
Constitution: 16 (+3)
Intelligence: 11 (0)
Wisdom: 18 (+4)
Charisma: 12 (+1)

Armor: Light, Medium, and Shields.
Weapon Proficiencies: All Simple and Martial Weapons.
Saves: Strength +5, Constitution +4.
Tools: Smith's Tools, Vehicle (Land).
Skills: Animal Handling +6, Athletics +4, Nature +2, Perception +6, Stealth +6, Survival +6.
Languages: Common, Elf, Goblin.

---

Features & Traits
Favored Enemy: Humanoids (Werebears, Goblinoids).
Natural Explorer: Forest.
Darkvision 60'
Keen Senses (Perception Proficiency)
Fey Ancestry
Trance
Elf Weapon Training
Fleet of Foot
Mask of the Wild

---

Backstory: Linnellia's family was killed by a tribe of werebears that invaded her land while she was out hunting boar. She enlisted with the Elf King's army to help hunt down the tribe, and her aid was instrumental in tracking them down and eventually driving them out. But the war leader who killed her parents survived. Now Linnellia travels the land hoping to find his trail, so she can hunt him down and make him pay for his crimes.

 

[AsenRG]

Oh, we're already doing Jan 2?

OK...
System: Strange Tales of Songling
Version: N/A

Murong Qingyan is a dob-dob. He has been raised from childhood in the same monastery as Ouyang Xiaoyun, his parents being locals, and is a junior member of the same Brotherhood of Ghost Hunters. Similarly, he has arrived in Wheretheadventurebegins, but he has some relatives in the city. Since he hasn't yet given his monastic vows (although he intends to), he still has earthly obligations towards them - so he has been temporarily separated from his older friend and more experienced friend: having spent longer in the monastery, Murong is even less used to life among non-monks!
On the other hand, having trained since childhood, he's much better at monastic martial arts.
System Info:
Hardiness 5, Evade 5, Wits 7
Specialist Skills: Medicine-2, Divination-1, Ritual-2, Survival-1
Combat Skills: Arm Strike 1, Melee 2, Ranged 2
Physical skills: Muscle-1, Speed-1
Creatures-2, Religion-1, Command-1
Max Wounds 2

Magic Technique: Demon Sutra



*That's the spare character, yes. The above explains why he would appear if the primary character dies: they've been separated and he had issues managing to track the party in an unfamiliar city!

 

[thebigh]

Oh, we're already doing Jan 2?

Depends on your time zone I guess.

 

[VisionStorm]

Depends on your time zone I guess.

Already Jan 2 in all of Europe and further east, I believe.

 

[SoManyRats]

(Still Jan. 1 here)

System: Strontium Dog
Version: Mongoose Traveller (because the best mutation tables!)

Spoiler: Walkthrough

Characteristics (all 2d6 except Edu at 2d6-2):
Strength 6; Dexterity 9; Endurance 6; Intelligence 7; Education 0; Influence 5

Mutate!
Severity 6 (radical)
Extent 2 areas affected
Areas affected: chest (affects End and Str) and spine (affects End and Dex) (one stat goes up by 1d3+2 and the other goes down the same)
Nature of mutation: grotesquely malformed (chest) and bestial (spine)
(I decide the chest mutation will increase End for both and decrease Str and Dex; I could up Str and reduce Dex and have the End cancel each other out, but why go average?)
Chest: End +5, Str -5; Spine End +5, Dex -5 -- rolled max (5 or 6) all 4 times!

Traits (2d6-8): 10-8=2 traits
Traits are chosen, and both mutations are to the body. I choose supra-strength twiceto offset the punishing Str hit (+1 plus a level in Athletics each time).

Stats are now: Str 3, Dex 4, End 16, Int 7, Edu 0, Inf 5.
Skills: Athletics (strength) 1 (first level 0, then level 1)

Service!
Age: 17+1d6 = 21
Dog terms served: 3, 4 years each, so starting play at age 33

First term:
The survival role is based off (1d6=5) Edu (ouch!); level of risk is (1d6=5) risky, with a survival target of 7+ and +1 to the warrant type.
The warrant type is (2d6+1=7) history-of-violence fugitives in easily accessible locations, 2 rolls.
For the first term basic skill package I get to choose from one of four paired skills based on the warrant type; I choose Survival, Investigate, Streetwise, and Gun Combat, all at level 0.
Then I can roll twice (because of the warrant type) on General Skills, Warrant Skills, Personal Development, or Special Techniques. I'm going with Personal Development to try to improve Str or Dex. I get (1d6=2) +1 Dex! Yay!
And General skills (1d6=3): survival.
Now the survival roll: 2d6-3=7. Just made it!
Events (d66=44): I am hired to deal with an alien faction or threat. I take a level of Interrogation.
Benefit: I'll roll on cash (1d6=6) and get 320,000 Cr!

