
GM Falling Darkness |
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If you are interested in gothic horror that is highly centered on roleplay which will challenge and entice you then this is the place for you.
Character Creation will be based on Mortals to begin with using V20 guidelines.
Merits and Flaws will be considered on a case by case basis and should have good reasons to be there incorporated into detailed backgrounds.
Any questions or concerns will be handled in the recruitment and discussion threads before the beginning of the game.
All the characters should have a reason to be in a bar on a Friday night.

Talomyr |

Since we're starting off as human, first thought that comes to mind is a "scholar" from the Arcanum. Well scholar might be a bit of a stretch more of a field operative that knows just enough to be a danger to himself.
As to what he's investigating in El Paso, that could be any number of things, the Arcanum's interests are varied enough it need not be directly related to the plot of the game.
I see the character being on the younger side for an Arcanum field agent - say maybe late twenties, early thirties. His job makes him kind of a wanderer and understands that sometimes there just isn't time or the ability to do everything by the letter of the law, although that isn't his first choice.
Thoughts?

GM Falling Darkness |

Character Creation Guidelines
This has also been placed in the campaign thread for ease of finding.
Attributes: 6 – 4 – 3
Abilities: 11 – 7 – 4
Backgrounds: 5
Virtues: 7
Willpower: Equal to Courage
Humanity: Equal to Conscience + Self-Control
Freebies: 15 + up to 7 in flaws
Freebie Point Costs
Attribute – 5 per dot
Ability – 2 per dot
Secondary Ability – 1 per dot
Background – 1 per dot
Virtue – 2 per dot
Humanity – 2 per dot
Willpower – 1 per dot
Remember that Vampires get a free dot in attributes which mortals do not.

Storyteller Shadow |

Let me know your thoughts.
Age - 48
Male
6'
175 lbs.
Attributes: 6 – 4 – 3
Strength 2 - Dexterity 2 - Stamina 2
Charisma 2 - Manipulation 1 - Appearance 1
Perception 2 - Intelligence 2 - Wits 2
Abilities: 11 – 7 – 4
Talents - Alertness 2, Brawl 2, Intimidation 3
Skills - Drive 1, Firearms 3, Melee 1, Prof Skill Demolitions 3, Survival 2, Crafts 1, Stealth 1
Knowledge - Finance 1, Academics 1, Politics 1, Law 1
Backgrounds: 5
Retainers 1 - Resources 3 - Contacts 2
Virtues: 7
Conscience 4
Self Control 2
Courage 5
Willpower: Equal to Courage = 7
Humanity: Equal to Conscience + Self-Control = 6
Freebies: 15 + up to 7 in flaws
Flaws: Disease Carrier (Hep C) (4), Addiction (Adrenaline 3)
Freebies (1 dot in Perception, Intelligence, & Wits = 15)
2 = 2 Willpower, 1 Stealth = 2, 2 = 1 Courage, 1 Contacts = 1.
Freebie Point Costs
Attribute – 5 per dot
Ability – 2 per dot
Secondary Ability – 1 per dot
Background – 1 per dot
Virtue – 2 per dot
Humanity – 2 per dot
Willpower – 1 per dot
Remember that Vampires get a free dot in attributes which mortals do not. Yes I remember that being a terrible rule too as evidenced by the sub par character as per above. 1's in attributes as a base line are sorry sad sacks :-). Tis alright, he'll get better real quick if he's Embraced by nights end!
Background
Skinner is an ex-vet who served in Gulf War I and the Panamanian Conflict. He was a sub par student (well, outside of Mathematics courses anyway!) but excelled in sports. He had the pick of Colleges as a highly regarded Texas High School Tight End who made second team all American.
That was NOT the life that Skinner wanted to lead. His father was a Vietnam War Vet, his Grandfather a WWII Vet and his Great Grandfather enlisted at 15 for WWI. Hell, if his family had been in the US at the time he's pretty sure he'd have had a Civil War vet ancestor as well.
He went to play for the Navy instead. After 4 years he entered service just as Bush entered office. A few sort years later, Skinner was involved in his first action, the Panamanian Conflict. His expertise was Demolitions and damned if he wasn't one of the best. No feeling quite like the eruption of gun fire from hostiles after they see s*%+ they thought was secured sent to kingdom come.
While not a Seal, he just didn't have the chops for it, as a member of a demo team it was the next best thing. Well for Skinner anyway. He survived though he lost a handful of friends which dampened his enthusiasm for the rush of combat a bit.
Iraq was the next significant combat that Skinner saw, though the view from a carrier group was less exciting than his experience on the ground in Panama. For an Adrenaline junkie, the experience sucked.
By 1992 with Clinton elected Skinner figured that private life was the way to go as he believed military funding would be cut and by extension his ability to make a buck. He moved back to Texas and got a job with an Uncle in the construction field.
For 9 years he handled private demos around the southwest and made a fair living. He never quite got around to getting married though considered it with a few girlfriends. September 11, 2001 changed all of that though. It was clear the world would never be the same again.
He felt he was too old to enlist though and figured that private contracting would be the way to go, so he made a phone call to a buddy he knew that knew someone at a private military contracting company, Blackwater.
There's not a lot to say about his time with the company as most of it was classified. Suffice to say by 2007, he had had enough of the work. It was dirty money and the group just did not operate as above board as the Military did. In some respects this was good. IN others bad. For Skinner, the good began to outweigh the bad. Once more he retired and once again moved home to Texas.
This time, between the money he made with his Uncle and as a Contractor he started his own construction, or destruction company, as he likes to call it.
Another 10 years have come and gone and Skinner is now contemplating his legacy, maybe it was time to finally settle down? Of course, life with Hep C ain't great and it's hard to disclose that and keep a woman but it's getting to be now or never time. Sleeping around after all had its benefits and drawbacks.
His current project in El Paso has led him to explore the night life as on-line dating has been more treacherous for him than his military service had been!
The Rodeo, a rough place he hears, is where he has decided to go looking for Ms. Right tonight. Course, Skinner is a rough guy...

