Yes as this is not an attack no need for a Fighting Tricks skill to use.

For any interested in older/dead languages details added to the end of the Character Creation Guidelines - Homelands, Languages & Cultures post.

In reply to Crom (msg # 7):

I can work with those suggestions. I hopefully will get to work some this evening. Didn't get anything done over the weekend was down with a sick headache all day saturday and most of yesterday.

In reply to Ludvik (msg # 21):

Was going to see about reworking those a bit. If you want your character to also be a competent healer I doubt there would be a conflict.

Out of curiosity, what are the healing options for characters in this milieu? Are there healing skills above "paramedic"? Spells?

Paramedics and any complementary skills (Herbalism, PS: Churgeon, or the like) are about it.

There is also the Rapid Healing Talent describes in the Character Creation Guidelines thread.  Basically you still look hurt but somehow, maybe sheer force of will, you're able to keep going as long as you can get some rest.

No Sorcery is available to start.  But this is also partly why you were allowed up to 2 levels of Combat Luck....not that it can't be negated...

Ok, just checking. The conversations above about healing and coordination made me curious. I figured there wouldn't actually be anything available, but I wanted to make sure I asked.

Can you make my character sheet editable? I'd like to move the character into that area.

I am taking the GM's advice and making a nutshell bio and description of Almaric of Nemedia.

 He was born into the family of a landed knight in the kingdom of Nemedia on the Eastern march that bordered Aquilonia. Raised in the traditions of honor and martial glory, he was squired to the liege lord of his father, and his future lord. After years of service as a squire, he won his spurs, and became a Knight.

  Almaric served in his father's small household as a Knight, and upon the death of his sire, inherited the small estate. It was not a hand full of years with fingers to spare, that his liege became involved in a half-baked rebellion against the King of Nemedia. The revolt was over in one pitched battle, the liege that Amalric had followed against his better judgement into revolt, had been slain in the first charge. His liege pierced through, by a royalist
Lancer. Amalric and a few others cut their way through the thirsty swords of the King's army, and fled across the frontier into Ophir, and all posts elsewhere.

 Now with a price upon his head in Nemedia, Amalric seeks a way it earn enough gold to bribe his way home. Where once he had been an idealistic honorable Knight, his time upon the Road of Kings has smoothed the edges of his moral compass. He is now more cynical and realistic in his outlook of life, warfare from his time as a Sell Sword.

I definitely have some ideas.  Bet others do too.

Couple questions:
- any particular weapon(s) you see him preferring?
- Nemedia is generally considered culturally superior, do you see Amalric having any fine arts skills or knowledge?

In reply to Crom (msg # 35):


 Being a knight, he would have skill in the arming sword( Long sword), Lance, and something more heavy, like Mace, Flail or war hammer.

 Amalric would have been taught, dancing, perhaps how to play an instrument, Hawking and or hunting, Nemedian politics, courtesy, Heraldry, Nemedia and bordering lands.

 Does that help?

Quite the bunch of rats covered in filth and bruises we are ! ^^

Eager to start woot !

Amalric, is someone currently helping you? I know that character creation can be easy, or harrowingly complicated, in the Hero System depending on how much depth the campaign is asking for. As a system, Hero has an expansively vast number of options for characters. It is often called a "tool kit" more than a game system.

You'll need a good vision of how you see your character. I like to start with stats. You get to pick them: they are not rolled, they are bought. Then choose some skills, as you already have. Finally, a few talents or perks, if you have points left over. Then some complications that can represent his past, his personality, or maybe even some quirks. He can also have responsibilities, duties, or oaths as complications.

Where in the character building process are you now? Do not yet bother reading the full rules. Just focus on what you need for the moment. You can read the rest later, when you have more time... much, much more time. =)

 I am afraid not. No one had come forward to help me.

I'm reading and working on a build, but as I said am brand new as well so the breadth of available options and the math of how to calculate some of it is slowing me down.  I'll try to get a rough draft up soon.

My 2 cents, skills think of skills central to his life, then the fighting style, then stats.

Skills are where Hero sh9ines. Describe those skills and then go looking for their equivalent.

