Iren's PbP - Character Creation

[Irenaeus]

Hello Adventurers!




This thread will have the sole purpose of Character Creation (Chargen) for the Play-by-post adventures I will be DMing for.

For the first adventure, the setting will be low-fantasy dark ages inspired by post-roman/early germanic kingdoms with a whimsical and folkloric fancy.

For most people, we will do the Character Creation very simple, adapted from from ACKS:


Method A
(Destined to be a Hero)

1-Pick a name for your PC.

2-Roll 3d6 for all attributes (Strength, Agility, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma), gain 8 luck points to start with Luck 18.

3-Pick class:
Fighter - Magic-User - Thief - Cleric - Ranger - Bard

4-Pick templates, skills, equipment and spells (if any).
List here:

► Show Spoiler

Templates:

► Show Spoiler

Skill list:

► Show Spoiler

Starting Equipment:

► Show Spoiler

You can use this list to buy from a "general store" but if you want other starting items we can discuss it.

General Store (prices in copper pieces):

► Show Spoiler

Spell list:

► Show Spoiler

You can pick spells from this list but if you picked different magic or divine skills we can discuss other spells.

5-Pick up to 1 trait from the left row (or 2 from the left row and 1 right row) from the list:

► Show Spoiler

Sometimes a good trait may work against you... and vice-versa.

7-Enhance your character with backstory and motivations (please?).
Suggestions here:

► Show Spoiler

For the whole package:


For more a more detailed background:

► Show Spoiler

If want less random characters, you can waiver some luck points and finesse your character with either these two optional chargen options:


Method B
(Marked for Heroism)

1-Pick a name for your PC.

2-Roll 5d6 drop 2 dice for a primary stat, roll 4d6 drop 1 die for two secondary stats. roll 3d6 for the rest, gain just 3 luck points. Follow the steps from Method A starting from step 3.


Method C
(Fate is in your hands)

Roll for background, motivations, etc., and then pick a class get some points to add to your starting attributes, instead lose 2 luck points to start with Luck 8. We will discuss it.


Method D
(You already have a character in your head)
Pick everything and get points to choose your attributes, instead lose 6 luck points to start with Luck 4. We will also discuss it.



Any suggestions or doubts? Write to me below. Otherwise, great rolling my future heroes!

[rusty_shackleford]

You appear to be missing spellsword

[asf]

how do you roll in this thing

[Irenaeus]

You appear to be missing spellsword

We will work something together for that.

[Stack of Turtles]

Am I expected to roll for stats in order or can I assign them as I like?

[Irenaeus]

Am I expected to roll for stats in order or can I assign them as I like?

In order.

Or use Method B. Or C or D.

[Oyster Sauce]

Osgar Saustian

...rolling for stats...

Strength: 9
Agility: 12
Constitution: 6
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 9
Charisma: 12
Luck: 18

Fighter (fighting experience) - Town Guard (alertness/signaling)

...rolling for money...

67c
Spear -11c
Dagger -30c
Cards -2c
Gloves -10c
=14c


Sharp-eyed / Skinny / Fearful

Born of the border clans
A village child
Guard

A young lad too dumb to do anything but hold a spear at a gate. Knocked up the wrong person's daughter and fled in the night with his kit. Sure hope they don't find me. Motivated by never taking responsibility for anything. Has never seen real combat, throws up at the sight of viscera. Will die first.

Adjusted for background

Strength: 11
Agility: 14
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 11
Luck: 18

[Stack of Turtles]

Gonna have to see what I get before I decide who he is, then. Also, I'm going to bed soon, so I'll think things over and update tomorrow.

edit: oh no, he's autistic

---

All right, let's see:

STR 11 DEX 9 CON 7 INT 14 WIS 4 CHA 11
Magic user, necromancer. I have an int bonus of 1 so I guess I get another skill, right? I'll take Craft (magic object).
Rolled money separately and got 5 and 9, so 59 copper pieces total.
Is the per-class starting equipment free? Regardless, I'll take a dagger.
Traits: Quick-witted, skinny, naive.
Background: Scion of a fading noble house, previously employed as an assessor of petty magical items, the guy who looks them over to decide their worth - a kind of back-room mercantile role. With that idea in mind, I think the precipitating event for my adventure should be that someone sold an old heirloom that turned out to be a powerful cursed magical item, the unknowing buyers hired me to have a look at it, and it told me that I should steal it and run away, so, since it sounded awfully trustworthy, I did... but now I have this divine curse on me for NO REASON??? I dindu nuffin
Motivated, then, by freedom and survival.

