Character: Sam Vimes

[keithcurtis]

Sam Vimes is the main character in a number of Discworld books by Terry Pratchett, most notably those featuring the Watch. He is the Commander of the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork. He is a deeply conflicted man who rose from the meanest of beginnings as a punk street gang member to become one of the richest, most powerful men in the richest, most powerful city on Discworld. Despite all of the material success and titles that have been thrust upon him, he despises the trappings of class and privilege and remains at heart, a copper.

 

Work in Progress. I haven't filled out any of the background fields yet, but would appreciate some feedback.

I finally decided to only cherry pick his foremost psych lims, since he has a boat load.

 

v3

Sam Vimes

 

Val..Char...Cost

15...STR....5

13...DEX....9

15...CON....10

12...BODY...4

18...INT....8

18...EGO....16

20...PRE....10

10...COM....0

 

5....PD.....2

5....ED.....2

4....SPD....17

6....REC....0

30...END....0

28...STUN...0

 

8"..RUN....4

2"..SWIM...0

3"..LEAP...0

 

Characteristics Cost: 87

 

 

 

Cost Martial Arts Maneuver

Dirty Infighting

4 1) Block/Chin Block: 1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, +2 DCV, Block, Abort

4 2) Disarm: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, +1 DCV, Disarm; 25 STR to Disarm roll

5 3) Hoist 'n' Heave: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, -2 DCV, Grab Two Limbs, +20 STR to Throw

4 4) Kidney Blow: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, HKA 1d6 +1

4 5) Low Blow: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, +1 DCV, 2d6 NND

4 6) Punch/Backhand: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 5d6 Strike

3 7) Tackle: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, -1 DCV, 3d6 +v/5 Strike; You Fall, Target Falls; FMove

5 8) Roundhouse/Two-Fisted Smash: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +1 DCV, 7d6 Strike

3 9) Weapon Element: Blades, Clubs, Fist-Loads

Martial Arts Cost: 36

 

Cost Skill

6 PS: Copper 15-

Copper Skills

3 1) Criminology 13-

3 2) Deduction 13-

3 3) Interrogation 13-

3 4) Shadowing 13-

5 5) Security Systems 14-

3 6) Stealth 12-

5 7) Concealment 14-

5 8) Streetwise 14-

10 +2 with Copper Skills

 

9 CK: Ankh-Morpork 18- [Notes: Combined with his Bump of Direction (which requires paper thin soled boots), Vimes can navigate the city blindfolded. And has.]

5 CuK: Ankh-Morpork 15-

3 CuK: Assassin's Guild procedures and codes 13-

3 KS: Criminals of Ankh-Morpork 13-

2 KS: World Events 11-

3 Bureaucratics 13- [Notes: Vimes knows how the city government works, he just ignores it.]

1 High Society 8-

3 Conversation 13-

3 Oratory 13-

3 Combat Driving 12-

6 +2 with Dirty Fighting

10 +1 Overall

4 WF: Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons

3 Tactics 13-

3 Climbing 12-

3 Lockpicking 12-

3 Paramedics 13-

3 Instructor 13-

2 KS: Swamp Dragons 11-

2 CuK: Various Discworld Races 11- [Notes: Vimes often picks out bits and pieces of words from ancient or foreign languages. The multi-species make-up of the Watch has introduced him to many foreign concepts as well. Although a self-describe speciesist, he sees nothing wrong in this. He hates all species (including humans) equally.]

1 Language: Dwarfish (basic conversation) [Notes: Actually less than basic conversation, but it's probably the foreign language he is most familiar with.]

Skills Cost: 121

 

Cost Perk

7 Contact: Lord Havelock Vetinari (Contact has access to major institutions, Contact has extremely useful Skills or resources, Contact has significant Contacts of his own) 11-

11 Money: Filthy Rich

2 Reputation: Incorruptible cop who gets results (A large group) 11-, +1/+1d6

1 Reputation: Often compared to Suffer-not-Injustice Vimes, a regicide (to Nobility) 8-, +1/+1d6

28 Fringe Benefit: Commander, Duke, Federal/National Police Powers, International Police Powers, Knight, Member of the Aristocracy/Higher Nobility [Notes: Although technically, his jurisdiction is Ankh Morpork, Vimes considers anything that annoys him to be his beat.]

