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Every player character is created using character points (CP). These points have no real-world analog, but are simply a mechanism for evaluating the relative strengths of various characters (or other creatures). This ensures that all PCs start out on equal footing and improve at a measurable rate.

Contents 1 Starting points 1.1 Bane points 2 Experience points 2.1 Campaign goals 2.2 Role-playing 3 Examples 3.1 Example: Cúthalion 3.1.1 Example (basic): Character concept 3.1.2 Example (basic): Character points

[edit] Starting points

Each character in a campaign begins play with the same number of starting points (CP) to spend on initial character creation. The number of starting points determines the campaign level.

Each module is designed with a recommended amount of starting points. This amounts may be changed by the GM, but are designed to work well with the specific module.

Anything that improves your abilities costs character points. You "purchase" the ability from your CP pool, and once you're down to +0 CP, you can't purchase any more abilities.

[edit] Bane points

Anything that detracts from your abilities adds to your CP pool, instead of subtracting from it. These characteristics are known as banes. A character can have bane points equaling no more than 50% of the campaign level. A character is never required to take banes, but they tend to add both to character abilities and role-playing interest, so players are advised to use all points available.

For instance, in a 100-point campaign, a character gets +100 starting points and up to +50 bane points. Assuming the player uses all available bane points, that gives +150 character points with which to purchase abilities.

Banes can be "bought off" after the start of play by spending experience points equal to the original cost of the bane.

A character can never add bane points after play begins. If the campaign circumstances demand that she pick up a new bane – say, by acquiring a new enemy – she should be given the opportunity to buy off an equivalent value of other banes.

[edit] Experience points

Characters improve after play begins by acquiring experience points. These character points are used to purchase new abilities in exactly the same manner as starting points. The total of the character's starting points and acquired experience points equals the character level.

At the end of each adventure the GM awards a number of experience points to each character. These points come from two sources: campaign goals and role-playing.

[edit] Campaign goals

Each character earns the same number of campaign experience points based on campaign goals accomplished during that session.

This number can be anywhere between +1 point and +5 points. The most common is +3 points, with +1 point indicating a worthless evening, and +5 points indicating that the party accomplished far more than the GM anticipated.

A character receives campaign experience points even if the player is absent for a valid reason, so long as the character still participates in the adventure (say, under the control of the GM).

[edit] Role-playing

In addition to campaign experience points, each character also receives a number of role-playing experience points based on how well the player role-plays her character. This number can be different for each character.

Again, this number can be anywhere between +1 point and +5 points, with +3 points being the most common, +1 point indicating an abysmal job of role-playing, and +5 points indicating fantastic role-playing.

Note that good role-playing does not always contribute toward accomplishing campaign goals. A character with the impetuous bane who passes up an opportunity to steal a dragon's treasure may, indeed, be making the best decision for the sake of the party, but may suffer when it comes to receiving role-playing experience points. On the other hand, the same character who rushes into the dragon's lair, grabs some worthless bauble, and runs out again, should be rewarded when it comes time to receive role-playing experience points, assuming he survives.

A character only receives role-playing experience points if the player is there to role-play.

Note that between campaign experience points and role-playing experience points, a character can conceivably receive anywhere between +1 point and +10 points per adventure, with +5 or +6 points being the most common.

[edit] Examples