Roll & Assign Stats
The first step in Runebearer's character creation is to roll 10 primary stats. Stats are generated with a roll of 4d6-4, providing a range between 0-20. I generated a few sets and ended up with a very nice one: 16, 15, 15, 14, 13, 13, 12, 9, 8, 8.
Knowing that I was going to create a warrior, I arrange the stats as follows:
- Strength: 15
- Agility: 15
- Dexterity: 14
- Speed: 13
- Toughness: 16
- Intelligence: 8
- Willpower: 13
- Spirit: 8
- Charisma: 9
- Perception: 12
My reasoning for assigning stats this way was pretty simple. I am creating a warrior, and don't want to think about how to arrange stats, so go physical. Anyone in my gaming groups is probably cringing right now at my horrible inefficiencies, but whatever.
Generate Secondary Statistics
There are five secondary statistics in Runebearer that impact his performance in combat situations. Each of these is derived from the primaries.
- Hit Points = Toughness + 1/2 Strength + 1/2 Willpower + 8
So in our case, 16 + (15/2) + (13/2) = 16 + 8 + 7 + 8 = 39. A commoner with average stats would have 28 hit points and so this is a fine amount, and later, we will get even more for being a warrior!
- Base Defense = a chart result based on the sum Agility + Speed + Perception.
Total
|
0-2
|
3-7
|
8-12
|
13-17
|
18-22
|
23-27
|
28-32
|
33-37
|
38-42
|
43-47
|
48-52
|
53-57
|
58-62
|
63-67
|
68-72
|
BD
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
Base Defense is the lowest our defenses can ever be regardless of negative modifiers, or multiple attackers. In our case, 15 + 13 + 12 = 40, which from the chart gives us a Base Defense of 8. This is an above average defense, given that a normal person would have a 6 to start.
- Dodge = Base Defense + 1/5 Speed + 1
Dodge is our defense against arrows and some spells. Our speed is 13, divided by 5 is 2.6 which rounds to 3. So, our dodge is 8 + 3 + 1 = 12. An average character has a 9 dodge score.
- Initiative = a result based on the sum of Speed + Spirit + Perception.
Total
|
0-2
|
3-7
|
8-12
|
13-17
|
18-22
|
23-27
|
28-32
|
33-37
|
38-42
|
43-52
|
53-57
|
58-62
|
63-72
|
INI
|
-6
|
-5
|
-4
|
-3
|
-2
|
-1
|
0
|
+1
|
+2
|
+3
|
+4
|
+5
|
+6
|
Our initiative score is a straight modifier to any initiative rolls we have to do to determine turn order in a combat. Unlike d20 games, initiative is rolled every round in Runebearer, and so this modifier, though not critical, will come in handy. Our sum is 13 + 8 + 12 = 33 and so we end up with a +1 modifier.
- Base Move = a result based on Strength + Agility + Speed.
Total
|
0-2
|
3-7
|
8-17
|
18-27
|
28-37
|
38-42
|
43-47
|
48-52
|
53-57
|
58-62
|
63-67
|
68-72
|
BM
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
Our base move tells us how many 2 meter hexes we can move in a combat round. Our score is 15 +15 + 13 = 43 which gives us a move of 8 hexes.
Choose a Template
Once stats are generated, Runebearer characters get 60 buy points to spend on skills. However, characters must choose a template which is a package of skills, abilities and bonuses that will spend close to half of those points.
There are a ton of different templates to choose from, but to keep things simple, we are going to pick the warrior template which is I think the simplest template. It looks like this:
There are a ton of different templates to choose from, but to keep things simple, we are going to pick the warrior template which is I think the simplest template. It looks like this:
+1 Base Defense
Combat (choose) +2
Combat (choose) +1
Combat (choose)
+5 Hit Points
Tactics
+24 Buy Points
|
The warrior gets a bonus to his base defense and his hit points. He also gets 3 combat skills and tactics. The (choose) means that there are several different combat skills to choose from and that the player will have to pick a specific skill for that slot. The +2 and +1 after the combat skills indicate that those skills are more developed and get extra levels.
