Cold:Rules/Character Creation

Aspects

Each character will have up to five aspects that describe them. We'll be writing a bunch of possibilities, but if you don't like enough of them, you can start with just a high concept and a trouble aspect.

Here is an example of the aspect writing process.

High Concept

This aspect is the main concept of the character, e.g. Playboy Paladin, Punk Rock Ninja, Self-made Alchemist Wizard Apprentice.

Trouble

This aspect is something that causes you problems. It can be internal or external, e.g. Lovesick Alcoholic or Disregarded and Ignored.

Relationship to Cthonic Power

This aspect represents how you relate (or not) with Cthonic power. It could be scientific, personal, etc.

Relationship to The Enemy

This aspect represents how you relate (or not) to The Enemy. This could be Russia, The Vatican, or something else.

Free Aspect

This can be anything you want!

Skills

A note about skills and conflict resolution—don't pour everything into attacking skills. Having a balanced mix will be important because not everything will be resolved by fighting.

Each character begins the campaign with +4, +3, +3, +2, +2, +2, +1, +1, +1, +1 that can be assigned to skills. (You'll note that this is pyramid-shaped.)

• Academics based on Lore (Knowledge and education.)
• Athletics (fitness and movement)
• Bureaucracy
  • This is knowledge of the workings of large, impersonal, hierarchical institutions such as government agencies, corporations, and the military. It is used to overcome obstacles and create advantages related to knowing the organization's rules, policies, and protocols, dealing with red-tape, and winning at office politics.
• Burglary (stealing things and getting into off-limits places.)
• Combat (the same as Fight from *Fate Core*, but includes guns.)
• Contacts (knowing and making connections with people)
• Diplomacy
  • Diplomacy combines Empathy and Rapport from *Fate Core*. You might use this when negotiating a good bargain, convincing someone to do you a favor, or identifying how favorably someone feels about you while employing honest, above-board tactics. Diplomacy cannot be used to attack, but you can use it to defend against attempts to trick you or harm your reputation, especially those using Manipulate.
• Engineer
  • Engineer is similar to Crafts from Fate Core, allowing you to work effectively with machinery. Using Engineer requires an appropriate set of tools.
• Lore (Knowledge as it pertains to the Cthonic powers)
• Manipulate
  • Manipulate combines Deceive and Provoke from Fate Core. Use it to get what you want from people, without any scruples getting in your way.
• Physique (raw strength and endurance)
• Resources (general level of material wealth and ability to apply it)
• Stealth (allows you to avoid detection)
• Will (mental fortitude)