Character Generation
 
I made you in my image |
Contents
Before you build your first character
Take a look at our list of the currently Banned Concepts.
Will my character immediately crash and burn?
Please check Questionable Character Concepts. If your concept would be basically unplayable, better to figure that out sooner than later. Please do not play a WoD version of a real life person that isn't you. Impersonating a real person, living or dead, can cause legal troubles.
What should I play, something common or less common?
Whatever you feel will best keep your interest. But if you're genuinely neutral on that front, or just want an idea of what to expect, then check Splat Populations.
Which version of World of Darkness is this?
We use Old/Classic World of Darkness:
- Vampire: the Masquerade
- Werewolf: the Apocalypse
- Mage: the Ascension
- Changeling: the Dreaming
- Wraith: the Oblivion (plus Orpheus)
- Demon: the Fallen
- Mummy: the Resurrection - Closed
- Hunter: the Reckoning - Closed
If you're more familiar with New World of Darkness aka Chronicles of Darkness, see the NWoD Translation Guide.
We use Revised (3rd) edition, with 2nd filling in some gaps.
- As of May 2020, we have switched to 20th Anniversary for Wraith.
- As of March 2022, we have switched to 20th Anniversary for Changeling.
- Due to the large player base, we do not plan to add other 20th Anniversary game mechanics (except maybe as a house rule to resolve an ambiguity).
- Concepts from 20th may be requested, but are subject to staff approval.
Can I have a stat that isn't in the database?
Maybe. Fill out the rest of your +sheet, then when your approval job is created, add a comment (+myjob/add #=text) about it. We'll either add it to the game and your +sheet, or explain why it's unavailable and work with you from there.
What are these unfamiliar stats?
- Race, Subrace, Faction: See the table further down on this page.
- Nature and Demeanor are personality archetypes. Nature is what you're like on the inside, Demeanor is what you're like on the outside. For shifters, see Players Guide to Garou pages 172-177.
- Faith is a Demon thing. If you're not a demon or a thrall of a demon, just ignore it.
- Banality is a Changeling thing. The lower it is, the easier it is for changelings to use their magic on you (for good or ill). If you don't care about it, just ignore it (staff will fix it if needed).
- Risk Level pertains to our OOC Risk system. This is not full consent, but it's pretty close.
NPCs
If you are taking a stat that names/uses an NPC, they should /not/ be a character from one of the books. That could be even a Vampire's Sire, a Garou's near lineage (within 2 generations), Mentor, Allie, Retainer, Kinfolk, etc. It is at staff discretion, with RP logs to back up, if a PC can end up with a canon NPC in one of those roles. We have found that players inadvertently may change canon especially when coming in from chargen with these, and it will not be allowed without significant RP.
Welcome
If you're reading this page, you're either in the Chargen Lite room, or soon to be headed there (CL off of the Nexus).
The Make The Player Do All The Work (MTPDATW) Chargen process can be intimidating for someone used to automated processes on other sites, but since this is how Chargen works tabletop, it's not too bad once you get used to it.
Make sure to read the instructions in the MTPDATW room, and do the +qstart before anything else. Then, crack open the core book for your sphere, plus any additional relevant books (such as the Player's Guide to the Garou for Garou wanting Merits), because you will want to follow the Chargen process from the core book, step by step. Everything goes by the book if not addressed in +rules as a house rule.
The command you will get familiar with quickly is +selfstat to set your stats. +selfstat Strength=2 is an example of how to use it. If you set a stat by mistake, clear it with +clearstat, for example +clearstat Shy if you set that Flaw but changed your mind.
If you lose track of your points spent so far, +sheettally and +abilitypoints are essential.
+clearsheet is good as a last resort if you messed up badly enough that it's time to start over.
Use the new channel if you have any questions, and file a +request if there's something missing. +request My favorite merit is missing=Please add the HYPERMEGAPOWER merit from MYFAVORITEBOOK Page XX.
When you're all done following all the steps from your core book, as well as the instructions in the MTPDATW room, your +approveme request will be handled promptly, checking your math and making sure the house rules and limits are followed. Approvals have been known to be completed in minutes, depending on whether approval staff is on duty.
Accepted Races and Sub Races
Here is some general Sphere Information. Some specifics are also available:
The following are valid values:
| Race | Subrace | Faction |
|---|---|---|
| Mortal | n/a | n/a |
| Vampire | n/a (normal vampires) | Camarilla, Independent, Anarch |
| Kuei-jin | n/a | |
| Dhampyr (Eastern) | n/a | |
| Shifter | Ajaba, Ananasi, Bastet, Corax, Garou, Gurahl, Kitsune, Mokole, Nuwisha, Ratkin, Rokea; not Nagah |
Gaian, Wyrm, None (Weaver-oriented Ananasi) |
| Mage | n/a | Traditions, Technocracy, Nephandi (or Wyrm), None (some Hollow Ones and Orphans); not Marauders |
| Changeling | n/a (normal changelings) | Seelie, Unseelie |
| Nunnehi | Winter, Summer, Midseason | |
| Inanimae | Gladeling, Krofted | |
| Demon | n/a | Cryptic, Faustian, Luciferan, Ravener, Reconciler |
| Wraith | n/a (non-Risen) | Renegades, Heretics, Hierarchy, Guilds (not Ferrymen, see prerequisites from Ends of Empire 98) |
| Risen | n/a | |
| Bygone | n/a | n/a |
| Mortal+ | Ghoul (includes Western dhampirs) | same as Vampire |
| Kinfolk | same as Shifter | |
| Sorcerer-Psychic | n/a | |
| Kinain | same as Changeling | |
| Possessed | same as Shifter |
Reference Lists
- Archetypes (Nature and Demeanor)
- Attributes
- Abilities
- Backgrounds
- Merits
- Flaws
- Powers
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Cheat Sheets
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Returning Players/Characters
If you played here in the past, and your character was retired, idled out/purged, you can come back and ask staff to reapprove that character. For characters who have been idle purged, in order for them to be restored, you MUST have a screen shot copy of both your +sheet and your +xp. Any questions about this policy, speak with staff.
* Note: There is no guarantee that a character can return. Rules may have changed for that sphere.
* If your character was approved before 2016, then you need to make a new PC. We have no way to verify PCs from before then.
Optional: Creating a Background
Here are some questions you can answer to help you create a more well-rounded character:
Click here for Background Questions
Optional: Creating a Wiki page
Creating a wiki page for your character is optional. You are not required to create one at all, and the level of "OOC Masquerade" you maintain is entirely up to you. Keep everything secret? Spill it all? Something in between? Nobody but you is allowed to choose what is revealed about your character.
Here are some Wiki templates to help you get started, and WoD Icons for use on your page. The existing Character Pages can also be inspiring, showing what options and possibilities there are, as well as the key Categories you can put on your page.
Before you begin, please do look at Wiki Content Guidelines.
Optional: Posting Roleplay Logs
Posting logs of your rp is totally optional. All those referenced in a scene that you plan on posting should give their approval unless it is a 'Public' scene (such as a scene in a +hangout) or somewhere on the street grid and even then you should announce that you are logging to post the scene. In this manner you are alerting anyone involved of your intention to post and they have the option of removing themselves from the scene if they so choose.
If you are interested in posting logs, here's a helpful 'How To' guide to explain the process.