10 Follower [Notes: This is an imp in a little box, registered to Insert-Name-Here, who nevertheless reminds Vimes of important events. Like 6 o'clock, when he msut read "Where's My Cow?" to Young Sam.]

Perks Cost: 59

 

Cost Talent

2 Bump Of Direction (3 Active Points); IIF (Paper-thin soled boots; -1/4)

6 Combat Luck (3 PD/3 ED)

3 Lightsleep

5 Resistance (5 points)

3 Lightning Reflexes: +2 DEX to act first with All Actions

Talents Cost: 19

 

 

Val Disadvantages

0 Normal Characteristic Maxima

15 Social Limitation: Public Identity with lots of enemies (Frequently, Major)

5 DNPC: Lady Sybil Deidre Olgivanna Vimes (née Ramkin), Duchess of Ankh 8- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills)

15 DNPC: Young Sam 8- (Incompetent)

5 Enraged: When street justice seems like the only alternative (Uncommon), go 8-, recover 14- [Notes: Vimes works hard to control "the beast", his personal sense of murderous outrage at injustice. To combat this, he invokes the Watchman, often symbolized by his shield.

Although the conflict is always presented as precarious and difficult, the numbers here reflect the actual occurence of the rage. He rarely fails to keep the beast down.]

15 Hunted: Various enemies, until lately through the offices of the Guild of Assassins 11- (As Pow, Limited Geographical Area, PC has a Public ID or is otherwise very easy to find, Harshly Punish) [Notes: Vimes has made many enemies. His clashes with the Guild of Assassins were frequent. Recently, the Guild has taken him off their list of acceptible targets. Whether they consider him too difficult to kill or simply envision a world without him to be less desirable than a world with him, he remains to be the second person ever to be awarded this honor. The first is, of course, Lord Vetinari.]

20 Psychological Limitation: Stubborn. Bear traps are less tenacious. (Very Common, Strong)

20 Psychological Limitation: Commitment to the Rule of Law (Common, Total)

20 Psychological Limitation: Commitment to Family (Common, Total) [Notes: A subset of this is must read "Where's My Cow?" to young Sam every night at six o'clock. No exceptions. None.]

5 Physical Limitation: Recovering Drunk (He wasn't rich enough to be an alcoholic) (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing) [Notes: In later books, this rarely features as a remote temptation. However, he refuses to touch alcohol.]

2 Lawfully granted point bonus

Disadvantage Points: 122

 

Base Points: 200

Experience Required: 0

Total Experience Available: 0

Experience Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 322

 

Height:1.84 m

Hair:Brown

Weight:80.00 kg

Eyes:Brown

Appearance:Vimes is a robust man in his late forties or early fifties. He has a rough look about him that does not mesh at all well with the plumes and tights his Duke "job" sometimes requires him to wear. His entire bearing says, "copper". If he does not control it, he has a tendency to assume "the walk", the leisurely stroll of a policeman on the beat. This can be an embarrassment at formal gatherings.

Personality:Sam Vimes is a study in contrasts. He hates privelege, yet relies upon it to do his job. He pursue the rule of law, but is willing to commit back alley tactics in the pursuit of justice. He is the city's most equal opportunity employer, but claims to be a speciesist. (He hates them all-including humans- indiscriminately). He was a drunk, but mostly to combat his natural state of knurd (which is so far the opposite of drunk that it comes out the other side into a state of unbearable sobriety.More than anything else, Sam Vimes is a Policeman. He believes firmly in the Rule of Law, though he has creative ideas on exactly what the Law is, where it comes from and how far its reach extends. He has arrested the Patrician (the city's dictator), and the opposing commanders in a major war.His biggest internal conflict comes from trying to control what he calls the Beast. His internal sense of outrage at all the injustices that make up the world is so overpowering that it threatens to consume him if he does not keep constant control over it. He bottles up this murderous anger, using his badge as a shield, only letting it off its tether when needed.

