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[Stofsk]

Hellllloooooo... anyone there?

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

I'm here! I just haven't thought up a good character yet, beyond 'Human dude.'

[Josh]

*whistles contently and taps prequel scene, already written.*

[Stofsk]

I'm here! I just haven't thought up a good character yet, beyond 'Human dude.'

That's fine. There's no rush. I was just concerned that I asked people if they had any questions, and received... deathly... silence.

[The Morrigan]

I'm here! I just haven't thought up a good character yet, beyond 'Human dude.'

That's fine. There's no rush. I was just concerned that I asked people if they had any questions, and received... deathly... silence.

But surely you know that the traditional response when anyone, anywhere says "are there any questions? is deathly silence. :P

So, er... how does this character-creation thingy normally work, anyway?

<== Complete n00b.

[Stofsk]

I ask you a bunch of questions about your character and go from there. It can take awhile or it can take 5 mins, it all depends on the character, the player, and the game master.

I wanted to ask everyone how they were going with their character concepts. Some people have come along quite well, Petro and CC for instance, and you have a solid framework for your own character. Frigidmagi has a rudimentary concept that needs to be expanded, while Gaius hasn't thought of any while others haven't even got around to responding in this thread.

I'm asking everyone how far they've gotten to see who needs help and so on.

[The Prime Necromancer]

I myself am also having trouble deciding, except I haven't even gotten as far as "human dude". :P

I'm wondering if I should create something similar to what I had last time (as we didn't exactly get a lot of time to do much with our characters), or if I should try something new.

Addendum: Just an additional question: I'm also wondering just what Charisma has to do with Psionic powers. It seems to always be at least one of the determining factors for magic or psi in gaming systems, and I don't completely understand why. There can't be any surly, unlikeable psychics? I can see Wisdom, but it seems to me that Intelligence would have more to do with mind powers than Charisma.

Just a thought.

[Cynical Cat]

The Reason Charisma is used is twofold

1) So it isn't just a dumpstat.

2) It represents force of personality.

[Stofsk]

The reason Charisma is used is twofold

1) So it isn't just a dumpstat.

2) It represents force of personality.

1) Precisely. It bothers me because I don't like to see one ability elevated above all the others, but really I expect it. I suppose you could say that Intelligence is just as important because it gives your psionic character the skill points needed, but then you're left with Charisma or Wisdom which aren't as important.

2) Again, precisely. Charisma doesn't necessarily mean you can't be surly and grumpy. It means that if you want to be forceful and assertive and so on you can be. I'm sure the most charismatic of people have bad days in which they go tell people to fuck a dog.

For the record, Psionics has 5 skills and two of them depend on Charisma as a modifier (Empathy, and Awareness). Two others, Telekinesis and Teleportation, require Constitution. The last, Clairvoyance, requires Wisdom.

I'm at uni now so I can't post the rules I made for psionics.

[The Prime Necromancer]

OK, I guess that makes sense. Although I would consider a better name for the stat to be "Will" then, since (in my mind anyway) "charisma" has to do with how attractive or charming you are verbally, not necessarily how "strong" your psyche is. For instance, I would say it takes charisma to persuade someone, but it doesn't take charisma, just willpower (and maybe being physically large and threatening) to intimidate or bully them to do it. Calling it "Will", or "Willpower" or even "Character" would make it better in my mind. Although, that makes me ask the question: if charisma is force of personality, why are "will saves" related to Wisdom?

Anyway, it's not a big deal. So any tips or guidance about what you think I should do?

[Stofsk]

OK, I guess that makes sense. Although I would consider a better name for the stat to be "Will" then, since (in my mind anyway) "charisma" has to do with how attractive or charming you are verbally, not necessarily how "strong" your psyche is. For instance, I would say it takes charisma to persuade someone, but it doesn't take charisma, just willpower (and maybe being physically large and threatening) to intimidate or bully them to do it. Calling it "Will", or "Willpower" or even "Character" would make it better in my mind. Although, that makes me ask the question: if charisma is force of personality, why are "will saves" related to Wisdom?

That actually is a good question.

The answer relates to the other abilities. Take the physical ones. Particularly, Strength and Constitution. They both do different things. But, ask yourself, how 'tough' a character is, physically. Do you count just Strength and base it on that? Do you count Con instead, and disregard Strength entirely? Or do you count them both together? Think about it in real life. If you do strength training, aren't you improving your fitness and constitution? Or in other words, one relates to the other.

I think a similar comparison can be made between Wisdom and Charisma. Taken together, they both give you a sense of how strong a character's willpower is, how forceful their personality is, how aware they are and so on. For example, Bluff is a Charisma modified skill. You use it to fool someone, dupe them, feint in combat, etc. But what is the skill you use to oppose a Bluff check? Sense Motive, and THAT is modified by Wisdom.

