CHARACTERS

Character generation for Traveller/Cepheus engine can be a game in itself.  If you do not want to go through this, if we can work out what you are looking for, a character can be created for you.   But first, there is one issue that is important but not reflected in the character generation rules!

POLITICS

It's important that we understand the political alignment of your character.  It will very likely be important to the story.  It's certainly important to the 12-13 billion Humans in the 100 worlds.

Humanity is ruled by the Commonwealth, through the Governates, which are managed by Governors.  Governors are selected from the brightest Human students, separated from the general population, educated, trained, assigned to a Governate, and then rotated through their career- a Governor might work in five or six different Governates, maybe even five or six different planets in a career.  They are always assigned to a Governate without connections to their original home, to help them remain objective, without local allegiances.  In between these assignments, they are given further education.

But opinions vary.

Some say the Commonwealth has been a blessing for all humanity.  The agitators today have no idea how bad things were… they should read a history book.  Humanity was divided into nations, ethnic groups, and rival political groups that played on people’s emotions to win their support.  There was constant war, stress, chaos, hatred.  Leaders lied, cheated, maneuvered and manipulated for power.  It’s true we do not choose our leaders now, but they are highly trained, and they have no need to stoke our fears and angers to win political support.  Since they are not allowed to become wealthy, there is no corruption.  We have a magnificent system and we shouldn’t threaten it with outmoded ideas.

In another view, the Commonwealth may have done great things, but the cost is too high.  Humans have rights, and among them, the right to choose leaders democratically.  If leaders are not chosen by the people they lead, what gives them the authority they claim?  The Commonwealth suppresses our development and our free expression.  It is led by an institutionalized, insensitive society of academics who simply do not belong to the people they rule.  They claim to be good at what they do, and better than alternatives… but this does not grant them a right to rule, anymore than a person can adopt any child they wish by claiming that they would be better than the child’s own parents.  It is time to allow democracy in the 100 Worlds.

Which position here most closely coincides with what your character believes?

1)  I’ve heard the arguments, and honestly, I don’t have a solid opinion, though I enjoy the stability, security and prosperity we have.

2)  I’ve heard the arguments, and honestly, I don’t have a solid opinion, though I think the Commonwealth should be less overbearing and more flexible.

3)  I think the commonwealth is great.  Three centuries of prosperity.  War between Humans is virtually unknown.  Corruption is rare.  We are doing better than ever.  The people who want to change that are crazy.

4)  The cost of the commonwealth is too high.  People need a voice.  They need real representation by people who understand them.  We are people, not livestock to be managed.  Abolish the commonwealth, give us democratic rule!

5)  It’s all aliens, it always was.  The commonwealth system is how the aliens control us.

6)  It’s all aliens, it always was.  The commonwealth system is how the aliens control us.  And we are very lucky for that, because the alien civilizations are far older and wiser than ours.

7)  I really don’t care much about politics.  There is an old proverb from Africa:  When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.  I wish I could just stay out of it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And now... Character Generation

I have customized the character generation system given in Cepheus Engine to reflect my universe.  Pirates, Mercenaries, and Hunters are out.  Nobles are acceptable but in general, have no authority.  A lot of other careers have been added, thrown in from various supplements and adapted here, see the various character classes in the Rules thread.  There is no need to role for commission, it is AUTOMATIC on your character’s second term.  The social structure is very level compared to the Traveller Universe, with no great divide between “commissioned” and “uncommissioned” people.   If you fail Character Survival, your character need not be dead before completion!  You have three choices:  Assume dead and start fresh,  assume a serious mishap has occurred forcing your character to leave that profession (See the Cephius Engine Mishap table) or lose one benefit roll and keep going.

The HOMEWORLD SKILLS procedure is REVERSED.

 The game format of choosing a homeworld skill based on your homeworld is backwards.  Choose your homeworld skill from the list below, and THAT will determine a selection of homeworlds for you to choose from.

Any Art - 0
Any Science - 0
Animals – 0
Athletics – 0
Carousing - 0
Computer – 0
Gun Combat – 0
Language
Melee Combat – 0
Streetwise – 0
Survival - 0
Watercraft - 0
Wheeled Vehicle – 0
Zero G - 0

I have also adjusted the Benefits.   Allies are people who are in a position to aid the character, with information, a place to stay, a loan, or other support  (For example, an Ally who is a good attorney can get a character out of legal trouble).  They are not NPC’s who will “join the party”.  High Passage means a book of 10 tickets, each good for a journey of up to 10 Light Years, or fraction thereof.  Animal means a trained, capable animal your character works with.  Generally a dog or horse.  Equity means shares in a corporation.  You can sell these at any time, and they will change in value.  It is possible that character actions might even impact the share value.

The EW Tech career is special:  You must have completed one term of military rank to qualify.  It represents a continuation of military career and not a new career.  You can then switch back at any time to your original military career- for example, a Navy character can have a term of Navy, a term of EW Tech, and then a term of NAVY.   The Security career CAN be played this way, but it is not required. It represents service in elite protective organizations, and while some are military, some are not.

Some skills are new:

Electronic Warfare (EW)  Skill in using advanced, generally classified systems to blind and/or fool sensors.

Heavy Equipment Operator:  Skill in using construction equipment, loading equipment, or other large things of that nature.

Commerce: This represents expertise in a single area of business, for example, Real Estate, Armaments, Hospitality, Agriculture, etc.  It is used two ways:  first, Education or Intelligence checks pertaining to that skill are enhanced.  For example, if a Character has Commerce (Agriculture) he or she will know more about where certain crops tend to be of higher quality, command higher prices, etc, compared to a character of equal Education and Intelligence lacking that skill.  Second, mental skills directly connected to that skill are enhanced.  For example, a character with Broker 1 and Commerce (Hospitality) 1 has a total of +2 when trying to use Broker to attract paying passengers to a starship.  A Character with Broker 1 and Commerce (Agriculture) 1 would be better able to negotiate purchases of products, livestock, farmland, etc.

Investigate:  This is the ability to find clues, patterns, and use databases, and typical information gathering equipment to a character’s career.

Law:  This is knowledge of the Commonwealth’s law, and legal systems.

So, take a look at the list below, and the pages that follow that deal with them:

From Cepheus:
Athlete
Aerospace Defense

Agent

Barbarian

Belter

Bureaucrat

        Colonist

        Diplomat

        Drifter

  Entertainer

Marine

        Maritime Defense

Merchant

Navy

Noble

Physician

        Rogue

        Scientist

Scout

        Surface Defense

        Technician

My Added List:

        Academic People in universities.  Can be used to cover a stint in a university prior to starting a career, or can be a career in itself for those who remain in the ivory halls.

        Artist – includes the performing arts.

Attorney – useful for getting out of trouble.

Builder

        Clergy

        Companion

        Corporate – specialists in business.

EW Tech – a branch path for military personnel, trained in the exotic and classified equipment used to disrupt, blind, and baffle sensors.

Governor – the detached, highly trained caste that runs things in the Commonwealth.

Journalist

Law Enforcement

Media – performers, producers.

        Rural Police- includes park rangers, game wardens, and other law enforcement trained in the environment as much as they are in apprehending criminals.

        Politician

        Port Authority – People who work in starports, but are not space crew, generally in an official capacity

        Security – Personal protective specialists, from the elite military used to protect the homes of heads of state to the private bodyguards of the wealthy.

        Spacer- people who work on, in, and around spacecraft, but not specifically in the military, or the business end.

        Steward – specialists in the care of passengers.  A good steward can attract a higher class of passengers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:00, Sat 16 Nov 2019.