Character Creation

Table of Contents

Step 1: Create a Concept

As you start making your character, think about the concept you want to explore. The game system is flexible, so consider what types of abilities would be fun to have synergize together. These can be high level ideas, like “a front-line fighter that can cast elemental spells” or as specific as knowing which paths you want to select specific abilities from. As you flesh out your concept, focus on three aspects to form your playbook:

Motivation

First, define your character’s starting motivation. What is the transition that encouraged (or outright forced) them to leave their home and background and become an adventurer? Was it a tragic backstory? Is their son missing? While a written backstory is great and captures this information, the game should begin with this motivation guiding the character’s behavior.

Your motivation can be something as simple as “I grew bored of being a background.”

Role

Second, define what kind of social (and in some cases physical) roles your character fills in a group and how that role relates to conflicts that drive them. Useful traits to decide in advance and note might be: personality, existing relationships, and even how they fight and what mannerisms they have. Come up with two adjectives that describe your character and two goals to be accomplished by them.

Growth Milestones

Finally, devise two milestones for growth. These usually tie in with your motivation. For example, does your character want to avenge their dead spouse? If so, how will they react when the murderer is brought to justice? Will your character be satisfied with jailing the culprit, or is it a hunt for blood?

Another example would be if you decide to make your character vegan (adjective chosen for a social role), and to add scope to that your character is very rigid about eating decisions; they look down upon those who eat meat and do not take care of their bodies. Could your character ever be convinced to change their dieting regimen, or is the opportunity for growth more about evolving their open-mindedness over time through roleplaying?

These growth milestones do NOT need to be shared with other players, but they should be collaborated on with the DM so it is known which elements of your backstory should be brought to life over time.

Step 2: Choose Your Ancestry

Your character’s ancestry determines their lineage. Were they born from a human and an elf? Do they have angel blood flowing within them? Ancestries provide two ability scores, as well as a number of important starting mechanics for your character. You pick one ability score to boost from each parentage, or two ability scores if there is only one parentage.

Rules for Ancestry can be found here.

Step 3: Pick Your Background

Your character’s background might represent their upbringing, an aptitude they’ve been honing since their youth, or another aspect of their life before they became an adventurer. Backgrounds provide two ability scores, and are intended to flesh out what a character did prior to launching their adventuring career. The background can be called upon for your backstory, or simply be a fondly remembered time the character spent learning a skill or trade.

Backgrounds can be found here.

Step 4: Choose an Elemental Affinity

  • Earth

    Those with this affinity possess a deep and instinctual connection to the land and trees around them. The earth is reliable, resilient, and withstands the testament of time. Those selecting this affinity may be calm, loyal or hardy, and lean towards lawful, predictable, or repetitive behaviors.

    Earth Affinity

    Ability Boost: STR or AGI

  • Fire

    Those with this affinity possess boundless energy or uncontrolled passion, connected to the destructive element of fire. Fire is untamable and transformative. Those selecting this affinity may be unyieldingly enthusiastic, relentlessly determined, or magnetically charismatic. They typically lean towards chaotic and unpredictable behaviors.

    Fire Affinity

    Ability Boost: STR or AGI

  • Water

    Those with this affinity possess great empathy or adaptability, flowing and connected with the ebb of the oceans and rivers. Water is nurturing and serene. Those selecting this affinity may have a calm and soothing presence, be diplomatic in word or action, gentle, or unusually insightful.

    Water Affinity

    Ability Boost: LOG or INS

  • Wind

    Those with this affinity possess endless curiosity or mischief, eyes sparkling with the unpredictability of the breeze. Wind is free-spirited and swift. Those selecting this affinity may be agents of change, eager explorers or adventurers drawn to the open sky, or spontaneous stewards of freedom.

    Wind Affinity

    Ability Boost: LOG or INS

  • Dark

    Those with this affinity contain an enigmatic and mysterious demeanor, exuding an aura of tranquility and calmness, akin to the serene stillness found within the depths of the night. Dark is introspective and contemplative. Those selecting this affinity may be more willing to embrace the unseen; they see the potential in shadows and understand that hidden truths lie beneath the surface.

    Dark Affinity

    Ability Boost: SPR or PRE

  • Light

    Those with this affinity harbor a radiant and uplifting spirit; casting out a presence of warmth and positivity, much like the gentle embrace of the sun’s rays at dawn. Light is optimism and empathy. Those selecting this affinity may be a guiding light for their group, or focus on spiring and unifying members of their team.

    Light Affinity

    Ability Boost: SPR or PRE

Step 5: Choose Your Path

Your character’s path reflects their experience and growth as an adventurer. Select one path to begin your journey down upon, and do the following at level 1:

  • Take the core level for that path, adding any benefits listed to your character sheet

  • Select a specialty within that path, adding any benefits listed to your character sheet

  • Gain an ability boost in the path’s key attribute. For example, if the key ability listed is LOG, increase your Logic attribute by 1

  • Select one of the skills from that path’s list, increasing your proficiency from Unskilled to Novice

  • Gain a feat from that path’s first tier, assuming your Race or Background does not have the Potent trait.

Step 6: Collaborate with the DM

Speak with the DM and see if they are providing a starting boon for your game. Depending on the campaign, the DM may allow further customization. If this is your first time playing with this system, it is advised to play without a bonus DM boon.

Boon Examples

  • Bloodline: Inherit power from an ancient ancestor

  • Unique Ability: Cast a spell without expending resources

  • Relic: Begin the game with an item that grows in power as you gain levels or the story progresses

  • Virtue: Gain abilities from a path the DM sets before you, or gain access to feats from a restricted or custom path

Step 7: Finalize Ability Scores

Now that you’ve made the mechanical choices about your character, it’s time to finalize their ability scores. Do these two things:

  • First, make sure you’ve applied all the ability boosts you’ve noted in previous steps (from your ancestry (x2), background (x2), affinity, and path)

  • Then, apply four more ability boosts to your character’s ability scores, choosing a different ability score for each (and increasing that ability score by 1)

    • Ensure no ability score goes beyond 4, unless given permission by your DM. A score of 4 is the normal starting maximum

  • Apply Hit Points to your character sheet from your Ancestry. You add the hit points from each parentage, or twice the hit points if both parentages are the same.

  • Finally, apply a defensive boost based on the stat array your first core level is in.

    • If Body, increase your SP by 1.

    • If Mind, increase your EP by 1.

    • If Soul, increase the hardness of your Soul by 1 and its HP by 1.