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Character Creation

This version was saved 17 years, 6 months ago View current version     Page history
Saved by PBworks
on September 17, 2006 at 7:20:58 pm
 

Sea of Stars Character Creation

Adapted from Palaestra Character Creation by Wayne Peacock


 

Step 0: Ideas

 

It's good to know generally where you are headed. What kinds of adventure do you want to be involved in? Which culture do you want to explore, etc. The more you do up front to figure out what kinds of characters you might want to play the better.

 

Step 1: Generating Characteristics

 

A player may generate a set of characteristics using both of two random methods. If you are not satisfied with what the dice have given, the player may always opt for the point buy system using 28 points to purchase characteristics.

 

The first random method is the standard 4d6, “roll and assign” method. The second is the “organic” method, detailed below.

 

A player must roll the dice in front of the DM.

 

Organic Method

The player rolls 4d6 for each characteristic, straight down the line, taking the three highest dice — first he rolls for Strength, then Dexterity, etc. Once, after rolling for a stat, the character may re-roll a single die. The player may not go back to re-roll once a stat is assigned.

 

When all of the stats have been rolled for, the player may switch the positions of a pair of stats.

 

Example: Crystal is rolling her character’s stats using the modified organic method. So far she has Str 12, Dex 9. When she rolls for Con, Crystal gets 5,6, 3, and 2. She decides to take her re-roll and picks up the “2” die. She rolls again and gets a 5, so her Con is a 16. When she finishes rolling, her Character looks like this: Str 12, Dex 9, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 8. Since she wanted to play a rogue, she switches the Wis and Dex scores, giving her character: Str 12, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9 and Cha 8.

 

Step 2: Cultural Association — Where are you from?

 

This is one of the major choices of character creation. Where is your character from? What sort of culture does your character belong to? How much influence did the Dragon Imperium exert up their upbringing? Has the character even seen a dragon?

 

The ranges of races and classes available to the player are dependent upon the culture she chooses to be a part of and, to a certain extent, influences her skills and abilities.

 

At this stage of character development, choose your homeland.

 

Step 3: Background Skills

 

The society of the Sea of Star is fragmented into myriad social groups. These influence the skills and abilities of a character born within them. After choosing which culture the character hails from, choose the social strata that he or she grew up in. Each strata contains a brief description and lists the most common classes for both NPC and player-characters. These are not exclusive lists – they are merely for flavor.

 

Each social group contains a short list of background skills that its members generally know. Before picking a character’s first class, a player assigns 5 + Int modifier in skill ranks among these skills. No skill may have more than 3 ranks. These skills are considered class skills – but only for the purposes of first level – after first level, a character’s class influences their skill set, not their background.

 

Additionally, there are some skills which are universal for each culture, these are called Cultural Knowledges. While complete rules for these skills can be found in the Skills section (along with a master list of Knowledges and Languages) , they are also listed below. These skills are available to all of the social level within the Sea of Stars as part of their background skill picks and are always considered class skills – no matter the level or class of the character.

 

Sea of Stars Cultural Knowledges: Astronomy, Local, Myths and Legends, and Politics.

 

Additionally, each character may choose a single perform skill as a background skill, if at least 1 background skill point is assigned to that perform skill that is always treated as a class skill for that character.

 

Social strata also affects the wealth a player has to equip their character, representing the legacy of his or her background, both positive and negative. Each social level lists an amount that is added to the starting finances of the character. Items purchased do not necessarily represent booty, but may be heirlooms passed down in the character’s family.

 

Social Strata

Aristocrat / Noble

 

These are the highest ranking members of the Sea of Stars. These scions are provided with the best of education and equipment, indeed every advantage, so why do so many end up as adventurers?

 

Background Skills: Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (nobility and royalty), and Ride.

 

PC Classes: Fighter, Noble, Wizard.

 

NPC Classes: Aristocrat, Expert, and Warrior.

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: +500 (or +1500 if Noble class taken at 1st level)

 

Criminal

 

Every society has them.

 

Background Skills: Bluff, Hide and Spot

 

PC Classes: Fighter and Rogue

 

NPC Classes: Warrior, Expert

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: Roll 1d20 –10 and multiply by 10, add this total to starting wealth.

 

Farmer / Herder

 

These small holders make up the majority of the rural population. Many look for a way out of these dreary lives.

 

Background Skills: Animal Handling, Profession (Any), Craft (Any), and Wilderness Lore.

 

PC Classes: Fighter and Rogue.

 

NPC Classes: Commoner, Expert, and Warrior

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: 0

 

Merchant / Tradesman

 

Most of the urban population of the Sea of Stars falls into this category. Your parents may be simple crafters or members of a skilled trade.

 

Background Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Profession (Any) or Craft (Any)

 

PC Classes: Rogue.

 

NPC Classes: Commoner, Expert

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: +75

 

Priesthood

 

Your parents were members of the priesthood or perhaps only very devout. In either case you were raised in and around the Temples.

 

Background Skills: Diplomacy, Heal, Sense Motive

 

PC Classes: Cleric, Wizard.

 

NPC Classes: Aristocrat, Expert.

