The first step consists of picking out a few short descriptors – short, yet all-encompassing keywords that define your character, both personality/background- and system-wise. In the second step, you will also assume numerical values to a small set of attributes and related skills.
These descriptors are not only your character stats, but also certain guidelines for me, the GM, on what you want to include in the game.
The most important question is, of course, “Who are you?”
UA, p. 30 wrote: You are a person who is turning away from the everyday to
scratch deeper. You believe there are secrets that are worth
learning. You are determined to discover them.
You are not boring. You are an obsessed, passionate
individual with a distinctive personality.
- Jot down a brief character concept – probably already done so in the player recruitment thread.
- Come up with a trigger event. This is something harrowing and possibly life-changing you experienced in the past. Anything weird that opened your eyes to the existence of other, different worlds hidden behind reality.
The trigger event doesn’t have to be explained. It might resurface during the game. - What’s your obsession? It’s important, it defines your life and choices. The connection between you and your obsession is two-way: you have certain control over the object of your desire, but it also governs you. It can be something partly physical (collecting archaeological artifacts) or purely abstract (think control freaks).
- Beside your obsession, you have passions. Pick three different passions:
- Fear. Something you fear the most. (Drowning? Fire? Death of loved ones? The Shadow Government?) Link your Fear passion to one of the Madness Meters (see next post for details).
- Rage. Something that makes you truly furious. (The Shadow Government? Bullies? Human stupidity?)
- Noble. What inspires you to be the very best person you can be? (Helping the weak? Technological progress? Debunking myths? Unveiling conspiracies?)
Unknown Armies uses a percentage-die system (1d100). Flip-flopping a roll means switching the ones and the tens: 73 becomes 37. It's a good thing, a big advantage. It's almost like having a skill with a 10-20% bonus.
- Divide 220 points between four attributes and attach a description to each one. 50-59 is human average.
- Body - physical health and capability. Are you "skinny", "tough", "Bud Spencer", "fitness freak", "sick and old"? You also get this many Wound points.
- Speed - response time, agility, body coordination. Are you "trembling", "quick", "accurate", "flexible"?
- Mind - intelligence, knowledge, perception. Are you "well-read", "brainy", "witty"? Your Mind stat also represents how stable and tough you are mentally - keeps you from going insane...
- Soul - empathy, emotions (and also juju and six (and seventh) senses). Are you "cold", "caring", "sensitive"?
- Skills are related to these attributes. Each attribute's rating can be divided between the skills corresponding to the given attribute. If you have Body 65, you can divide 65 skill points between your Body-based skills. You also get 15 "freebies" you can assign to any skill group. The maximum rating of your skills is 55 OR the governing attribute's rating.
There is no fixed skill list: make up anything you like (and anything I approve)!!
You get a couple of free skills at a rating of 15% (feel free to boost your skill points):- Body: General Athletics, Struggle
Speed: Dodge, Driving, Initiative (starts at half of your Speed attrib.)
Mind: General Education, Notice, Conceal
Soul: Charm, Lying
E.g. you want to give your character an "intimidation" skill. Are you getting a Body-based "Terrifying appearance" or a Soul-based "Intimidating voice"?
More examples: "Good with money" (Mind), "Blind luck" (Soul) - this is a bit of a stretch, but acceptable, "Thief in the night" (Speed), "Photographic memory" (Mind), "Endurance" (Body), etc.
You don't get many skills, but in UA, these entries are treated quite widely, so your "Firearms" skill can be used for the actual firing of a gun, but also repairs and gun-related knowledge. Also, don't worry if your skill rating is "low" - tests are only called for if you are attempting something in a stressful or important situation. These circumstances are already calculated into the skill rating. - Body: General Athletics, Struggle
- Pick an obsession skill - mark a skill that is most related to your obsession. Every time you use this skill, you may either re-roll or flip-flop...
And basically you have a character.
If you have any questions, I'm here to help!!
Here's a template/character sheet: