Play@YSDC

Please place your 1890s character sheets here. The game begins with an invitation to a fashionable evening party in London hosted by Mr. John Bidwell, an unmarried wealthy entrepreneur with many powerful friends. It should be noted that Lower Class characters (Cab Driver, Laborer or Servant -- see list of occupations below) will not receive an invitation to the party. You may own any weapons you feel appropriate to your character, or none.

Summary of Gaslight character creation rules:

STR, CON, POW, DEX, and APP are all rolled using 3D6, while EDU is rolled using 3D6+3, and INT and SIZ are determined by rolling 2D6+6. Dice rolls are made and distributed as the player wishes.

Minimum age is EDU+6 years.

Starting at age 40, an investigator loses 1 point from STR, CON, DEX, or APP for every 10 years of age. However, an older investigator gains 1 point of EDU for every additional 10 years of age, starting at age 30.

INTx5 for Idea; POWx5 for Luck; EDUx5 for Know. Sanity = POWx5; Hit Points = CON+SIZ/2 rounding up any fraction; Magic Points = POW.

STR+SIZ = Damage Bonus
2 to 12 = -1D6
13 to 16 = -1D4
17 to 24 = None
25 to 32 = +1D4
33 to 40 = +1D6

Lower Class occupations: Cab Driver, Laborer, Servant.
Lower to Middle Class occupations: Adventuress, Artist, Author, Craftsman, Criminal, Entertainer, Inquiry Agent, Journalist, Policeman, Shopkeeper, Soldier.
Middle Class occupations: Clergyman, Consulting Detective, Professor/Scholar, Scientist.
Middle to Upper Class occupations: Antiquarian, Dilettante, Ex-Military, Explorer, Lawyer, Physician, Spy.
Upper Class occupations: Aristocrat.

Income by Social Class (£):
Lower Class = 1D2x100
Lower to Middle Class = (1D2+1)x100
Middle Class = (1D3+2)x100
Middle to Upper Class = (1D6+6)x100
Upper Class = 1D10x1000

Credit Rating base skill = 5% per £100 of income, except Upper Class = 65%.

EDU×20 additional points for occupational skills, and INT×10 additional points for personal interest skills.

Skills:
Accounting (10%)
Anthropology (01%)
Archaeology (01%)
Art (05%)
Astronomy (01%)
Bargain (05%)
Biology (01%)
Chemistry (01%)
Climb (40%)
Conceal (15%)
Craft (05%)
Credit Rating (various)
Cthulhu Mythos (00)
Disguise (01%)
Dodge (DEX x2)
Drive Carriage (20%)
Electr. Repair (10%)
Fast Talk (05%)
First Aid (30%)
Geology (01%)
Hide (10%)
History (20%)
Jump (25%)
Law (05%)
Library Use (25%)
Listen (25%)
Locksmith (01%)
Martial Arts (01%)
Mech. Repair (20%)
Medicine (05%)
Natural History (10%)
Navigate (10%)
Occult (05%)
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%)
Other Language (01%)
Own Language (EDUx5%)
Persuade (15%)
Pharmacy (01%)
Photography (10%)
Physics (01%)
Pilot Balloon (01%)
Pilot Boat (01%)
Psychology (05%)
Ride (05%)
Sneak (10%)
Spot Hidden (25%)
Swim (25%)
Throw (25%)
Track (10%)

Firearms:
Handgun (20%)
Machine Gun (15%)
Rifle (25%)
Shotgun (30%)

Melee:
Fist (50%)
Grapple (25%)
Head (10%)
Kick (25%)

Some example hand weapons:
Sword Cane (20%)
Rapier (10%)
Cavalier Sabre (15%)
Small Knife (25%)
Cosh (40%)

I'm thinking of playing a middle-aged professor character, grief-stricken because of the recent death of his daughter. On top of that, he lost most of his savings because of the hospital costs involved in his daughter's illness. He therefore had to resort to borrowing from some unsavory characters, who are constantly at his back.

Would something like this work in the campaign?