Talomyr |

Character Creation Guidelines
This has also been placed in the campaign thread for ease of finding.
Attributes: 6 – 4 – 3
Abilities: 11 – 7 – 4
Backgrounds: 5
Virtues: 7
Willpower: Equal to Courage
Humanity: Equal to Conscience + Self-Control
Freebies: 15 + up to 7 in flawsFreebie Point Costs
Attribute – 5 per dot
Ability – 2 per dot
Secondary Ability – 1 per dot
Background – 1 per dot
Virtue – 2 per dot
Humanity – 2 per dot
Willpower – 1 per dotRemember that Vampires get a free dot in attributes which mortals do not.
Actually it's 2 dots in Attributes (7/5/3), 5 in abilities (13/9/5). Will we be getting those dots upon the embrace?

Storyteller Shadow |

GM Falling Darkness wrote:Actually it's 2 dots in Attributes (7/5/3), 5 in abilities (13/9/5). Will we be getting those dots upon the embrace?Character Creation Guidelines
This has also been placed in the campaign thread for ease of finding.
Attributes: 6 – 4 – 3
Abilities: 11 – 7 – 4
Backgrounds: 5
Virtues: 7
Willpower: Equal to Courage
Humanity: Equal to Conscience + Self-Control
Freebies: 15 + up to 7 in flawsFreebie Point Costs
Attribute – 5 per dot
Ability – 2 per dot
Secondary Ability – 1 per dot
Background – 1 per dot
Virtue – 2 per dot
Humanity – 2 per dot
Willpower – 1 per dotRemember that Vampires get a free dot in attributes which mortals do not.
Mortals back in the 2ed days did not get the initial dots in Attributes for free, nor did they get the full 7/5/3, they got 6/4/3. Not sure if V20 does that did not check :-)
My current build is 6/4/3 with NOT starting Attribute dots. I dumped all 15 of my freebies into Attributes for this reason.

