Difference between revisions of "Character Creation"

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To join the Viridian continuity as a character you need to know a few rules and guidelines and what the setting is about. The '''Viridian Discord''' is about roleplaying a '''Anachronistic High-Fantasy setting''' with a light mixture of game mechanics but generally text-RP styled for ease of use and a focus on character interaction. It holds some tradition to tabletop roleplaying games in terms of the standards kept for character creation and world-building. Consider these statements when applying and creating a character for the setting.
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This document will detail step by step on how to create your character and level them up in the Viridian Campaign/Framework.


=FAQ=
The first section will help you build your character from idea to 1st level Adventurer.
=="This is played mainly on Discord and for proper tabletop, Maptool"==
* You need to be invited to the Viridian Discord to play in this setting, your nickname would be your character's name and their size class (Or normal foot'inches" height if non-giant).
* On rare occasions and especially for serious combat scenarios, '''[http://www.rptools.net/ Maptool]''' is used to conduct real-time tabletop gaming. Download and setup required. No, roll20 is not going to happen (you can ask why, if you want a headache)
=="This setting features giant characters and other size-based themes"==
* This world contains a minority of giant people, ranging from 30ft+ (knee high) to over a hundred feet tall (inches high).
** If you find playing in a world inhabited by giants of this size uncomfortable or unrealistic, this setting is not for you!
* You may create a normal character (or small-sized character) or opt to play as a giant or a Plainsman giant.
* 'Normal' characters do not have special biases against them, in fact it's encouraged to balance giant and non-giant characters for variety and for practical reasons.
* Giants (or 'Lesser-Giants') refer to the class of individuals of immense size compared to the populous, minimum size 30ft.
** Giants are either the well-known Giant' races (Stone-Giant, Fire Giant, Storm Giant...etc) or children of non-giants fated to become towering examples of their species. See '''[[Giant Genetics]]'''.
* Plainsman refer to a race of extremely large giants reminiscent of the beanstalkian giants who lived in the clouds and tower even over the lesser giants!
** The variety and lore-based rulings regarding playing a Plainsman can be found at the main article, '''[[Plainsman]]'''.


=="Prioritising kinkplay and sexual activity above roleplay is discouraged when in session"==
The second section is what you need to do each time your character levels up.
* An open admission is that this setting is Macro/Micro friendly, including a selection of related kinks. But the fantasy and adventure setting must be at the forefront when applicable.
* The server and its setting is designed to be about simulating a tabletop RPG setting that is giant-friendly, eschewing it in favour of kinkplay disrupts this primary objective.
* In session: Referring to a point in time where all players are in character and playing out a scenario or story.
* Out of session: Semi-IC roleplay and general chatter. Kinkplay is permitted out of session when players are not required to be 100% in-character. But must do so in the appropriate OOC rooms.


=="Race Choice and character concept must be suitable for the tabletop-RPG adventurer archetype and for a high-fantasy setting"==
==Building a Character to Lv1==
* Build your character as if you were going to join a tabletop RPG like Pathfinder / DnD. You do not need to actually crunch numbers or make a proper sheet.
===Step 1: Select your Adventurer's Race and Archetype===
* Race selection focused on Humanoids (or humanoid in shape). Core races A-OK. This is to prevent choosing monsters or monsterous creatures as a character.
* '''Select a Race''' to serve as your Adventurer's physical form from the [[Playable Races]] page.
* If you choose an anthropormorphic animal race, ensure you choose from an existing fantasy-genre and not 'Race-by-animal-choice'. Characters that exist for the purpose of being an anthro 'animal' are not permitted.
  > Don't forget your Race will usually '''let you pick your first racial trait''', due to their Potential Skill-focus!
** For example, Skyrim's '''Argonian''' and '''Kahjit''' are OK. Zelda's '''Rito''' and '''Zora''' are OK.
* Your race choice will often have information on [[Attributes]] and [[Skill List|Skills]], keep them in mind for Step 2!
** But a mere anthro fox/wolf/bird/lizard character with no cultural context is not okay.
* '''Select an Archetype''' to base your Adventurer's primary abilities and experience.
  > You can pick a '''Racial Archetype''', or one of many of the '''Universal Archetypes''' found on the [[Archetypes]] page.
* Archetypes grant '''Archetype Perks''' for free and usually provide Archetype-themed benefits not seen elsewhere.


