Revelation: Character Creation

[Idris]

For this game we will be utilising the Fate Core handbook with some variations to fit the style of campaign.
Fate Core

The game will start off in the ‘real’ world, but characters will be plunged into the unknown. Don't panic - under the Fate system skills, stunts, and even aspects can easily be updated as the game progresses.

Character creation

1) Create three Aspects

High Concept: this should be double-edged, covering more than one simple characteristic

Trouble: this should preferably not rely on contacts/organisations etc in the 'real' world

One other aspect reflecting career, training, education or specialisation eg. medic/engineer/archaeologist/sailor/musician

We won’t be using the three phases method to create characters, but adding further aspects as the game progresses.


2) Pick Skills from the list below

1 at Great/+4
2 at Good/+3
3 at Fair/+2
4 at Average/+1

All other available skills (ie not reliant on training) at Mediocre/+0

Academics (learning - specific area eg science, languages, mythology etc)
Animal Handling (ride, control, care)
Athletics (move zone, jump, run, climb, swim)
Balance (dexterity, acrobatics)
Burglary (bypass locks & traps, pickpocket, case target)
Crafts (use tools to build, break or fix items & machinery, tinker)
Deceive (bluff, deceive, disguise, sleight of hand & misdirection)
Empathy (read a person, spot weaknesses, see through lies)
Fight (close combat ability - can be unarmed or specify weapon)
Intelligence (native wits, puzzle solving)
Investigate (looking for clues, research, surveillance)
Notice (physical perception)
Performance (entertainment, music, oratory, dance)
Physique (physical fortitude, raw strength and endurance)
Provoke (cause emotional response, intimidate)
Rapport (make positive connections, charm, elicit trust)
Remedy (basic practical skills, First Aid, cooking etc)
Shoot (ranged combat ability - specify weapon)
Stealth (hiding, sneaking)
Will (mental fortitude, concentration, focus)
Woodcraft (outdoor survival, track, find cover)


3) Stunts

Pick or invent up to three stunts


4) Fate Points

Set refresh at 3


5) Stress and consequences

Physical stress: add extra boxes based on Physique

Mental stress add extra boxes based on Will

[Idris]

Milestone 1 (Part 1 Session 13)

- gain a new aspect

- one additional skill point (remember the pyramid & cap is still +4)

- switch the rank values of any two skills or replace one average skill

- change a single stunt for another stunt

[Idris]

Gifts of the Gods (Session 22)

Gift of The Queen of Heaven

- Take Control (stunt): +2 to Empathy checks to find weaknesses which can be exploited

Gift of Epona

- Bareback Rider (stunt): You suffer no penalty to Handle Animal checks to ride a horse without saddle, reins, or other tack

Gift of The Teacher

- Gift of Tongues (stunt): +2 to Academics checks to understand language

Gift of the Warrior

- Knock ‘em Down (stunt): +2 to Fight checks to knock down an opponent

[Idris]

Milestone 2 (Part 1 Session 24)

- gain one more aspect

- gain one additional skill point (remember to keep to column rules / cap is still +4)

Plus one of the following:

- switch the rank values of any two skills - these must be within one step of each other

- replace one average skill with a skill that isn't on your sheet

- change a single stunt for another stunt

- purchase a new stunt if you have the refresh to do so

[Idris]

Milestone 3 (Part 1 Session 39)

Following the Seer's reading, each PC gains a free stunt:

- Iron in the Soul:   Once per scenario you can add +2 to a Will check to oppose a negative influence.

Plus:

- one additional skill point to buy a new skill at Average (+1) or to increase an existing skill by one rank (remember to keep to column rules, cap remains at +4)

Plus one of the following

-  switch the rank values of any two skills or replace one average (+1) skill with one not on your sheet

-  change any single stunt for another stunt

-  purchase a new stunt if you have the refresh to do so

-  rename one character aspect other than your high concept

-  can rename any moderate consequences to start the on the road to recovery

[Idris]

Milestone 4 (Part 1 Session 62)

Maddie

The test has revealed your Elemental Bond with Fire. You have proved that you have the potential to tap into and manipulate the Elemental Flow.

