Character news is intended to assist you when you are thinking about making a character. It includes all relevant information for making a character. Chargen will provide you with a walk through this, but all information here is certainly worth the reading. Please pay special attention to news character types and bboard 6 (Chargen Announcements).
Alts
A player may have two Investigator, one Hero, and one Champion level character, and as many White Hats as they like. For more information on the different character types, see NEWS CHARACTER TYPES. Please keep in mind that all alts need to be registered to one another (see +help +alts)
Approvals
Let The End Times Roll's approval process is relatively straightforward. All applications involve a process of reviewing the character background and stats. As long as everything's kosher (for example, there are no conflicting traits), the character is approved and allowed onto the grid for play. The process of character approval begins by entering Chargen through the CG exit in the OOC Lounge and following the instructions in each of the room descriptions.
In Chargen, you set your character's background, attributes, traits, skills, and details in each room designated for each particular section of the +sheet, in whatever order you prefer. Once everything has been set, return to the Chargen Hub and +submit the character's sheet for approval. Staff will review the application and work with you if there is anything that needs tweaking.
Backgrounds
While your character's background is important, it shouldn't be a novel. You probably don't want to write a novel, and we probably don't have the time to read it. We'd all rather be playing, right? Your background should give the reader a good idea of your character's history, but it doesn't need to detail every single aspect of his or her life. Your character's background should, hopefully, contain some potential plot hooks for storytellers to grab onto and pull your character into the action!
Paragraph format is always acceptable. We will also except bullet-point backgrounds, so long as they paint an informative portrait of your character's history. Some players have also gotten creative and chosen to submit backgrounds in the form of diary entries, and we've seen robots with data logs. These are all fine and acceptable! Have fun writing your background, but please… if your character speaks with an accent, refrain from writing the background in the character's accent, unless it is part of a dialogue between your character and someone else.
CG Hints
The Buffy system offers quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to character generation. To help you with crafting your new character, the staff have compiled a few dos and don'ts, as well as some tips to help you speed your way through CG.
Concepts: Remember we are a Buffy game. If a concept doesn't fit the show, it's not something we can approve. Please don't try and cram a concept from another genre or game onto ours. We are pretty much 'play what you want, have fun!' but if your vampire sparkles in the sun… we can't accept that.
Character Type: White Hats, Investigators, Heroes, Champions. What's the difference? As far as the system is concerned, it's just a matter of how many points you get to spend on your character (NEWS CHARACTER TYPES) in Chargen. This is because, thematically, the different points character types suggest different levels of experience and role in the game. White Hats are your sidekicks and Scoobies — Willow, Xander, Cordelia, and Oz in the first season of Buffy. Investigators are generally older, more experienced support characters — Giles, Wesley, Gunn, and the Scoobies in later seasons. Heroes are those who are on the front lines of the fight, they are out there putting themselves at risk every day in the battle against evil — Buffy (in early seasons), Faith, Angel (in BtVS). Champions are often selected by the Powers that Be, some other Power, have survived on the front lines long enough to have beaten back death time and again, or are simply Destined for something great, be it for good or ill — Angel (in AtS), and Buffy (in later seasons).
Stats: The higher your stats are, the more scrutiny you're going to get. Especially for White Hats and Investigators. Attributes at or above 5, and Skills above 6 (especially when they are combat skills). While we don't have anything against people starting off very well skilled, remember that it took 7 seasons for Buffy to get as good as she did.
Stats and Drawbacks: One thing we've seen before, and generally don't recommend, is taking flaws that end up being freebies because of stats. For example, people with the Serious Covetous drawback, who also have a Willpower of 5 or higher. In this example, you have a doubled willpower roll (10) with a -1 to -3 modifier. Worst case scenario, you only have to roll a 1 or 2 to resist the effect of this drawback. If this is the case, take the flaw to the -3 level, which is a non-doubled roll, with a -1 to -5 modifier, and is much more of a flaw.
Sheet/Notes: We review these just as much as we review your +sheet and your packages. They don't need to be paragraphs, but please make that they are informative.
Packages: There are a variety of packages out there, many mundane, and some supernatural. In /limited/ cases, we allow people to double up on two packages, though this is rare. In the cases where we will allow a Supernatural and a Training package to stack, they may not raise the same stat twice. You also cannot stack two packages that either conflict with one another, or don't fit together. Initiative Soldier and Jock go better together than Jock and Nerd. Neither Slayers, nor Totem Warriors, should be stacking their package with Athlete. The final call on whether two packages may be apped together falls on staff to decide.