Second term:
Survival (1d6=End); level of risk (1d6=3) simple (survival 5+, -1 warrant type).
Warrant (2d6-1=8) same again!
Personal Development (1d6=3) End!
Warrant Skills (1d6=2) Melee!
Survival roll (2d6+3=7) - survived without a mishap.
Events (d66=63): it's vital I leave Earth immediately; I must serve an additional term using the Scum of the Universe table.
Benefit: Other Benefit this time (1d6=2) and get a medium berth ship passage.

Additional term (since I had to leave Earth immediately):
Survival roll (1d6=2): Dex (uh-oh).
Survival risk (Scum of the Universe has to be Standard risk or higher, so I'll roll a d3 to see which, d3=2): risky.
Scum of the Universe gets 4 improvement rolls, so I'll take one of each.
Personal Development (1d6=1): +1 Str.
General Skills (1d6=1): Athletics.
Warrant Skills (1d6=6): choice of any skill, I'll up my gun combat by one.
Special Techniques (1d6=2): Called Shot.
Survival roll (2d6-1=10) - survived without a mishap.
Events (d66=33): roll on warrant events table.
Warrant events (2d6=5): impressive scar on face or neck; it doesn't hurt anymore, but it does give the character a rough exterior that is sometimes difficult to ignore.
Benefit: Other Benefit again (1d6=1) and gain a mid berth passage.

Third (now fourth) term:
Survival roll (1d6=1): Str (uh-oh again).
Survival risk (1d6=6): very risky, survival target 8+!
Warrant type (2d6+2=8): history of violence fugitives in easily accessible locations, 2 rolls.
Personal Development (1d6=1): +1 Str.
Warrant Skills (1d6=3): Survival.
Survival roll (2d6-1=7): failed, suffered a mishap!
Mishap (2d6=10): a colleague or partner is killed and I turned to alcohol or drugs to dull the pain. I've become dependent, and half of all income (including final cash) will go to paying for the addiction.
Events (d66=41): warrant goes awry from bad intel, and I need to rely on my skills! Roll either Gun Combat or Tactics, so of course Gun Combat: 2! I failed, so my Influence goes down 1.
Benefit: Other Benefit again (1d6=3) and get a weapon, yay!

Total benefits are 320,000 Cr less half for alcohol, so 160k, a medium berth ship passage and a mid berth passage, and a gun (I'm taking an autorifle).

Next, I get to take a final Skill Package. I'm taking the Revenge Package to get back at the scum who killed my partner!

Meet Ted Rex, Strontium Dog (mutant bounty hunter)!

Stats: Str: 5; Dex: 5; End: 17; Int: 7; Edu: 0; Inf: 4
Skills: Athletics (strength) 1; Gun Combat (slug rifle) 2; Heavy Weapons 0; Interrogation 1(Torture); Investigate 0; Leadership 0; Melee 0; Recon 0; Special Weapons 0; Streetwise 0; Survival 3; and Tactics 0.
Special Technique: Called Shot.
Equipment: autorifle, 2 medium/mid berth passages, 160k Cr.

T. Rex has a massively twisted chest that gets in the way of his arms, and has a small dorsal fin running down his back. He has an impressive scar running down the right side of his face.

T. Rex has spent a dozen years chasing down violent criminals across the galaxy. On his last bounty, though, something went wrong and his long-time partner Jenny Stomper was killed. T. Rex turned to alcohol to forget, and can most often be found on the floor of the local bar. When on the hunt, he may not be the best at anything, but he will not stop until he's done.

 

[SoManyRats]

Past midnight, so Jan 2.

System: Strontium Dog
Version: Judge Dredd & The Worlds of 2000AD (EN Publishing)

Spoiler: Walkthrough

Step One: starting characteristics.
All start at 3 except for PSI and REP, which start at 0.

