Page 56 - Hunter - The Vigil

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STEP FIVE: ADD HUNTER TEMPLATE
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Every character is built with one category starting out stron-
gest (called primary), one weakest (called tertiary) and one that CHARACTER CREATION
falls between the two (called secondary), although the Attri- PROCESS
butes within each category can be bolstered later. While certain
concepts seem stereotypically suited to certain arrangements of Use the character creation process
Attribute priorities, it’s important to remember that real people from the World of Darkness RulebookWorld of Darkness Rulebook
(and realistic characters) are unique. A researcher seems most and add the following template to
likely to be a Mental primary character. If he’s outgoing and char- Hunter characters during Stage
Hunter
ismatic, he might be Social secondary and Physical tertiary. If, on Five.
the other hand, he prefers to spend his off-hours hiking, jogging
Choose a Profession (see pp.
and riding mountain bikes rather than hanging out with friends,
74-93). Choose one free Skill
he might be Physical secondary and Social tertiary. Not every
Specialty based on the Asset Skills
researcher will have these Attribute priorities, however. Perhaps
of that Profession.
he’s not a very good researcher, having been assigned to a desk
Decide upon a beginning tier level.
job after the rest of his cell was killed by a group of vampires. In
If tier two, choose a compact; tier
that case, he might not be Mental primary at all, concentrating
three, choose a conspiracy (see
on Social or Physical Attributes despite the stereotype. Anything
pp. 102-149). You may choose from
is possible; what is important is that the Attributes are arranged
Storyteller-created compacts and
in a way that makes sense for your specific character concept and

conspiracies, as well.
background (and are fun to play).
Hunters choose from among standard
Determine which category makes the most sense to be
human or special hunter Merits. Some
strongest for your character. This will be your primary At-
hunter Merits are only available
tribute category, and you get five points to spend divided

to certain tier level hunters (see
between the three Attributes in that category. You get four
pp. 67-74).
points to spend in your secondary category, and three points
in your tertiary category.
A table that details relative power levels of various dot Step Four:
levels of Attributes can be found on p. 43 of the World of Select Skill Specialties
Darkness Rulebook.
While Skills often represent general knowledge areas and
Step Three: abilities, characters can also develop specific strengths within

Select Skills those greater categories. For example, a marksman might be

good with any gun, but especially experienced with rifles. A
While Attributes measure your character’s basic capabili- scholar might be well versed in Academics, but have a focus
ties, Skills represent the things he knows how to do. Every- in Medieval History or Chinese Art. These particular areas of
thing from sniping to Sudoku is represented by one Skill or focus are represented by Skill Specialties.
another, and like Attributes, the more points he has in a Skill, At any time when a particular Skill Specialty applies to a
the better he is doing things that relate to it. challenge, the character receives a bonus die for that dice pool.
Like Attributes, Skills are grouped in categories (Mental, Choose three Skill Specialties for your character. These
Physical and Social) and each character will have a primary, Specialties can be applied to different Skills, or two or more can
secondary and tertiary Skill category (which do not have to apply to different focuses within the same Skill. Skill Specialties

be the same as his Attribute category priorities.) can be specific sub-categories of a Skill (such as the Weaponry
You get 11 points to spend in your primary Skill category, Skill with a Knife Specialty), a situation in which the Specialty
seven to spend in your secondary category, and four to spend in applies (the Computer Skill with a Hacking Specialty) or any

your tertiary one. Each dot in a Skill costs one point, except for similar specific, restricted category. The Storyteller has the fi nal
the fifth dot, which costs two. Unlike Attributes, characters do say as to whether a particular Specialty is too broad or narrow.

not begin with a free dot in any of their Skill categories. Experi-
ence points can be spent later on to bolster Skills. Step Five:
Characters without any dots in a particular Skill can still Add Hunter Template
attempt to take actions related to that Skill using only the appro-
priate Attribute as a dice pool. They are said to be “untrained” in Up to this point, creating a hunter character has been
that skill, however, and will be at a penalty to perform the action, identical to creating a standard human character using the
and more likely to fail. These penalties differ from category to World of Darkness Rulebook. By choosing a concept, At-

category (-3 dice for Mental, -1 die for Physical or Social). tributes, Skills and Skill Specialties, you’ve defined the basic

A table that details relative power levels of various traits that reflect your character’s abilities and talents, just as
dot levels of Skills can be found on p. 54 of the World of any non-hunter mortal in the World of Darkness might have.
Darkness Rulebook. Now it’s time to add the things that make a hunter something
more than the average human on the street.
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