Quote:"Just because someone's a member of an ethnic minority doesn't mean they're not a nasty small-minded little jerk..."

Background:Sam Vimes was born in Ankh-Morpork in Cockbill Street, a neighborhood so poor that all they could afford was their pride. They might not have money to buy more than day-old bread and stale cheese, but you could eat it off a spotlessly clean floor by the gods. He had a misspent youth running with the street gang, the Cockbill Street Roaring Lads.

He joined the City Night Watch somewhere around the age of 16 and has been a copper ever since. He rose in the ranks as the Night Watch fell from favor. The Thieves' Guild had taken over the policing of the city, and he was unable to stomach what the Watch had become. After 25 years, he had become a hopeless drunk. After Carrot Ironfoundersson came to the city, his fortunes began to turn around. The Watch were instrumental in defending the city from a Dragon. The newfound respect and sense of purpose revitalized him.

From then on his fortunes have only improved, and vastly so. He met and eventually married the richest woman in Ankh-Morpork, the Lady Sybil Ramkin. The Watch slowly expanded both in numbers and diversity. He now commands a force of several hundred, including humans, drawfs, trolls, a golem, a zombie, gargoyles, a gnome, a werewolf, and against his strongest objections, a vampire.

Due to his marriage and his frequent invaluable services to the city, he has risen to become one of it's foremost citizens. He is the Commander of the Watch, a duke, a knight, and reluctant ambassador. Despite all of this, he cannot believe his good fortune and sees himself as a member of the lower class he was born into.

Powers/Tactics:Vimes grew up in the part of Ankh-Morpork second only to the Shades in its roughness. He learned to fight dirty in order to survive. To this day, he wins by not following the rules the opponent has laid out, and by anticipating his opponents plans. In this latter he is aided by his unflagging pessismism regarding human nature. He expects the worst of people and is seldom wrong. He also has a great knack for putting hmself in his opponent's shoes and looking at the situation from their perspective. He is known* to employ brass knuckles and coshes from time to time.

Vimes is very dangerous in hand to hand combat and has even managed to kill a werewolf with his bare hands.

________________________________

*Well, not known, precisely, since those in a position to witness their use are usually unconscious or about to become so.

Campaign Use:Vimes has a presence so large it threatens to intrude itself into any Discworld novel set within Ankh-Morpork. He is an incorruptible cop who sees the universe as his beat. It's hard not to use him.

 

Keith "ooh. My first posted character" Curtis

[Nolgroth]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Well, mechanically speaking he looks very sound. Looking over the Disadvantages makes me think this guy would be a rather interesting person to play. The stubborn tenacity coupled with a repressed rage just has role-playing hook all over it.

[Manic Typist]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Who is this? Source material? Brief character description?

[keithcurtis]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Sorry. I have edited.

 

Keith "caught up in the moment" Curtis

[Robyn]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Who is this? Source material? Brief character description?

 

He's a character from the Discworld series (by Terry Pratchett).

 

I'm currently reading Bonk!, so I decided to read this thread; I normally ignore postings of non-original characters

[Tim]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Very good.

 

You can also include most of teh named characters of the city watch as followers.

[OddHat]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Very cool!

 

A few thoughts:

 

He has at least 1 point of "Dwarvish". Early on he makes mistakes and just has a few memorized phrases, but he's able to sorta-kinda speak by Thud! (iirc). I can see covering it with the CuK, depending on campaign.

 

I'd go for a full 14 DEX. He's really a pretty competent combatant for a human (good call on the Martial Arts package), and trained assassins are constantly missing him. The Martial levels he has don't really cover ranged combat. I might even add 1 or 2 levels specifically with DCV. If not a level with DCV, maybe a Martial Dodge?

