Re: Character creation Sartar Kingdom of Heroes

From: Ashley Munday <aescleal_at_...>
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 18:37:10 +0000 (GMT)

Try using a different character creation method if the list is causing trouble. FREX a character in my ongoing game used the narrative method:

>From an early age “Fearless Yan” has been inseparable from Swiftclaw the Alynx who she climbs and jumps like. She hates the lunars as she was orphaned when they invaded. She loves her aunt Cwrina from whom she learned many secrets of the hearth. She treasures her father's eversharp hunting knife and her mother's healing torque. Despite her losses she's still extrovert and happy and held in affection by the rest of the clan. She enjoys fishing and swimming and knows the Tula like the back of her hand and the names of plants and animals found in it.

She got the abilities:

• inseparable from Swiftclaw the Alynx (Swiftclaw was also a sidekick)
• climbs and jumps like an Alynx (broken out from her Alynx rune affinity)
• hates the lunars (bonus to an ability broken out from her "Member of the Antorling clan" Keyword)
• orphaned
• loves her aunt Cwrina
• secrets of the hearth
• father's eversharp hunting knife (broken out of her Hunter keyword)
• mother's healing torque
• extrovert and happy
• held in affection by the rest of the clan (broken out from "Member of the Antorling clan")
• fishing (broken out of her Hunter keyword)
• swimming (broken out of her Hunter keyword)
• knows the Tula like the back of her hand (broken out of her Hunter keyword)
• names of plants and animals (broken out of her Hunter keyword)

That's 14 abilities and the player wasn't trying that hard to really squeeze stuff out of her 100 words. And the player wasn't that familiar with Glorantha either.

If the idea of writing a wall of text is a bit much for you (as it was for one of my players) then the "as you go" method can be good. Not much thought up front and the player knows they've got at least one use of every ability.

If you're still intent on using the list method try assigning one ability in each of the following broad areas (from the character's point of view):

• how others see you/what you project
• a relationship with someone you like
• a relationship with someone you hate
• an object you've inherited
• an object you've found
• something you do really well
• something you like being
• something you really despises about yourself
• a magical thing you can do

So Jon Ergolfson, Starry Eyed Herder could be have:

• Happy go lucky
• Hrolf's favourite nephew
• Petronius stole my home
• Grandad's counting stones
• My apple-wood staff
• Runs like the wind
• Approachable and open
• Bitingly sarcastic when frightened
• Hear herd animals on the wind

Anyway, hope that helps you get a handle on what sort of things can be abilities and gives you a few hooks on how to cook up your own.

Cheers,

Ash

• On Sun, 6/11/11, michaelL <michaelalewis25_at_...> wrote:

> From: michaelL <michaelalewis25_at_...>
> Subject: Character creation Sartar Kingdom of Heroes
> To: HeroQuest-rules_at_yahoogroups.com
> Date: Sunday, 6 November, 2011, 17:24
>
> Question about keywords and abilities.
>
> The Sartar book says that you get keywords regarding clan,
> occupation, and personality.  Then you get 9 other
> abilities. 
> I'm having trouble creating 9 other abilities.  Maybe
> it's just me who's used to having a list of skills and
> abilities right there in the rule book. 
>
> I could really use some suggestions. 
>
> Frustrated,
>
> Michael
>
>
>
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