_Character Customization

Basics
  • Race - all player characters are human (for now)
  • Gender - no difference between male and female for now
  • Class - Your starting role, though you're not forced to stick with it
  • Background - 2nd dimension of starting customization, independent of class

Class determines:
  • Starting equipment
  • Starting skills and aptitudes
  • Starting stats

Background:
  • Can modify certain skill aptitudes (and also starting points in that skill)
  • Can modify stats
  • Can add starting traits
  • Can add/remove starting equipment

PRIMARY STATS - starting "average" is 5 for each
  • STR - melee damage
  • VIT - health, carry weight
  • MAG - magic damage
  • DEX - stamina
  • CHA - no direct use
Traits

Traits are various (good, bad, or neutral) things which can affect your character in any way, much like DCSS mutations. You can gain traits temporarily through magic and potions, or permanently through a background. Introduction of traits through mutation or studying might be done later.
Skills

Stat modding: Effective skill is a combination of the stat and the skill level, but the formula shouldn't make stat-modded skills too powerful compared to un-modded skills

Weapon Skills:
  • Swords
  • Daggers
  • Polearms
  • Axes
  • Maces/Clubs
  • Bows (DEX modded)
  • Thrown Weapons (DEX modded): darts, daggers, spears
  • Mechanical Weapons: crossbow, cannons, spring-loaded blades, etc. These don't have to be wielded
  • Improvised Weapons: wielding or throwing anything that doesn't fit into the above
  • Two-Handed (STR-modded)
  • Dual-Wield (DEX-modded)
  • Unarmed

Defense Skills:
  • Armor (VIT-modded)
  • Dodging (DEX-modded)
  • Shields (VIT-modded)
  • Stealth (DEX-modded)

Charisma skills:
(All are CHA-modded)
  • Charm: for convincing any NPC to do things through dialogue
  • Interrogation: for gaining any sort of information through dialogue
  • Disguise: makes enemies less suspicious of you, best when comboed with a guard outfit

Tech skills:
  • Use Devices
  • Crafting

Magic skills:
(all are INT-modded)
  • Elements -- fire, ice, earth, plant, air
  • Necromancy -- spells affecting life and death
  • Conjuring -- spells that create objects or creatures
  • Distortion -- spells that affect time/space or alter an object's properties
  • Enchantment -- spells that add/remove traits and alter stats of the player and NPCs
Sample classes

Warrior
Pure melee fighter

Starts with a 1-handed sword and a suit of leather armor

Stats:
  • STR+2
  • VIT+1
  • MAG-3
Skills:
  • Swords 2
  • Armor 1
  • Dodging 1
Aptitudes:
  • +2 Swords Daggers Maces Axes Polearms
  • +1 Armor Dodging Shields Two-handed Dual-wield
  • -1 Sneaking Charm
  • -2 All magic skills

Wizard
All-purpose magic user

Starts with a robe and the spell Magic Dart, and the spellbook "Magic 101"

Stats:
  • STR-2
  • VIT-1
  • MAG+3
Skills:
  • Conjuring 1
  • Dodging 1
Aptitudes:
  • +1 Dodging, All magic skills
  • -1 Crafting Bows Mechanical-weaps Maces Unarmed
  • -2 Armor Swords Polearms Axes Two-handed Dual-wield

Thief
Stealthy and crafty

Starts with a tunic, a dagger, and a lockpick

Stats:
  • STR-1
  • MAG-2
  • DEX+3
Skills:
  • Stealth 2
  • Use Devices 1
Aptitudes:
  • +2 Stealth, Disguise, Dodging
  • +1 Use Devices, Crafting
  • -1 Swords, Maces, All magic
  • -2 Armor, Polearms, Axes, Two-handed

Spy
Stealthy Diplomat

Starts with a suit, a dagger, and extra money

Stats:
  • STR-1
  • VIT-1
  • MAG-2
  • DEX+2
  • CHA+2
Skills:
  • Stealth 1
  • Charm 1
  • Disguise 1
  • Interrogation 1
Aptitudes:
  • +2 Disguise
  • +1 Stealth, Charm, Interrogation
  • -1 Swords, Maces, Dual-wield, All magic
  • -2 Armor, Polearms, Axes, Two-handed

Assassin
Stealthy and deadly

Starts with a robe, a dagger, and a few poisoned needles (improvised)

Stats:
  • MAG-2
  • DEX+2
Skills:
  • Stealth 2
  • Daggers 1
Aptitudes:
  • +2 Stealth, Daggers
  • +1 Dual-wield, Improvised Weapons
  • -1 All magic
  • -2 Armor, Polearms, Axes, Two-handed

Gadgeteer
Master of technology

Starts with a tunic, a spring-loaded wristblade and some junk parts

Stats:
  • MAG-3
  • DEX+1
  • STR+1
  • VIT+1
Skills:
  • Use Devices 2
  • Crafting 2
Aptitudes:
  • +2 Use Devices, Crafting
  • -1 All magic