Amalric,

I took a shot based on your description.  Here are some of the main things I envisioned from your words:
- A survivor
  - gave him high Constitution, Rapid Healing (reduced to every 6 Hours)
- Once a knight
  - set his Caste at Warrior level instead of Knight
  - knightly skills like Riding, weapons including flail and lance
  - Oratory & Tactics - he's commanded troops
  - Fighting Tricks with Swords and Flail
  - Martial Maneuvers with Swords (couldn't afford Flails too)
  - Defense Maneuver I - he's fought against groups of opponents before
  - Animal Handling: Equines - knows how to care for his horse
  - Penalty Skill Levels vs Penalties Fighting from Horseback - he's fought in the saddle for years
- Nemedian Knight at court
  - High Society
  - Knowledge Skill: Politics
- Living on the road now, mercenary?  bandit?  whatever it takes?
  - skills like Survival, Navigation (Land)
  - familiarity with Streetwise, he's started dealing with the lower element of society
  - Fighting Tricks with Brawling and Martial Maneuvers to support (he's dangerous with or
without a weapon)
  - languages, cultural knowledge and area knowledge of the countries he travels regularly now
- Hobby
  - Professional Skill: Falconry & Animal Handling: Raptors

Some complications I envisioned:
- Loyal, to a fault actually, sounded like he knew his liege was wrong but follow him anyway
- Rebelled, negative reputation as a Traitor
- A Wanted Man, hunted by bounty hunters or others in power who learn of the price on his head
- need 20 more points of complications....can you think of any other troubles he might have?


Here's the character sheet:


Amalric






Characteristics Total: 68



Powers Total: 6




Martial Arts Total: 22



Skills Total: 65



Perks Total: 4



Talents Total: 10




Complications Points: 30


Base Points: 175
Experience: 0
Experience Unspent: 0
Total Character Cost: 175
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:16, Wed 27 Mar 2019.

Ludvik if you want do as Amalric and post a history (or even just bullet points) of the character you're thinking of we can try to help.

Alright. I think Crom did most of the heavy lifting for you. As a sample character, that is a good build for a warrior. He'll be a proficient knight with those numbers.

I would recommend that you take a look at the values in the character sheet, and begin to dig into what the characteristics mean (how much strength is a 10 STR? 12? 15?). After that, check out the description of the skills your character has and what they do for him.

Finally, consider the complications, since they represent his past and personality to some degree, and see if you can think of any other personal, social, or psychological details that may come to mind for him. Any of those "quirks" or "faults" are what complications are for. They play into the character's story to make things a bit more difficult, but you get more points for them to build your character. As it is, Crom built the character with the assumption of a full set of complications (50 point), so you'll have to top them off. =)

I believe everyone should have an editable character sheet now.  If not please let me know.

Edit:  Adjusted for corrections/cuts.

Alright!  My first foray into Hero System and it has been interesting.  I confess to copying a few things from some examples where the math was already done (ahem Thanks Amalric (I so meant to put Tiberio here...) ahem), but I'm not 100% that everything is exactly right as is.  It wouldn't surprise me if there are issues.  Any corrections or advice from any of you is more than welcome!  Thanks!

Standard Heroic Guidelines
175 Character Points / 50 Complications (25 max from 1 category)

175/175

Ludvik

My name is Ludvik, son of Wulfhere, and I am a Hyperborean of the fortress city of Karbori.  My father is a sellsword, a raider, and a slaver.  A man of high accomplishment for one not born to inherit a noble title or the cheiftancy of a clan.  I am his third son and so, standing to inherit little, I have always perforce sought other advantages.  From a young age I studied under both my father and Gorm the Sorcerer.  Gorm is ancient, wise, and cruel as any sorcerer one might hear tales of.  He taught me for want of my father's gold and slaves and there was nothing more between us at first.  Yet I would be forsworn if I did not say he is like a second father to me now.  Studying hard with both I sought to foster my own ambitions in time, to come to have the strength and power to win my own fortune and name much as my father has.  And perhaps more.  Lands, slaves, titles, and all the finest pleasures of life are there for the taking, on the Road of Kings.

Characteristics: (89)

Str: 10
Dex: 13 (6pts)
Con: 10
Int: 23 (16pts)
Ego: 23 (16pts)
Pre: 23 (16pts)

OCV: 5 (10pts)
DCV: 5 (10pts)
OMCV: 3
DMCV: 3
SPD: 3 (10pts)
PD: 2
ED: 2
REC: 4
END: 30 (2pts)
BODY: 10
STUN: 20

Running: 15m (3pts)
Swimming: 4m
Leaping: 4m

Skill Enhancers: (6)

Linguist (3pts)
Scholar (3pts)

General Skills: (58)