Age Quality: Due to constraints of the code, skill points that you receive from the Age quality need to be handled /after/ Chargen is done. Point costs still remain the same, so raising a Skill to 6 would still cost 3 points. Send in a request entitled Character: Age Skills with the list of your selections, and Staff will adjust those accordingly.
Casting Call
Joss Whedon's Buffyverse is primarily presented in the media form of television. As such, we choose to approach the game as if it were a television show, which includes a cast of actors and actresses, as well as a thriving fandom, or as it may often be referred to, a 'meta-fandom'. To cast your character, go through the following steps:
- Check to see if the actor or actress you have in mind is already used. The easiest way of doing so is to use our +actor command (+help +actor for details). Generally, if you don't see your actor or actress of choice taken, then you're free to use them. On rare occasions, if you pick an actor or actress that has been used in the past and since retired, you may be asked to by staff to pick someone else. While Hat Tricks are acceptable (actors who have appeared in Buffyverse before, though only in minor/one-shot roles), actors or actresses who have played recognizable, recurring characters will not be permitted. (Sorry folks, that means no Adam Baldwin, Nathan Fillion, or Gina Torres.) Obviously, main cast from the actual shows are not acceptable.
- Once your cast member is selected, set your &actor attribute. The syntax is &actor me=<name>. Please do not put any information other then the cast member's name in that attribute.
If you are having difficulty casting your character, please feel free to consult with staff. Someone will be happy to assist you in finding the perfect (or near-perfect) fit!
Census
Rather than use a quota system, which can be rather inflexible and too restrictive, we use a census system to keep an eye on certain character types (see +help +census). Should we get to a point where the grid is being flooded with a certain trait (for example, we have 15 approved characters, 5 of them are Slayers and there are only 2 Watchers), we will remove that trait from Chargen until such a time that the we feel the grid can support the given trait again. At that time, the trait will be re-added to Chargen.
All announcements regarding traits being closed or re-opened for application will be posted to the bulletin board.
Character Types
There are four different types of characters on Let The End Times Roll: White Hats, Investigators, Heroes, and Champions. White Hat and Hero write-ups can be found in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer RPG, and Investigators and Champions can be found in the Angel RPG. However, the order in which they are listed is also the order of least powered to the most powerful types of characters available on the game. The more powerful you want your character to be, the more work you're going to have to put into your application, and the more discerning staff will be when reviewing your submission. It's important to take into account that on a game like ours, people can just as easily opt to play bad guys as good guys, and as such, some comparable baddies from the Buffyverse are included in the example lists.
White Hats
"Why is it that I've come face-to-face with vampires, demons, the most hideous creatures hell ever spit out, and I'm still afraid of a little bully like Jack O'Toole?" — Xander, The Zeppo.
White Hats are regular people who find themselves fighting the unusual. They don't have Kewl Powers or special training, but they start the game with more Drama Points, allowing them to survive against insurmountable odds. Beginning Slayerettes and Watchers should use this character type. Other possibilities include nosy reporters, teenagers, shop owners, and all the sort of 'average' every day people who suddenly find themselves thrust into an entirely different world. Examples of White Hat characters include Xander, Dawn, Jonathan, and Principle Snyder.
Attribute Points: 15
Quality Points: 10
Drawback Points: Up to 10
Skill Points: 15
Drama Points: 20
Investigators
"You're telling me you're an investigator?"
"More or less."
"Where is your license?"
"That's the less part." — Kate and Angel, Lonely Hearts.
Investigators are above-average people with some degree of training who find themselves fighting the supernatural. They don't often have super powers, but they start the game with more drama points, allowing them to survive against insurmountable odds. Characters can include police detectives, FBI agents, and most magic practitioners who have been studying their art for some time. Examples of Investigator characters includes pretty much the entire first season cast of Angel with the exception of the vampire himself, Lilah Morgan, and Harmony.
Attribute Points: 15
Quality Points: 10
Drawback Points: Up to 10
Skill Points: 25
Drama Points: 20
Heroes
"When it's dark, and I'm all alone, and I'm scared or freaked out or whatever, I always think - "What would Buffy do?" You're my hero. Okay, sometimes when it's dark, and I'm all alone, I'd think, 'What is Buffy wearing?'" — Xander, The Freshman.
