Character Generation/Mortal

Summary

If you're completely new to the system, see below for a more detailed explanation.

Choose Concept, Nature, Demeanor

Stat	Baseline	Freebies per additional dot
Attributes	1 in each + 6/4/3	5
Abilities	11/7/4	2
Backgrounds	5	1
Virtues	1 in each + 7	2
Willpower	equal to Courage	1 (Max 8)
Path Rating (Humanity)	equal to Conscience + Self-Control	1
Freebies	21

Detail

City of Hope uses Old/Classic World of Darkness, Revised edition. We recommend you buy or borrow a copy of any of the main rulebooks for context, ideally Vampire: the Masquerade (since it explains virtues and Humanity).

Concept

• This is just a brief conceptual description of your character, e.g. "Party Girl", "Sleazy Defense Lawyer"

Nature and Demeanor

• Nature is how you are on the inside, Demeanor is how you are on the outside
• You can regain Willpower more quickly by fulfilling your Nature
• For more detail, see Archetypes

Attributes

• Scale is 1 to 5 (1 = sub-normal, 2 = normal, 5 = one of the best in the world)
• Baseline is 1 dot in each, plus 6 in one category, 4 in a second, and 3 in the third
• Physical: Strength, Dexterity, Stamina
• Social: Manipulation, Charisma, Appearance
• Mental: Perception, Intelligence, Wits
• For more detail, see Attributes

Abilities

• Scale is 0 to 5 (roughly: 1 = high school, 2 = bachelors, 3 = masters, 4 = doctorate, 5 = one of the best in the world)
• Baseline is 11 in one category, 7 in a second, and 4 in the third
  • Baseline dots can only raise an ability as high as 3, you need to spend freebies (see below) to raise it higher
• Categories are Talents, Skills, and Knowledges
• You can take two dots of secondary abilities in lieu of one dot of primary abilities
• For more detail, see Abilities

Backgrounds

• Scale is 0 to 5
• Baseline is 5 total
• Put at least 1 dot in Resources (income) unless you intend to be broke
• For more detail, see Backgrounds

Virtues

• Scale is 1 to 5
• Baseline is 1 in each, plus 7 more
• Conscience is for resisting the temptation to do immoral things
• Self-control is for avoiding emotional outbursts
• Courage is for avoiding panicking in dangerous situations

Willpower

• Scale is 1 to 10 (3-4 is typical)
• Baseline is equal to Courage (before any freebies are spent)

Humanity

• Scale is 1 to 10 (6-7 is typical)
• Baseline is equal to Conscience + Self-control (before any freebies are spent)
• Set "Path" = Humanity and "Path Rating" = the number

Freebies

• You get 21 freebies to distribute as you see fit
• Reducing stats below baseline does not give extra freebies. That's what "baseline" means, it limits how much you can min/max.
• Raise attribute: 5 freebies per dot
• Raise primary ability: 2 freebies per dot
• Raise secondary ability: 1 freebie per dot
• Raise background: 1 freebie per dot
• Raise virtue: 2 freebies per dot (this does not raise Willpower or Humanity)
• Raise Willpower: 1 freebie per dot (house rule: limited to 8 during character generation, can be raised as high as 10 with XP later)
• Raise Humanity: 1 freebie per dot

Merits and Flaws

• Merits are optional and cost 1 freebie per dot
• Flaws are optional and give 1 freebie per dot
• Total freebies from flaws are limited to 7, or the sum of your two largest flaws, whichever is greater
• You can take more flaws if you want, but too many flaws may be difficult to roleplay properly
• For more details, see Merits, Flaws