Making a Character

Write a person, not a build.

Start with the Concept. One line. A retired line cook who reads people better than menus. A field engineer who has not slept properly since the accident. If you cannot say it in a sentence, keep working on it.

Then fill in Appearance, Personality, Background and Drive. Of these, Background is the one that will do the most work at the table. The Game Master reads it when deciding whether your character has a reason to succeed, so put real things in it. Jobs held, places lived, people known, skills learned the hard way.

Then choose your Abilities. Around six is a good starting spread. Take them from the four kinds, in whatever mix your Background supports. A character who spent nine years in a kitchen should have Chef. A character who was a soldier should have a Physical Ability or two.

Only take the first link of a named chain unless your Background clearly justifies more. A twenty year old is not a World Class Chef yet.

Finally, dress your character. Each body slot takes one piece of Gear and only offers Gear that belongs there, so you cannot accidentally wear a helmet on your feet. Fill the slots that matter, leave the rest empty, and put everything else you own in the Pack.

Set Condition to unhurt and you are finished.