I am going to pick sword, shield and bow for my combat skills. My sword skill will go in the +2 slot, and my shield in the +1 slot. Edwin is a better melee combatant than archer.
Each skill in Runebearer is based on 3 statistics. To determine your starting skill level, you add those three scores and then consult a chart, much like we did when we calculated base defense, initiative and base move previously. Here is the starting skill level chart:
I am going to pick sword, shield and bow for my combat skills. My sword skill will go in the +2 slot, and my shield in the +1 slot. Edwin is a better melee combatant than archer.
Each skill in Runebearer is based on 3 statistics. To determine your starting skill level, you add those three scores and then consult a chart, much like we did when we calculated base defense, initiative and base move previously. Here is the starting skill level chart:
Total
|
0-9
|
10-12
|
13-16
|
17-20
|
21-24
|
25-28
|
29-31
|
32-35
|
36-39
|
40-43
|
44-46
|
47-50
|
51-54
|
55-58
|
59-61
|
62+
|
Level
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
Let's figure out how good I am with the sword. Here is the master list of skills.
Looking at the skill table, I see that Combat: Swords is based on Dexterity, Agility and Perception. Adding those stats, I get a total of 41, which gives me an 11 starting skill level. However, since my template gives me 2 bonus levels in swords, my starting value is actually 13. In most games, characters start with important skills in the 10-14 range. 8 would be a starting score for a non-heroic character.
Using a similar process, I can find my shield skill (which is based on Dexterity, Speed and Perception). My stat total is 39 which makes my starting level a 10. However, my shield skill is +1 from my template and thus my actual starting level for shield is 11.
So, I add the stat bonuses to my base defense and hit point, making them 9 and 44 respectively. (Also, because base defense increased, so does dodge.) Then I figure out my starting values in the 4 skills in my template:
Skill
Name
|
Attributes
|
Default
|
Cost
|
Improvement
|
Acrobatics
|
AGI/STR/SPD
|
None
|
5+4
|
5
|
Acting
|
CHR/CHR/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Administrate
|
INT/CHR/WIL
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Alchemy
|
INT/INT/SPI
|
None
|
5+4
|
5
|
Ancient
Knowledge
|
INT/INT/INT
|
None
|
5+4
|
5
|
Animal
Handler
|
CHR/WIL/PER
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Artifacts
|
INT/SPI/PER
|
None
|
5+4
|
5
|
Carouse
|
CHA/PER/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Climb
|
STR/STR/AGI
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Combat:
Axes
|
STR/AGI/DEX
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Bows
|
DEX/DEX/PER
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Flail
|
DEX/AGI/SPD
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Knives
|
SPD/PER/DEX
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Mace
|
STR/AGI/DEX
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Magic
|
DEX/PER/SPI
|
Special
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat: Sling
|
DEX/DEX/DEX
|
None
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Swords
|
DEX/AGI/PER
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Staff
|
DEX/AGI/SPD
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
2-Handed
|
STR/DEX/AGI
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Pole
|
DEX/SPD/AGI
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Thrown
|
DEX/PER/STR
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Shield
|
DEX/PER/SPD
|
Half
|
3+3
|
5
|
Combat:
Unarmed
|
STR/DEX/SPD
|
Full
|
0+3
|
5
|
Conceal
|
PER/INT/SPI
|
Special
|
3+3
|
3
|
Converse
|
CHA/INT/PER
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Craft
|
Variable
|
None
|
1+1
|
2
|
Diplomat
|
INT/CHA/PER
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Disarm
Traps
|
DEX/PER/INT
|
None
|
5+3
|
3
|
Disguise
|
INT/PER/PER
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Engineer
|
INT/INT/PER
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Escape
|
AGI/DEX/WIL
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Etiquette
|
CHA/INT/PER
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Fast
Draw
|
SPD/SPD/DEX
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Fast
Talk
|
INT/CHA/CHA
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Forgery
|
