GameRef: Character Creation

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This guide has been created to lead you through creating a character for Chronicles of Darkness: Pittsburgh. This guide applies to all characters, however, there are venue specific character creation rules cited throughout. Half-template (Absent, Ghouls, Dhampir, and Wolf-Blooded) character creation rules are addressed under their parent venues.

Book Policy

See Book Policy for approved resources.

Guidelines for All Characters

  • Chronicle
    • Select: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Age
  • Free Bonuses
    • Certain traits (abilities, merits, etc.) grant additional bonuses elsewhere such as a bonus specialty or +1 to an attribute. If your character is granted a bonus, make note of it in your POWER NOTES section of the character sheet as well as adding it to your sheet.

Z-Splats

Z-Splats (Lodges, Bloodlines) can be taken at creation if prerequisites are met (see Z-Splats for rules). This must be justified in the character’s background.

Character Demographics and Background

Name

Enter the character’s name.

  • For ease of use, it is a best practice to use standard alphanumeric characters.
Nicknames
If a character is generally referred to by a nickname instead of their first name, enter the nickname for the first name.
Alternate Identity
If a character has an Alternate Identity they go by publicly that is different from their actual name, use that. (i.e., James Cooper goes by Johnathan Tucker as he’s in witness protection)
Werewolves Only
Name
The name part should be the same as any other character.
  • If you intend for people to solely refer to you by your deed name, use that as the character’s name
  • If you intend for people to use your normal name, please use that as your character’s name.
    • Wikis can hold the rest to cut back on long names!
      • If you want to have your deed name in your login then it should be entered in hyphens between the first and last name: Jane -Folk Hero- Doe, but it is not required to have your deed name as part of your login name. It can just be listed on your wiki.
Age
If it varies, enter the character’s true age, not apparent age.

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Affiliations

This area contains unique fields for each Character Type. Use the Drop Downs to select. Below are listed some specific explanations.

Ghoul Only

Fill in the applicable Clan of your character’s Regnant.

Dhampir Only

Fill in the applicable Clan of your character’s Parent.

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Biography and Notes

Compose a biography that identifies in written form or bullet point the history of your character that addresses the following:

  • Significant events or overall experience in childhood or adolescence
  • Significant events or overall experience in adulthood (relationships, professions, traumas, successes, etc.)
  • Significant events or experiences which lead towards the character obtaining specialized merits (professional training, contacts, allies, etc.), abilities or statistics. Items which require this will be noted in this guide.
  • If applicable, when the character moved to Miami including any significant events or motivations around the move.
    If you compose a biography which is more than 5–7 paragraphs, you must also include a bullet pointed summary of all key points.
Supernatural Only
  • Events surrounding becoming a supernatural character (embrace, first change, death, etc.)
  • Significant events or overall experience after becoming a supernatural character (joining covenant, tribe, coterie, etc.)
Mortal/+ Only
  • If applicable, events surrounding becoming aware of the supernatural including which factions or spheres they are currently aware of
  • Significant events or overall experience after becoming aware of the supernatural
  • If applicable, events surrounding joining any groups or becoming associated with particular Factions.

Banned Backgrounds/Concepts

Please be aware that the following backgrounds or concepts are not allowed:

  • Anachronistic or over-the-top concepts. (Ninja, serial killer, Queen of England)
  • Recreations of signature characters of any book, film or other popular fiction.
  • Direct recreation of any actual person, living or dead.
  • Characters already played by you or another person during WW6 or currently on another site. See Site Policies And Practices.
  • Antagonist concepts (Pure, VII, etc.). This includes characters that are innately antagonistic to other PC splats (werewolves that hunt all vampires, for instance).
  • Backgrounds which include rape or child abuse. See Site Policies And Practices.

Notes

This field is primarily to note any bonus items gained from the purchase of other traits (Such as Professional Training, MCI and other things that grant extra powers). Power notes is used for starting spends and bonuses and anything that is unchanging, Player Notes are used for editable things such as bonuses from MCIs and group merits such as a joint Safe Place.

Geist Only

Include a description of your Liminal Aura and the method of death which will permanently kill the Bound in the Power Notes section.

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Stats

Attributes

Unlike the RAW Character Creation, we do not limit Attribute point allocation at Character Creation to 5/4/3. All Attributes begin at 1 for free. Total dots to spend are 12

Attribute 4+
This must be explained in Biography or Notes.
Attribute 1
This must be explained in Biography or Notes.
Geist Only
Geist

Remember that Geists need to have their Name, Attributes, Virtue/Vice, Triggers, Rank, Ban, Bane, and Key listed, among any other special traits. This goes in the “Geist” box at the bottom of the sheet.

Remembrance Trait
Must be something available at character creation normally.

Skills

Unlike the RAW Character Creation, we do not limit Skill point allocation at Character Creation to 11/7/4. Total dots to spend are 22

Skill 4+
This must be explained in Biography or Notes.
Occult Specialties
This must be explained in Biography or Notes. Specialties in other Character Types represent significant “insider” knowledge and requires a detailed and fitting explanation.

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Traits

NOTE

Certain traits (abilities, merits, etc.) grant additional bonuses elsewhere such as a bonus specialty or +1 to an attribute. If your character is granted a bonus, put those free things on your sheet as well as marking them down in your Power Notes section. List the traits name and include what you have added from what the trait grants. Example: Professional Training.

