Character creation 3885983 225990906 2008-07-16T10:22:56Z Percy Snoodle 163840 /* Making decisions */ deparenthesise {{dablink|This page refers to the creation of characters in [[role-playing game]]s and [[video game]]s. For the process of describing a character for fiction, see [[characterization]].}} [[Image:Fbos char creation.jpeg|thumb|400px|right|''[[Fallout Tactics]]'' character creation screen — In the [[SPECIAL System]], the player distributes points to attributes, skills and optional traits.]] '''Character creation''' (also '''character generation''', '''chargen''', or '''character design''') is the process of defining a [[fictional character]] for a [[role-playing game]] (RPG) or [[role-playing video game]]. It is typically the first step taken by the players (as opposed to the [[gamemaster]]) in preparation for a game. The result of character creation is a ''[[characterization|direct characterization]]'' that is recorded on a [[character sheet]]. In its most comprehensive form it includes not only a game-specific representation of the character's physical, mental, psychological and social properties in terms of [[statistic (role-playing games)|statistic]]s, but also often less formal descriptions of the character’s [[Human physical appearance|physical appearance]], [[Personality psychology#What is personality?|personality]], personal [[back-story]] (“background”) and [[possession]]s. During play, only a character’s appearance is usually described explicitly while other traits are ''[[characterization|characterized indirectly]]'', with the exact statistics known to the character’s player and the game master, but not necessarily to other players. '''Character advancement''' refers to the improvement of a character’s statistics later in the game. The player will modify existing stats and add new ones, usually by spending [[experience point]]s or when gaining a new [[Experience point#Experience levels|experience level]]. Character advancement typically uses similar rules as character creation. To avoid [[Verisimilitude|unrealistic]] [[Coherence (linguistics)|sudden changes]] in character concept, though, character advancement is usually more restricted than the initial character creation. For example, [[Statistic (role-playing games)#Attributes|attribute]]s are almost always harder (if not impossible) to change during character advancement. The term '''character development''' is, in some contexts, used interchangeably with ''character advancement'' (in a sense similar to ''[[professional development]]'' or ''[[developmental psychology|Human Development]]''), whereas elsewhere ''character development'' refers instead to the player’s [[characterization|indirect characterization]] of the character through [[role-playing]] (in a sense similar to ''[[Photographic processing|film developing]]''). ==Overview== The process of creating a character varies greatly from game to game. Most have a single character creation process, but some offer a few variants, like a [[detail]]ed method for [[player character]]s and a simpler version that can be used for [[non-player character]]s. Obviously, the character creation process depends greatly on the game’s representation of a character. <!-- Statistics: categories and interdependencies--> Most games divide their [[statistic (role-playing games)|statistic]]s (stats) into several categories. These categories are generally [[Statistic (role-playing games)#Interdependencies between statistics|not independent]] of one another, but rather some statistics pose limitations on the possible choice or value of other statistics, while others may grant bonuses to some stats. These interdependencies often pose some restrictions on the order in which the statistics can be determined. <!--example:--> In the ''[[Palladium Fantasy Role-playing Game]]'' (first edition), for example, the character’s ''[[race (fantasy)|race]]'' determines the range of (numerical) values for his eight ''[[Statistic (role-playing games)#Attributes|attribute]]s'' while these in turn pose limitations on what ''Occupational [[Character Class]]'' can be chosen. In addition, race and class grant certain ''[[Statistic (role-playing games)#Advantages and disadvantages|advantage]]s'' and ''[[Statistic (role-playing games)#Powers|power]]s'' (although not necessarily under those names), and the class determines the possible choice of ''[[Statistic (role-playing games)#Skills|skill]]s''. From high attribute levels also derive some ''bonuses'' to various other statistics (like skills and ''[[hit point]]s'', for example). == Making decisions == <!