159 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
159 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
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Title: Adventuring! Character Creation
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Description: Creating characters for the Adventuring! campaign.
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Footer: Numenera, the Cypher System, No Thank You, Evil!, Invisible Sun, and their respective logos are
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trademarks of Monte Cook Games, LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. All Monte Cook Games
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characters and character names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof, are trademarks of Monte
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Cook Games, LLC. Content derived from Monte Cook Games publications is © 2013-2022 Monte Cook
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Games, LLC. <a href="/cypher/fan-use-policy">Full Disclaimer</a>.
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# Adventuring! Character Creation
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At their basic level, characters are defined as *NAME is a [adjective] [adjective] [noun] who [verbs]*. Adjectives are
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**descriptors**, and PCs get two; one general descriptor and one racial descriptor (or two general descriptors for
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humans). Nouns are **types**, similar to character classes, and verbs are **foci**.
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Chapter 4 of the *Cypher System Rulebook* details character creation, with description of the mechanical elements, and a
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small sidebar summarizing the steps to take to create a character. The majority of this information is covered in the
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[Cypher System Reference Document (SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/), though the core rulebook presents
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it in a bit more descriptive fashion.
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We are also utilizing the following optional rules, noted here since they affect character creation and advancement:
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* [Spellcasting](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#optional-rule-spellcasting)
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* [Two Descriptors](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#variant-rule-two-descriptors)
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## Sources
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The majority of the options below are found, and best described, in the *Cypher System Rulebook*, with an open gaming
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version available via the Cypher SRD. Most others come from *Godforsaken*, also available at the SRD, and *Path of the
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Planebreaker* and *Planar Character Options*, referenced (but not described) at the SRD link, also from Monte Cook
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Games, may also be of interest. Anything homebrew we will write up and include here.
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I skipped listing a lot of the core content, because there's no point in repeating that everything in the core book/SRD
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are fair game --- the exception to this are the foci, which are tailored below.
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## Types, or ideas therein
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The four [types (SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#chapter-5-type) are all relevant to the game. [Fantasy
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Character Options (SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#fantasy-character-options), from *Godforsaken*, has
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suggestions on how to build all of the classic classes via the type system. For example, a barbarian would likely be a
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Warrior that takes the Rages ability, but a bard might easily be an Explorer or a Speaker, depending on the concept and
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desired abilities.
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[Flavors (SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#chapter-6-flavor) are not dissimilar to the idea of
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subclassing. A spellblade may be a Warrior with the Magic flavor, for example.
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*Godforsaken* has the best guidance here, though plenty of ideas are presented in the core book/SRD. Ask bss if you have
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questions, especially if you feel there is a concept or specific implementation that doesn't fit within the out of the
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box system, since it is fairly flexible.
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## Descriptors
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Descriptors are the adjectives for the character, describing how the character goes about their business. All of the
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[Descriptors (SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#chapter-7-descriptor) in the core book are fair game, as
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are the [Fantasy Species Descriptors
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(SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#choose-descriptors-fantasy-species), originally from *Godforsaken* and
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the fantasy setting section of the core book.
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Adventuring! uses the "Two Descriptors" variant rule as described under [Species as
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Descriptor](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#species-as-descriptor).
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### Faerûnian Races
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The *Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3e)* presents a number of racial options for D&D characters. For a character
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that hews a bit closer to the Forgotten Realms line, you can apply these conversions:
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* **Humans:** take two non-species descriptors.
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* **Dwarves:**
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* **Gold:** as the Cypher dwarf, except as follows:
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* **Skill:** Gold dwarves receive training against the bizarre creatures of the Underdark. Replace the practice
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in axes and skill in shaping and mining stone with a skill against abberations; tasks involving
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opposing or attacking abberations are eased one step.
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* **Gray:** as the Cypher dwarf, except as follows:
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* **Inability:** You have difficulty relating to other species due to your withdrawn and guarded nature. Any
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task involving social interaction with them is hindered.
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* **Inability:** Generations in the Underdark have saddled you with light sensitivity. Tasks involving seeing in
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bright sunlight are hindered.
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* **Darkvision:** You can see in the dark up to 120 feet.
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* **Skill:** The Underdark has led your people to stealth. Tasks involving stealth are eased one step.
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* **Shield:** as the Cypher dwarf.
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* **Elves:**
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* **Drow:** as the Cypher elf, except as follows:
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* **Weapons:** replace the practice in a bow, and starting equipment, with that of a rapier or shortsword.
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* **Stealth:** the specialization in stealth tasks applies to cave areas rather than natural woodland.
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* **Inability:** Generations in the Underdark have saddled you with light sensitivity. Tasks involving seeing in
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bright sunlight are hindered.
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* **Darkvision:** You can see in the dark up to 120 feet.
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* **Moon:** as the Cypher elf.
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* **Sun:** as the Cypher elf, except as follows:
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* **Studious:** apply the +2 bonus to your Intellect Pool instead of your Speed Pool.
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* **Wild:** as the Cypher elf.
