FreeDice
May 26th, '10, 01:09 PM
Okay, based on my comment in Eisenford's thread (http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/80218-Cutting-the-Drama-Out-of-Character-Creation), I'd like to put together a repository for a modular creation template for Heroic characters, similar to the one in the 5th Champions book.
The idea would be to create packages in five predefined packages (infra), each with a set cost, allowing a player to mix and match package deals knowing that the math would come out correct with no points to spare or wasted. Now, this would obviously be tool-kitted, and experienced HERO players wouldn't need this. But inexperienced HERO players, or players whose character just died and in need of a quick replacement, could use this system as a quick way to generate a character.
The five groups of packages would be thus, each with their respective total of points:
Characteristics (75): Exactly what it sounds like - one's characteristics.
Action Package (50): This would be the characters "combat" points, for lack of a better term. CSLs and Spells and good Combat Talents. Doesn't have to be combat, but should be powerful and flashy.
Role Package (30): This would be the "role" a character plays in the group. A meeting between the Action Package and the Background Package. You might have a group of mercenary fighters, who all take the same Sword Combat Action Package, but each one takes a different Role within the group:
Stanton, the Leader, takes the "Commander" Role Package.
Brutus, the Lieutenant, takes the "Criminal Thug" Role Package.
Willer, the combat medic, takes the "Medic" Role Package.
Rat, the shadiest of them all, takes the "Burglar" Role Package.
And Tremmel, the youngest recruit, takes the "Scout" Role Package.
Background Package (20): A collection of perks and background skills, with maybe one or two other skills or talents, that gives a quick history of where the character came from.
Complications Package (50): A collection of complications to round a character. Examples include:
Haunted and Hunted: You did something bad once, and someone wants to make you pay.
Withered With Age Years of adventuring have taken their toll. Your mind is sharper than ever, but your body isn't what it once was.
Feeble Giant: You're not as smart as others, you know that. You just wish you could remember how big and strong you are, because you're always breaking things.
Example of Use: My character just died, and I need a new one, quickly. I was a brave paladin, and now the group is in need of another meaty fighter. I pick the Strong and Fast Characteristics package, the Sword Combat Action Package, the Tactician Role Package, the Gladiator Background Package, and the Haunted and Hunted Complications Package. I've now got a gritty mercenary on the run, fulfilling the same role in the group, but a wholly new character. Give me a name and some equipment, and I'm ready to roll.
Of course, there might be some room in each package for points from elsewhere. For example, say, in your fantasy campaign, you want the option for the stereotypical wizard who's super smart, but not much of a physical expert. You give him lots of INT and EGO, OCV and OMCV, and even a little extra PRE for being mysterious. But that's not going to take you anywhere near 75 points, especially when you factor in the STR and BODY you've sold back. So, you could include 20 points of "MAGIC" in the Characteristics Package, even though allotments for powers like that would normally go in an Action Package.
Additionally, I'd like this to be somewhat campaign nonspecific. There are going to be some packages that just exist in a certain genre ("Wizard" Action Package, or "Spacer" background package), and that's fine. But ideally, I'd like them to exist solely within the genre - so, for the "Wizard" package, just set aside X number of points for "Magic," and the player's going to have to pick some spells, since how each campaign structures Magic or Psionics or whatever will be different.
Which, takes me to my next point - every campaign is going to be different, and nothing will be perfect. So I'd like each package to exist based solely on the 6th Edition Rules (and any other HERO book), making it pretty universal, and allowing players and GMs to use the toolkit for themselves. I'd like to put this together into a PDF. If you make a campaign specific Package, please, share it for the forums so we can use it and take inspiration from it, but I'm not going to put it into the PDF unless it's somewhat generic. And on that note - I loved FRED as well, but for this project, I'd like to limit it to 6th Edition.
In a few days, I'll start posting packages and asking for help (please hold your packages for a day or two), but first I'd like to make sure
There's interest,
The point distributions for each Package Category sound good, and
There's a chance to hear any overall concerns before diving into the nitty gritty.