Abilities

All
Cost Breaks
Merits and powers providing Experience cost breaks do not apply to character creation unless they explicitly say so (which includes applying retroactively).
Geist Only
Synergy
  • 3 must be explained in Biography or Notes.
  • 4+ is not allowed at Character Creation.
Affinity Abilities
  • Check the “Affinity” box for all Affinity (Burden) Haunts and the Memento box for any Keys that come from Mementos.
Absent Only
Memories
Do not fill in Memory Skills, list them in your Power Notes.
Attributes
These work by the book for Absent.
Skills
Remember that Absent do not get the normal Skill allotment.
Numina and Manifestations
Only Numina from the core and Geist are available. Absent may not take any Numina or Manifestations that have to do with the Shadow.
Anchors
(Solid) PCs can be Anchors for Absent. NPCs need to be discussed with the Storymasters.
Vampire Only
Blood Potency
  • 3 must be explained in Biography or Notes.
  • 4+ is not allowed at Character Creation.
Non-Affinity Abilities
  • Out of Clan Disciplines have their own section on the sheet
Werewolf Only
Primal Urge
  • 3 must be explained in Biography or Notes.
  • 4+ is not allowed at Character Creation.
Non-Affinity Abilities
  • Check the “NA” box for all Non-Affinity Gifts.
Wolf-Blooded Only
Tells
Tells are capped at 4 total at creation, with those after the first purchased as a merit normally.
  • The following Tells are only available at Character Creation as they are Tells present from birth:
    • Moon Marked
    • Second Skin
    • Shadow Twin

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Merits

All Merit purchases at Character Creation must meet the Prerequisites in the RAW. Unlike the RAW Character Creation, we do not limit merits to 7 for Mortals and 10 for supernatural. Everyone gets 10 points for Merits. The following general Merit guidelines are applicable to all merits except where listed under the specific Merit type.

Merit 4+
This must be explained in Biography or Notes.
Scaled Merit 4+
without a listed pre-requisite: Limited to 2 at Character Creation.
Mortal Only
The following Merit Templates are available
  • Atariya (HL)
  • Plain (HL)
  • Lost Boys (HL)
  • Psychic Vampires (HL)
  • Psychics (SS: TE)
  • Shadow Occultists (SbtM)
  • Skin Thieves (DE)
  • Thaumaturges (SS: TE)
    • The first dot (or lowest, if it starts over 1) in the defining merit of the minor template is free.
Supernatural Merits
Ghouls, Wolf-Blooded and Absent are not eligible for Supernatural Merits listed in Chronicles of Darkness.

Dhampir are eligible.

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Mental Merits

Professional Training
Can only be taken once.
  • Use the Notes section under Character Bio to identify the merit or skill benefits obtained by this merit as well as adding them to your sheet.
  • Select two applicable Asset Skills if your Profession is not listed in the RAW, and there is not a close approximation.
    • Professional Training is a MUNDANE merit. You may not take it for blatantly supernatural “jobs” like “monster hunter” or a covenant/tribal position. Occult Investigator and similar that would be reflected in the real world are fine.

Social Merits

Allies, Contacts, Mentor
This must be explained in Biography or Notes.
  • In the Merit Notes include the Sphere which the Allies, Contact or Mentor represents. As in: Contacts: (City Hall/Government) Mayor’s Office
Mystery Cult Initiation
See the Cult System for forming a Mystery Cult as part of a player-level group. You may only be in one.
  • Use the Notes section under Character Bio to identify the merit or skill benefits obtained by this merit as well as adding them to your sheet.
Resources 3+
This must be explained in Biography or Notes.
Status
This merit can only be purchased up to 2 at creation.
  • Vampires get a free dot in their Clan or Covenant.
  • The following Spheres are available for purchasing status:
    • Arts and Society
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Law and Order
    • Media
    • Medical
  • Shadow - Status in this Sphere cannot be purchased at Character Creation.
  • Underworld - Status in this Sphere cannot be purchased at Character Creation.

Physical Merits

Fighting Style at 3+
Limited to 1 instance at Character Creation. You may have other Styles at 1–2 dots.

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Influences

Anchors

For Virtue and Vice, Root and Bloom, Mask and Dirge, or Blood and Bone fill in the name for each.

Touchstone
For supernatural characters that have them, this should be listed in the appropriate spot on the bottom of the sheet or in Power Notes, and described in the background.

Aspirations

See Site Policies And Practices for Aspirations help.

Short Term Aspiration
Choose two short-term aspirations.
Long term Aspiration
Choose one long-term aspiration.
Geist Only
Burden Aspiration
This is what has brought your character back from the dead and is their ultimate goal for their second chance at life. It can be as simple or complex as you like, ranging from finding the person who murdered you to ensuring that a loved one is taken care of in the long-term. The simpler the aspiration, however, the easier it will be for your character to fulfill their purpose and move on. As this chronicle is expected to last two to three years, keep that in mind when choosing this Aspiration.

Integrity and equivalents

Mortal Only
Questionnaire
These questions need to be answered in addition to the Biography and Notes. This identifies your breaking points
Geist Only
Crisis Points
List any unique one with your Geist notes.
Note
You never have to make breaking point/detachment/etc rolls for things that happened before sanctioning (for example, a vampire that has Cruac).

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Equipment

Add any equipment plus applicable modifiers to your character sheet.

Availability 1–3
Some leeway is given for a few items at this cost even without Resources.
Availability 4+
Requires Resources or another appropriate merit at 3+ unless a very good reason can be given in your Biography.
Carried
In Equipment Note, identify which items are typically Carried.

Starting XP

See the Experience Guide for current starting XP levels. Spend it using the guidelines provided up to this point (e.g. no Supernatural Tolerance over 3, etc).

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Other Links

See Sanctioning for assistance in what we look for.

See House Rules for custom rules which might affect a character.

Wiki Templates

Here are some templates for players to work off of:

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Terms of UseCode of ConductSite Policies and PracticesHouse RulesCustom Items and PowersNew Player Help
Group MechanicsWiki Guide and Chat HelpRequest SystemExperience GuideSanctioning GuideCharacter Creation