---- A character’s initial [[attribute (role-playing games)|attribute]] scores are usually either '''generated randomly''' or determined by '''distributing character points''', and some systems use a '''combination''' of both possibilities. Some game systems allow attribute scores to be increased later in the game in a way similar to [[skill (role-playing games)|skill]]s (but much less frequently), usually by some sort of point distribution system. Characters can also gain a number of skills. What types of skills the characters can learn and how easily they can be learned usually depends on if the character creation system is “class based” or “skill based”. ----> The process of creating a character for a given game involves a number of decisions: What advantages and disadvantages will the character have? What particular statistic will a certain value be assigned to? What values are there to assign anyway? For most of them, there will be a rule outlining by whom and how it can be made. Most of these rules can be classified into one of the three groups described below. They differ in several aspects, the most prominent being [[ease of use]] as well as [[game balance]] and diversity of the generated results. So, most decisions in character creation are made according to the following principles: ;Prescription: The decision is predetermined by the rules (often by a [[formula]] or a [[table (information)|table]] that [[map (mathematics)|map]]s one or more already-established statistics to a specific choice for another), or it is made by the [[game master]] prior to character creation. Examples would be the skill bonuses a character gets from his attributes in many games (which are usually determined by a table or a simple formula) or the amount of [[character point]]s a player gets to use for character creation (in ''[[GURPS]]'', for example, this is set by the game master). This method facilitates fast and easy decisions that are likely to be balanced according to the judgement of the game’s author and the game master, but doesn’t allow for [[variation]] if not combined with other options. In an extreme case, characters are completely predesigned by the author of a scenario, but even then, players usually may choose their character from the selection provided. This technique is often used to save time for short games run on [[gaming convention]]s. ;Random Choice: [[Randomness|Random]] choices are usually made by rolling [[dice]] and either using the result directly or looking it up in a [[table (information)|table]], depending on the decision that is to be made. For example, in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]] 3rd edition'' the player rolls [[dice notation|4d6]] and adds the highest three numbers to generate an ability score (attribute value) from 3 to 18. In the first editions of the ''[[Stormbringer (role-playing game)|Stormbringer]]'' roleplaying game, the character’s race and class both are determined by rolling [[dice notation|1d100]] and looking up the result in the appropriate table. Usually, a random generation system allows the full (or at least a rather large) range of values to be generated for each stat, leading to a great diversity among newly generated characters. Thus, it is possible for a character to start the game with all-maximum scores (or nearly so). On the other hand, players have very little control over the scores, and rolling low scores can be very frustrating for some players. This method is generally less concerned with [[game balance]] than with [[ease of use]]. ;Player’s Choice: Another option is to let the player make decisions, normally within clearly defined restrictions. These restrictions often involve allowing players to distribute a number of ''[[character point]]s'' among various statistics. In such a '''point distribution''' system, higher scores often cost more points per level than lower ones, and costs may vary between statistics even within a category. Usually, there is an upper and lower limit for each score. Additional constraints may apply, depending on the game system. <!-- How these points are spent will usually determine if the character will refer to himself as a warrior, a thief, or a scholar. If a player wants to be a fighter/mage/thief/cleric he can &mdash; as long as he spends his skill points in the right way. --> Examples for systems that almost exclusively use point distribution to determine statistics <!-- in roughly chronological order --> are the ''[[Hero System]]'' (including its predecessor ''[[Champions (role-playing game)|Champions]]''), ''[[GURPS]]'', the ''[[World of Darkness]]'' series, and the ''[[Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game#The Attribute Auction|Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game]]'' with its unusual auction system. ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]] 3rd edition'' also has an optional ''[[Game mechanics (Dungeons & Dragons)#Ability scores|point buy]]'' method for determining [[attribute (role-playing games)|ability scores]]. Point distribution gives the players much control over the character creation process and tends to make characters highly customizable. If the system is designed well, characters are usually more [[game balance|balance]]d than randomly created ones. On the other hand, this method is almost always more complicated and time consuming than random generation. == Determining numerical values == Determining numerical values comprises several steps that are not always distinct: #(a) Obtain a set of values and (b) select the statistics to assign them to #Assign the values to the statistics #Possibly adjust statistics scores by “shifting around” (stat) levels. '''Example:''' In ''[[Castle Falkenstein (role-playing