Step Two: choose a species.
Mutant!
Size - medium
Attributes: End +2, Will +2, Rep +1.
Skill Choices (three of four): bluffing, disguise, stealth.
Exploits: Radiation Resistance (just what it sounds like); Mutation (see below).

Mutation manifestation (1d6=2): corporeal mutations table.
Mutation table (d66=53): puffer mechanism (bonus +3 Soak but but -3 Melee and Ranged Defence).

Step Three: choose a hook.
I'll come back to this at the end.

Step Four: careers. I get five.

Origin career: ghetto-raised.
Age (2d6+6=17) is 17 years old now.
Attributes: Str+1, Int+1, Luc+1.
Skills (choose two): brawling and (because I can always take a defensive skill) foresight
Exploit: Vibrancy of Life (+2 mental defence).

Recruitment career: mentored by an older dog.
Age (1d6=1) is 18 years old now.
Atributes: Str+1, Agi+1, Log+1, Rep+1.
Skills: perception and pistols.
Exploit: Make Me (Wil+1 and can spend Luc to reroll Wil checks).

Rookie career: rookie agent.
Age (1d6=1 again!) is 19 years old now.
Attributes: I can choose any four, so I pick Agi+1, Luc+1, End+1, and Cha+1 (why not).
Skills: law and tracking.
Exploit: Lucky Shot (spend a Luc die to turn a failed attack into a successful one, and if used when shooting someone also inflict the Bleeding condition).

S/D career 1: S/D Agent (keeping it simple).
Age (1d6=5) is 24 years old now.
Attributes: Str+1, End+1, Int+1, Rep+1.
Skills: piloting and interrogation.
Exploit: Catch the Mark (if the target takes enough damage to kill them, make a Challenging Luc check to instead render them unconscious, letting me blast away with everything and still take them alive!).

S/D career 2: Veteran S/D Agent.
Age (1d6=6) is 30 years old now.
Attributes: Str+1, End+1, Int+1, and any other so I'll pick Luc+1 since I'll use that for Lucky Shot and Catch the Mark.
Skills: rifles and insight.
Exploit: Variable-Cartridge Blaster Master (+1d6 damage with this type of weapon).

Step Five: two universal exploits.
I'll take Aim (+1d6 for a ranged attack) and Deadly Strike (+1d6 damage on a successful attack).

Step Six: descriptor.
I have to choose my highest or lowest attribute to include in the descriptor. I'll take Endurance, which is pretty high (8, lowest is either Log or Cha at 4).

Step Seven: derived statistics.
Health: roll an End dice pool (3d6=8) and a Wil dice pool (also 3d6=9) (and a Hardy skill pool if I had one, which I don't): 17 Health.
Speed: regular speed is Str dice pool (3d6) plus Agi dice pool (2d6) for 5, and half that for 3 at climbing.
Jump: horizontal is twice Agi in feet, so 10'; vertical is Str in feet, so 7'.
Carry: Str+Endx10 in pounds, so 150 pds.
Initiative: is equal to the Int dice pool, so 3d6.
Melee Defence: higher of Str or Agi so Str (3d6), plus foresight (1), -3 for puffer mechanism, so 1d6, so minimum 10 static value.
Ranged Defence: Agi, plus foresight, -3, minimum 10, so 10 again.
Mental Defence: higher of Wil and Cha so Wil (3d6), no applicable skill, so a static value of 11, +2 for Vibrancy of Life, so 13.
Vital Defence (to defend against area attacks and constitutional attacks): End (3d6), no applicable skills, so 11.

Step Eight: age.
I've been keeping track going along, it's now 30.

Step Nine: equipment.
Starting funds come from a Rep+Luc roll (3d6+6d6=7+16=23), x25+200 for being a veteran S/D Agent, so 775 cr total.

Finally, the descriptor: a[n] [age if young or old] [trait] [species] [career] who [hook].
A tough mutant Strontium Dog who likes gambling.

Stats and skills are converted into dice pools based on the score, so those are what's listed below.

Meet Wendy Orbital, a tough mutant Strontium Dog who likes to gamble!

Mutation: Puffer Mechanism (blow up like a pufferfish for a Soak bonus but a defence penalty).

Strength: 3d6
Agility: 2d6
Endurance: 3d6
Intelligence: 3d6
Logic: 2d6
Willpower: 3d6
Charisma: 2d6
Luck: 3d6
Reputation: 2d6
Psi: 0

Skills (all at 1d6): Bluffing, Brawling, Disguise, Foresight, Law, Insight, Interrogation, Perception, Piloting, Pistols, Rifles, Stealth, Tracking.