Here are already some rolls:

STR, CON, POW, DEX, and APP: 3D6

[dice]0[/dice]
[dice]1[/dice]
[dice]2[/dice]
[dice]3[/dice]
[dice]4[/dice]

EDU: 3D6+3

[dice]5[/dice]

INT and SIZ: 2D6+6.

[dice]6[/dice]
[dice]7[/dice]

Middle Class income (1D3+2)x100:
[dice]8[/dice]

I don't see why it wouldn't work. The scenario is fairly open in terms of background so go with what suits you.

Here is HoneyDog's character. Let me know if I've forgotten anything!

Ann Veronica Poole
Adventuress

Age: 30
Ann Veronica was born in Maidstone, Kent, the only child of Henry, a manager of a shipping company, and June, a housewife. Her parents had hoped for a boy, and this mild disappointment, combined with the offhand way she has been treated due to her gender all her life, has made her somewhat cynical towards men.

Although she has only received a basic education considering her background and sex, she is highly intelligent and curious about the world, and is very well read, especially in terms of the arts and culture.

Lacking finances, she was unable to attend university, and found a job as a governess. She has a talent for art, and while working began painting, in particular developing a talent for portraiture, and gradually began to earn enough income to become independent. This also led to her attracting the attention of the various wealthy and influential males of the Medway port towns, some of whom began to lavish gifts and attention on this attractive and fiercely intelligent woman.

She is currently the mistress of a wealthy merchant who supplies Chatham Dockyard. For her, these relationships are merely a means to an end, and she longs for the day when she has no more need of the patronage of men. That day is a long way off, however.

Strength: 11
Constitution: 10
Power: 14
Dexterity: 9
Appearance: 16
Size: 10
Intelligence: 18
Education: 11

Luck: 70
Idea: 90
Know: 55
Magic Points: 14
Damage Bonus & Build: 0
Hit Points: 10
Sanity: 70

Income: Lower to Middle Class = (1D2+1) Rolled 2 x100 = 200

Skills

Accounting (10%)
Anthropology (01%)
Archaeology (01%)
Art (Painting) (05%) 75
Astronomy (01%)
Bargain (05%) 35
Biology (01%)
Chemistry (01%)
Climb (40%)
Conceal (15%) 45
Craft (05%)
Credit Rating (various) 30
Cthulhu Mythos (00)
Disguise (01%) 31
Dodge (DEX x2)
Drive Carriage (20%)
Electr. Repair (10%)
Fast Talk (05%) 35
First Aid (30%) 50
Geology (01%)
Hide (10%)
History (20%)
Jump (25%)
Law (05%)
Library Use (25%)
Listen (25%)
Locksmith (01%)
Martial Arts (01%)
Mech. Repair (20%)
Medicine (05%)
Natural History (10%)
Navigate (10%)
Occult (05%)
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%)
Other Language (Italian) (01%) 31
Own Language (EDUx5%) 65
Persuade (15%) 45
Pharmacy (01%)
Photography (10%)
Physics (01%)
Pilot Balloon (01%)
Pilot Boat (01%)
Psychology (05%) 35
Ride (05%) 35
Sneak (10%) 40
Spot Hidden (25%)
Swim (25%)
Throw (25%)
Track (10%)

Firearms:
Handgun (20%)
Machine Gun (15%)
Rifle (25%)
Shotgun (30%)

Melee:
Fist (50%)
Grapple (25%)
Head (10%)
Kick (25%)

Sounds great, HoneyDog. I don't see a note of your Know value and Magic Points = POW so 14 rather than 8.

I like to have the dice determine my character, so let's see what happens.

STR: [dice]0[/dice] = 10
CON: [dice]1[/dice] = 14
POW: [dice]2[/dice] = 14
DEX: [dice]3[/dice] = 10
APP: [dice]4[/dice] = 13
EDU: [dice]5[/dice] = 18, increased to 19 by age
INT: [dice]6[/dice] = 13
SIZ: [dice]7[/dice] = 9

Minimum age = 18 + 6 = 24; let's make it 30 to increase the EDU to 19.