game)|Castle Falkenstein]]'', ''[[Statistic (role-playing games)#Traits|abilities]]'' are the only type of statistic. Each player gets the same pre-defined set of ''scores'' (1a) and can freely choose (1b) which abilities he wants them to assign to (2). In addition, higher scores can be bought by balancing them with a number of low scores (3). === Obtaining and assigning values === Games that don’t use point distribution to determine all statistics values typically use different methods for different types of statistic: In general, there are comparatively few ''[[Statistic (role-playing games)#Attributes|attributes]]'', and each one explicitly is assigned a value. Conversely, there are generally a rather large number of ''[[Statistic (role-playing games)#Skills|skills]]'', and each character learns only some of them while the others are left at their respective [[default (computer science)|default]] values. Here are some examples: * To determine attribute values in Basic ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', ''[[Marvel Super Heroes]]'', or ''[[Stormbringer (role-playing game)|Stormbringer]]'' 3<small>rd</small> edition, for example, the player rolls once (1a) for each attribute (1b) and must use whatever result occurred on the dice for that statistic (2). If for different attributes a different number of dice is used (as is the case for non-humans in ''[[Palladium (role-playing game)|Palladium]]'', for instance), this is the most feasible option. * ''[[Dungeons & Dragons|D&amp;D 3.5]]'', on the other hand, allows the player to first randomly generate a number of values (1a) and then assign (2) each attribute one of them (1b). * For determining skill values, ''[[Stormbringer (role-playing game)|Stormbringer]]'' 3<small>rd</small> edition combines two methods: Some of them (1b) are predetermined (1a, 2) by the character’s randomly chosen profession (and race). The player then selects a randomly determined number of additional skills (1b) and rolls dice (1a) to determine starting values for them (2). === Adjusting scores === Some creation systems use a mix of point-distribution and random generation; most common among these are variant rules that allow, for instance, the alteration of the initially random stats by taking a reduction of one trait in order to increase another. Often, such adjustments are made at a penalty, applying a two-for-one cost, for instance. Another form of adjustment are racial or occupational (“class”) modifiers. In many games, certain statistics are slightly increased or decreased depending on the character’s race and sometimes profession. In ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', for example, non-human races typically increase one ability score by two (on a scale of 3 to 18) while another is lowered by the same amount. In ''[[Stormbringer (role-playing game)|Stormbringer]]'' 3<small>rd</small> edition, nearly all ''nationalities'' (subraces) cause adjustments of some or all attribute scores by an amount that is usually randomly determined and has a range of up to two third of an attribute’s initial value.<!-- modifier of 1 — 2d6 to initial value of 3d6 --> In point-distribution systems, these modifiers generally contribute to a race’s “point cost”, while in other systems, it is up to the race’s designer to [[game balance|balance]] different races against each other (if this is desired). == Templates and classes == To speed up and ease the character creation process, many games use '''character templates''' of some sort: Sample characters representing [[genre]]-typical [[archetype]]s that are either completely ready-made or at least define the essential stats necessary for a character to be able to work in a given occupation or fill some dramatic role. For instance, a thief will probably know how to move quietly, pick locks, disarm traps, and climb walls. The use of character templates enables inexperienced players to easily create suitable characters as they won’t be overwhelmed with having to select skills and abilities, and it still speeds up character creation for even the most experienced players. In some games, these templates are only an optional character creation aid that has no prescribed effect on the rest of the game: They can be flexibly modified according to the game’s character creation rules or can be ignored altogether. This is generally the case in games that try to give the player as much control over the character creation process as possible. (Examples are ''[[Shadowrun]]'' or ''[[GURPS]]''.) Other games use such a mechanism as a mandatory tool to provide direction and limitations to the character creation process as well as character development. This is the '''[[character class]]''' concept introduced by ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' that is now used in all ''[[d20 System]]'' games and has been adopted by many others, such as [[Palladium Books]]’ ''[[Megaversal system]]''. <!--=== Pros and cons of classes vs. templates ===--> With a character class, most skills and abilities are predetermined, or must be chosen from a comparably narrow subset of all available traits, leaving the player to select only a few extra skills. Some people find this too limiting, while others like the fact that each character necessarily has to be specialized to fill a specific role in the group of player characters.