Character Creation Mechanics
From NFNC
This is a purely mechanical description of the requirements for building a character. For a more in depth guide on how to think about a character concept and build it into a character see How to Build a Character.
Please email any character builds to larp-refs@srcf.net, and include a brief description of the character's Paradigm and history. Please don't send as attachments, plain text in the email is best. Putting them in wiki format is perfect, and we have a template for this:
Character sheet in wiki format {{charsheet
|name=
|species=
|nation=
|faction=
|background=Their job before becoming an Agent
|skills=
* YOUR FACTION SKILL (at -1 XP per level so free at the first level)
*ANOTHER SKILL
*A FURTHER SKILL
|para_short= One line description of your characters paradigm
|para_full= Longer text for if you have any interesting points or facets of your characters paradigm to discuss
|biography=Tell us about your PC
}}
|
Characters must be approved by the refs before entering play. Characters that go against the brief such as double-agents, cultists etc. are only available at ref discretion. There will be opportunities to play these, please do ask us about this if you're at all interested.
It is not possible for your character to start with magical items other than that granted by your Skills (Trade 3 and Talismancy 3 for example). The Refs may offer the opportunity to buy equipment out of your first week's income before entering play. Your PC is assumed to have access to any weapons or armour they can use.
Faction Membership
- Each Nation, Guild and Church is a Faction.
- You can only be a member of one Faction.
- You can play any race or national origin in any faction.
- Your Faction has trained you in one specific Skill that they expect all ranking members to be proficient in. You can read this on the Faction or Skills pages. You have a 1 XP discount on every level of this skill. This means that L1 is free.
Background
- Pick one description of a trade or other skill. This was your PC’s specialist training or career before you became an agent for a Faction.
- Examples: Archivist, Lawyer, Tracker, Sailor, Siege Engineer, Forger, Priest, Gambler.
- This skill represents your background and history, and the refs may take this into account in appropriate situations.
Skills
Basic Skills
{{#lsth:General_Rules|Player Character Specifics}}
Buying New Skills
- Every Skill costs Experience Points (XP) equal to its level
- This week, any new PCs have 48 XP.
- The first 15XP you spend must be on skills of L3 or below.
- Unspent XP may be saved.
- Any character may buy any skill line. You can for example be an Ozgur in the Vendicsal Faction and have Transmutation trained.
- You must buy up numbered skills in order. So you require Will 1 to buy Will 2, and Will 2 to buy Will 3.
For a list of skills, visit Skills
Character Progression
- Characters gain 1XP per week.
- Characters gain an extra 1XP if you played them for more than 30 min this week. We will not clock-watch on this, so don't feel you need to stay in for exactly 5 minutes more for some XP.
- You gain 1XP for an existing PC you didn't play this week if either you:
- Played NPCs for more than 30 min of the Interactive.
- Played NPCs on the Linear.
- You may spend XP in Downtime, or before the Linear if you are going on it.
- Characters may have a maximum of 60 XP.
- L5 skills will need to be made available by PC action.
Sample Character Builds
Each of these character builds includes some initial skill ideas, a few ideas for ways to roleplay the character. They also include variants on the basic idea for other Factions.
Don't feel bound to the suggested Backgrounds or Paradigms - if you like one of these concepts but have a strong idea for their former life or worldview, go for it. The suggestions here are simple ideas for if nothing else springs to mind.
| Antiquarian’s Guild Ruins Raider | |
|---|---|
| A daring rogue who left home to seek adventure with the Antiquarians, with a happy-go-lucky wanderlust; or a careful expert carrying tools for every eventuality, who takes calculated risks but isn't afraid of danger.
Backgrounds: Tomb raider, ruin exploration expert. Alternatively:
| |
| Paradigms: "I'm just that charismatic - I can inspire my allies to keep going, and drive my enemies back through sheer force of personality," or "The ancient power of countless lost ruins has rubbed off on me, and I can use its echoes for my own benefit." | |
| Hits: 8 in light armour | Stamina: 4 |
| Research Mage | |
|---|---|
| A curious and avid learner whose first reaction to anything and anyone new is to ask questions about it; or an arrogant mage convinced of the superiority of their own approach to learning.
Backgrounds: Research Mage, Scholar of [Choose a Subject!] Alternatively:
| |
| Paradigms: "One who understands the world can, through force of will, affect the energy within it," or "The world is made of four elements - I strike my enemies with blasts of fire and drive them back with gusts of wind." It's common for Mages to deliberately construct their own paradigm, so this concept is well-suited to a Paradigm that's quite aware of the fact that it's the belief that it works that makes it work. | |
| Hits: 5 in armour | Stamina: 6 |
Effects:
| |
| Democracy Guard | |
|---|---|
| A calm, collected soldier, confident of the superiority of the Democracy way and dedicated to its protection; or an Ozgur consumed by the quest for perfect martial skill, seeking new challenges to test their training against and learn from.