The Elemental Bond (Fire) replaces one of your Aspects (other than High Concept or Trouble)

To use Elemental Power requires the skill Manipulate Flow. As the skill improves is gives access to more powerful uses of the Element.

Manipulate Flow (Fire):
+1 Illuminate
+2 Light Fire
+3 Walk through Fire, Melt Metal, Cauterise
+4 Throw Fireball, Bring Down Fire
+5 Wall of Flames
+6 Firestorm

To control Elemental Power requires a successful Will check equal to the level of Flow being tapped.

In addition you can:
- rename your character’s High Concept
- take an additional point of refresh to buy a new stunt (mundane or Magical) or use it to gain more fate points per session (refresh is now 4)
- advance a skill by +1 beyond the campaign’s current skill cap if you are able to
- rename an extreme consequence if you have one, to move past its most debilitating effects
- use an additional skill point to buy a new skill at Average (+1) or increase an existing skill by one rank (keeping within skill columns, max skill rank +5)
and one of the following:
- switch the rank values of any two skills
- change any single stunt for another stunt


Hannah

The test has revealed your Elemental Bond with Water. You have proved that you have the potential to tap into and manipulate the Elemental Flow.

The Elemental Bond (Water) replaces one of your Aspects (other than High Concept or Trouble)

To use Elemental Power requires the skill Manipulate Flow. As the skill improves is gives access to more powerful uses of the Element.

Manipulate Flow (Water):
+1 Move Object
+2 Change Course
+3 Swim Like a Dolphin, Healing Waters, Protective Fog
+4 Water Wall, Water into Ice, Drown
+5 Redirect River
+6 Flood

To control Elemental Power requires a successful Will check equal to the level of Flow being tapped.

In addition you can:
- rename your character’s High Concept
- take an additional point of refresh to buy a new stunt (mundane or Magical) or use it to gain more fate points per session (refresh is now 4)
- advance a skill by +1 beyond the campaign’s current skill cap if you are able to
- rename an extreme consequence if you have one, to move past its most debilitating effects
- use an additional skill point to buy a new skill at Average (+1) or increase an existing skill by one rank (keeping within skill columns, max skill rank +5)
and one of the following:
- switch the rank values of any two skills
- change any single stunt for another stunt


Emily

The test has revealed your Elemental Bond with The Wild. You have proved that you have the potential to tap into and manipulate the Elemental Flow.

The Elemental Bond (The Wild) replaces one of your Aspects (other than High Concept or Trouble)

To use Elemental Magic requires the skill Manipulate Flow. As the skill improves is gives access to more powerful uses of the Element.

Manipulate Flow (The Wild):
+1 Call Animal
+2 Scent Path, Find Food
+3 Run Like the Hare
+4 Tooth & Claw, Eaten by White Ants
+5 One of the Pack
+6 The Wild Hunt

To control Elemental Power requires a successful Will check equal to the level of Flow being tapped.

In addition you can:
- rename your character’s High Concept
- take an additional point of refresh to buy a new stunt (mundane or Magical) or use it to gain more fate points per session (refresh is now 4)
- advance a skill by +1 beyond the campaign’s current skill cap if you are able to
- rename an extreme consequence if you have one, to move past its most debilitating effects
- use an additional skill point to buy a new skill at Average (+1) or increase an existing skill by one rank (keeping within skill columns, max skill rank +5)
and one of the following:
- switch the rank values of any two skills
- change any single stunt for another stunt


Stephen

The test has revealed your Elemental Bond with Earth. You have proved that you have the potential to tap into and manipulate the Elemental Flow.

The Elemental Bond (Earth) replaces one of your Aspects (other than High Concept or Trouble)

To use Elemental Magic requires the skill Manipulate Flow. As the skill improves is gives access to more powerful uses of the Element.

Manipulate Flow (Earth):
+1 Sense Mineral
+2 Stone Path
+3 Open Way, Close Way
+4 Move Stone, Crush
+5 Rippling Ground, Stabilise
+6 Earthquake

To control Elemental Power requires a successful Will check equal to the level of Flow being tapped.

