Characters are created using either the Standard Build System (aka the Build Point System) or the Alternate Build System (aka the XP System), as determined by the Regional GM.
Click here to download a character sheet.
Standard Build System
You may spend Build Points as follows.
ATTRIBUTES: 7/5/3
ABILITIES: 13/9/5
VIRTUES: 7
BACKGROUNDS: 5
MORALITY begins equal to Conviction + Self-Control. Note that increasing Conviction or Self-Control later does not increase Morality.
WILLPOWER begins equal to Courage. Note that increasing Courage later does not increase Willpower.
MERITS/FLAWS: See the approved list of Merits and Flaws for costs and effects as they apply in House Games. A character may have a maximum of 7 points in Flaws (or two Flaws totaling any amount).
FREEBIE POINTS: 15 + Flaw value. The cost to increase a Trait by 1 point using Freebie Points is as follows.
Attributes: 5
Abilities: 2
Virtues: 2
Humanity: 2
Backgrounds: 1
Willpower: 1
Merits: As per cost
With either the Standard or Alternate Build System:
Any Trait may be raised to a maximum of 5 at character creation, except Morality and Willpower, which may be raised to 10.
Select Nature, Demeanor, Concept, and so forth.
Each character must have a reason for participating in House Games at great risk to life and limb. Most High Rollers have a Driving Goal.
Determining your Driving Goal is the most critical element to the process of detailing your character. As a potential High Roller, your Driving Goal should be infinite in depth, and zealously pursued. If your character would not be willing to face down a biker gang for even a marginal step towards his ambition, you're not trying hard enough.
Your back story may be as detailed or blank as you like. Generally if you are looking for specific rewards for your character, you should make note of these goals to your GM and ideally reflect them on your character sheet in some manner.
Lastly you should maintain a detailed equipment list. While some GMs are easy on this, the going rule is:
If you don't have it written down, you don't have it.
Your Backgrounds should give you a decent idea of what is reasonable for you to start with.
Useful resources for character development:
To see an example House Game character, click here.
As an aid for character development, as well as for bonus XP to the character, you may fill out the Questionnaire in a manner consistent with your character.
Alternate Build System
Regional GMs may choose to use the following system instead of the Standard Build System. The Alternate Build System discourages min/maxed and overspecialized characters. It also helps new players learn how to advance their characters, since the build costs are the same as for advancement.
Click here to download the Character Builder. It's an OpenOffice spreadsheet, so you'll need to have OpenOffice installed. When you open the spreadsheet, choose the option to enable macros.
You may spend the following amounts of XP.
Attributes: 100
Abilities: 100
Backgrounds: 26
Virtues: 28
Freebie: 107
Freebie points may be spent in any category. Freebie points may be saved for later use only if they cannot be used during character creation (such as when 1 point is left over and there is nothing on which to spend it).
Morality begins equal to Conviction + Self-Control. Note that increasing Conviction or Self-Control later does not increase Morality.
Willpower begins equal to Courage. Note that increasing Courage later does not increase Willpower.
Attributes and Virtues begin at 1; everything else begins at 0.
Merits cost Rating x 3.
Flaws provide a number of Freebie Points equal to Rating x 3. A character may obtain no more than 21 XP from Flaws, or two Flaws totaling any amount.
Any Trait may be raised to a maximum of 5 at character creation, except Morality and Willpower, which may be raised to 10.
Costs are the same as for advancement.