 

+1" Running might be good, though his high SPD might also account for why "they never caught [him]".

 

Folding some of his levels into Overall levels might make sense.

 

I might rename his Punch/Backhand as "The Vimes Elbow", just because it deserves the capitols.

[L. Marcus]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Thud! Thud!, people, Thud!

 

At most, I'd give him one single point in Dwarvish -- and that's street Dwarvish. Calling someone from the mountains "Dwarf [indicating miscreant]" might be bad for the health.

 

Vimes can aslo say "Put down that rock, you're under arrest!" in Trollish.

[teh bunneh]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Nice job, Keith! I'd suggest a couple of minor tweaks:

 

His daytimer-imp... as far as I remember, it doesn't do anything except tell him what time it is. I'd just create it as "Absolute Time Sense, OAF" instead of as a follower.

 

I'd buy his CK: Ankh-Morpork higher. 18-, at least.

 

I might also give him a higher PRE, or a bonus to PRE when he's doing official copper things.

 

Other than that...

[keithcurtis]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Language was difficult, since he doesn't seem to have 1 point (basic conversation) in any language other than Morporkian. He knows a few Berlitz-style phrases in several languages*, but not able to carry on a conversation, even in Dwarfish.**

The CuK was supposed to represent an eclectic smattering of words and phrases. Much like I personally know words and phrases in Latin and Spanish, but only have 1 point in French.

 

Keith "and it's a shaky point, at that' Curtis

_________________

 

*"Please Chambermaid, where is my crossbow?"

 

**Dwarves and Dwarvish are Tolkein-inspired. Pratchett embraces the traditional f.

[L. Marcus]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

. . . Blasted asterisks and their blasted footnotes . . .

[keithcurtis]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Footnotes are one of my favorite Pratchett devices.

 

Keith "slowly converting Susan, starting with the Amazing Maurice and then working into Wee Free Men*" Curtis

___________

 

*Crivens!

[L. Marcus]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Crivens!

[Robyn]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Language was difficult, since he doesn't seem to have 1 point (basic conversation) in any language other than Morporkian. He knows a few Berlitz-style phrases in several languages*, but not able to carry on a conversation, even in Dwarfish.**

The CuK was supposed to represent an eclectic smattering of words and phrases. Much like I personally know words and phrases in Latin and Spanish,

 

I would take these as a Perk, "knows phrases appropriate for his job". He won't know anything outside of them, but he's picked up the professional slang, which has words/phrases borrowed from many languages.

[Basil]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

I suggest increasing his EGO. As well, a sort of "easy Push" would be good: extra END with a RSR or easy-roll on EGO.

 

The number of times Vimes has "found a reserve of strength/endurance he didn't know he had" is quite high, if you look through the books.

 

Oh, and you forgot to cost out the "paper-thin soles" Limitation on his Bump of Direction. That and I don't think Vetinari is a Contact; Vimes rarely if ever gets anythng useful from the Patrician. No, I'd say Lord V. is Vimes's boss---hey, where's the "Under Orders" Social Limitation? That's what Vetenari is!

[Curufea]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Vimes gets frequent upgrades to his Disorginiser - Cybil keeps buying him the latest versions.

His current one not only acts like a real-world organiser, but it also can collate data. In Thud! he uses it to go through his piles of paperwork looking for a specific piece of information.

[keithcurtis]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Very good.

 

You can also include most of teh named characters of the city watch as followers.

I decided not to. He is without them often enough, and the various perks probably cover it. Also, the others are heroes and probably PCs in their own right. I used the organizer as a follower, since he is never without it, or Sybil would kill him).

 

Very cool!

 

A few thoughts:

 

He has at least 1 point of "Dwarvish". Early on he makes mistakes and just has a few memorized phrases, but he's able to sorta-kinda speak by Thud! (iirc). I can see covering it with the CuK, depending on campaign.

