CHARACTER CREATION

Let's talk about creating those characters. Creating such characters is often the intimidating aspect which leads even experienced roleplay gamers into turning down a chance to play in a rule system which is unfamiliar to them. It doesn't have to be that way. Some gamers actually prefer character creation as a way of learning the game. In the Alien Fiction RPG, you may certainly create a character by counting your points and strategically assigning them to stats, but the Backstory Method is easier and perhaps more fun.

The Backstory Method: Pick out one selection from each category. Choose one Childhood, one Education, one Passion, and one Profession. Each selection adds points to an attribute, a skill, or both. Your character begins with one point in each attribute and zero points in each skill. We'll speak again when you are done.

CHILDHOODS [+1 to an attribute, +1 to a skill]

Omni-Alien: You stand alone as a species of one. You may have developed in the cosmic billions of years ago, or you may have been forged in the flash of am imploding galaxy last week. Ultimately, you exist alone. Although your appearance may be anything you wish it to be (and subject to change), all forms are surprisingly sturdy. Through many eons of self-inflicted evolution, you have achieved a cosmic level of existence which transcends perhaps all other life forms (maybe). Cosmic +1, Collection +1

Avatar: You exist as the physical embodiment of something greater than yourself. Maybe a nebula forged to your represent itself before the masses. Maybe a parsec-spanning hive mind hatched you to wage war against its human infestation. You always will a face for something greater than yourself. Your physical body might be as weak as that of a mortal (or not), but the source of your power is immortal. Cosmic +1, Negotiation or Nature +1

God-Thing: Your family stands tall in the universe. Although you reign above mortals as a man stands over a sea monkey, your cosmic powers are at best the equal of the self-evolving omni-aliens. Cosmic +1, Supernatural +1

Drone: You may be a manufactured and faceless worker who exists only to serve in the fleet of your alien master, but it's still rude when somebody says that you. Drones tend to be monochromatic, thin limbed, and dark eyed bipeds, but these days, there are variations. Mind +1, Technology +1

Human (Normal): You are any dude or a chick. You will never be as powerful as an alien, but hey, you be you. Although there may be billions of trillions of humans throughout the universe, only you can be you. Persona +1, Trivia +1

Human (Academic Prodigy): Persona +1, choice of skill (technology, supernatural, or trivia) +1

Human (Child Laborer): Body +1, Fitness +1

Human (Mercantile Heir): Persona +1, Negotiation +1

Human (Military Brat): Body +1, Combat +1

Human (Monastic): Body +1, choice of skill (supernatural or fitness) +1

Human (Wild or Rural): Body +1, Nature +1

Human (Royal): Persona +1, Negotiation +1

Human (Street Urchin): Body +1, Skullduggery +1

Mutation: Recommended for mortal species like humans and drones, this means that random physical developments have set you apart from most or your kind. You might be shunned or admired for your abilities, but you are never fully trusted by your own kind. Cosmic +1, Skullduggery +1, you may never have a Negotiation skill higher than 3.

EDUCATIONS [+1 to an attribute, +2 to skills]

Trial and Error: Suggested as a best fit for immortal characters like avatars and omni-aliens, this means simply that you learned everything you know the hard way, through experimentation (mostly on lesser life forms). Mental +1, either Nature and Technology +1

Academic: You spent years toiling away performing busywork in an organized school system. You learned many useful skills but mostly useless knowledge. Mind +1, Trivia +2

Criminal: You received early training from criminals, likely as part of a gang or other organized group, or working with a single trainer. You may have been trained to be a thug, con-artist, burglar, or belong to some other nefarious profession. Body +1, Skullduggery +2

Laborer-Apprenticeship: You were raised as a child-laborer and worked diligently through their apprenticeship. You could have worked in construction, in a factory, in a craft shop, or in agriculture. Body +1, Fitness +1, either Negotiation or Technology +1

Military Schooling: You learned with a group of soldiers as part of an organized army. This also includes a background of working one on one with a warrior like being a squire to a knight. Body +1, Combat +1, Fitness +1

Mystic: Your education was provided by an organization or individual that has strong connections with the supernatural. That could be been a coven of witches, a strange alien benefactor, or a cult of zealots. Mind +1, Supernatural +1, Fitness +1

What Education?: A socialite, drop out, or obsessive roleplay gamer. You might contribute to society one day, but for right now, you don't have time for that. Mind +1, Trivia +1, Nature or Skullduggery +1