IDEA = 65
LUCK = 70
KNOW = 95
SANITY = 70
HIT POINTS = 12
MAGIC POINTS = 14

DAMAGE BONUS = NONE

Pretty average in most departments except for high education, fairly high health and charisma. Firmly middle class. I think I'll go with Scientist. More of a hands-on type than a scholarly type, Chemist or the like.

Income = [dice]8[/dice] x 100 = 500 pounds/year.

Credit rating = 25%

Occupational skills = 900
Personal interest = 130

Do I need to wait until you tell me what occupational skills are allowed for Scientist?

My thought was to exercise the option of allowing players to assign their skill points where they deemed appropriate but I'm happy to supply those suggested by the handbook if preferred, which for a Scientist are: Craft, History, Library Use, Mechanical Repair, Persuade, Spot Hidden and up to six other Thought skills as personal interests.

Let's clean this up a bit.

Gordon McKerry

The son of prosperous farmers in the province of Ontario, Gordon began tinkering with watches and farm machinery at an early age. An aptitude for natural science led him to success, if not brilliance, at King's College, Toronto. After some years of employment for a mining firm, primarily researching derivatives of coal tar, he emigrated to the United Kingdom to work in the new and exciting field of aniline dyes. Thirty years of age, unmarried (and possibly seeking romance in this new country), parents and siblings still living in Canada. Liberal Party, Presbyterian Church (although not particularly active in either.) Slight in appearance, light brown hair, dark brown eyes, clean-shaven, neatly but moderately dressed. Polite and soft-spoken. In good health due to a childhood of outdoor work and play. Has a tendency to daydream, particularly when working on an interesting problem.

STR = 10
CON = 14
POW = 14
DEX = 10
APP = 13
EDU = 19
INT = 13
SIZ = 9

IDEA = 65
LUCK = 70
KNOW = 95
SANITY = 70
HIT POINTS = 12
MAGIC POINTS = 14
DAMAGE BONUS = NONE
INCOME = 500
CREDIT RATING = 25%
DODGE = 20%
OWN LANGUAGE = 95%

All skills at base level except: (* = Occupational, # = Personal Interest)

*Chemistry 76%
*Craft 45%
#Electrical Repair = 50%
*First Aid = 40%
*Geology = 41%
*History = 40%
*Library Use = 55%
#Locksmith = 21%
*Mechanical Repair = 50%
*Medicine = 15%
*Natural History = 40%
#Navigate = 30%
#Operate Heavy Machinery = 51%
*Other Language (German) = 41%
*Persuade = 35%
*Physics = 41%
*Spot Hidden = 50%
#Swim = 35%

(***Whew*** I hope that all adds up correctly. Let me know if changes are needed. My thinking is that everything you listed as an Occupation Skill plus every Science and Science-related Skill plus German [the traditional language of Chemistry] is Occupational, the rest from a youth of outdoor activity and tinkering.)

I won't have time to finish character creation until the weekend, but I'll roll my stats now:

STR, CON, POW, DEX, APP:
[dice]0[/dice]
[dice]1[/dice]
[dice]2[/dice]
[dice]3[/dice]
[dice]4[/dice]
EDU:
[dice]5[/dice]
INT, SIZ:
[dice]6[/dice]
[dice]7[/dice]

Victoria, you've put 900 occupational points but if it's EDUx20 i.e. 19x20 then wouldn't that be 380? The character sounds great. Does he have a title e.g. Dr. or Professor?