They need each other. Can you be a good bluffer but not tell when YOU'RE being bluffed? Relating back to strength and constitution, can you be massively strong but have a frail constitution? I think some of these abilities are interdependent.

EDIT: Oh, yes it does take Charisma to intimidate or bully someone. Trust me on this. You don't have to be physically large to intimidate, you can be small and slight, medium sized and wear a suit, but trust me you can intimidate. Charisma does mean persuasion, but it also means manipulation as well as intimidation. There are different types of intimidation too. Someone big can intimidate based on his size, but someone small can find a different angle of approach.

Anyway, it's not a big deal. So any tips or guidance about what you think I should do?

Well... you could start a new character if you wanted, come up with a concept and I'll help you select the class, skills and feats etc. Or you can use your old character's concept and update it. It's up to you.

[The Prime Necromancer]

That explanation is very good, and makes a lot of sense. And you're right that you don't necessarily need to be physically strong and tough to be intimidating, although I still wouldn't call what you need "charisma", since in my mind that deals with making people want to help or do something for you because they like you, rather than because they're afraid of you. But maybe that's just my opinion.

Now to go back to trying to figure out what to do.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Just to keep you updated, I'm currently thinking either ex-marine mercenary or noble. Can females become marines (I ask because it might help me keep my character concepts separate from my 40k RP char. Nothing ruins a char more than muddied concept)?

[Stofsk]

Yes, females can be marines. Just look at Vasquez. ;)

[Josh]

Mmmm... Vasquez...

[Stofsk]

Just to keep you updated, I'm currently thinking either ex-marine mercenary or noble. Can females become marines (I ask because it might help me keep my character concepts separate from my 40k RP char. Nothing ruins a char more than muddied concept)?

Remember you can multiclass. You can be a Marine/Noble if you wanted. ;)

You can start off as a Noble, with the boost in skills, and then join your nation's Marine Corps. Or you can start off as a Marine, then become a Noble through gallantry (this would be akin to how WW2/Vietnam/Iraq vets come home and run for office, though being a Noble DOES NOT mean you need to become a politician. Being a Noble might mean you've become a celebrity and have some kind of influence).

EDIT: And I should stipulate, that once you muster out of the Marine Corps you generally have to progress in combat potential as a merc.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Hm... a Noble/Ex-Marine/Merc... I like. I shall now plot.

[Stofsk]

Hm... a Noble/Ex-Marine/Merc... I like. I shall now plot.

Come up with a character concept first then choose the class/es. ;)

[Stofsk]

BTW, I know I keep asking this, but I would like to know what people think about the fluff I put up about the game? Does it suck, is it any good, any opinions or comments?

[Cynical Cat]

Your fluff rocks.

[The Prime Necromancer]

It's very cool. I'm getting a WH40K vibe from the stuff about psychics and FTL travel. Just less angsty(which is good).

Anyway, currently at least several potential characters are developing in my mind, but I'm kind of interested in what everyone else may be doing, so that we can all mesh well, compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses, and that sort of thing.

[Stofsk]

It's very cool. I'm getting a WH40K vibe from the stuff about psychics and FTL travel. Just less angsty(which is good).

Interestingly, I didn't even know anything about WH40K when I started writing all this stuff up. It only came to my attention after the fact that psionics and warpdrives were similar to psykers and the Warp. I had a number of other influences though.

Anyway, currently at least several potential characters are developing in my mind, but I'm kind of interested in what everyone else may be doing, so that we can all mesh well, compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses, and that sort of thing.

Petro is playing an experienced Makhali traveller.

Cynical Cat is playing a Solarian merchant/mercenary.

Brother-Captain Gaius is playing a noble/merc.

Frigidmagi is playing a rogue/merc.

The Morrigan hasn't got back to me, but I'm guessing she's playing an Akelli rogue.

Mr Flibble and his girlfriend might be interested in playing, but they're busy at the moment and have to get back to me.

There is no uniform starting level. Petro is thus far the highest level in the game, but then only he and CC have gone through character gen with me. All the rest have been busy or something.

[frigidmagi]

Question, do the classes have any feats that are included. Like how in standard DnD the Fighter gets weapon proficency and armor proficency?

[Stofsk]

Yes, definitely. Classes also have exclusive feats too, which I didn't bother listing because I am lazy.

[Stofsk]

I have changed some rules regarding Psionics. Namely, the five Psionic Spheres are no longer modified by three abilities. Rather, a 7th, unique ability called PSI determines your strength in it. I've also changed the pre-reqs for Psionic Talents and lowered them somewhat.

I'll be adding equipment soonish.