Mano a Mano:Make a Character

Make a Character - Character Generation Example

This example explains how to make a playable character. Consult the game-specific rules or the Game Master (GM) to find out what Templates and how many Character Points (CP) you can use to make characters. (See Character Creation.) The player starts generating the character by getting a partially-filled out character sheet called a "template." Which template he uses depends on what kind of character he is making.

1. Choose the Type of Character You Want to Make

Here we'll assume that we are allowed to use 166 total CP to make a single character whose template is "human." (See Game Design/Make a Template.) human, 75 kg, 1.7 m height, medium variability, 155 CP
1 speed, 0 agility, 3 strength, 5 toughness, 5 running
2 hands (hand)
2 feet

2. Choose the Character's Build

Now we look at Steven's Template to see how it affects his dimensions and modifiers. Steven is a Human, so his height will be between 1.36 m and 2.04 m (+/- 20% of 1.7m), and his weight should be between 38 kg to 150 kg (50% to 200% of 75 kg.) We decide to make Steven a short-and-stocky tough guy. Steven will be 1.6 m tall and 95 kg. We give him 2 extra points of toughness modifier, which uses up 6 CP. Steven's agility (0), speed (1), power (4) will remain unchanged from the Human template.

3. Use the Remaining CP to Customize the Character

The next step is to make Steven more competent and interesting by distributing the CP remaining after subtracting Steven's Template CP (120 CP) from the remaining CP allowance (166 - 6 = 160. 160 - 120 = 40 remaining CP). Steven has 40 extra CP remaining for enhancements after using 6 CP for extra toughness.

Steven does not have any other unusual features like missing limbs.

The rest of the CP allowance (40 CP) will be distributed among Steven's abilities. We'll give him an extra one-handed weapons ability modifier of 4 (20 CP.) Steven's total one-handed weapons modifier is the same as his extra ability modifier (4) because the Human template does not have a template one-handed weapons modifier. We use 10 CP to give Steven an extra craftsmanship ability modifier of 2. We use the remaining 10 CP to give Steven an extra unarmed combat ability modifier of 2.

4. Occupation and Equipment

Steven meets the minimum qualifications to be a Robber. We decide this suits the personality we envision for Steven, so we make his occupation "Robber". This occupation does not give Steven any equipment, but he has made a "machete". (See Game Design/Occupations/Occupation Examples and Character Development/Making Equipment/Equipment Generation Example.)

machete (81 CP, 0.5 kg, 3 heft, 5 power, sharp)

To put this weapon onto Steven's character sheet:

• Steven only has one machete, so we list the item's name as "1 machete".
• We copy the item's features (just "sharp"), mass (0.5 kg), and heft (3) to Steven's character sheet.
• Steven's machete has an attack modifier (Atk) of 4: Steven's agility (0) plus Steven's one-handed weapons ability (2).
• Steven's machete has a defense (Def) of 14: Steven's agility (0) plus Steven's one-handed weapons ability (2) plus 10.
• The machete's power is 6 and Steven's total power is 4. Steven's machete power is the highest of these two values (6). Half of this power is 3, so we list Steven's power with the machete as "3 - 6".

We also fill in the power, attack and defense of Steven's natural weapons:

• The power of his hands and feet is Steven's total power, which is 4. Half of this power is 2, so we list Steven's power as "2 - 4".
• Steven's hands and feet have an attack modifier (Atk) of 2: his agility plus his unarmed combat ability (2).
• Steven's hands and feet have a defense (Def) of 12: his agility (0) plus his unarmed combat ability (2) plus 10.

5. Find the Character's Encumbrance

We find Steven's carrying capacity from his total power (4) and the carrying capacity table. According to the table, Steven's carrying capacity is 3. This means Steven's movement is reduced by 1 meter for every 3 kg of equipment he carries, but fortunately Steven's only equipment is the machete. The machete's mass is 0.5 kg, so Steven's equipment mass is 0.5 kg. This is less than 3 kg, so Steven's encumbrance is 0.

6. Calculate Movement

• Steven's has no swimming ability so his water movement is 0.
• Steven has no running ability or encumbrance so his stride is 4 meters.
• Steven's climbing movement is 0 meters because he has no climbing ability.
• We leave air movement blank because Steven cannot fly.

7. Defense, Armor and Healthy

• Steven's melee defense is his best defense, which is his defense (Def) with the machete (14).
• Steven's missile defense is his agility plus 10, which is 10 (10 + 0 = 10).
• Steven has no armor so we can leave best absorption and total cover blank.
• Steven's healthy is 4: half of his toughness, rounded up.

Steven, adult male human robber, 95 kg, 1.6 m height, 201 CP
1 speed, 0 agility, 3 strength, 7 toughness, 14 stamina, 5 running
2 unarmed combat, 4 one-handed weapons, 2 craftsmanship
2 hands (hand, 3 power, 2 attack, 12 defense)
2 feet (3 power, 2 attack, 12 defense)
1 machete (sharp, 0.5 kg, 3 heft, 5 power, 4 attack, 14 defense)
14 melee defense, 10 missile defense, 13 grapple defense, 3 grapple attack
0 best absorption, 0 total cover, ____ stun, ____ damage