Exploits: Radiation Resistance, Mutation, Vibrancy of Life (mental defence bonus), Make Me (better Will), Lucky Shot (spend Luck to turn a failed attack into a success and inflict Bleeding condition), Catch the Mark (make a Luck check to turn lethal damage into a knock-out, to take marks alive), Variable-Cartridge Blaster Master (bonus to hit with this weapon), Aim (bonus to hit), and Deadly Strike (bonus to damage).

Melee and Ranged Defence: 10 each.
Mental Defence: 13.
Vital Defence: 11
Soak: 3.

Wendy Orbital isn't great at anything but is okay at a bunch of different things. She tends to just fire away at targets, counting on a combination of luck and skill to drop them without killing them. She relies on her pufferfish mutation to protect her from injury so is an expert at finding the stretchiest fabric.

 

[sharps54]

System: Recon
Version: Deluxe Revised Recon

Lance Johnson

Alignment Opportunist
Primary MOS Point Man
Secondary MOS Heavy Weapons

Strength (ST) 46
Alertness (AL) 71
Agility (AG) 85

Height 5’6”
Weight 153 lbs
20 years old

Skills
Climbing
Assault Rifle 45% (M16) 60%
Grenade Throwing 90%
Basic Infantry Training 50%
Unarmed Combat 90%
Knife Fighting 90%
Knife Throwing 90%
Anti-Tank Weapon 80%
Detect Ambush 50%
Detect Mines/Booby Traps 88%
Land Navigation 50%
Tracking 35%

Lance left college to join the Army after feeling guilty for not doing more when a high school buddy died in Vietnam. He wants to win the war but his first priority is keeping his buddies alive. He isn’t the biggest, strongest guy in the platoon but his proficiency in karate (studied under Robert Trias) has quickly gained the respect of his fellow soldiers.

 

[A Fiery Flying Roll]

System: Pirates and Privateers

Name: Amari
Concept: Escaped Slave
Age: 24
Nationality: African
Religion: Heathen
Status: Working Class

Distinctive Feature: Bulging Muscles, Scar on cheek

Drama: 5

Flaws: Pariah, Wanted

Languages: Own, English


Skills

Fighting
Survival (specialisation: Tropical)
Athletics
Animal Handling

Equipment: None
Wealth: 1 Shilling

Background: Taken by slavers at the age of 14, Amari has not had an easy life. Enslaved on a plantation on a small Carribean island, he soon gained a reputation as highly strong, but also prone to rebellion. All the whippings and the beatings he endured over the years just made his hatred simmer all the more. He saw his chance a year ago, when the slaves rose up in revolt. Amarai personally ripped the head off of the hated overseer. He managed to escape before British troops arrived to put the revolt down and has found himself throwing his lot in with pirates.

Generally taciturn, he keeps himself to himself on ship but shows a particular hatred of the English when attacking ships.

 

[sharps54]

Name: Amari
Concept: Escaped Slave
Age: 24
Nationality: African
Religion: Heathen
Status: Working Class

Distinctive Feature: Bulging Muscles, Scar on cheek

Drama: 5

Flaws: Pariah, Wanted

Languages: Own, English


Skills

Fighting
Survival (specialisation: Tropical)
Athletics
Animal Handling

Equipment: None
Wealth: 1 Shilling

Background: Taken by slavers at the age of 14, Amari has not had an easy life. Enslaved on a plantation on a small Carribean island, he soon gained a reputation as highly strong, but also prone to rebellion. All the whippings and the beatings he endured over the years just made his hatred simmer all the more. He saw his chance a year ago, when the slaves rose up in revolt. Amarai personally ripped the head off of the hated overseer. He managed to escape before British troops arrived to put the revolt down and has found himself throwing his lot in with pirates.

Generally taciturn, he keeps himself to himself on ship but shows a particular hatred of the English when attacking ships.

System?

 

[Stan]

System: Vaesen

Blenda Lindberg lives in and off of the woods. On rare occasions, she'll talk about the things she claims that live there, though most avoid her as she is said to be cold hearted. The old woman lives alone as her only son moved away when he came of age. Blenda seems to be doing fine despite her age and living situation and she can shoot as good as any man.