His name will be Alfwine Hengstsson and he ought to be a pale and bookish young lad who likes to scrutinize things with a jeweler's loupe. He knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

---

Edit again: I think I didn't understand the background things. If the "possible perks and traits" are meant to be added to the trait pool to pick from then I'll take Educated over Quick-witted. I'd also like to discuss skills/stat bonuses individually because I'd like to make it hew closer to a magic-user option. Honestly, I only picked scion because I want to lean into the low wis thing...

[Irenaeus]

Here's the Ability Score penalty/bonus:

3 -3
4–5 -2
6–8 -1
9–12 0
13–15 +1
16–17 +2
18 +3

[Oyster Sauce]

Is it two skills per character?

[Irenaeus]

Is it two skills per character?

There's the starting skill for the class, then two freebies. Then more skills from the INT bonus (+1, +2 or +3).

[asf]

name da great green prophet
class Magic-User
skills soothsaying and mystic aura
traits corrupt dim sighted

backstory is dunno raised in ruins probably

will roll all the stuff

[asf]

with these stats i will be a hobo

is that begging bowl really free

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Name: Gunthard
Class: Fighter
Traits: Cheerful, Fiery, Heedless

Backstory: was a local lumberjack. Developed strong arms and a way with swinging the axe. Trying to stop a wrongdoing, he exchanged opinions with his village elders, but they shunned him and held fast thinking they would profit. Shortly after, the scattered bodyparts of the elders were found, and Gunthard had vanished. He is a wanted fugitive.

Motivation: Wrath. Evil must be destroyed.

Probably going to go Method D so I can mix and match traits. It seems I don't roll for stats? Not sure how those will be assigned. For the traits (I assume I get to pick two max), I am thinking of Beast Friendship and Fighting Style (Two Handed).

For clarification, what is the difference between beast friendship and animal husbandry? Is animal husbandry just for running a farm in town and breeding animals and selling horses and oxes?

What is the difference between Fighting Style, Manual of Arms, and Martial Training?


=============================

EDIT 3/18/2025 12:05 PM PST

• Strength: 7 + 8 = 15
• Agility: 7 + 3 = 10
• Constitution: 7 + 6 = 13
• Intelligence: 7 = 7
• Wisdom: 7 = 7
• Charisma: 7 = 7
• Luck: 4 + 10 = 14

Total points left: 0 (27 points spent)

Skills:

• Fighting Experience
• Beast Friendship
• Fighting Style (Two Handed)
• Climbing
• Survival
• Mountaineering

Get the starting equipment of the Fighter and roll 1d6 sp and 1d6 cp, then buy goods from the "general store" for more.

Starting equipment: Rusty Axe and leather armor

Rolling for money:

1d6 for SP, result 5
1d6 for CP, result 4
So I have 5 silver and 4 copper (I presume 10 coppers = 1 silver)
or just 54 money

• 2x Sacks (costs 3 copper each = 6 total)
• Flint & Steel (costs 10 copper)
• Razor for 8 copper
• 2 coils of 50 feet of rope (costs 4 copper each = 8 total)
• Begging bowl to eat and drink out of = costs 0 copper
• Dog (German Shepherd) for 15
• 4x rations (costs 1 copper each = 4 total)
• 3x bandages (costs 1 copper each = 3 total spent)

54 copper spent total

[rusty_shackleford]

Don't want to step on @Irenaeus's toes, but for those rolling, you're supposed to roll first then pick your class.

[Irenaeus]

Probably going to go Method D so I can mix and match traits. It seems I don't roll for stats? Not sure how those will be assigned. For the traits (I assume I get to pick two max), I am thinking of Beast Friendship and Fighting Style (Two Handed).

For Method D you roll the background tables then we discuss appropriate stats, either here in private conversations for a quick back and forth.

For clarification, what is the difference between beast friendship and animal husbandry? Is animal husbandry just for running a farm in town and breeding animals and selling horses and oxes?

Indeed, animal husbandry is what you described, dealing with animals as livestock in farms and caring for them. Beast friendship is the skill to befriend animals and maybe supernatural beings in the wild, possibly even taming wild animals if you're really good at it.

What is the difference between Fighting Style, Manual of Arms, and Martial Training?

I'll be using proficiencies from ACKS (as linked by @Humbaba here: ACKS) as the game's skills, with some adaptation as I'll be running the game by the seat of your pants, that is, by what feels right and by my (admittedly limited) experience.

