Session 0: Character Creation

[Rusty Tincanne]

I took Persuader and then Healer as my specialization. I had alluded to those in separate posts, but never spelled it out. My bad. As for scavenger, I will, at the least, try to beginner's luck my way into that skill. I'll look to you for a helping die when the time comes!

I underlined my specialization. Isn't that what the rulebook suggests? And I don't know who started the red highlighting, but I thought is was a brilliant idea, so I copied it.

I don't know about the wises. It is so open ended, potentially useful, and yet we only get one. A big decision. I am leaning towards a terrain feature (like fresh water/stream and river wise), but perhaps something that would help us retrieving/knowing the value of loot. Valuable-relic-wise? I'll sleep on it.

[thesniperknight1]

I think drpete started the highlighting, I copied it too About wises, like rusty said they are really open. Can I have something like combative-wise or communication- wise? or does it have to be more specific?

[C. Steven Ross]

Combative and communication wise seem a bit vague to me. Be a touch more specific like war-wise or argument -wise.

[thesniperknight1]

Alright, then argument-wise it is, it's specific enough to be a wise and open enough to be helpful often, thanks

[thesniperknight1]

Do wises have levels? because it has advancement under it in the character sheet

[C. Steven Ross]

Not levels per se, but if you help someone with your wise and they pass, help and they fail, spend fate to reroll dice on a test related to your wise, and then reroll dice with persona on a test related to a wise; you do all four and you can either change your wise or mark advancement for a skill.

[thesniperknight1]

Oh, got it. Thanks

[drpete]

Yup, that was me with the highlighting. I need something like that to be able to tell what's going on in a list like that, where the numbers can kind of get lost.

Rusty, how about something like Tomb-wise or Crypt-wise? It's true, that would either hit or not depending on where we end up adventuring, but at least we could choose to go to the Tomb of old King Yadda Yadda rather than the Burrow of the Swamp Monster (or whatever).

[Rusty Tincanne]

That is perfect drpete! I wanted something useful on a dungeon dive, but couldn't figure out why a warrior of the cloth (as it were) would have any such skills.

Judging by the definitions of crypt vs tomb vs mausoleum, a crypt looks to be what I want - one or ore burial chambers, often underground. So Crypt-wise it is. (I'll edit that later.)



edit: Added it the character sheet. But I wanted to know if Steven thinks it is too vague/broad of a wise. (I can see it being useful in a LOT of ways: adding to dungeoneering tests, finding our way around in crypts, lore, scholar and theology tests involving most-any dead person, etc) If he thinks it needs it, I can refine it.


Edit #2: out of curiosity, do any of you know anyone who might play Torchbearer in-or-around Ithac, NY? I'd love a face-to-face game.

[C. Steven Ross]

Great! If you feel up to it, tell us all, like a sentence or two, where and/or how you picked up this wisdom.

Now we can move on to Nature.

Nature is a measure of your character's inner spirit, ability to persevere, how well you fit in with society and be an ideal version of your race, and your inner peace. Having a high Nature means you'll be good at doing things within your descriptors (if you don't have the skill) and will make persona points more powerful, but having a low Nature makes you more open minded and let's you learn new skills faster. A character with Nature 7 is so well adjusted to life and society that they get a real job and retire to safety and happiness. A character with Nature 0 is so miserable and such a weirdo outcast that they likely kill themselves in despair.

Human Nature Questions
All Humans, please answer the following questions:

Do you sit by the hearth at night drinking and boasting of your great deeds, or do you spend those chill nights quietly preparing for the dark times to come?

When the elves and dwarves voice their concerns, do you demand to be heard as an equal or do you bow your head and listen to the wisdom of your elders?

Would you flee from the hordes of goblins, beasts and monsters that prey on civilization or will you plunge into their midst, questing for treasure?

Elf Nature Questions
Elf Ranger, please answer these questions

Do you walk among the ancient trees on moonless nights and listen to their songs? Or has your heart hardened in the long ages since the Dawn?

When evil stalks the world, do you confront it or do you retreat to the hidden places of the elves and allow time to defeat your enemies?

Do you yearn to follow the cries of the gulls to the sea and journey west beyond all knowledge or are you prepared to live a life of struggle and grief?

[C. Steven Ross]

@Rusty: I think crypt-wise is totally fine. Great choice!

[C. Steven Ross]

I don't know about upstate, but Burning Wheel (what Torchbearer is based on) headquarters is in Brooklyn. Plenty of people there that play!

[drpete]

Being in NYC, I'm not terribly far from BWHQ, but I find it sad that I've only interacted with them a few times at various NY events. I have so little time for f2f games these days

Tilcar learned his herb-wise skill while studying under his mentor at the College of Winterhold. He was taught the properties of all of the special plants, and the skill to hunt for them.

As for the nature questions:

I walk among the ancient trees on moonless nights, and listen to their songs. The world is full of beauty and mystery, and I want to experience it.

When evil stalks the world, I confront it. Those horrible things must not destroy this beautiful world.

I am prepared to live a life of struggle and grief in order to continue to learn about and experience the world.

[C. Steven Ross]

Elf Ranger! Your nature descriptors are singing, remembering, and hiding. Your starting Nature is 4 / 4 and you may choose to replace the Thoughtful with Fiery, Curious, or Restless; if you wish.

[drpete]

Cool. I'll switch to Curious, then.

[thesniperknight1]

Garen have had "misunderstandings" with bakers, tailors, shopkeepers and the city guards ever since he was a child. He slowly began to understand that arguments is an art with very specific rules that must be followed.

Garen mostly tends to his sister while preparing a plan to survive another day.

He is not a fool, he will bow his head but in no way he will simply obey. He will find a roundabout route to do what he desires.

If there is treasure to be had that might ensure his and his sister's life for another day, he would go all the way to hell to acquire it.

[C. Steven Ross]

Garven Nithor the Thief!

You start with Nature 3 / 3 and the descriptors boasting, demanding, and running. You are pretty unusual for a Human and don't fit in much with the Alpha Beta jocks of medieval fantasy.

You may choose to replace the trait Quick-Witted with Thoughtful, Loner, Brave, Foolhardy, or Defender; if you like.

[C. Steven Ross]

All: I noticed some goofs on my part when crafting the character sheet template.

Resources starts at 0.
Circles we will be getting to soon, but it starts at 1.
Nature descriptors has a broken italics code.
Order or Might, not Ordre or Might.

[thesniperknight1]

I will stick with quick-witted thanks,

Do we use descriptors to gain nature or advance in it, and how do we use it?

[C. Steven Ross]

Nature descriptors describe what your race is naturally adept at. When you are called to make a test and you don't have a rating in that skill, you have the choice of tapping into your spiritual reserves and using your nature to get you through it (you can normally also use beginners luck instead). If you tap into these reserves and it's in your nature descriptors, you get penalized less and maybe not at all. This can also come up when spending persona. You can also help your comrades when they do things that you feel are within your nature descriptors.