James Powell
History Professor
Age: 48

STR: 9
CON: 13
POW: 9
DEX: 8 - 1 = 7
APP: 10
EDU: 17 + 1 = 18
INT: 14
SIZ: 14

Idea: 70
Luck: 45
Know: 95

Sanity: 45
Hit: 14
Magic Points: 9

Damage bonus: None
Middle Class income: 300
Credit rating: 15%

Occupational (*): 380 pts, Personal (#): 140

Skills:

Accounting (10%)
*Anthropology (01%): 40%
*Archaeology (01%): 50%
Art (05%)
*Astronomy (01%): 50%
Bargain (05%)
*Biology (01%): 21%
Chemistry (01%)
Climb (40%)
Conceal (15%)
Craft (05%)
Cthulhu Mythos (00)
Disguise (01%)
Dodge (DEX x2): 14
Drive Carriage (20%)
Electr. Repair (10%)
*Fast Talk (05%): 45%
#First Aid (30%): 50%
*Geology (01%): 10%
Hide (10%)
*History (20%): 80%
Jump (25%)
Law (05%)
*Library Use (25%): 80%
Listen (25%)
Locksmith (01%)
Martial Arts (01%)
Mech. Repair (20%)
#Medicine (05%): 15
Natural History (10%)
Navigate (10%)
#Occult (05%): 40%
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%)
*Other Language - Latin (01%): 40%
Own Language (EDUx5%): 90%
#Persuade (15%): 21#
#Pharmacy (01%): 10%
Photography (10%)
Physics (01%)
Pilot Balloon (01%)
Pilot Boat (01%)
Psychology (05%)
#Ride (05%): 40%
Sneak (10%)
#Spot Hidden (25%): 50%
Swim (25%)
Throw (25%)
Track (10%)

Firearms:
Handgun (20%)
Machine Gun (15%)
Rifle (25%)
Shotgun (30%)

Melee:
Fist (50%)
Grapple (25%)
Head (10%)
Kick (25%)

Some example hand weapons:
Sword Cane (20%)
Rapier (10%)
Cavalier Sabre (15%)
Small Knife (25%)
Cosh (40%)

Background:

James looked in the mirror and sighed. He was certain that during the last few months, the amount of grey in his hair had increased considerably, and the grooves in his face were a lot deeper now. His eyes fell on the black-rimmed portrait of Julia, his daughter, and he could hardly suppress the tears welling up. God, she had suffered so much in the end, and even the very expensive doctors he hired had been unable to do anything. He brushed a fleck of dust from his threadbare suit and straightened his tie. He did not want to be late for the meeting, but he dreaded the prospect immensely. Hopefully they would understand that he would be a bit late with his payments. Surely, they would take pity because he had needed the money for his daughter's medical bills? Still, if rumours were to be believed, that might be hoping for a bit too much. He sighed again, opened the door and went out...

Looks good, Pastiche. You actually gain 2 extra EDU points for your age (1 at 30 and 1 at 40) so your Know would be 95 and you've got another 20 skill points to use.

Fixed, thanks!

Will hopefully get my character started tonight & finished over the weekend....

[dice]0[/dice]

[dice]1[/dice]

[dice]2[/dice]

[dice]3[/dice]

[dice]4[/dice]

[dice]5[/dice]

[dice]6[/dice]

[dice]7[/dice]

Whoops! Just noticed we've begun. I'll sort my character over the weekend. I'm thinking a journalist of some sort, with ambitions to be a writer.

Wruter wrote:Victoria, you've put 900 occupational points but if it's EDUx20 i.e. 19x20 then wouldn't that be 380? The character sounds great. Does he have a title e.g. Dr. or Professor?

Well, shoot. I really messed that one up. I'll go back and remove 520 points from the occupational skills.

I picture him as not going beyond a master's degree, maybe even only a bachelor's, and then picking up more skills on the job.

EDIT: I've gone back and edited the skills. I hope this adds up correctly now.

Characteristics for starters.
5x3d6, 1 3d6+3, 2x2d6 Characteristic rolls: 5x3d6: 5#3d6 8 12 10 7 8
3d6+3 EDU 3d6+3: 3d6+3 8
2x2d6+6 INT & SIZ 2d6+6: 2#2d6+6 17 13

Not super duper rolls but I've had worse Rethinking occupation. I'm going to try a clergyman with a fixation on being an author.



