Character Generation
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 4:14 am
Ok, here is my rough guide to character generation for Unknown Armies. Atlas Games very kindly has the full character generation rules up on it's website in pdf format, so for more details check it out here: http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/ua2_preview.pdf
Name: Your PCs name.
Summary: Brief biography for your PC.
Trigger Event: A weird encounter in your past that exposed you to the unexplainable and uncanny. "What is the strangest thing you've ever experienced?"
Description: What you look like.
Personality: Basically, how you portray yourself to other people. The main books gives examples such as iconic personalities (The Good Cop, etc), zodiac personalities, or personalities cribbed from pop culture.
Obsession: What you living for, and what gives your life meaning. Ex: toughness, antiques, surviving at all costs, religion, etc.
Wound Points: How much damage you can take. This is equal to your Body stat.
Passions:
Each PC has 3 passions, those things that really push your buttons deep in your reptile brain, and ultimately guide all your so-called rational decisions.
Fear is the thing your PC is most afraid of.
Rage is what angers you more than anything else.
Your Noble passion is your PC at his or her best, their most kind etc..
These passions can allow you to flip rolls (for example, turning a roll of 91 into a 19, if it is better for you), so choose intelligent ones and choose with care.
Stats:
Each PC has 4 stats, those being: Body, Speed, Mind and Soul.
Body represents how healthy, strong and generally fit you are.
Speed represents how physically quick and responsive you are.
Mind represents how quickly you think, how well you examine ideas, and how mentally tough you are.
Soul covers emotions, nonverbal skills, social interaction, and magick.
You have 220 points to divide between the 4 stats. None can be below 30 or above 70.
Once that is done, add a descriptor beside each stat explaining why it is that way. For example Mind 70 (lightning fast calculator) or Soul 60 (Hidden depths) or Body 30 (puny) etc.
Skills:
Skills are percentile listings representing what your PC can do. You have a number of points equal to your stat to place into the skills for the stat, as well as certain skills gained at a free percentage and the rest you make up on your own.
Body: General Athletics 15%; Struggle 15%
Speed: Dodge 15%; Drive 15%
Mind: General Education 15%; Notice 15%
Soul: Charm 15%; Lie 15%
That’s what you get for free. The rest of the skills are pretty much up for you to decide, as there is no specific skill list, though examples are given in the pdf. I have the right of veto on ridiculous skills, but I will mostly leave it at your discretion. You can name your skills whatever you like, and even rename your free skills if you want.
Lastly, a PC has their obsession skill, which is tied to the obsession chosen earlier. With this skill you flip all rolls for it, making it easier to succeed with. This skill should be bolded.
Possessions:
The stuff you own. Be reasonable, and have it make sense with your character.
Example Sheet:
Name:
Summary:
Description:
Personality:
Obsession:
Wound Points:
Passions
Fear:
Rage:
Noble:
Stats
Body:
Speed:
Mind:
Soul:
Skills
Body Skills:
Speed Skills:
Mind Skills:
Soul Skills:
Possessions:
Experience:
Total: 0
Unspent: 0
Spent: 0
Madness Meter:
Violence: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Unnatural: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Helplessness: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Isolation: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Self: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Name: Your PCs name.
Summary: Brief biography for your PC.
Trigger Event: A weird encounter in your past that exposed you to the unexplainable and uncanny. "What is the strangest thing you've ever experienced?"
Description: What you look like.
Personality: Basically, how you portray yourself to other people. The main books gives examples such as iconic personalities (The Good Cop, etc), zodiac personalities, or personalities cribbed from pop culture.
Obsession: What you living for, and what gives your life meaning. Ex: toughness, antiques, surviving at all costs, religion, etc.
Wound Points: How much damage you can take. This is equal to your Body stat.
Passions:
Each PC has 3 passions, those things that really push your buttons deep in your reptile brain, and ultimately guide all your so-called rational decisions.
Fear is the thing your PC is most afraid of.
Rage is what angers you more than anything else.
Your Noble passion is your PC at his or her best, their most kind etc..
These passions can allow you to flip rolls (for example, turning a roll of 91 into a 19, if it is better for you), so choose intelligent ones and choose with care.
Stats:
Each PC has 4 stats, those being: Body, Speed, Mind and Soul.
Body represents how healthy, strong and generally fit you are.
Speed represents how physically quick and responsive you are.
Mind represents how quickly you think, how well you examine ideas, and how mentally tough you are.
Soul covers emotions, nonverbal skills, social interaction, and magick.
You have 220 points to divide between the 4 stats. None can be below 30 or above 70.
Once that is done, add a descriptor beside each stat explaining why it is that way. For example Mind 70 (lightning fast calculator) or Soul 60 (Hidden depths) or Body 30 (puny) etc.
Skills:
Skills are percentile listings representing what your PC can do. You have a number of points equal to your stat to place into the skills for the stat, as well as certain skills gained at a free percentage and the rest you make up on your own.
Body: General Athletics 15%; Struggle 15%
Speed: Dodge 15%; Drive 15%
Mind: General Education 15%; Notice 15%
Soul: Charm 15%; Lie 15%
That’s what you get for free. The rest of the skills are pretty much up for you to decide, as there is no specific skill list, though examples are given in the pdf. I have the right of veto on ridiculous skills, but I will mostly leave it at your discretion. You can name your skills whatever you like, and even rename your free skills if you want.
Lastly, a PC has their obsession skill, which is tied to the obsession chosen earlier. With this skill you flip all rolls for it, making it easier to succeed with. This skill should be bolded.
Possessions:
The stuff you own. Be reasonable, and have it make sense with your character.
Example Sheet:
Name:
Summary:
Description:
Personality:
Obsession:
Wound Points:
Passions
Fear:
Rage:
Noble:
Stats
Body:
Speed:
Mind:
Soul:
Skills
Body Skills:
Speed Skills:
Mind Skills:
Soul Skills:
Possessions:
Experience:
Total: 0
Unspent: 0
Spent: 0
Madness Meter:
Violence: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Unnatural: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Helplessness: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Isolation: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed
Self: 0 Hardened, 0 Failed