=="Balance your character between an RPG build and a Roleplayer"==
===Step 2: Decide if you want to spend any Progression-Points===
* Outside of quests and combat, your characters equipment and skills are only useful if used as props to make roleplaying situations more fun or interesting!
Even at Level 1, your Adventurer should be entitled to about '''10''' [[Progression Point|Progression Points]], check with your Game-master on what your Adventurer has available based on your Race/Archetype choices made earlier.
* Characters who mainly shine outside of social settings may use stories of their quest or career to create roleplaying opportunities.
* If your character is special for one or few things, try thinking of a few non-special things they can also use in roleplaying situations.
** Or in other words, don't let the special thing(s) be the only thing your character can do. A Jack of All trades and master of none is better than a master of one.
* Don't be afraid to still share the special things about your characters, special things lose effectiveness when spammed but a hidden cooldown ensures they can be reused fresh later!


=="Giants, use your size effectively and with great effect. But know your limits!"==
Progression points can be used to buy:<hr>
* Giant characters should understand their size advantage, whether it be in reach, height, strength, weight or power. Even reluctant or careful giants cannot deny these facts.
* Chunks of '''25 Skill points''': to be immediately assigned to any [[Skill List|Skills]] that have not yet reached their Skill-point cap and up to their Skill-point cap.
** 30ft giants are tall enough that the average human is a little less than knee high standing next to them. Progressively taller giants may cause humans to appear more shin-high in comparison.
** In overland travel, giants can walk and run faster than their smaller counterparts, even outpacing faster forms of travel. They can also leap across greater distances and navigate over more difficult terrain.
* Increasing '''singular attribute scores by one''': note that the cost to increase the same attribute will increase each time it is done, but will '''not affect the costs of other attributes'''.
** In combat, giants can endure injuries from weapons and harmful effects that would kill lesser beings, they can still experience pain and sustain serious injuries however. Overall, they are very hard to kill without excess force.
** Giants are capable of sustaining their own weight naturally and can lift weights equal or greater than their own mass, minimizing the weight of seemingly huge, heavy objects humans struggle with.
* '''Purchasing new Universal Perks''': You can even try obtaining Archetype perks from Archetypes you do not own, but you can only have Archetype perks from up to '''3 sets maximum'''!
** Giants weigh in excess of 25,000lbs at their lightest and as much as 125,000lbs! As such, they frequently break structural weight-limits and by itself, a serious crush hazard for those smaller than themselves.
* The world is not anti-giant, however it is not pro-giant either.
** Giants are not homeless, but homes for giants are not always perfect, or even originally built as a home.
** Giants are not poor, but whatever money they get might not afford frequent luxuries.
** Giants are not ill-equipped, but weapons and armour for giants are not always perfect or cheap to obtain.
** Giants are not starved or malnorished, they typically require 30-55x the amount of food a human does, but it's still a lot when on a budget.
* Being a giant means being too big for things, from tools, weapons and armour to fitting inside buildings and dungeons lacking open spaces or wide enough openings.
** For a giant to access these places or use these objects, they would need to shrink down. (Use this solution sparingly)
* Giants are not treated as hostile creatures, in fact in some cultures it can be seen as a divine blessing. But their size doesn't make them immune to consequence like Egyptian Cats.
** Settlements with little to no giant interaction will have similar levels of accommodating facilities, which is to say, they don't cater to giant people and not obliged to accommodate them.
** Giants are treated under the law as normal people, but giants who commit crimes can fall under harsher penalties including bounties that allow Giant-killing, due to the potential danger they pose to others.
* Giants are people, in fact many of them are huge versions of existing non-giant races and don't show their giantishness until around about childhood when they become taller than their parents!
** Giants become large-sized creatures around their pre-teens and ascend to full giant size by their early-20s. The slow progression allows people to get used to having giants around and see them as people.
** Giants compare and contrast with others of their kind. They know they are <Species Name> and yet their size makes them that much different from them and everyone else. They are different, yet similar to their originator.


=="Use free tabletop RPG sources for inspiration for characters"==
Some Pro tips from the game's developer:<hr>
* The Pathfinder SRD is the primary source of information you can use to find races and classes to help make concepts, as the setting was built from there: '''[http://www.d20pfsrd.com/ PFSRD]'''
"If you want to get more Perks or get more Skill-Focuses, it's best to boost your [[Attributes|Intelligence]] attribute score."
 
"Skills will usually have at least one Perk that scales by Skill-Rating, but many will only increment per Skill-Rank. If it's the latter, perhaps you can skip boosting the SR of that skill for one level until you have enough to get to the next rank? I'm sure your other skills will appreciate you giving them some love."
 
"Viridian-Fantasy's version of the ''''Perception/Spot skill'''' is the [[Attributes|Perception]] attribute and [[Skill List|Investigation]] skill. Don't worry, Perception is worth 10 SR per point, so the skill isn't absolutely necessary unless you want to detect secret stuff easier."
 
"Multi-classing in this game comes in the form of '''purchasing the Archetype Perks''' from other ATs, the requirements are still ...required... but available if you are able. The only rule so far is you can't have AT Perks from more than 3 sets, just like the Archetype limit. No more than 2 Racials or Universals."
 