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: +50

 

Sailor / Fisher

 

Even now much of the commerce of the Sea of Stars travels over the water and food from the sea and rivers provides much of the local diet.

 

Background Skills: Craft (Any Ship / Boat related), Profession (Any Sea / Ship related), Rope Use, Swim.

 

PC Classes: Fighter and Rogue.

 

NPC Classes: Commoner, Expert.

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: 0

 

Scholar

 

These men and women are the skilled class that catalog the world and teach. Most are exemplary in their tasks, though some do fall from grace.

 

Background Skills: Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (philosophy), and Sense Motive.

 

PC Classes: Fighter, Rogue, Wizard.

 

NPC Classes: Expert and Warrior.

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: +100.

 

Sen’tek Survivor

 

The Sen’tek are taught from birth the skills needed to survive in the harsh and dangerous world around them.

 

Background Skills: Disguise, Hide, Knowledge (Dragons), Move Silently.

 

PC Classes: Fighter and Rogue.

 

NPC Classes: Commoner, Expert.

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: 0, all Sen’tek start play with two daggers and a masterwork crossbow of choice with 20 bolts.

 

Slave

 

Slavery is endemic to many parts of the Sea of Stars, the Draconic philosophy of dominance insures the survive of such traditions.

 

Slaves begin play illiterate, but gain the player’s choice of the Endurance or Great Fortitude feat as a bonus feat at First Level.

 

Background Skills: Intimidate, Hide, Escape Artist, Sense Motive

 

PC Classes: Fighter and Rogue

 

NPC Classes: Commoner and Expert

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: -500

 

Tribesman

 

Many societies on the fridges of the Sea of Stars have reverted to tribalism.

 

Background Skills: Craft (any appropriate), Handle Animal, Wilderness Lore.

 

PC Classes: Barbarian, Druid, Fighter and Ranger.

 

NPC Classes: Warrior.

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: 0, and a martial or simple weapon of choice.

 

Visse / Bureaucrat

 

The Visse, and others, provide the needed manpower to run the Imperial and local bureaucracies.

 

Background Skills: Diplomacy, Gather Information and Sense Motive.

 

PC Classes: Rogue, Wizard.

 

NPC Classes: Expert and Warrior.

 

Starting Wealth Bonus: +100

 

Step 4: Character Race and Level

 

Refer to the rules section on race and class. Generally speaking, humans are the most numerous race of the Sea of Stars. The other player-character races are: Dracovi, Dwarves, Elves, Half-elves, Sen’tek, Visse, various beastkine. The following ‘races’ may be available as player characters at a later time: Half Dragons.

 

Characters in this game start off at third level. Starting the PCs off with a few levels is not to make them “survivable,” or merely more powerful. Rather, it is so the players have a chance to develop their character’s background. This way it makes sense to say that a character has at least 2-4 years of experiences in their profession(s) to draw upon. Just as importantly, his or her background can actually be reflected in game stats by multiclassing, taking cross-class skills, gaining new feats, etc.

 

Title Option for Nobles

 

Characters who wish to begin the game as nobles must choose the aristocrat/ noble background and take the Noble class as their first class. This is the only chance to take this class. Taking it at first level will allow characters that would normally be static fighters, for example, to gain the basic skills of a nobleman. A PC may not take this class hereafter without GM approval, and in any case may not take it at second level, unless it is your first level class.

 

Characters who take the background, but do not take the Noble class at first level are assumed to come from noble blood, but have no lands or title. Perhaps they have been disowned, they are bastards or the family has lost its standing, etc. It is up to the player to work this into his or her character's background.

 

Characters who take Noble at first level begin the game with more wealth and greater social status.

 

Step 5: Beginning Character Experience

 

Characters begin at third level +150 exp. This extra experience (plus wealth, see below) may be used by spellcasters who take the item creation feats to create scrolls and potions for their own use (not to sell).

 

Starting Character Age

 

Use the human age chart from the PHB for your character’s base age and then add the amount of time you think that your character has been out in the world to it.

 

Step 6: Beginning Character Wealth and Equipment

 

New characters must purchase all of their equipment (weapons, armor, and items), although these items should be rationalized as booty, or inherited goods from a character’s background. Along with the base starting gold (found at the end of each class description), the character gains 2,700 to represent 2-4 years of adventuring or other work and an additional amount based on their background.

 

If the character multiclasses, he or she gains the base starting wealth of his first class.

 

All characters begin with a set of clothes, but all other equipment must be purchased. Any extra money can be converted over to jewels, etc. on a 1 for 1 basis.

 

Wealth = Base Starting (rolled) + 2,700 + Social Modifier

 

Step 7: Character Background

 

At some point during the first two or three game sessions I will want at least couple of paragraphs on your character's history. The charts and tables from the Hero Builder's Guidebook may be an interesting start, but I will expect you to flesh this out with names, places and story ideas from the Sea of Stars.

 

There's a lot of blank spaces on the map, do not be afraid to create places and even bits of local history, etc. Indeed it is encouraged. “Infinite variety in infinite combination.”

 

Part of creating a character is naming him or her. However, there are no universal rules for naming characters in the Sea of Stars.

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