Thanks for reading this, I know it's long.
Thoughts?
The idea would be to create packages in five predefined packages (infra), each with a set cost, allowing a player to mix and match package deals knowing that the math would come out correct with no points to spare or wasted. Now, this would obviously be tool-kitted, and experienced HERO players wouldn't need this. But inexperienced HERO players, or players whose character just died and in need of a quick replacement, could use this system as a quick way to generate a character.
The five groups of packages would be thus, each with their respective total of points:
Characteristics (75): Exactly what it sounds like - one's characteristics.
Action Package (50): This would be the characters "combat" points, for lack of a better term. CSLs and Spells and good Combat Talents. Doesn't have to be combat, but should be powerful and flashy.
Role Package (30): This would be the "role" a character plays in the group. A meeting between the Action Package and the Background Package. You might have a group of mercenary fighters, who all take the same Sword Combat Action Package, but each one takes a different Role within the group:
Stanton, the Leader, takes the "Commander" Role Package.
Brutus, the Lieutenant, takes the "Criminal Thug" Role Package.
Willer, the combat medic, takes the "Medic" Role Package.
Rat, the shadiest of them all, takes the "Burglar" Role Package.
And Tremmel, the youngest recruit, takes the "Scout" Role Package.
Background Package (20): A collection of perks and background skills, with maybe one or two other skills or talents, that gives a quick history of where the character came from.
Complications Package (50): A collection of complications to round a character. Examples include:
Haunted and Hunted: You did something bad once, and someone wants to make you pay.
Withered With Age Years of adventuring have taken their toll. Your mind is sharper than ever, but your body isn't what it once was.
Feeble Giant: You're not as smart as others, you know that. You just wish you could remember how big and strong you are, because you're always breaking things.
Example of Use: My character just died, and I need a new one, quickly. I was a brave paladin, and now the group is in need of another meaty fighter. I pick the Strong and Fast Characteristics package, the Sword Combat Action Package, the Tactician Role Package, the Gladiator Background Package, and the Haunted and Hunted Complications Package. I've now got a gritty mercenary on the run, fulfilling the same role in the group, but a wholly new character. Give me a name and some equipment, and I'm ready to roll.
Of course, there might be some room in each package for points from elsewhere. For example, say, in your fantasy campaign, you want the option for the stereotypical wizard who's super smart, but not much of a physical expert. You give him lots of INT and EGO, OCV and OMCV, and even a little extra PRE for being mysterious. But that's not going to take you anywhere near 75 points, especially when you factor in the STR and BODY you've sold back. So, you could include 20 points of "MAGIC" in the Characteristics Package, even though allotments for powers like that would normally go in an Action Package.
Additionally, I'd like this to be somewhat campaign nonspecific. There are going to be some packages that just exist in a certain genre ("Wizard" Action Package, or "Spacer" background package), and that's fine. But ideally, I'd like them to exist solely within the genre - so, for the "Wizard" package, just set aside X number of points for "Magic," and the player's going to have to pick some spells, since how each campaign structures Magic or Psionics or whatever will be different.
Which, takes me to my next point - every campaign is going to be different, and nothing will be perfect. So I'd like each package to exist based solely on the 6th Edition Rules (and any other HERO book), making it pretty universal, and allowing players and GMs to use the toolkit for themselves. I'd like to put this together into a PDF. If you make a campaign specific Package, please, share it for the forums so we can use it and take inspiration from it, but I'm not going to put it into the PDF unless it's somewhat generic. And on that note - I loved FRED as well, but for this project, I'd like to limit it to 6th Edition.
In a few days, I'll start posting packages and asking for help (please hold your packages for a day or two), but first I'd like to make sure
There's interest,
The point distributions for each Package Category sound good, and
There's a chance to hear any overall concerns before diving into the nitty gritty.
Thanks for reading this, I know it's long.
Thoughts?