 

I'd go for a full 14 DEX. He's really a pretty competent combatant for a human (good call on the Martial Arts package), and trained assassins are constantly missing him. The Martial levels he has don't really cover ranged combat. I might even add 1 or 2 levels specifically with DCV. If not a level with DCV, maybe a Martial Dodge?

 

+1" Running might be good, though his high SPD might also account for why "they never caught [him]".

 

Folding some of his levels into Overall levels might make sense.

 

I might rename his Punch/Backhand as "The Vimes Elbow", just because it deserves the capitols.

OK, I'l make it 1 point of Dwarfish, with a note. DCV levels are a must. I'll also change one CSL to an overall. I might add limited danger sense as well. He almost always anticipates ambushes.

 

Nice job, Keith! I'd suggest a couple of minor tweaks:

 

His daytimer-imp... as far as I remember, it doesn't do anything except tell him what time it is. I'd just create it as "Absolute Time Sense, OAF" instead of as a follower.

 

I'd buy his CK: Ankh-Morpork higher. 18-, at least.

 

I might also give him a higher PRE, or a bonus to PRE when he's doing official copper things.

 

Other than that...

I figured his perks and reps would give him extra dice for PRE attacks, but he's also pretty unflappable. I'll up the PRE.

 

I suggest increasing his EGO. As well, a sort of "easy Push" would be good: extra END with a RSR or easy-roll on EGO.

 

The number of times Vimes has "found a reserve of strength/endurance he didn't know he had" is quite high, if you look through the books.

 

Oh, and you forgot to cost out the "paper-thin soles" Limitation on his Bump of Direction. That and I don't think Vetinari is a Contact; Vimes rarely if ever gets anythng useful from the Patrician. No, I'd say Lord V. is Vimes's boss---hey, where's the "Under Orders" Social Limitation? That's what Vetenari is!

How many times has Vimes creatively interpreted Vetinari's orders, wiothout serious repercussion? I made him a contact, since he has relatively easy access to the Patrician, compared to, say, CMOT Dibbler.

 

Vimes gets frequent upgrades to his Disorginiser - Cybil keeps buying him the latest versions.

His current one not only acts like a real-world organiser, but it also can collate data. In Thud! he uses it to go through his piles of paperwork looking for a specific piece of information.

Yeah, I figured 50 points of clerical skills and didn't cost it out.

 

Changes made and edited into the original post.

 

Keith "I'm still working on the Background" Curtis

[Super Squirrel]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

You might also give him a familiarity with Swamp Dragons. He spent a bit of time researching them and his marriage is bound to have rubbed some knowledge off on him.

[Curufea]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

I think the house rule for the setting of Discworld should be-

If you don't have WF: Swamp Dragon, prepare to have an explosive lesson.

[keithcurtis]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

You might also give him a familiarity with Swamp Dragons. He spent a bit of time researching them and his marriage is bound to have rubbed some knowledge off on him.

Good point. He probably needs an Ankh-Morpork Cultural Knowledge Skill, too. He does seem to know a lot about other people's business.

 

Keith "Of course, Carrot probably has this as a super skill" Curtis

[Lucius]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Carrot has the Perk "Not the King of Ankh-Morpork."

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Probably not a palindromedary

[keithcurtis]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

Carrot has the Perk "Not the King of Ankh-Morpork."

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Probably not a palindromedary

 

Keith "You make me smile" Curtis

 

PS. Nobby has the Perk: Probably not the Earl of Ankh

[Tim]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

 

Keith "You make me smile" Curtis

 

PS. Nobby has the Perk: Probably not the Earl of Ankh

 

And the Social Lim "Human, with the papers to prove it."

[Robyn]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

And the Social Lim "Human' date=' with the papers to prove it."[/quote']

 

Shouldn't that be "needs papers to prove he's human"?

[keithcurtis]

Re: Character: Sam Vimes

 

According to one source, he was disqualified from the human race for shoving.

 

Keith "getting the serious write-up bug" Curtis