In any case, the description for Fighting Style is here:

► Show Spoiler

and Manual of Arms here:

► Show Spoiler

Martial Training in the original but in my game will mean specific military training which will give bonuses when relevant in combat. Like almost all skills, the description and the use in the game will be somewhat adapted for the circumstances. That means skills will enable some optional actions and dialogues and grant bonuses in some cases along the game. It's virtually always good to have a skill. Hope that helped!

[Val the Moofia Boss]

For Method D you roll the background tables then we discuss appropriate stats, either here in private conversations for a quick back and forth.

In the OP for Method D it says

Method D
(You already have a character in your head)
Pick everything and get points to choose your attributes, instead lose 6 luck points to start with Luck 4. We will also discuss it.

So if I am rolling for background tables, then what is the "everything" else that I pick? The traits and the skills?

[Irenaeus]

For Method D you roll the background tables then we discuss appropriate stats, either here in private conversations for a quick back and forth.

In the OP for Method D it says

Method D
(You already have a character in your head)
Pick everything and get points to choose your attributes, instead lose 6 luck points to start with Luck 4. We will also discuss it.

So if I am rolling for background tables, then what is the "everything" else that I pick? The traits and the skills?

In Method D you're not even rolling the background tables, you just pick what you want. Then we discuss the appropriate stats, then you pick the class, the skills, traits and equipment.

[logincrash]

That's an interesting hairstyle, oy vey.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

For Method D you roll the background tables then we discuss appropriate stats, either here in private conversations for a quick back and forth.

In the OP for Method D it says

Method D
(You already have a character in your head)
Pick everything and get points to choose your attributes, instead lose 6 luck points to start with Luck 4. We will also discuss it.

So if I am rolling for background tables, then what is the "everything" else that I pick? The traits and the skills?

In Method D you're not even rolling the background tables, you just pick what you want. Then we discuss the appropriate stats, then you pick the class, the skills, traits and equipment.

So it sounds like I have to pick from this table then:

7-Enhance your character with backstory and motivations (please?).
Suggestions here:
► Show Spoiler

Family Upbringing: Respected Clan Elders
Occupation before adventuring: peasant farmer
Major misfortune that led to adventuring: killed someone important
Motivations: Wrath

Does this work? It says "suggestions here", so is the list in the spoiler box hard set in stone?

[Irenaeus]

So it sounds like I have to pick from this table then:

7-Enhance your character with backstory and motivations (please?).
Suggestions here:
► Show Spoiler

Family Upbringing: Respected Clan Elders
Occupation before adventuring: peasant farmer
Major misfortune that led to adventuring: killed someone important
Motivations: Wrath

Does this work? It says "suggestions here", so is the list in the spoiler box hard set in stone?

Yes, pick and choose but it's not hard set in stone. You can come up with ideas for your character or to add to the list if you want. By the way, motivations are supposed to be 2 one being the main one and a secondary one. But you can be focused on a single motivation if you want, it's your character.

Like I said earlier, details of characters developed by Methods C and D (or even details for characters created with Methods A and B) could be discussed in PMs so as not to clutter the thread too much.

[Jordy]

Rolling in preperation for my character creation later today.

Name: Alfred
*No surname seeing as it's post-roman/early germanic setting

Strength - 12 (0)
Agility - 6 (-1)
Constitution - 6 (-1)
Intelligence - 13 (+1)
Wisdom - 11 (0)
Charisma - 17 (+2)
Luck - 18

Template:
Bard - Swashbuckler (Swashbuckling/Acrobatics)

Skills:
Perform
Swashbuckling
Acrobatics
Loremastery (Added because Bard gets this by default in ACKS)

Money:Rolled 4 and 6
4sp
6cp
=46cp

Equipment:
Dagger
Sling -1cp
5 Rations -5cp
Flint and steel -10cp
Cards -2cp
Wood bundle -1cp
Rope -4cp
Sturdy sack - 12cp
Rocks

Total remaining money = 1sp 6cp (16cp)

Traits:
Cunning
Quick Witted
Cowardly

Background: Rolled 8
Lost Tribes Blood

Family Status, Upbringing and Relations: Rolled 7
Raised by a warband

Occupation before adventuring:Rolled 9
Trader or merchant

Misfortune:Rolled 11
Dark secret discovered

Motivation:Rolled 8 and 12
Honor
Survival

Final Stats:
Strength - 14 (+1)
Agility - 8 (-1)
Constitution - 8 (-1)
Intelligence - 15 (+1)
Wisdom - 11 (0)
Charisma - 16 (+2)
Luck - 18 (+3)

[logincrash]

rollan

Fucking hell, those are some shit stats.