INT/INT/PER
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Gamble
|
SPI/SPI/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Herbalist
|
INT/INT/PER
|
None
|
5+4
|
5
|
Interrogate
|
WIL/INT/CHA
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Investigate
|
PER/PER/INT
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Knowledge
|
INT/INT/INT
|
None
|
1+1
|
2
|
Language
|
(none)
|
None
|
3
|
-
|
Lockpick
|
DEX/PER/INT
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Magic
Skill
|
Variable
|
None
|
7+4
|
5
|
Medical
|
INT/INT/SPI
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Meditate
|
WIL/WIL/SPI
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Navigate
|
PER/PER/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Orate
|
INT/INT/CHA
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Persuade
|
CHA/CHA/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Pickpocket
|
DEX/PER/SPI
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Physician
|
INT/INT/DEX
|
None
|
5+4
|
5
|
Repair
|
STR/DEX/INT
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Riding
|
AGI/PER/SPI
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Rune
Knowledge
|
INT/INT/SPI
|
None
|
5+4
|
5
|
Seduce
|
CHA/CHA/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Stealth
|
AGI/AGI/PER
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Streetwise
|
CHA/PER/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Survival
|
INT/PER/SPI
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Swim
|
STR/AGI/TOU
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Tactics
|
INT/PER/SPI
|
None
|
3+3
|
3
|
Theology
|
INT/INT/SPI
|
Half
|
3+4
|
5
|
Track
|
PER/PER/INT
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Trade
|
CHA/PER/WIL
|
Half
|
3+3
|
3
|
Looking at the skill table, I see that Combat: Swords is based on Dexterity, Agility and Perception. Adding those stats, I get a total of 41, which gives me an 11 starting skill level. However, since my template gives me 2 bonus levels in swords, my starting value is actually 13. In most games, characters start with important skills in the 10-14 range. 8 would be a starting score for a non-heroic character.
Using a similar process, I can find my shield skill (which is based on Dexterity, Speed and Perception). My stat total is 39 which makes my starting level a 10. However, my shield skill is +1 from my template and thus my actual starting level for shield is 11.
So, I add the stat bonuses to my base defense and hit point, making them 9 and 44 respectively. (Also, because base defense increased, so does dodge.) Then I figure out my starting values in the 4 skills in my template:
- Combat: Swords -- 13
- Combat: Shield -- 11
- Combat: Bow -- 11
- Tactics -- 7
And I am left with 24 buy points with which to...
Purchase More Skills
The warrior template leaves me with 24 points and with those points, I can round out Edwin. I am going to focus on physical skills, but with the idea that Edwin was born of peasant farming stock and took to soldiering as a way to better his lot in life.
The cost of a skill is listed in the skill list under the cost column as a pair of numbers in the form 3+3. That means that buying the skill costs 3 points, and raising it a level costs an additional 3 points per level. At character creation time, skills can only be raised a total of 3 levels, though for the price it is often best to get as many different skills as possible. I decide on the following:
Edwin the Example Warrior
- Animal Handler
- Climb
- Craft: Farmer
- Fast Draw
- Repair
- Riding
- Swim
- Trade
That leaves me with 2 points with which to buy some extra knowledge or craft skills. Once I figure out my starting scores, Edwin looks like this... were I to actually be playing Edwin, I would have to spend the 2 remaining points, probably on 2 more background skills.
Edwin the Example Warrior
|
Strength
|
15
|
|
Animal Handler
|
9
|
|
Agility
|
15
|
Climb
|
12
|
|
|
Dexterity
|
14
|
Combat: Bow
|
11
|
|
|
Speed
|
13
|
Combat: Shield
|
11
|
|
|
Toughness
|
16
|
Combat: Sword
|
13
|
|
|
Intelligence
|
8
|
Craft: Farmer
|
10
|
|
|
Willpower
|
13
|
Fast Draw
|
11
|
|
|
Spirit
|
8
|
Repair
|
10
|
|
|
Charisma
|
9
|
Riding
|
9
|
|
|
Perception
|
12
|
Swim
|
12
|
|
|
Hits
|
44
|
Tactics
|
7
|
|
|
Base Def
|
9
|
Trade
|
9
|
|
|
Dodge
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Initiative
|
+1
|
|
|
|
|
Base Move
|
8
|
|
|
