Some people might know I've had a game called Everlasting Empire on the back burner for quite some time now. I've been troubled by how to make the game actually work. I was pondering the use of Gregor Huttons excellent, elegant ERP system for the game. However, a moment of inspiration came on the platform of Hounslow Tube Station on Sunday after Dragonmeet. Thanks must go to Gregor for providing this inspiration.

So, I've started writing up my first thoughts on the mechanics of the game. As a side note, the mechanics will be a D6 dice pool based system rolling over a fixed target number, against successes gained by the opposition.

My main question here is fairly simple: From reading these basic notes, do you feel that this system gives some of the feel of a Dan Dare-Meets-Arthur C Clarke-Meets-H G Wells kind of game? And, does it offer enough scope to create engaging characters? Any other comments that you may have are welcomed.

As a final note, some of the inspirations for the game are (fairly obviously) Matt Machells 'Covenant', Gregor Huttons 'ERP' and a few other games, whos inspiration will be more apparent once I post stuff on basic system, probably later this week.

There's a very small bit about EE here.

Cheers
Malcolm

After the group has created their Situation Sheet and decided the hows, whys, wherefores and whos of the game they are going to play, then it’s time to stride forth into the creation of the individual characters. This is most certainly best done as a group, whereby ideas can be bounced around and jolly banter can be engaged in. It’s recommended to have drinks on hand, maybe a nice port or a glass of fine malt whiskey. For those of an abstemious nature, a lovely hot cup of tea would do just as well!

The first stage in creating a character involves answering the two following questions:

Who am I?
What do I do?

The former can be answered simply, with a name, perhaps where the character comes from and their social background.

The latter relates to their current employment and occupation, perhaps also detailing their past experience and endeavours.

In order to illustrate all the stages of character creation, we’ll be following with a keen eye the evolution of a character created by Matt, who’s taking part in a game of Everlasting Empire.

Matt thinks about the two important questions, has a small glass of brandy, and then writes down the following:

Already we can see the start of an intriguing character in the form of ‘Biffer’ Burridge.

Now we move on to a more detailed definition of the characters. Four things mechanically define characters in EE:

Attributes

Attributes cover three areas of the character and input into the conflict resolution system by providing the basic number of dice for the players dice pool in a conflict. The attributes are Action (which covers all physical things that a character might do, such as dishing out a good biffing to some rum coves on a distant colony!), Brains (which covers intellectual tasks, reasoning and wisdom, like outsmarting the fiendish Professor von Kaiser in an intricate duel of wits!) and Grit (which covers willpower, determination and a jolly good stiff upper lip in the face of adversity!).

When creating a character, attributes are defined by a number from 1 to 5, with 1 being a very poor level in that attribute and 5 being almost superhuman! That’s not to say that characters should not have a low attribute here or there, oh no! It simply means that they will be at a slight disadvantage in a conflict that utilise their low attribute and should think cleverly and carefully about how to set up conflicts that play to their own particular strengths.

All characters get 9 points to spend in the three attributes, distributed as the player sees fit. But remember, the minimum attribute level is 1 and the maximum is 5.

Let’s glance once more at the case of our old friend Filkstone ‘Biffer’ Burridge, the steely and determined Foreign & Colonial Office Agent. Matt has decided that Biffer is a man of guts and determination, speedy of thought but not the most physical of chaps. So, he assigns the nine attribute point like this:

So, it’s clear to see that in situation where resilience and presence of mind are the order of the day, ‘Biffer’ Burridge is the man to have on your side!

Motifs, Motivations and Traits

The next part of creating a character in Everlasting Empire is very important and covers the characters Motifs, Motivations and Traits. These all highlight distinct things about the character and so are worthy of some cheery discourse!

Motifs are pieces of descriptive imagery about the character that says something about who they are, the way they do things. Think of it as a visual ‘shtick’, a particular use of language

One motif is always key to any character, and that is the Smoking Motif. The Smoking Motif must be to do with smoking, as every character in Everlasting Empire smokes. It can be the way they grind a cigarette butt under their heel, the manner in which they wave their pipe in an argument, the fluttering of eyelashes behind a veil of smoke from a slim cigarette holder and so forth.

Smoking Motifs are even more powerful than normal motifs and give two extra dice if they can be brought into a conflict, rather than the normal one die for bringing a motif into a conflict.

Motivations are the things that drive the character, which force them on. They can be deeply held beliefs, things from a dark past, optimistic notions or all manner of things. As long as a Motivation is something that drives the character forward.

Traits are things the character can do, physical or mental aspects of their makeup, skills and learned abilities. Traits can cover a lot of ground, so think wisely when choosing them!

When it comes to choosing motifs, motivations and traits, the players gets to pick 2 of 1, 3 of another and 4 of the remaining category. So a player could choose to have 4 Motifs, 2 Motivations and 3 Traits. Or perhaps they’d like to have 2 Motifs, 3 Motivations and 4 Traits. As long as the basic pattern is followed, the individual player is at liberty to decide what emphasis they’d like to place on the character.

To illustrate how this works, we shall again visit our friend ‘Biffer’ Burridge.

Matt thinks carefully about the emphasis he’d like to place on Burridge and decides to give him 2 Motifs, 3 Motivations and 4 Traits. After suitable consideration over a small sweet sherry, Matt writes down the various things about good old Biffer, as follows:

So, we are already developing a good picture of the determined, socially deferential and chisel-jawed Filkstone Burridge!

Resources

The final element of character creation is the resources that the character has. There are precious few restraints other than common sense and good judgement here, so exercise wisdom and consideration when picking out resources.

Resources can give bonus dice in a conflict, but only if they are appropriately described. Simply writing down ‘Pistol’ means that, yes, the character has a pistol, but it offers no advantage, even when used in a conflict. However, if that pistol were described as a Webley-Enfield MkV Electromagnetic revolver, then that would be splendid and give a bonus die in a conflict!

So what does Biffer carry around with him in the execution of his Imperial duties? Well, Matt shows some imagination and describes three things that he always has upon his person:

Palmerston ‘Vigorous’ Ray-pistol with ivory grips
Sword cane carved with the family coat of arms and inlaid with silver
Crombie coat with cunningly concealed armoured lining

All of these resources, if brought in to a conflict, would each give a bonus die.