Samnell |

Given that, I'll have to slightly rejigger my build as well. Shouldn't be a problem.
Quick question: did the freebies get upped as well? The campaign info says 21 + 10(history) + 7(flaws). Is this correct, and if so, what does "history" mean here?
If I can get 10 freebies by writing about history, then I have whole bookshelves at my disposal. Oh, the fabulous atrocities I could relate! :)
...I study slavery.

Vitaliano da Riva |

While I enjoy and play in Storyteller Shadow's game, I will profess I am an idiot for the most part when it comes to Vampire. I really do want to play and really enjoy the lore. (Clan Malkavian all the way, though as I'm already doing one Malk, I'm completely open to playing any other.)
Therefore I might need some help building a character.
Hmm, I'm not sure 100% on character concept. I almost just wanna go a bit close to home and play a Marine Tech Guru in the 24ish age range. (Just to give SS someone to old Salt at.)
But I'm still a bit up in the air on the idea of what to do.

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Age - 30
Female
5'6"
110 lbs.
Description: Above average height, slim with blonde flowing hair and green eyes, Jessica is conventionally attractive but not exceptionally so. She's particular about her appearance, usually well dressed in an expensive skirt suit, high heels with a designer hand bag and natural but practical makeup.
Nature: Director
Demeanour: Judge
Attributes: 6 – 4 – 3
Physical (3): Strength 1 - Dexterity 4 - Stamina 2
Social (6) Charisma 3 - Manipulation 3 - Appearance 3
Mental (4) Perception 2 - Intelligence 3 - Wits 3
Abilities: 11 – 7 – 4
Talents (13) - Athletics 1, Empathy 3, Expression 3, Intimidation 3, Leadership 3, Subterfuge 3
Skills (5) - Drive 1, Etiquette 1, Firearms 1, Performance 2
Knowledge (7) - Academics 1, Computer 1, Finance 1, Politics 2, Law 3 (Saving 1 for Occult on Embrace)
Backgrounds: 5
Resources 4, Contacts 2, Influence 2
Virtues: 7
Conscience 3
Self Control 4
Courage 4
Willpower: 7 (Equal to Courage)
Humanity: 6 (Equal to Conscience + Self-Control)
Freebies: 15 + up to 7 in flaws
Merits: Enchanting Voice (2), Eidetic Memory (2)
Flaws: Addiction (Cocaine 3), Phobia (Heights 2), Short Fuse (2)
Freebies (21) (1 dot in Dexterity and Wits = 10)
3 = 3 Willpower, 1 Self Control =2, 3 Intimidate = 6
Freebie Point Costs
Attribute – 5 per dot
Ability – 2 per dot
Secondary Ability – 1 per dot
Background – 1 per dot
Virtue – 2 per dot
Humanity – 2 per dot
Willpower – 1 per dot
Background
Jessica grew up in Austin. Her dad worked in the Oil and Gas industry and her mom was a home maker. She had a happy childhood, did well in school, was well liked and popular. An absolutely vanilla white American dream. Daddy's little girl, he spent most of his free time with her. He taught her how to shoot, to drive and she did all she could to earn his praise and approval.
As a teenager her near obsessive need for order became more pronounced. Rarely satisfied, she always wanted more, she used her intelligence to get what she wanted but never shied away from leaning on her looks and charm to get her way. When someone didn't fall for those she didn't hesitate to play dirty. She played the part of the cheerleader not because she enjoyed it but because of the access it gave her. Where she truly shined was debate.
After high school she went to college, graduating as a lawyer and passing the Texas bar she went to work for a law firm. The Obama era policies hit the oil and gas industry with the push for renewable energy and her dad eventually lost his job. Like most American families with little in savings and a mortgage and other payments, things looked bleak for her family. Unable to see her father's plight she switched jobs, becoming a lobbyist for the Oil and Gas industry.
Edited as per GMs next post about 13/9/5

