CHARACTERS
Character building can get deep and involved, depending on how much you want to customize your Character - but it can also be a straightforward affair, and the concepts are the same whether you want to spin up a character fast to get playing quickly, or to take your time and come up with exactly who you want to play.
QUICKSTART OR DETAILED BUILD?
While everyone will need to complete the Common Character Building section, each player can choose to follow either the Quick Start or Detailed Start process. They’re compatible with each other, so this doesn’t have to be the same for everyone. The criteria for choosing a method should generally boil down to the following:
| CRITERIA | DETAIL | VALUE | METHOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAMILIARITY | Level of familiarity the Player has with the Lens and the World | High | Detailed |
| Low | Quick | ||
| EXPERIENCE | Experience Player has had with “crunchy” and “classless” systems | High | Detailed |
| Low | Quick | ||
| CUSTOMIZATION | Amount of customization the Player wants for their Character | High | Detailed |
| Low | Quick | ||
| TIME | Amount of time the Player or Group has to get up and running | Lots | Detailed |
| Little | Quick |
COMMON STEPS FOR ALL METHODS
Regardless of whether you’re building a Quick Start or a Detailed character, you’ll take the following steps first:
| STEP | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| CAMPAIGN TYPE | You and your Referee will decide this - it’s the starting power level for your Characters. |
| ASPECTS | Aspects determine how strong your Body, Mind, and Spirit are compared to others. |
| SPECIES | Your Species determines your appearance, as well as your natural strengths and weaknesses. |
| EQUIPMENT | The tools you need to aid you when using the Abilities you possess. |
THREE STEPS FOR QUICKSTARTS
After determining Common elements, a Quick Start character only needs to take three more steps:
| STEP | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| ARCHETYPES | Easymode for starter characters, including abilities and progression paths |
| BACKGROUNDS | Easymode for polishing off characters, including social standing, faiths, factions, and professions |
CUSTOMIZATION FOR DETAILED BUILDS
After determining Common elements, walk through these steps to finish your Character:
| STEP | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| ABILITIES | Wielding swords, accessing magical powers, and knowing how to trade are all Abilities. |
| CULTURE | What you’re born as is only part of the picture. Your culture also defines you! |
| SOCIAL STANDING | Your place within your culture defines your obligations as well as the resources available to you. |
| FAITH | Your beliefs proscribe right and wrong, but they can also lend you power when you need it. |
| FACTION | Regardless of how or where you’ve grown up, your allegiance can lie elsewhere. |
| PROFESSION | Before you became an adventurer, you had a day job, and you retain those skills. |