Backgrounds: Guard, soldier, student of battle. These stats can work as a guard in any Faction - just replace Meta-Rituals 2 with 2 levels in your Faction skill. | |
| Paradigms: "I am very strong," or "Study of battle is the true path to martial power - by understanding myself, my weapons and my enemies, I can rule the battlefield." | |
| Hits: 7 in a Breastplate | Stamina: 5 in a Breastplate |
Effects:
| |
| Explorer Church Surgeon | |
|---|---|
| A sympathetic healer who helps patients work out if they made any mistakes they can avoid next time; or a grumpy surgeon whose cynical exterior masks a potent dedication to their patients.
Backgrounds: Surgeon, explorer. These stats can work as a healer in any Faction - just replace Knowledge 1 with a level in your Faction discount skill. | |
| Paradigms: "The body is a complex machine, and my understanding of anatomy allows me to repair it" (this gets you a fairly standard real-world-esque surgical style), or "Injuries are an external influence on the Truth of how a body should work; I can move these influences from the body to a piece of crystal, thereby returning the body to its proper form." | |
| Hits: 5 in armour | Stamina: 6 |
Effects:
| |
| Aspirant Church Scout | |
|---|---|
| A grinning daredevil who sees each battle as a test of their perfection; or a focused warrior who seeks out and battles oppression, so the weak are free to seek their own perfection.
Backgrounds: Military Scout, Caravan guard, Hunter Alternatively:
| |
| Paradigms: "Luck conspires to help me out - my enemies trip or get their feet tangled just when I need them to," or "I approach the Aspirant's perfection, and my God lends me miracles to aid me in the pursuit of my holy duties." | |
| Hits: 7 in full armour | Stamina: 4 |
Skills:
| |
Effects:
| |
| Hegemony Enforcer | |
|---|---|
| A knee-breaking thug given to darkly humourous threats; or a war-veteran sergeant who's seen it all before.
Backgrounds: Blacksmith, military reservist, militia member, Guild enforcer All the Factions have guards, and some parts of the Caravaneers and Antiquarians might use enforcers like these in support of their legal monopolies. These stats will work for any such character; just replace Talismancy 1 with a rank in your faction discount skill. | |
| Paradigms: "I am very strong," or "The Hegemony marches unstoppably onward; as its representative, I have the implacable might of my whole Nation behind me." | |
| Hits: 9 in heavy armour | Stamina: 4 in heavy armour |
Skills:
| |
Effects:
| |
| Celebrant Church Alchemist | |
|---|---|
| A cheerful priest-alchemist who tries to help others relax, look on the bright side, and enjoy themselves; or a quiet healer who takes pride in helping others do things they can be proud of.
Backgrounds: Recreational alchemy vendor, Priest of the Celebrant Alternatively:
| |
| Paradigms: "By mixing various ingredients, I can create concoctions having a wide variety of effects," or "The miraculous power of the Celebrant allows me to transform things to better celebrate our successes - whether those things are clean water or other people's feelings." | |
| Hits: 5 in armour | Stamina: 6 |
Effects:
| |
| Alfar Reaver | |
|---|---|
| An arrogant and disdainful duellist seeking a truly worthy opponent; or a dashing adventurer who laughs in the face of danger and takes a trophy from their most memorable foes.
Backgrounds: Reaver, duellist, hunter. Alternatively:
| |
| Paradigms: "I am extremely awesome and spectacularly good at what I do," or "Tales are told of my skill with a blade - as the protagonist of a true Vendicsal epic, I can perform the feats of a true hero." | |
| Hits: 8 in light armour | Stamina: 4 |
| Builder Church Priest | |
|---|---|
| A bombastic preacher whose impassioned words inspire the faithful in battle; or a quietly devoted priest who will tolerate no threat to the people they serve.
Backgrounds: Wandering Preacher, military chaplain. Alternatively:
| |
| Paradigms: "I speak the word of the Builder, and She lends me miracles to do her work," or "I am the heart of my community, and wield the power of our unified wills." | |
| Hits: 5 in armour | Stamina: 6 |
Effects:
| |
| Caravaneers Reporter | |
|---|---|
| A curious journalist who wants to get to know everyone and find out their angle; or a cynical hack who cares about the story, but not the feelings of the people involved.
Backgrounds: Journalist, travelling trader, wandering entertainer. Alternatively:
| |
| Paradigms: "I'm just an extremely charming person who know how to ask questions," or "I'm the one who tells the stories - the stories tell themselves to me, and I choose how that comes across to everyone else." | |
| Hits: 5 in armour | Stamina: 4 |
Skills:
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Effects:
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