<!-- Example: --> In a class-based system, a fighter is often not allowed any magical abilities, while mages are typically poor fighters. When players are not required do adhere to a specific template, on the other hand,<!-- and all players have roughly the same idea about what characteristics are desirable in the game,--> their characters might turn out very similar even if they started from different templates &mdash; a fighter with good spell casting abilities is not much different from a spell caster with good fighting abilities. Thus, the freedom of a class-less system requires extra caution on the side of the players to create a diverse group of characters. <!--=== Hybrids ===--> There are games that aim to get the best of both worlds by using some kind of hybrid. One approach is to let the templates (called ''careers'' in ''[[Traveller (role-playing game)#Traveller or Classic Traveller|Classic Traveller]]'' as well as in ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay#System|Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]]'') still restrict the choices available for character creation or development, but apply them only for a limited timespan: <!--==== Careers à la Traveller ====--> During character creation in ''[[Traveller (role-playing game)#Traveller or Classic Traveller|Classic Traveller]]'', each character pursues one of six possible ''careers'' (professions) that decides which tables can be used to roll on, thus giving direction to the otherwise largely random process. When the character is ready to be played, he has ended this career, so it doesn’t have a direct influence on character development during play. <!--==== Careers à la Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay ====--> ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay#System|Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]]'' has a much more elaborate career system. Characters advance by entering a series of “Careers” that provide access to a set of new or improved skills, and bonuses to attributes (called “advances”). The menu of careers available to characters reflects the setting of the game world. Basic careers are those that might be filled by any individual with a modest amount of training or instruction. Advanced careers require greater preparation and training, and are often more appropriate for the lifestyle of an active adventurer. The career system gives both an idea of what a character might have been doing before embarking on a career as an adventurer (working as a baker, night watchman, rat catcher, or farmer), and how they changed and developed through their career (becoming a mercenary, explorer, ship’s captain, etc.). <!--==== Class skills ====--> As another approach, some games (such as ''[[Cyberpunk 2020#Game Mechanics|Cyberpunk 2020]]'') use a hybrid skill-class system, in which each of the primary roles (classes) in the game has one skill that is absolutely unique to it and defines that role, but apart from that, characters are created and advance using a skill point system rather than a class-and-level system. == Other Uses == Aside from role-playing games, the terms “character creation” and “character design” are occasionally associated with the creation process of building characters for media and commercial purposes, such as [[animation]], [[film]], [[Product design|product]]s and [[internet]]. == See also == * [[Characterization]] * [[Character advancement|Character development]] * [[Character point]] * [[Experience point]] == References == <!-- alphabetical by title --> * Michael Alyn Pondsmith. ''[[Castle Falkenstein (role-playing game)|Castle Falkenstein]]'' (R. Talsorian Games, 1994). ISBN 0-937279-44-7 * ''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]'' * ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]] 3rd edition'' / [[d20 System]] * Steve Jackson, Scott Haring, Sean Punch. ''[[GURPS]] Lite'' (Steve Jackson Games, 2004). Available online from http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/lite/.<!--no ISBN--> * Steve Jackson, Sean Punch, David Pulver. ''[[GURPS]] Basic Set: Characters'' (Steve Jackson Games, 2004). ISBN 1-55634-729-4 * ''[[Marvel Super Heroes]]'' * Bob Charette, Paul Hume, Tom Dowd. ''[[Shadowrun]]'' (FASA CORPORATION, 1989). * Kevin Siembieda. ''[[Palladium Fantasy Role-playing Game|The Palladium Role-playing Game]]'' (Palladium Books, 1983). ISBN 0-916211-04-5 (The second edition is called ''Palladium Fantasy Role-playing Game''.) See [[Megaversal system]]. * ''[[Traveller (role-playing game)|Traveller]], Book 1, Characters and Combat'' (Games Designers’ Workshop 1977, second edition 1981).<!--no ISBN ?--> And ''Book 2, Starships'' (Games Designers’ Workshop 1977, second edition 1981; the chapter titled “Experience”). == External links == * [http://www.rpg.net/columns/list-column.phtml?colname=building Building Better Characters] column on RPGnet [[Category:Role-playing game terms]] [[no:Rollefigur]] [[pt:Character Creation]]