In addition you can:
- rename your character’s High Concept
- take an additional point of refresh to buy a new stunt (mundane or Magical) or use it to gain more fate points per session (refresh is now 4)
- advance a skill by +1 beyond the campaign’s current skill cap if you are able to
- rename an extreme consequence if you have one, to move past its most debilitating effects
- use an additional skill point to buy a new skill at Average (+1) or increase an existing skill by one rank (keeping within skill columns, max skill rank +5)
and one of the following:
- switch the rank values of any two skills
- change any single stunt for another stunt

[Idris]

Magic in the Summer Lands

The Tuatha are magic in and of themselves, but Magic is available to other beings with the ability to tap into the Magical Flows which underly the world. In the case of Humans, those with this ability can access the Elemental Flow. Elves, Dwarves & other races of the Other World have their own relationship to Magic.

Humans are not natural to the Other World, although there are now numbers living there. Over the history of the Mundane, Tuath have regularly moved between the two worlds, and involved themselves in Human affairs. Some even took Human lovers. Humans descended from one of the Tuath have an inborn ability to touch the Elemental Flow.

Within the Mundane, such gifts rarely make themselves known. But crossing into the Other World, those Humans with the potential will gradually exhibit their Elemental Bond. An untrained Human able to wield Elemental Power will almost certainly become a danger to themselves and others, and so they are Tested - a process which reveals to them their gift and how it can be controlled.

In game terms

The character gains access to Magical Powers relating to a specific ‘Element’. The Elemental Bond replaces one of the character’s Aspects (other than High Concept or Trouble).

Elemental Aspects & uses of Power:

Fire: eg. illuminate with a flame, light a fire, throw a fireball, bring down a firestorm
Water: eg. move a boat, affect flow, swim like a dolphin, sink a ship, cause a flood
Air: eg. bring a breeze, fly, cause a hurricane
Earth: eg. identify minerals, open a door or make a tunnel through rock, move stones, cause an earthquake
The Wild: eg. call animals, scent the way, use teeth & claws, call the Wild Hunt
The Green: eg. enhance plant growth, call trees, create a protective hedge, call rampant vegetation
Weather: eg. cause rain, protective fog, lightning strike, cause a violent storm
Mind: eg. read mind, fog minds, hide in plain sight, cause self-harm, use mass mind control

Skill checks:

A character with an Elemental Aspect can reach out to the Elemental Flow. 

To use the Power that the Flow can provide requires the character to have the skill Manipulate Flow.

The level of Power available is dependent on the skill level.

To control the Power requires an effort of Will.

The character succeeds on a Will check at least equal to the level of Power required. 

A failure will lead to a lack of control - the Flow will provide either too much or too little Power.

Stunts & more:

Magical Stunts can be taken to improve control or to add interesting effects. 

Players, this bit is up to you. Also if you think of any additional uses of your Elemental Power.

NB: Stunts which increase the level of Power you can manipulate can only be used a limited number of times.

[Idris]

Milestone 5 (Part 2 Session 16)

Gain:

- one additional skill point to buy a new skill at Average (+1) or increase an existing skill by one rank (no more skills at a rank than there are in the rank below)

Choose just one of the following:

- switch the rank values of any two skills or replace one average (+1) skill with a skill not on your sheet
- change any single stunt for another stunt
- purchase a new stunt if you have the refresh to do so
- rename one character aspect other than your high concept

Plus:

- can rename any moderate consequences to start the on the road to recovery
- can rename any severe consequences to begin the recovery process


Magic:

- your Manipulate Flow level rises to +2
- you can now access Elemental Power to cast second level magic (requires a Will check at least equal to the level of Power required)
- unlike First level casts, Second or higher level casting requires concentration - if you wish to extend the duration of a casting this will take further Will checks. Failure will result in physical or mental cost. At higher levels they may be limited in how many times they can be cast within a given time.

Second level uses of Power:


Fire:
Spark - light a fire
Hot Blooded - not burned by contact with fire
Cauterise - magical healing

Water:
Wave - move an object or a Being on or beneath water
Like a Fish - can breathe under water
Refreshing Draught - magical healing

Earth:
Tunnel - open a way through rock or earth, can use to open stone doors
Free as Air - can move through small airless spaces without suffocating
Salt - magical healing

Wild:
Scent the Way - can find a path even when in complete darkness, also can use for tracking
Fearless - can relate even to large, fierce animals (not magical ones) & calm them
Nature’s Balm - magical healing