Heroes are here to kick butt and take names. Use this character type to create men and women of action. Slayers, experienced Watchers, and Initiative Commandos are Hero types; they have skills and abilities well above the norm. Tough cops who rarely need backup to make an arrest or gals with mystical gloves are examples are typical Heroes. Examples of Hero characters include Riley Finn, Kennedy (post-Activation), Mr. Trick, and Faith during her 'dark' period.
Attribute Points: 20
Quality Points: 20
Drawback Points: Up to 10
Skill Points: 20
Drama Points: 10
Champions
"Well, personally I kind of want to slay the dragon." — Angel, Not Fade Away.
Champions are even a step above Heroes…not JUST Heroes, but chosen warriors of the Powers That Be. Use this character type to create serious action types. Certain slayers, soulful vampires, and agents of prophecy all fit this character type Examples include Angel, Buffy, and Spike.
Attribute Points: 20
Quality Points: 20
Drawback Points: Up to 10
Skill Points: 30
Drama Points: 10
Feature Characters
The inevitable question arises on a Buffyverse game… what about playing Buffy, or Angel, or the favorite Scooby? The answer to that is simple: no. On Let The End Times Roll, the Feature Characters are not available for play. There are no plans for them to appear on the game in any capacity greater than guest spot roles, if they even appear at all. Watchers can expect to hear from Giles, if they need orders, and Lorne may very well be singing his heart out in a casino somewhere, but that's about it.
The rationale is simple; this game is all about the story of Las Vegas and the protectors and villains of that city. Buffy had her story, and Angel had his story. This is a new story, and we do not want the focus to be taken away from our heroes. If FCs do show up, they will be staff controlled NPCs.
Names
In the Buffyverse, people's names are widely varied. For the most part, people have relatively normal names like Dawn, Jenny, Larry, and Rupert (okay, maybe not so much Rupert!). Some people have names that while somewhat unconventional, are still within the bounds of believability, like Buffy, Xander, Spike, and Sunday. And then of course, there are some outright wacky names, like Kaquistos, Glorificus, and Krevlorneswath of the Deathwok Clan. It might be of note to players that of the latter three, one is an ancient vampire, one is a Hellgod, and one is a visitor from another dimension.
Keep in mind this doesn't mean you can't be creative. Witches may prefer to go by craft names, vampires and demons often have names that should be listed in a D&D Fiend Folio, and heck, your character could even have been raised by hippies (Moonchild, anyone?). Some players prefer for whatever reason to use their character's last name instead of their first, and that is also acceptable. Ethnic names are also an option, if you really prefer an exotic spin, so long as it's kept within realistic bounds.
During your character creation process, staff may inquire if they feel your name might be out of the bounds of theme, and if they feel it doesn't fit, may ask you to change it. Don't be offended if they do, and staff will be happy to assist you with finding a name that is more suitable.
Packages
Demon, Half-Demon, Cyborg, Zombie, and Ghost traits are all customizable packages composed of qualities and drawbacks. The cost of the packages vary and are calculated based on what qualities and drawbacks are included in the package.
There are several pre-approved Demon Packages that have already been integrated as a part of Chargen. However, we also do encourage the creation of new custom packages and demonic races. All custom packages and demon races not in NEWS DEMON or NEWS HALF-DEMON need to be submitted via a +request using the following format:
* The title of the request should include the character's name and the type of package (demon, half-demon, cyborg, zombie, or ghost).
* A brief description of the package (an overview of the demon's race, the cyborg upgrades, the character's ghostliness).
* List of all qualities and drawbacks, along with point costs and any applicable details (ie. if taking Vulnerability drawback, what the character would be vulnerable to, or what a character's Natural Weapons may be, or what their Supernatural Form looks like, etc.).
* Total cost of the package.
Package Example
The following is an example of how a demon package should be submitted. This particular package is for a Kaliff demon, which is an approved demon race. For information on how to achieve the carriage returns, see 'help substitutions':
Kaliff demons were introduced in the first season of "Angel". They are humanoids with red, leathery skin. They have dual sets of bone spikes running along their bald scalp and another set along either side of their jaw bone. They are very task oriented.
Kaliff Demon
Strength +3
Dexterity +2
Constitution +2
Natural Armor 2 (Skin) +2
Natural Weapon (Head and chin spikes 2xSTR) +1
Nerves of Steel +3
Perception -2
Supernatural Form -2: humanoids with red, leathery skin and dual sets of bone
spikes running along their bald scalps and along either side of their jaw
bones.
TOTAL COST: 9 points
