Now that the race and role have been established, Story Points are used to further customize the character. The number of these points available to the character varies by the lineage selected, though this number can be modified with the use of Advantages and Disadvantages. They are used to establish the character’s place in the world and provide them with a starting viewpoint. There are two ways to approach this section. Players may choose to build from scratch, spending points on a starting Wealth Class and Social Status, and choosing from or ignoring the Advantages and Disadvantages – or they can choose from one of the pre-built Background Packages. Regardless of the approach, this is where we truly begin to flesh out starting characters.

My writing distractions symbol image

Story Points

Each character gets a number of Story Points based on their race. These points are primarily used to purchase a Wealth Class and Social Status, requiring at least one point to be spent in each. In addition to determining starting money and gear, a character’s Wealth Class is a direct reflection of their economic relationships, interactions, and reactions. In short, a persons wealth level affects how they view and are viewed by the world. While related, Social Status is not the same, it is how they are perceived as a member of society and directly affects their starting Reputation Rank, which governs how people react to them. An extremely wealthy person can be viewed as the lowest order of people, while a person with nothing could be revered. The cost of each is listed, and included in the descriptions below.

Wealth Class

 ♦ Destitute (1)
 ♦ Poor (2)
 ♦ Proletariat (3)
 ♦ Mercantile (4)
 ♦ Heir (5)

Social Status

 ♦ Dreg (1)
 ♦ Peasantry(2)
 ♦ Prestigious (3)
 ♦ Aristocratic (4)
 ♦ Royalty (5)

Advantages & Disadvantages

Up until this point, the customization options revolve around specific choices, but these give the players an opportunity to truly set their character apart.

All Advantages and Disadvantages have a point value. Players can spend Story Points to purchase one or more Advantages, lowering the Wealth Class or Social Status. Alternately, they can buy Story Points by taking Disadvantages, which can be used to raise the Wealth Class or Social Status – note that 2 Disadvantage Points are required to increase either the Wealth Class or Social Status by 1 point.

Most commonly though, characters will purchase Advantages and then take an off-setting number of points in Disadvantages. There is a limit. Players who take more than two Disadvantages (above any racial liabilities), will be penalized with more severe versions of one or more of their Disadvantages, at the GM’s discretion.

Advantages and Disadvantages Images

Advantages

• Alluring (2)
• Ally (1)
• Ambidexterity (1)
• Astute (2)
• Brawny (2)
• Charismatic (1)
• Companion (2)
• Crafty (1)
• Deft (1)
• Dexterous (2)
• Hardy (1)
• Heirloom (2)
• Light Sleeper (1)

• Luck (2)
• Membership (2)
• Mooch (1)
• Multilingual (1)
• Network (1)
• Nimble (1)
• Patron (1)
• Quick Healer (1)
• Rugged (2)
• Sagacious (2)
• Stubborn (1)
• Swift (1)
• Underling (1)

Disadvantages

• Addict (1)
• Allergies (1)
• Amnesia (2)
• Anemic (1)
• Animosity (1)
• Clumsy (2)
• Feeble (2)
• Frail (2)
• Gullible (1)
• Hobbled (1)
• Illiterate (1)
• Illusory Truth (2)
• Impaired (2)

• Lethargic (1)
• Liar (1)
• Maimed (2)
• Magically Barren (1)
• Obligation (2)
• Phobia (1)
• Rival (1)
• Secret (1)
• Simple (2)
• Superstitious (1)
• Theatrical (1)
• Ugly (2)
• Unlucky (2)

Story Points

Each character gets a number of Story Points based on their race. These points are primarily used to purchase a Wealth Class and Social Status, requiring at least one point to be spent in each. In addition to determining starting money and gear, a character’s Wealth Class is a direct reflection of their economic relationships, interactions, and reactions. In short, a persons wealth level affects how they view and are viewed by the world. While related, Social Status is not the same, it is how they are perceived as a member of society and directly affects their starting Reputation Rank, which governs how people react to them. An extremely wealthy person can be viewed as the lowest order of people, while a person with nothing could be revered. The cost of each is listed, and included in the descriptions below.

Wealth Class

 ♦ Destitute (1)
 ♦ Poor (2)
 ♦ Proletariat (3)
 ♦ Mercantile (4)
 ♦ Heir (5)

Social Status

 ♦ Dreg (1)
 ♦ Peasantry (2)
 ♦ Prestigious (3)
 ♦ Aristocratic (4)
 ♦ Royalty (5)

Advantages & Disadvantages

Up until this point, the customization options revolve around specific choices, but these give the players an opportunity to truly set their character apart.

All Advantages and Disadvantages have a point value. Players can spend Story Points to purchase one or more Advantages, lowering the Wealth Class or Social Status. Alternately, they can buy Story Points by taking Disadvantages, which can be used to raise the Wealth Class or Social Status – note that 2 Disadvantage Points are required to increase either the Wealth Class or Social Status by 1 point.

Most commonly though, characters will purchase Advantages and then take an off-setting number of points in Disadvantages. There is a limit. Players who take more than two Disadvantages (above any racial liabilities), will be penalized with more severe versions of one or more of their Disadvantages, at the GM’s discretion.

Advantages

• Alluring (2)
• Ally (1)
• Ambidexterity (1)
• Astute (2)
• Brawny (2)
• Charismatic (1)
• Companion (2)
• Crafty (1)
• Deft (1)
• Dexterous (2)
• Hardy (1)
• Heirloom (2)
• Light Sleeper (1)

• Luck (2)
• Membership (2)
• Mooch (1)
• Multilingual (1)
• Network (1)
• Nimble (1)
• Patron (1)
• Quick Healer (1)
• Rugged (2)
• Sagacious (2)
• Stubborn (1)
• Swift (1)
• Underling (1)

Disadvantages

• Addict (1)
• Allergies (1)
• Amnesia (2)
• Anemic (1)
• Animosity (1)
• Clumsy (2)
• Feeble (2)
• Frail (2)
• Gullible (1)
• Hobbled (1)
• Illiterate (1)
• Illusory Truth (2)
• Impaired (2)

• Lethargic (1)
• Liar (1)
• Maimed (2)
• Magically Barren (1)
• Obligation (2)
• Phobia (1)
• Rival (1)
• Secret (1)
• Simple (2)
• Superstitious (1)
• Theatrical (1)
• Ugly (2)
• Unlucky (2)