Redac |

All right, posting my character before I pass out. I decided to go with a different concept than originally planned. Apologies if it's a little jumbled or otherwise has mistakes; I can go back and adjust anything that needs fixing. I also can't make up my mind regarding Merits/Flaws, so I've left that empty for now.
Male
6'3"
185 lbs.
Description: Daniel is a tall man of only slightly above-average looks who appears to be in his late twenties. He is clean-shaven and has neatly trimmed, dark blond hair and blue eyes. His wardrobe varies based on where he is and what he's doing, but is usually best described as "business casual".
Nature: Competitor
Demeanour: Survivor
Attributes: 6 – 4 – 3
Physical (3): Strength 2 - Dexterity 3 - Stamina 2
Social (4) Charisma 2 - Manipulation 3 - Appearance 2
Mental (6) Perception 4 - Intelligence 3 - Wits 3
Abilities: 13 – 9 – 5
Talents (13) - Awareness 3, Athletics 1, Brawl 2, Empathy 2, Intimidation 2, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 2
Skills (9) - Drive 1, Firearms 2, Larceny 3, Melee 1, Stealth 2
Knowledge (5) - Computer 2, Investigation 3, Law 1
Backgrounds: 5
Resources 2, Contacts 3, Allies 1
Virtues: 7
Conscience 3
Self Control 4
Courage 4
Willpower: 6 (Equal to Courage)
Humanity: 7 (Equal to Conscience + Self-Control)
Freebies: 21 + up to 7 in flaws
Merits:
Flaws:
Freebies (21) (1 dot in Manipulation and Perception = 10)
1 Self-Control= 2; 2 Willpower = 2; 3 Streetwise = 6; 1 Contacts = 1
Freebie Point Costs
Attribute – 5 per dot
Ability – 2 per dot
Secondary Ability – 1 per dot
Background – 1 per dot
Virtue – 2 per dot
Humanity – 2 per dot
Willpower – 1 per dot
Background
Daniel Sutton was a restless child; bright and inquisitive, but often getting himself into some sort of trouble. He was born the only child of a working-class family. His parents weren’t home often, as they had to work long hours. They made enough to get by, but often had to work long hours just for that. School was easy enough, and his grades were decent, but it bored him to no end. With almost no supervision and little else to do, in his free time Daniel began associating with other kids his age involved in less-than-reputable activities. He never involved himself to the degree that some others did, but he certainly got up to a lot of trouble as a teenager, and he learned how to do a lot of things that they don’t teach at school.
Be it sheer luck or an act of Divine Providence, Daniel was never caught for any of the things he did as a teenager. As adulthood approached, though, Daniel could see that continuing to act out wouldn’t get him where he wanted to be. He decided that he would try to channel his energy and talent into something more productive. He started working for a private investigative agency in El Paso, and took to it like a fish to water. Daniel studied all the tricks of the trade as diligently as he could, applying all his prior knowledge and experience whenever it was relevant. He quickly distinguished himself, making connections with different people in a number of key places around the city. Old habits die hard, though, and he also showed a tendency to tiptoe the fine line between ethical and unethical behavior for someone in his profession.
After several years working for others, Daniel decided to strike out on his own as an independent private investigator. This provided him a degree of freedom that he had been craving for years, but it also meant that without anything but his name to back him up, his income was a bit more irregular. In order to fix this, he began moonlighting as a “problem-solver” for a slightly shadier clientele, offering to use his skills for not-strictly-legal purposes. Sending strong, possibly physical messages on behalf of a third party; helping certain interested parties locate people who don’t want to be found; collecting debts; spying and information gathering; and so on. Daniel Sutton is a man of many talents – just ask him.
Several years later, although his income has stabilized some since the early days, Daniel Sutton continues to operate in this gray area between the two sides of the law, moving between them as necessary. A few nights ago, Daniel received a phone call from a woman who said she got his number from a mutual acquaintance, though she wouldn’t tell him who. She wanted to discuss hiring him for a case, and asked to meet at some dive bar to go over the details. He’s heard enough about The Rodeo to know it was a rough place, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?