Absalom Peredue Somerhayes
42 year old clergyman with an unrealistic ambition to become an author. Suffered from a lung disease at an early age, this has left him somewhat weak and sickly with a wheezy voice and a strong aversion to smoke or heavy odours (not good for a clergyman)

STR: 8, CON: 7 (8-1 age), POW: 12, DEX: 10, APP: 7
EDU: 10 (8+2 for age)
INT: 17,
IDEA: 85, SIZ: 13, LUCK: 60, KNOW: 50
SAN: 60, HP: 10, MP: 12
DAMAGE BONUS: 0
Income by social class: 1d3+2 5
INCOME: £500 (Middle Class)
SKILL PTS: 180, PIP: 170

Skills: (occupational in bold. Personal interest in italic)
Accounting (10%)
Anthropology (01%)
Archaeology (01%) 51%
Art (05%)
Astronomy (01%)
Bargain (05%)
Biology (01%)
Chemistry (01%)
Climb (40%)
Conceal (15%)
Craft (05%)
Credit Rating (various) 25%
Cthulhu Mythos (00)
Disguise (01%)
Dodge (DEX x2)
Drive Carriage (20%)
Electr. Repair (10%)
Fast Talk (05%)
First Aid (30%)
Geology (01%)
Hide (10%)
History (20%) 60%
Jump (25%)
Law (05%)
Library Use (25%) 65%
Listen (25%)
Locksmith (01%)
Martial Arts (01%)
Mech. Repair (20%)
Medicine (05%)
Natural History (10%) 40%
Navigate (10%)
Occult (05%) 55%
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%)
Other Language; Latin (01%) 41%
Own Language (EDUx5%)
Persuade (15%) 65%
Pharmacy (01%)
Photography (10%)
Physics (01%)
Pilot Balloon (01%)
Pilot Boat (01%)
Psychology (05%) 25%
Ride (05%)
Sneak (10%)
Spot Hidden (25%) 55%
Swim (25%)
Throw (25%)
Track (10%)

Firearms:
Handgun (20%)
Machine Gun (15%)
Rifle (25%)
Shotgun (30%)

Melee:
Fist (50%)
Grapple (25%)
Head (10%)
Kick (25%)
Sword Cane (20%) 30%

How's that so far?

Middle to upper class:
[dice]0[/dice]

Priest, you gain 2 EDU points for your age (1 at 30 and 1 at 40) so you'll want redo your Know and skill points. Your base Credit Rating should be 25% for £500 income (5% per £100). Any particular religious denomination? Any family? Any particular reason why a clergyman carries a sword cane?

Thankyou Wruter, I've made the alterations, I'm still working on the background, but I think he is ordinary Cof E. Has no living family, his only sibling a older sister died three years ago. It is not really a sword stick, more of a sturdy walking cane to aid his frail knees.

I think my character is ready. Will need checking though..


Cecil Copeland
Antiquarian
Age = 47

STR = 10
CON = 10
POW = 16
DEX = 13
APP = 8 (-1 for age)
EDU = 12 (+2 for age)
INT = 17
SIZ = 13

IDEA = 85
LUCK = 80
KNOW = 60
SANITY = 80
HIT POINTS = 12
MAGIC POINTS = 16
DAMAGE BONUS = none
INCOME = 1100
CREDIT RATING = 55%

Born of a well to do Wiltshire family, Cecil always had it easy in life from an early age. Free to pursue his own interests and barely acknowledged by his parents, except on birthdays and feast days, he failed to apply himself to school subjects, preferring instead the path of self-tutelage within the dusty confines of the family library.

It was in the library that he gained his interest in matters ancient, which in turn led him to explore the Wiltshire countryside. By his mid-twenties, there was not a mound, standing stone, henge or barrow within the local environs that he didn’t know like the back of his hand.

His research and investigation has also given him an interest in paganism and the occult - he is currently working on a book detailing the history & folklore of his beloved county. This in turn has led to an interest in the still relatively young pastime of photography which he uses to help document his finds.

