1.2 -- Steps to Building Your Character

1. Character Background

   The first step in creating a character for FUDGE Deryni is to write up a detailed background for the character you want to play. This is required before you start building the character, especially if you wish to bend or break any of the normal rules for character creation. Not all of the details need to be determined, but the following items are important:
   • Whether the character is human or Deryni, and if Deryni, how strong the blood is (i.e., are the parents Deryni? The basic breakdown is Full, Half, or Trace).
   • A basic idea of the family of the character. Is she noblity? What rank? How many other members of family are there?
   • Where the character's strengths and interests will lie.
   • What weaknesses the character may have.
   Once you have the background approved by your GM, you may move onto the next steps.

2. Deryni Blood

   If your character is not Deryni at all, then skip this section.

   If your character has some Deryni blood, then you need to figure out which category the bloodline falls into. See Notes on Deryni Characters for detailed information on how to figure out the Power Attribute, starting Deryni skills, and other important rules.

   How strong the Deryni Blood is determines your Power Attribute, and may require the purchase of a Gift for Full Deryni, if that is what your character concept requires. Keep in mind any effects the choices of the Deryni traits may have for the rest of the steps.

   Determine your Power Attribute based on the rules in the Notes on Deryni Characters. You may adjust Power afterwards in Step Q, but Power has special rules that affect how it is changed.

   Finish any adjustments to Power, and note any Gifts that you must buy. Also note the starting Deryni skills and their levels.

3. Character Points and Skills

   Starting Character Points:

   Your character starts with 5 Character Points. That number is modified by the following:

   • Character is 17 years or younger: -1
   • Character is 13 years or younger: -2 (including the -1 for being under 17)
   • 30 or older: +1
   • Each decade older: another +1. Character points (CPs) determine how many Skills you may have. They are spent on Skill groups, and each point gives you a certain number of Skills as per the chart below:

     CPs     Skills Gained
     =====================
      1      3 Fair, 1 Mediocre
      2      2 Good, 4 Fair
      3      4 Good, 4 Fair, 1 Mediocre
      4      1 Great, 4 Good, 4 Fair, 4 Mediocre
     

     You may also choose to Focus your CPs. This gives you higher starting Skills, but in trade you get fewer skills for your CPs. No more than 1 Focused point may be spent without GM approval.

     Focused    Skills
     CPs        Gained
     =================
      1         1 Good, 1 Mediocre
      2         1 Great, 1 Good, 1 Fair
     

     You may also choose to put one CP as a General Skill Point. This gives you 3 Fair Skills that may be picked from any group. This may be done only once.

     One last option for CPs, for those who want more Skills and don't mind lower levels, is to spend multiples of 1 CP on a Skill Group. In other words, putting 2 CPs in would yield 6 Fair and 2 Mediocre, rather than 2 Good, 4 Fair in this method. When doing this, please get GM approval first.

     Skill Defaults

     Putting CPs into Skill Groups gives you a default level of Skill in the other Skills in that group. This default will be listed next to the name of the Skill Group. This reflects the fact that in the course of learning the Skills you chose you have picked up enough of the other, related Skills.

     You do not get Skill Defaults for groups bought with Focused CPs, nor on Groups that hold Skills you gained from a General Group point, or that also contain Skills you recieved in another group.

   • Gifts and Faults

     You start with One free Gift level. You may use this for anything that fits your character concept. If your character is a Full Deryni, you should use the free Gift to purchase that aspect of your character.

     You may buy other Gifts (or add to the free Gift level in order to buy a more expensive Gift) by buying an equal number of Faults.

     See Gifts and Faults for more detailed information and the cost chart. Feel free to make up your own Gifts and Faults, or to take them from other games, but make sure you get GM approval for any not already listed in the FUDGE Deryni rules.

   • Attributes

     See Section 1.3.1 for more detailed information on Attributes.

     All Attributes start at Fair. You may raise an Attribute by lowering another the same number of steps. Frex, raise Strength to Good but lower Perception to Mediocre.

     Start by figuring out your character's Rank, based on the character background. Rank starts at Fair just like any other Attribute, so you raise or lower it based on what you've determined for your character already, adjusting other Attributes as necessary.

     You may set your Attributes any way you like, but keep in mind that they show inherent ability and aptitude, besides having game effects. Maximum level for any Attribute is Superb, and minimum is Terrible. You do not have to raise Attributes to compensate for lowering another, although all raises must be paid for.

   • Final Touches and GM Approval

     Go back over your character sheet to make sure there aren't any changes that need to be made, and to make sure that all the points balance. Also, make any changes to your character background that came from the objective part of character creation.

     Give a final copy of both background and character sheet to the GM for final approval. Be explicit where rules have been bent or changed, even if you have already discussed it with the GM. The GM may ask for some changes, or allow the character as is. During the first couple of sessions, nothing is set in stone, so if you notice a problem in how you designed your concept, have a talk with the GM to resolve any issues or to make any changes.