Blood Chronicals Changeling Character Creation Guidelines
All Changelings and kinain are to be created by standard rules found in Changeling: The Dreaming Second Edition. A history/background is required for all Changelings before sanctioning. The more thorough and detailed, the less questions you shall be asked. Things to keep in mind when you write your character background:
1. How did this character chrysalize? What was their mortal life and upbringing like before their chrysalis and how did it change after it?
2. How did they learn the arts and realms they know?
3. Explain any treasures or chimerical companions - how the character came to acquire them, what significance they have in the character�s life.
4. What is their mortal life like now?
5. What are their goals, motivations and aspirations? What spurs them on? What�s their greatest weakness?
Step One: Concept
The following kiths, houses and seemings are available:
Kiths: Kinain bloodlines should stay close to this same list
Boggan: Allowed.
Eshu: Allowed.
Nockers: Allowed.
Pooka: Allowed.
Redcaps: Allowed.
Satyrs: Allowed.
Sidhe: Currently disallowed - watch this space for openings!
Sluagh: Allowed.
Trolls: Allowed.
Kinain: Allowed.
Autumn People: Banned.
Nunnehi: Banned.
Inanimae: Banned
Thallain: Banned
Mer: Banned
Houses
House, like the background "title", can be gained in game by commoners. In time when sidhe are allowed as PC characters, the list below will be employed:
Allowed:
Dougal
Eiluned
Fiona
Gwydion
Scathach (Autumn)
Liam
Restricted:
Ailil
Balor
Leanhaun
Beaumayn
Varich
Aesin
Daireann
Scathach (Arcadian)
Seemings
Childling: Currently not allowed.
Wilder: Allowed.
Grump: Allowed.
Step Two: Attributes
Attributes are the most useful things in the game. They are broader than Abilities, and more representative of a character's strength and weaknesses. As such, realistically, you should not spend more than 10 freebies on them. Also, make sure they are appropriate to the Concept. No 5's will be sanctioned at creation. Also, we prefer no more than two 4's, and no more than a single 1. Failure to comply to this will result in an Asst or ST believing that you are min-maxing. Appearance is restricted to 3 or lower without prior approval of the Head Changeling ST; good reasoning is required for high Appearance.
Step Three: Abilities
Abilities must be appropriate to the Concept. Again, there will be no 5s and any 4s must be bought up to that level with freebies. Please note: Any and all 4s will be heavily scrutinized and should have a strong background explaining them. This is a starting character; you want to leave room for them to grow! All characters gain Changeling Lore 1 free at creation.
NOTE: Secondary abilities must be bought only with freebies and cost 2 freebies/dot.
Academics 1 is a requirement for anyone with a high school education (those who graduated from college should have Academics 2), Intelligence 3 or more, or anyone over the age of 25, with rare exceptions, such as those with homeless Concepts. This is basic knowledge that you pick up over time, such as who led the Nazi's and the current President of the USA. It also covers basic mathematics, native linguistics, and stuff like that. This is not considered a secondary skill - Academics may be bought like any other primary ability
Finance is also required for anyone who owns a business, has "family money" (though inheritance and such is unlikely to be allowed), or Resources 3. This is considered a secondary skill.
Combat Abilities (Brawl, Dodge, Melee, Firearms, Archery, etc.) are restricted to 7 total combat dots and will be scrutinized carefully.
Step Four: Advantages
As a general rule, Backgrounds are capped at 3 at creation.
- Chimera: Use the optional rules on p.288 of Changeling: The Dreaming Second Edition for creating companions with this background. Please have the stats for your companion done and listed in the 'notes' section of your sheet at time of sanctioning. This speeds up the process for everyone.
- Contacts/Allies: No cap at creation but please be conservative with your selections, and they must be specific. Job descriptions are the best way to put it. We don't want Contacts 2 (Street) or Contacts 1 (Jim, a retired bank manager now working for the IRS as an auditor. Born in... etc.). We want Contacts 2 (Street Snitch, Shelter Worker) or Contacts 1 (IRS Auditor), things like that. They make everyone's life easier.
- Holdings: All Holdings must be earned in-game.
- Mentor: Must be a PC or regular NPC. Consult the ST before submitting a character with this background.
- Titles: All titles must be earned in-game
- Treasures: These are handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Head Changeling ST. Please detail how these were obtained and their significance to the character in your background.
Available Arts are as follows:
Chicanery: Allowed.
Legerdemain: Allowed.
Primal: Allowed.
Pyretics: Allowed.
Soothsay: Allowed.
Sovereign: Restricted, Sidhe only
Wayfare: Allowed
Talecraft: Allowed, Eshu only
Infusion: Allowed, Nocker only
Step Five: Finishing Touches
Willpower and Glamour are capped at 2 greater than starting level. Choose Musing and Ravaging Thresholds. Merits and Flaws are handled at the discretion of the Head Changeling ST and must have strong reasoning outlined in the character background. Below are a list of restricted/banned merits and flaws*:
Currently capped: Changeling Eyes, Wings
Restricted (Must have ST approval + strong background reasoning): Amnesia, Dark Fate, Iron will, Natural Linguist, Nightmares, Past Life, Prestigious Mentor, Psychic Vampire, Reputation/Notoriety, Slipped Seeming, True Love, Fly Fingers, Blood of the Wolf, Unstoppable Fury, Forsworn, Gifted Liar, Granite Skin, Faster, Chicken Feet, Lost Tooth
Banned: Cleared Mists, Faerie Eternity, Eidetic Memory, Ambidextrous, Animal Magnetism, Art Affinity, Boon, Cleared Mists, Corporation CEO plus all Mortal Ties (use Influence in place of these), Daredevil, Danger Sense, Fast Learner, Guardian Angel, Haunted, Huge Size, Iron Resistance, Jack-of-all-trades, Luck, Mansion, Medium, Nightclub, Poetic Heart, Regeneration, Seeming's Blessing, Spirit Mentor, Surreal Beauty, Bard's Tongue, Unbondable, Werewolf/Vampire Companion, Gut Instincts, Sex Appeal, Sexual Reverie, Hibernation, Venomous Bite, Dead Friends, Hag Ridden, Knows-too-Much, Blessing of Atlas, Blood of Rivers, Living Legend, Second Sight.
*Just because a merit or flaw is not listed on either of these lists does not mean it will not be given a thorough look over in sanctioning. These are merely the banned ones or the ones that will need the most justification. Merits and flaws add extra color and flavor to a character, they are not, after all, entirely necessary. Use them carefully.
Note from the ST side: Listing where Freebie points are spent is very helpful and can speed along the sanctioning process, plus it can help you as a player track the math of what�s been spent and needs spending.
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