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* **Wood:** as the Cypher elf.
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* **Gnomes:**
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* **Deep:** as the Cypher gnome, except as follows:
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* **Inability:** svirfneblin are suspicious to a fault. Tasks involving positive or pleasant social interaction
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are hindered.
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* **Darkvision:** You can see in the dark up to 120 feet.
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* **Rock:** as the Cypher gnome.
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* **Half-elves:** take two non-species descriptors as per human, providing yourself with some elven features.
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* **Half-orcs:** as the Cypher half-giant, except as follows:
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* **Tough:** the bonus to your Might Pool is +2, not +4.
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* **Not Too Large:** you do not suffer the hindrance to initiative, stealth, or fine manipulation.
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* **Halflings:**
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* **Ghostwise:** as the Cypher halfling, except as follows:
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* **Speak Without Sound:** you can communicate telepathically with any one creature within 20 feet, as long as
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they share a common language.
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* **Not As Lucky:** you do not receive the +3 advantage when spending 1 XP to reroll.
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* **Lightfoot:** as the Cypher halfling.
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* **Strongheart:** as the Cypher halfling, except as follows:
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* **Small Yet Strong:** you are still small, but do not suffer the hindrance to Might-based tasks.
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* **Not As Lucky:** you do not receive the +3 advantage when spending 1 XP to reroll.
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* **Planetouched:**
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* **Aasimar:** as the Cypher helborn, except as follows:
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* **Of the Heavens:** replace the underworld, evil, etc. themes with that of a celestial.
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* **Not Tainted:** You are not trained in tasks related to the lore of the underworld.
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* **Of A Safer Plane:** You do not have +2 to Armor against damage from fire.
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* **Not Innerly Evil:** You do not suffer from the chance of losing control.
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* **Trustworthy:** Your celestial nature makes people trust you. Replace the hindrance to tasks to persuade or
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deceive with training in doing so.
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* **Genasi:** as the Cypher helborn, except as follows:
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* **Of an Element:** replace the underworld, evil, etc. themes with that of your element.
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* **Forces of Nature:** replace the +2 to your Intellect Pool with a +2 to your Might Pool for fire or earth, or
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Speed Pool for air or water genasi.
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* **Not Tainted:** You are not trained in tasks related to the lore of the underworld.
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* **Elementally Resistant:** replace the +2 to Armor against damage from fire with that of your element.
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* **Nature's Fury:** as **Inner Evil**, but it is more accidental than inherent evil; you do not suffer the -1
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penalty to all rolls following the fury.
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* **Tiefling:** as the Cypher helborn.
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## Foci
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Foci are the possible verb-phrases that describe what the character does and is good at, beyond the basics from their
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type. Most but not all foci in the core book are suitable for the campaign. The following is a mostly-vetted list of
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core and *Godforsaken* foci (others are negotiable):
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* *Core:* Abides in Stone; Bears A Halo of Fire; Blazes With Radiance; Builds Robots; Channels Divine Blessings;
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Commands Mental Powers; Consorts With the Dead; Controls Beasts; Crafts Illusions; Crafts Unique Objects; Defends the
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Gate; Defends the Weak; Descends From Nobility; Entertains; Exists In Two Places At Once; Exists Partially Out Of
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Phase; Explores Dark Places; Fights Dirty; Fights With Panache; Focuses Mind Over Matter; Howls At The Moon; Hunts;
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Infiltrates; Keeps A Magic Ally; Leads; Lives in the Wilderness; Looks For Trouble; Masters Defense; Masters Spells;
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Masters the Swarm; Masters Weaponry; Moves Like a Cat; Murders; Needs No Weapon; Never Says Die; Performs Feats of
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Strength; Rages; Rides the Lightning; Sees Beyond; Sailed Beneath the Jolly Roger; Scavenges; Sees Beyond; Separates
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Mind From Body; Shepherds the Community; Shepherds Spirits; Slays Monsters; Speaks For the Land; Stands Like a
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Bastion; Throws With Deadly Accuracy; Thunders; Travels Through Time; Was Foretold; Wears A Sheen of Ice; Wields Two
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Weapons At Once; Works Miracles; Works the Back Alleys
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* *Godforsaken:* Takes Animal Shape; Uses Wild Magic; Walks the Wild Woods; Wields an Enchanted Weapon
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These Foci and more can be found at [Focus (SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#chapter-8-focus).
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For the Forgotten Realms feel, I recommend simply reading the descriptions of the classes and prestige classes in the
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*Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3e)* and applying their flavor thematically. Again, the core classes can generally
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be satisfied by [Fantasy Character Options (SRD)](https://callmepartario.github.io/og-csrd/#fantasy-character-options).
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Some of the Forgotten Realms prestige classes are tied to setting lore and may be interesting to emulate, but don't need
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any specific conversion beyond selecting appropriate abilities and potentially utilizing the optional spellcasting rule.
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## Abilities
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Types and foci give access to abilities, depending on the character's tier (level, basically). There's no point in
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listing them all, if your choices grant access to the ability, it's in.
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