PASSIONS [+1 to an attribute and +1 to a skill]

Collector: Your primary desire is the continuous growth and enhancement of your collection. For Cosmic characters, this collection usually includes human captives. +1 Mind, +1 Collection

Dilettante: You are a socialite concerned with parties and reputation to an almost the exclusion of everything else. +1 Persona, +1 Negotiation

Sage: You are a bookworm or maybe a scrollworm or a dataworm. (Is that a thing?) You live to learn. Research into the mystical subjects is covered by the Occult Passion. Mind +1, either Technology or Trivia +1

Occult: You research for obscure knowledge of magic and supernatural concepts. You passion takes you into dusty old bookstores and even long sealed tombs. Mind +1, Supernatural +1

Service: Be it service to country or service to an organization, a person with this passion will devote their energies to activities to fulfill a purpose higher than themselves. Persona +1, Negotiation +1

Sports: You enjoy participating in one or several athletic events. Body +1, Fitness +1

Survivalist: You enjoy the Great Outdoors but also various forms of recreational combat. Connected with this hobby, you also like to stockpile supplies and make survival strategies because you just never know what will happen. Body +1, Nature +1

Warrior at Heart: You live to fight. Persona +1, Combat +1

CAREERS [+2 to attributes, +2 to skills, usually]

Space Warlord: You rule a vast region of outer space – or you are trying to rule a vast region of outer space. +2 Cosmic, +1 Collection, +1 Combat or +1 Technology

Academic: You make your day to day living by being the most educated person in the room. +2 Mind, +1 Technology or Nature, +1 Trivia

Con Artist: Your career is fooling people. Confidence games are as much a lifestyle as a career. +1 Mind, +1 Persona, +1 Negotiation, +1 Skullduggery

Diplomat: You talk for a living. You don't get a lot of exercise that way, but you meet all sorts of interesting beings, and you have resolved many conflicts and negotiated many deals which give you a feeling of pride. +1 Mind, +1 Persona, +2 Negotiation

Entertainer: Your calling is making other beings feel less bored. +2 Persona, +1 Fitness, +1 Technology or Trivia

Investigator: You solve crimes and mysteries. +1 Mind, +1 Persona, +1 Skullduggery, and instead of one more skill point, the Investigator gains a special +1 point bonus to ANY dice roll which involves noticing something, searching for something, or deciphering a clue.

Laborer: Your perform manual labor, doing things the hard way because that's the best way. +2 Body, Fitness +1, either Combat or Trivia +1

Muscle (criminal): Your job is being the biggest and meanest guy in the room. +2 Body, Fitness +1, Skullduggery +1

Mystic Warrior: Combining arcane philosophies with physical combat is a tricky balance, but you are well suited for this balance. +1 Body, +1 Mind, +1 Combat, +1 Supernatural

Soldier-Warrior: You fight for a military or just wander the stars picking fights. Embrace your inner murder-hobo. +2 Body, +1 Combat, +1 Nature

Trader: A trader strikes deals as a career and lives off of the profits. Among cosmic beings, traders often deal in rare types of humans. +1 Mind, +1 Persona, +1 Collection, +1 Negotiation

Tactician: You believe that the most strategic combatant will always overcome the strongest combatant. +2 Mind, +1 Combat, +1 Negotiation

Thief: The universe doesn't belong to you, but everything in it does. +1 Body, +1 Mind, +2 Skullduggery

Free Points: Now that you have your background established, you get to tweak your character. Two characters with identical backstories are still different people, and one will be slightly better at some tasks than the other. Place 1 additional point in any attribute you like and 4 fresh free points in any skill you like. Don't boost any single stat, be it attribute or skill, above a 5 though.

Rule of 5: The limit for any particular stat is 5. Some rare combinations and choices might lead to a stat which adds up to greater than 5. In such cases, the extra points become more points in the Trivia Skill. If the Trivia Skill goes above 5, pick a skill specialization (more on that later).

POINT BUY METHOD

Instead of building a backstory and then placing free points, you may simply assign all of your points where you like. You begin with a base of one point in each attribute: Mind, Persona, Collection, and Cosmic. Mortal characters might never get a chance to use their Collection or Cosmic attributes, but they still possess at least one point in each as a measure of how much trauma they can resist from cosmic threats. All skills start with a base of zero. Add 7 points to attributes (with a max of 5 in each) and 8 points to skills (with a max of 5 in each).

In the next act, we will make a new character as an example of how these rules might be applied.