[TKVNC]

Name: Tillomar the Accused

Attributes:
Strength: 6
Agility: 14
Constitution: 11
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 9
Charisma: 12
Luck: 18

Class:
- Ranger

Template:
- Scout
- Wanderer

Skills:
- Ambushing
- Tough
- Understands Seasons and the Land
- Survival

Starting Equipment:
- Rusty Bronze Axe
- Medium Bow and Arrow
- Leather Armour
- Dog

Current Money:
- 53 Copper

Traits:
- Knows Ambush Tactics
- Skeptical
- Cold

Born to peasants from the border clans, Tillomar's childhood was one of constant travel. His parents would wander the land, and offer their labour at farms - often simply for their daily bread. He too would eventually join in this, growing into a man he found himself labouring for coin, a stranger in many different villages.

Though he scarcely remembers it now, he found himself fleeing in the night, chased by men hunting for a killer. He knew he was not guilty, but it didn't matter -- he knew if he was ever caught there would be no hearing, just a flash of metal and an endless sleep. Lost to his own history, Tillomar became the Accused. A man with nothing, living for each day.

Perhaps it was better this way. After all, he often dreamed of leaving his simple life, of finding a world of mystery, and exploration...

[Rand]

I have no idea how to roll dice using this site and my searches indicate some sort of "dice button" which I don't have.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯


...ffs

Why does the dice button only show up AFTER I make the post?

Fighter (Veteran)

Name: Ryre of Blackweald

Rolls: Method B (Marked for Heroism... LoL, no. Trash rolls.)

STR 15 (+1)
CON 13 (+1)
DEX 12 (worthless, but maybe some later dex enhancing magic or something?)
The rest whatever because they're all 9-11 and are therefore of no consequence.
INT 11
WIS 10
CHA 9

Luck +3 (13 apparently)

• Base fighter skill: Fighting Experience
• Veteran skill 1: Combat Reflexes
• Veteran skill 2: Manual of Arms (???)

Trait: Sharp-Eyed

Base melee fighter equipment:
sword & leather
2 silver, 7 copper

Backstory:
An unremarkable soldier from recent army campaign where the army ran out of supplies and funds and disbanded in a foreign realm.
Just an out of work swordsman looking for money to go home and hopefully live comfortably.
Tried various guard gigs (caravan, bodyguard, etc...) but it was boring and the pay sucked.
Money's running low and it's time to take a risk.

[TKVNC]

I have no idea how to roll dice using this site and my searches indicate some sort of "dice button" which I don't have.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯


...ffs

Why does the dice button only show up AFTER I make the post?

You need to post basic information, then roll after and fill it in. Might be worth just using an external roller though, because there's a limt of rolls, and it's a little fiddly.

[rusty_shackleford]

Didn't think anyone would need more than 15 rolls, I'll bump it up when I'm at my desk.
Still need to add named rolls.

[TKVNC]

Didn't think anyone would need more than 15 rolls, I'll bump it up when I'm at my desk.
Still need to add named rolls.

There's a lot of rolls to be had on this, at the moment. It'll perhaps be less once it gets going. Maybe I should just do my character externally.

[Jordy]

Osgar Saustian

...rolling for stats...

Strength: 9
Agility: 12
Constitution: 6
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 9
Charisma: 12
Luck: 18

Fighter (fighting experience) - Town Guard (alertness/signaling)

...rolling for money...

607c

Spear -11c
Studded leather -400c
Cards -2c
Rations x10 -10c
Bottle of booze x3 -6c
Gloves -10c

168c

Sharp-eyed / fearful / late sleeper

Born of the border clans
A village child
Guard

A young lad too dumb to do anything but hold a spear at a gate. Knocked up the wrong person's daughter and fled in the night with his kit. Sure hope they don't find me. Motivated by never taking responsibility for anything. Has never seen real combat, throws up at the sight of viscera. Will die first.

Adjusted for background

Strength: 11
Agility: 14
Constitution: 8
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 10
Charisma: 11
Luck: 18

Didn't you roll 67c rather that 607c?
6 = 6sp
7 = 7cp

1sp = 10cp
6 * 10 = 60 + 7 = 67cp?

Just want to make sure I'm doing mine right.

[logincrash]

How many starting spells do we get?