Occupational (*): 240 pts, Personal (#): 170

Skills:
Accounting (10%)
Anthropology (01%)
#Archaeology (41%)
*Art (35%)
#Astronomy (31%)
*Bargain (25%)
Biology (01%)
Chemistry (01%)
Climb (40%)
Conceal (15%)
*Craft (30%)
Cthulhu Mythos (00)
Disguise (01%)
Dodge (DEX x2) 26%
Drive Carriage (20%)
Electr. Repair (10%)
Fast Talk (05%)
First Aid (30%)
#Geology (21%)
Hide (10%)
*History (55%)
Jump (25%)
Law (05%)
*Library Use (55%)
Listen (25%)
Locksmith (01%)
Martial Arts (01%)
Mech. Repair (20%)
Medicine (05%)
#Natural History (30%)
Navigate (10%)
*Occult (45%)
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%)
*Other Language – Latin (41%)
Own Language (EDUx5%) 55%
Persuade (15%)
Pharmacy (01%)
#Photography (50%)
Physics (01%)
Pilot Balloon (01%)
Pilot Boat (01%)
Psychology (05%)
Ride (05%)
Sneak (10%)
*Spot Hidden (65%)
Swim (25%)
Throw (25%)
Track (10%)

Firearms:
Handgun (20%)
Machine Gun (15%)
Rifle (25%)
Shotgun (30%)

Melee:
Fist (50%)
Grapple (25%)
Head (10%)
Kick (25%)

All looks fine, Mister Ginge.

Lower-to-Middle Class income:
[dice]0[/dice]
Income: £200

Player: Mr. Handy
Name: Diane Siddons
Age: 19
Sex: Female
Occupation: Actress
Colleges, Degrees: None
Birthplace: London, England



Characteristics:
STR: 6
CON: 11
SIZ: 10
DEX: 12
APP: 10
INT: 14 (Idea - 70)
POW: 15 (Luck - 75)
EDU: 13 (Know - 65)

Sanity: 75
Phobias/Mental Disorders: None
Maximum Sanity: 99
Hit Points: 11
Magic Points: 15
Damage Bonus: -1D4

Background: Diane Siddons is a young actress in London. She comes from a theatrical family, and both her father John and mother Susan are actors. She got involved in their performances at an early age, helping with costuming and playing the roles of children at first. She is only just beginning to come out from under her parents' shadow and establish a name for herself in her own right. While she is a fast learner, she is still young and naive, not yet familiar with the ways of the world.

Skills: (Non-default skills BOLD, Professional Skills ITALICS, Hobbies preceded by a DOT. Checked skills followed by a *)
Accounting (10%):
Animal Handling (10%):
Anthropology (01%):
Archaeology (01%):
Art(Acting) (05%): 50%
Astronomy (01%):
Bargain (05%):
Biology (01%):
Chemistry (01%):
.Climb (40%): 55%
Conceal (15%):
Craft (05%):
Credit Rating (10%):
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Disguise (01%): 55%
Dodge (DEX x 2%): 55%
Drive Carriage (20%):
Electrical Repair (10%):
Fast Talk (05%): 55%
.First Aid (30%): 60%
Geology (01%):
Hide (10%):
History (20%):
Jump (25%):
Law (05%):
Library Use (25%):
Listen (25%): 55%
Locksmith (01%):
Martial Arts (01%):
Mechanical Repair (20%):
Medicine (05%):
Natural History (10%):
Navigate (10%):
Occult (05%):
Operate Heavy Machine (01%):
.Other Language: French (01%): 31%
Own Language: English (EDU x 5%): 65%
Persuade (15%):
Pharmacy (01%):
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%):
Pilot Balloon (01%):
Pilot Boat (01%):
Psychology (05%): 55%
Ride (05%):
Sneak (10%):
.Spot Hidden (25%): 60%
.Swim (25%): 55%
Throw (25%):
Track (10%):

Hand-to-Hand:
Fist/Punch (50%):
Grapple (25%):
Head Butt (10%):
Kick (25%):

Firearms:
Handgun (20%):
Machine Gun (15%):
Rifle (25%):
Shotgun (30%):

Excellent, looks like we are all ready to begin.