Character guidelines

[DavetheLost]

I have a very rough idea for a trigger event. The character spent a lot of time around the mentally ill (as a patient or a therapist?) and started to see an underlying pattern to their madness. What if they are not "crazy" after all, or at least are only crazy in response to seeing a reality that most people do not. Now having discovered that this "secret reality" exists the character wants to discover it for himself.

This could give an obsession with uncovering the hidden reality.

Mark Beamer
Character concept:Former therapist. Currently on leave after suggesting that patients "disorders" are not the cause of their symptoms, but that symptoms are responses to valid experiences.

Trigger event: Discovering a common pattern among his patients' psychoses pointing to the existence of a "hidden reality". They are not "crazy" they are trying to cope with an unknown reality most people never glimpse.

Obsession: Experiencing the hidden reality first hand and discovering its true nature

Passions:
Fear: Loss of autonomy and being under the control of others (Helplessness)
Rage: Abuse and exploitation of those less capable
Noble: Healing others

Madness Meters (hardened/failed):
Violence:
The Unnatural:
Helplessness:
Isolation:
Self:

Attributes:
Body: 37 Paunchy
Speed: 43 Like molasses in July
Mind: 78 Educated
Soul: 62 Empathic


Skills:
Body:
General Athletics: 25
Struggle: 20
Hold Your Liquor: 22

Speed:
Dodge: 17
Driving: 43
Initiative: 25

Mind:
General Education: 50
Notice: 25
Conceal: 15
Psychotherapy: 48

Soul:
Charm: 40
Lying: 25
*Aura Sight: 27 (Obsession skill)

Numbers added, but that is rough concept. This obsession could lead to a Hellraiseresque "We are voyagers in the further reaches of sensation. Angels to some, demons to others." Especially if he starts seeing sex and drugs and rock and roll as a way to get a glimpse beyond the veil.

This is a character who is likely on a downward spiral at least until he finds a piece of what he is looking for and a reason to climb back upwards. Not an anti-hero, not self-destructive, just letting things go in pursuit of an obsession. Picking up the dry cleaning just doesn't seem as important as finding out if the Pigeon Lady really can talk to the birds.

[Fulci]

Sure, this concept fits just right!

a glimpse beyond the veil.

I'm sensing some KULT terminology right there

[DavetheLost]

yeah, I really like that game.

UA lloks like CoC without the Mythos and a less horrific Kult met in a dimly lit alley.

[DavetheLost]

Added numbers above. Now I need a name and a picture.

A note on Aura Sense as his obession skill, it seems a natural fit. He began to develop aura sight as he began to put together the notion that there is a patter behind mental health symptoms pointing to a hidden reality. He does not conciously think of it as "reading auras" more getting a feeling or a flash of insight about things.

[LtTibbles]

Alright I think I have my character all sorted out if you could give it a once over and let me know if anything is out of whack

[Fulci]

LtTibbles
Please add a description to each of your attributes! E.g. Body 75 can mean a lot of things - is he "big-boned", "bruiser", "Hulk without the green paint", etc.
Numbers look fine! Can you tell me about your character's current stance on the unexplained?

DavetheLost
Please add a description to your Speed attribute!
How does he earn a living? Does he have a sort of new-age-tinged private practice? Does he still have his licence?
I'm allowing Aura Sight, but give me an example of these glimpses in action!


After adding those descriptions, feel free to post your character sheet in the Characters topic!

Inferno, your character is approved too!

[LtTibbles]

He's become a bit paranoid about what's going on around him he isn't going around shouting about monsters in the shadows, but he has begun to eye the dark corners and shadowy alleyways walking a little more quickly past them then he ever would've before. Also he's begun to keep a stack of heavy bricks on the lid of his toilet...just in case.

[Mister-Kent]

Nice characters!

My last step is my Skills, which I should have done by tomorrow night.

[Inferno]

Thanks Mr. Kent! I agree with you on Lt. Tibbles character.
Looking forward to yours.

[DavetheLost]

DavetheLost
Please add a description to your Speed attribute! Like molasses in July

How does he earn a living? Does he have a sort of new-age-tinged private practice? Does he still have his licence? Works for a mental health clinic. Still has his license, currently taking a leave. On partial pay and has some sick/vacation time but that will not last long. In about a month it will be time for a reevaluation at work or find a new means of support. He probably has some small savings, but hardly independantly wealthy, more like enough that he won't be homeless imediately if he doesn't go back to work, but he will be walking everywhere and eating ramen.

I'm allowing Aura Sight, but give me an example of these glimpses in action!

An example would be treating a schizophrenic and "seeing/hearing" the voices his patient reports. The voices are not just halucinations in this case but some sort of paranormal entity. Mark has no idea why he sees two people in his office while he is treating the schizophrenic.

He also can see when his patients are lying about symptoms etc. Not just a general sense, but a certain knowledge that is always right.

It is not something he can conciously control yet, and he is not sure what it is. Let's treat it as an ability that the GM secretly rolls for and lets me know if there is a result, at least until he becomes more familiar with it.


After adding those descriptions, feel free to post your character sheet in the Characters topic!

[Fulci]

Cool, thanks.

It is not something he can conciously control yet, and he is not sure what it is. Let's treat it as an ability that the GM secretly rolls for and lets me know if there is a result, at least until he becomes more familiar with it.

I assume that's supposed to be "he can't consciously control yet"?

Yes, that's how we'll treat it!

[DavetheLost]

Yes, "can't". What a difference that 't makes.