Acting 8-
Bribery: (9+(PRE/5)): 14- (3pts)
Charm: (9+(PRE/5)): 14- (3pts)
Climbing 8-
Concealment 8-
Conversation: (9+(PRE/5)): 14- (3pts)
Deduction: : (9+(INT/5)): 14- (3pts)
Divination/Methods: Sciomancy(Spirit Consultation)(P), Runecasting, Onieromancy, (9+(INT/5)): 14- (3pts)
High Society/Courtier: (9+(PRE/5)): 14- (3pts)
Knowledge: Occult Lore: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (2pts)
Knowledge: Priests, Cults, & Sorcerers: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (2pts)
Knowledge: History, Legends, & Ancient Lore: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (2pts)
Knowledge: Spirits, Demons, & Outsiders: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (2pts)
Knowledge: Creatures, Beasts, & Monsters: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (2pts)
Knowledge/Area: Hyperborea: 8-
Knowledge/Culture: Hyperborea: 11-
Mechanics: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (3pts)
Oratory: (9+(PRE/5)): 14- (3pts)
Paramedics/Healing: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (3pts)
Persuasion: (9+(PRE/5)): 14- (3pts)
Poisoning: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (3pts)
Profession: Mercenary: 11-
Riding (9+(DEX/5): 12- (3pts)
Science: Alchemy: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (3pts)
Shadowing 8-
Stealth 8-
Tactics: (9+(INT/5)): 14- (3pts)
Weapon Familiarity: Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons, Siege Weapons (6pts)

Languages: (11)

Language: (Native) Hyperborean (Idiomatic)(Literate)(1pt)

Language: Nordheimer (Completely Fluent)(Literate)(Cultural Similarity: 1)(2pt)

Language: Nemedian (Completely Fluent)(Literate)(Cultural Similarity: 1)(2pt)

Language: Stygian (Completely Fluent)(Literate)(3pt)

Language: Acheronian (Completely Fluent)(Literate)(3pt)

Perks: (11)

Ancient Bloodline (Hyperborean)(lvl2)(5pts)
Fringe Benefit/Social Status: Warrior (2pts)
Positive Reputation: Skilled Captain, Who Keeps His Word (Mercenaries/Soldiers/Warriors)(Roll: 14-)(2pts)
Positive Reputation: Worthy Apprentice Of The Mighty Gorm (Sorcerers, Priests, & Cults)(Roll: 14-)(2pts)

Complications: (50)

Distinctive Features (Concealable/Always Noticed & Causes Reaction: Re: Hyperborean Bloodline + Powerfully Magnetic Personality)(15pts)
Psychological Complication (Always Keeps His Freely Given Word/Common/Strong)(15pts)
Psychological Complication (Rescue Damsels In Distress/Uncommon/Strong)(10pts)
Social Complication (Master Gorm Expects Obedience And Service/Subject To Orders/Infrequent/Major)(10pts)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:13, Fri 29 Mar 2019.

Ah, common mistake if you're familiar with earlier versions of Hero System.  Complications do not add additional points; they simply subtract points from the total should you take less than the required amount.

Since you do have to full 50 points of Complications you have 175 points for your character, not 225.

Also:
- Striking Appearance is basically +5 PRE with a -1/2 limitation to restriction on what skills/situations it can apply to.  As such it is subject to the cost doubling when this takes the character's PRE over 20.

- Are you only literate with your native language?  Just checking

- Each level of the Ancient Bloodlines Perk are cumulative.  So 2nd level would cost an additional 3 points for a total of 5


- Hero System has a Skill called Power.  We're using it to represent intense training in a particular weapon group.  So, for your Fighting Tricks: Swordsmanship and Daggerwork would each require that you have bought a matching Power Skill named after the weapon group.  In your case you would need Fighting Tricks: Swordsmanship & Fighting Tricks: Daggerwork.  Each would cost 3 points and be based on your DEX.  Having these skills will allow you to buy the Martial Arts maneuvers you have:
Power Skill/Fighting Tricks: Swordsmanship: (9+(DEX/5)): 12- (3pts)
- Defensive Strike (5pts)
- Martial Strike (4pts)
Power Skill/Fighting Tricks: Daggerwork: (9+(DEX/5)): 12- (3pts)
- Martial Block (4pts)
- Martial Dodge (4pts)
Actually, you are required to spend a minimum of 10 points on each group, so you need an additional 1 point for Swordsmanship and 2 points for Daggerwork.