I'm finding Vaesen very similar Forbidden Lands, same die mechanic, same 4 ability scores, 12 skills instead of 16, plus feat-like abilities. Vaesen is about hunting monsters in 19th century Sweden, which is rather specific but could be moved to other locations. It's more dark fairy tale and nuanced than Lovecraftian.

Spoiler: Character sheet

 

[A Fiery Flying Roll]

System?

Oops, edited in!

 

[Savage Schemer]

Day 2: WEG D6 (Magnetic Variant)

Remember that scene in the movie 300 where the kid is taken from his home at a young age and then put through the most brutal of training programs? How only the toughest and strongest of children were expected to even survive it?

In Carbon Grey, that's what the Royal Operative's life was like. Only with guns.

Whatever the mission, these people will see it done with a ruthless, single-minded determination. Today's operative has a new mission: find Anton Matei (see yesterday's entry) and put him down.

-------------------

Name: Tatiana Covaci
Archetype: Royal Operative.

Personality: You are ruthlessly mission oriented and will stop at nothing to complete any task given to you. You have learned to compartmentalize; emotions don’t figure into it.

All you allow yourself to feel is satisfaction when a mission ends, though in truth it feels like it never does.

Quirk: Suspicious - Trust no one.
Remarkable Ability: Close-Combat Expert - +2D on all Melee rolls.
Obligation(rolled): Regime - You pledge yourself to the monarchy.

Dexterity 3D+1
-- Melee 1D
-- Reflex 1D

Knowledge 2D
-- Espionage 1D

Mechanical 2D+1

Perception 4D
-- Instinct 1D
-- Investigate 1D
-- Marksmanship 2D

Strength 3D+1

Willpower 3D

Surprised 12
Ready 9
Psyche 9

Equipment:
2 Schattenkorps Whisper Fire Machine Pistols [4D DMG]
7 magazines with 20 small arms rounds each
4 throwing knives
knife
satchel
ballistic long coat
heavy clothing

Funds:
250M

Memento: Keen-bladed honor sword awarded for duty above and beyond your edict. This weapon has the standard statistics of a sword and has the Bypass ARM property against Character-scale targets.

 

[AsenRG]

Depends on your time zone I guess.

Yeah, it was Jan 2 in my timezone already, even if early in the morning!

 

[Dyrnwyn]

Day 2

System: Screaming Seas - X
Version: N/A
Publisher: Beyond Belief Games

System Notes: This is a Golden Age of Piracy OSR retroclone, so again, the mechanics should be familiar to most. I went with standard 3d6 in order assignation for the ability scores, which was the only random element of chargen.

Name: Cecil Bryant
Class: Buccaneer
Level: 1

Strength: 9
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 12
Charisma: 12

Sanity: 60
Saving Throw: 15
Hit Points: 8
Base Hit Bonus: +1
Armor Class: 13 (+3 armor)

Armor/Weapons Usable: Any
Class Abilities:
– Combat Machine: one attack per level per round vs foes of 1 HD or less
– Dirty Fighting: once per combat, can perform stunt to give enemy -2 on next hit roll, or give self +2 to next hit roll
– Weapon Master (Musket): +1 to hit and damage with muskets

Armor: Studded Leather
Weapons: Polearm, Cutlass, Dagger, Musket
Equipment: 20 Powder and Shot, Plain Clothing
Money: 4 Gold Doubloons

Backstory: Bryant is a former soldier, having come to the Caribbean in his youth. He was stationed in various forts in English colonies, where he never advanced in rank, but did manage to become a fairly decent shot with a musket, and a capable hand-to-hand fighter, despite being of average physical abilities in all other respects. Once his term of service was completed, he made his way to Port Royal, where he is looking for work. He expects to hire on as a marine on a merchant or privateer vessel, but wouldn't pass up something more unusual either if the money was right.

 

[Fenris-77]

So far I have my bespoke character sheet done. Now to actually create some characters and get caught up here...

 

[thebigh]

Jan 3

System :: Mork Borg
Version :: Bare Bones Edition


Another rolled character, this time for the fucked-up crapsack world of Mork Borg. Not much to say about this- chargen is easy, I actually rolled OK this time, but I don't really like the system so it's unlikely I'll get to use this character.

Behold his bug-eating magnificence, Robertsson Grafakarn.

