Page 35 - World of Darkness

Character Creation
Character Creation

Character Creation
Creating characters in Storytelling is a simple seven- 6. Determine advantages, traits derived from your
step process. Just make a copy of the character sheet, get character’s Attributes: Defense (the lowest of Dexterity
a pencil and begin. or Wits), Health (Stamina + Size), Initiative (Dexterity
1. Choose background. First, create your character’s + Composure), Morality (7 for starting characters), Size
concept. To help get a handle on your character’s iden- (5 for most humans), Speed (Strength + Dexterity +5),
tity and motivations, come up with a short, two- or three- Willpower (Resolve + Composure), and Virtue/Vice
word description of him/her. This usually, but not always, (choose one of each; see sidebar). For more information,
includes some idea of a career: “nightstalking journalist,” see Chapter 4: Advantages.
“stoic mechanic,” “lost waif,” “petulant yuppie,” “angry Note: Most advantages cannot be raised directly
young man.” through experience points. You must instead raise the traits
Second, choose your character’s faction. If you’re play- from which they are derived. (Morality is the exception.)
ing a mortal, this is relatively unimportant. He could be a
cop, a private investigator or a convenience-store clerk,
but he is not defined by his factional alliances. A super-
natural being, however, is drawn into a world of ancient Virtues and Vices
legacies in which he is judged by even his involuntary Choose one of each. For more information,
affiliations. His faction is both his strength and his curse. see p 100.
For details on supernatural factions, see Vampire: The Virtues: Charity, Faith, Fortitude, Hope,
Requiem, Werewolf: The Forsaken or Mage: The Awak- Justice, Prudence, Temperance
ening. Vices: Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Pride,
Option: Preludes. An intense Storytelling method is Sloth, Wrath
to roleplay mortal characters before they become initiated
into the supernatural world. That way, their introduction
to the terrible truths hiding in the shadows has more mean- 7. Select Merits, representing character enhance-
ing and can be especially traumatic, tragic or even trium- ments and background elements: Spend 7 dots on Merits.
phant. If you’re creating a prelude character, wait to choose The fifth dot in any Merit costs two dots to purchase.
his faction based on how gameplay events transform him. Note that many Merits have prerequisites. For more in-
2. Select Attributes, your character’s innate capabili- formation, see the sidebar and Chapter 5: Merits.
ties: Prioritize the three categories (5/4/3). Your charac-
ter begins with one dot in each Attribute automatically,
already filled in on the character sheet. Dots spent now Merits
are in addition to these starting ones. The fifth dot in any
Attribute costs two dots to purchase. Mental Merits: Common Sense (••••), Danger
Example: Olson wants his character to have a Sense (••), Eidetic Memory (••), Encyclopedic Knowl-
Dexterity of 5. This costs him five dots. His first dot is free edge (••••), Holistic Awareness (•••), Language (• to
and his fifth one costs two. •••), Meditative Mind (•), Unseen Sense (•••)
Physical Merits: Ambidextrous (•••), Brawl-
For more information, see Chapter 2: Attributes. ing Dodge (•), Direction Sense (•), Disarm (••),
3. Select Skills, your character’s learned capabilities:
Prioritize the three categories (11/7/4). The fifth dot in Fast Reflexes (• or ••), Fighting Finesse (••), Fight-
ing Style: Boxing (• to •••••), Fighting Style: Kung
any Skill costs two dots to purchase. For more informa-
tion, see Chapter 3: Skills. Fu (• to •••••), Fighting Style: Two Weapons (• to
••••), Fleet of Foot (• to •••), Fresh Start (•), Giant
4. Select Skill Specialties, your character’s focused
areas of expertise: Take three Skill Specialties of your (••••), Gunslinger (•••), Iron Stamina (• to •••), Iron
Stomach (••), Natural Immunity (•), Quick Draw
choice. You can assign each how you like, whether each
to a separate Skill or all three to a single Skill. There is no (•), Quick Healer (••••), Strong Back (•), Strong
Lungs (•••), Stunt Driver (•••), Toxin Resistance
limit to how many Specialties can be assigned to a single
Skill. For more information, see Chapter 3: Skills. (••), Weaponry Dodge (•)
Social Merits: Allies (• to •••••), Barfly (•),
5. Add supernatural template, based on the transfor-
mation your character undergoes: The Embrace, the First Contacts (• to •••••), Fame (• to •••), Inspiring (••••),
Mentor (• to •••••), Resources (• to •••••), Retainer
Change or the Awakening. See Vampire: The Requiem,
Werewolf: The Forsaken or Mage: The Awakening. (If (• to •••••), Status (• to •••••), Striking Looks (•• or
••••)
creating a prelude character, wait to choose template based
on how gameplay events transform your character.)

34
CHARACTER CREATION