You'll also use these skills when you want to apply the Combat Skill Levels:
Combat Skill Levels: x2 (Small Group of Attacks: Swords)(Requires Swordsmanship Roll: -1/2) (4pts)
Combat Skill Levels: x2 (Small Group of Attacks: Knives/Daggers)(Requires Daggerwork Roll: -1/2) (4pts)
Every phase you want to use them you'll try to roll under their corresponding skill to represent that your competent but it's not guaranteed
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:06, Thu 28 Mar 2019.

Okay here is likely the final version of my character. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated. Has anyone put any thought into or have a suggestion on a language we all have in common?

Chang Jun

VAL CHA  Cost Roll Notes
13  STR  3    12-  HTH Damage 2 1/2d6  END [3]
15  DEX  10   12-
13  CON  3    12-
12  INT  2    12-  PER Roll 11-
10  EGO  0    11-
10  PRE  0    11-  PRE Attack: 2d6
5   OCV  10
6   DCV  15
3   OMCV 0
3   DMCV 0
4   SPD  20   Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12
2   PD   0    3/9 PD (0/6 rPD)
2   ED   0    3/9 ED (0/6 rED)
4   REC  0
20  END  0
10  BODY 0
20  STUN 0

Movement Cost Meters   Notes
RUNNING  0    12m/24m  END [1]
SWIMMING 0    4m/8m    END [1]
LEAPING  0    4m/8m 4m/8m forward, 2m/4m upward

Characteristics Total: 63

Cost Powers
1 Improved Leaping: Leaping +4m (4m/8m forward, 2m/4m upward) (2 Active Points); Requires A Roll (Skill roll; Acrobatics; -1/2) - END=1

Powers Total: 1

Cost Martial Arts
4 Block:  1/2 Phase, +2 OCV, +2 DCV, Block, Abort
4 Disarm:  1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, +1 DCV, Disarm; 23 STR to Disarm
4 Dodge:  1/2 Phase, -- OCV, +5 DCV, Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort
4 Escape:  1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +0 DCV, 28 STR vs. Grabs
5 Kick:  1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +1 DCV,  6 1/2d6, Strike
4 Knife Hand:  1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV,  HKA 1d6 +1, Strike
4 Punch:  1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 4 1/2d6 Strike
3 Throw:  1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 2 1/2d6 +v/10, Target Falls
4 Tien-hsueh Strike:  1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, +1 DCV,  2d6 NND, Strike

Martial Arts Total: 36

Cost Skills
3 Acrobatics 12-
0 Acting 8-
3 Breakfall 12-
3 Climbing 12-
0 Concealment 8-
3 Contortionist 12-
3 KS: Khitai Healing 11-
1 KS: Philosophy 8-
2 KS: (Prof.) Kung Fu 10-
3 KS: Herbalism 11-
0 Conversation 8-
0 Deduction 8-
0 AK: Khitai 8-
0 Language: Khitan (completely fluent; literate) (4 Active Points)
1 Language: Hyperborean (basic conversation)
1 Language: Hyrkanian (basic conversation)
3 Paramedics (Healing) 11-
0 Persuasion 8-
0 PS: Apothecary 11-
3 Shadowing 12-
3 Streetwise 11-
6 WF:  Common Martial Arts Melee Weapons, Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons
5 Fighting Tricks 13-
10 Defense Maneuver I-IV

Skills Total: 53

Cost Talents
10 Combat Luck (6 PD/6 ED) (12 Active Points); Not while wearing > 15kg of armor (-1/4)
10 Danger Sense (self only, in combat, Intuitional) 12-
2 Off-Hand Defense

Talents Total: 22

Value Complications
5 Distinctive Features:  Tattoos (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
5 Distinctive Features:  Khitai (Concealable, Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses, Not Distinctive in some Cultures)
15 Hunted: Nian Hao (First Adviser to Chengtianhou. A warlord in western province of Khitai - More Powerful, Infrequently, Wishes to Kill PC)
15 Psychological Complication: Code of Honor - Honorable(always keeps word, never takes advantage of a situation - Common, Strong)
10 Social Complication: Bounty (Infrequently, Major)

Complications Points: 50

Base Points: 175
Experience: 0
Experience Unspent: 0
Total Character Cost: 175

In reply to Crom (msg # 42):

More complications, Hmmm. How many points of never striking a woman,and feels he has to rescue them when he sees one in trouble. It is a few fragments that are left of his knightly honor, he had to abandon to live in the real world.

Trying to figure out where to make the always painful cuts.  8D

Any suggestions on the build overall by the more experienced folks?

And that will be two of us in for rescuing the damsels in distress then Amalric!  Sounds like a good way for us to get into trouble.