 

[MoonHunter]

NOTE: I screwed up the rolls on Simone (post 1)

System :: Convergence Point
Version :: 1.9

Day 2) Kaede Tanaka

All this set of characters are based on the "anime" of The Neo Frontiers. The full anime series The Neo Frontier is not supposed to focus on any particular character but follows several characters throughout the course of the series. Although each one gets to be a star in one episode some just continue to follow their life. They are all interlinked around the high school "stage" characters. They will be at the level of when they first appear in the "anime".

Name: Kaede Tanaka (I have seen it written and pronounced Katey)
Core Trait : Esper Student of Neo Frontiers Era
Epsilon Rated Esper

Kaede is a reserved and polite young woman going to Unity High School as a sophomore. We meet her as she has been called into the principal's office. Being as Esper, this is never a good sign. She has never been in this kind of trouble before, so her calm demeanor breaks (and a failed precog roll or two we can assume). She sits there sniffing and nearly crying when the girl sitting next to her consoles and calms her (Simone Williamson).
At her meeting, she finds out that because of a change in zone law, she is required to attend "Esper Class" because her home training in Esper Techniques do not count any longer. She will also have to attend a few sessions of Social Training Class... mostly for testing. Relieved that she is not in trouble or being kicked out of Unity for Esper reasons, she accepts the change of schedule.

Simone is waiting for her and invites her to a local break shop for something to drink (tea/coffee). She is harassed, which is a common occurrence, by Racheal Brown and her "minion" The J's. While Kaede gets in a few cutting remarks that go over Racheal's head, Simone takes charge of the situation and defends her... her the girl she just met a few minutes ago. The two walk off together, holding hands, and Simone does not realize she has made a friend for life.

Simone and Kaede become the core nucleus of a group of friends the chronicle/ anime focuses on. She is the calm center of the group, as certain members are "a bit excitable" or prone to rash decisions. She is much more pragmatic than her friends, as Espers have been oppressed in the past and that The Syndicate is not as "evil" as the media makes it out to be.

Description: Of all the core characters, she is the only one that looks ethnically Japanese. (The Zone is never stated, but is assumed to be Japan because of Cherry Trees, Tori Gates, and many other Japanese things.) Her black hair has streaks of white, which seems to be a Tanaka family trait. (It also seems to mark Tanaka Espers which is a common trait). Her face is "cute" with either no smile or a mona lisa smile at all times. While she seems very young looking in the beginning of Series 1, she um seems to develop more by the end of the series. Unless made to change, she tends to wear her school uniform all the time.


Write Up Convergence Point

Name: Kaede Tanaka
Core Trait : Esper Student of Neo Frontiers Era
Lv 1 /EP Mod 1.3 (1.05-0x+.25x)

PHY 10 +3/7- "Average"
DEX 12 +4/8- "Graceful"
MEN 12 +4/8- "Bright"
EMO 10 +3/7- "Calm Demeanor"
MPY 19 +6/10- "Esper"
CHA 14 +4/8- "Charming"

Life Focus: ESP + KNW + SCI +CON

ESP+1 "Basic" (default) Telekinesis, Cross Sense Vision, Cross Sense Hearing, Foresight, RetroSight **
KNW+1 "General Knowledge"
SCI+1 "Data Systems"
CON+1 "Extended Family"

**She has all these cross senses but we will mostly see her use TK. However she always has the knowing smile, so we can imply she knew certain things would happen these ways.

Developing /Expanding sets
DF: White streaks in hair (B1)
Monitored by OGA (B2) - High ranked young esper, associated with Network and Syndicate, and always in the wrong places - plus she has forsight.
Loyalty to Friends (common and to death) (B2)
Strong Esper Blood (MPY+2) +.2x
Tanaka Esper Line L-ESP+3 (Power Level)- Only when Emotionally Stressed (-2) (So failing calm roll) +.05x

Spoiler: My January Characters

1) Simone Williamson Synth-zed Student of the Neo Frontiers Era
https://www.rpgpub.com/threads/2023-character-creation-challenge.8573/#post-389775

2) Kaede Tanaka Esper Student of Neo Frontiers
https://www.rpgpub.com/threads/2023-character-creation-challenge.8573/#post-389976

3) Kathryn Puppe Synth - Mekenoid/Ai Assistant of The Neo Frontiers Era
https://www.rpgpub.com/threads/2023-character-creation-challenge.8573/page-2#post-390222