"Yes, [[Acrobatics]] and [[Athletics]] are skills too, both are helpful in physical challenges. But just like detecting things, your Adventurer's '''Agility''' and '''Strength''' attribute scores contribute to these checks as well (respectively). But the skill will likely have features that a basic check might not allow, or bonuses that make performing these checks easier."
 
"Does your party have at least one giant in it? Everybody knows the average adventurer is a 'human fighter', but '''Size is extremely effective''' in Viridian, if your group doesn't have at least one big guy or gal looking after your group, you may find your group struggling against an encounter with one or more giant combatants!"
 
===Final Step: You're done!===
If you have spent all the Progression-points you want, or cannot afford to get anything else, your character is done. Ask your Game-Master to check your work and if approved, you're ready to go!
 
==Levelling up (Progression-Point Version)==
The default, the standard progression style for Viridian TTRPG is the [[Progression Point]] system. If the Adventurer has the P-Points, they can increase their power in ways that they choose, as long as they follow the build rules.
 
Depending on whether the Game-Master '''<code>Scale by Experience</code>''', or '''<code>Scale by P-Points</code>''', Adventurers of advanced sizes may gain experience or P-Points at different rates. Consult the [[Experience]] article for more information.

Latest revision as of 10:11, 17 October 2022

This document will detail step by step on how to create your character and level them up in the Viridian Campaign/Framework.

The first section will help you build your character from idea to 1st level Adventurer.

The second section is what you need to do each time your character levels up.

Building a Character to Lv1

Step 1: Select your Adventurer's Race and Archetype

* Select a Race to serve as your Adventurer's physical form from the Playable Races page.
 > Don't forget your Race will usually let you pick your first racial trait, due to their Potential Skill-focus!
* Your race choice will often have information on Attributes and Skills, keep them in mind for Step 2!

* Select an Archetype to base your Adventurer's primary abilities and experience.
 > You can pick a Racial Archetype, or one of many of the Universal Archetypes found on the Archetypes page.
* Archetypes grant Archetype Perks for free and usually provide Archetype-themed benefits not seen elsewhere.

Step 2: Decide if you want to spend any Progression-Points

Even at Level 1, your Adventurer should be entitled to about 10 Progression Points, check with your Game-master on what your Adventurer has available based on your Race/Archetype choices made earlier.

Progression points can be used to buy:
* Chunks of 25 Skill points: to be immediately assigned to any Skills that have not yet reached their Skill-point cap and up to their Skill-point cap.

* Increasing singular attribute scores by one: note that the cost to increase the same attribute will increase each time it is done, but will not affect the costs of other attributes.

* Purchasing new Universal Perks: You can even try obtaining Archetype perks from Archetypes you do not own, but you can only have Archetype perks from up to 3 sets maximum!
Some Pro tips from the game's developer:
"If you want to get more Perks or get more Skill-Focuses, it's best to boost your Intelligence attribute score."
"Skills will usually have at least one Perk that scales by Skill-Rating, but many will only increment per Skill-Rank. If it's the latter, perhaps you can skip boosting the SR of that skill for one level until you have enough to get to the next rank? I'm sure your other skills will appreciate you giving them some love."
"Viridian-Fantasy's version of the 'Perception/Spot skill' is the Perception attribute and Investigation skill. Don't worry, Perception is worth 10 SR per point, so the skill isn't absolutely necessary unless you want to detect secret stuff easier."
"Multi-classing in this game comes in the form of purchasing the Archetype Perks from other ATs, the requirements are still ...required... but available if you are able. The only rule so far is you can't have AT Perks from more than 3 sets, just like the Archetype limit. No more than 2 Racials or Universals."
"Yes, Acrobatics and Athletics are skills too, both are helpful in physical challenges. But just like detecting things, your Adventurer's Agility and Strength attribute scores contribute to these checks as well (respectively). But the skill will likely have features that a basic check might not allow, or bonuses that make performing these checks easier."
"Does your party have at least one giant in it? Everybody knows the average adventurer is a 'human fighter', but Size is extremely effective in Viridian, if your group doesn't have at least one big guy or gal looking after your group, you may find your group struggling against an encounter with one or more giant combatants!"

Final Step: You're done!

If you have spent all the Progression-points you want, or cannot afford to get anything else, your character is done. Ask your Game-Master to check your work and if approved, you're ready to go!

Levelling up (Progression-Point Version)

The default, the standard progression style for Viridian TTRPG is the Progression Point system. If the Adventurer has the P-Points, they can increase their power in ways that they choose, as long as they follow the build rules.

Depending on whether the Game-Master Scale by Experience, or Scale by P-Points, Adventurers of advanced sizes may gain experience or P-Points at different rates. Consult the Experience article for more information.