IF you aren't using a pre-generated character from the DARIA universe (which is fine!), then the first step is to pick a character clique, and a character class. (Classes and Cliques could be an alternative name for this game...):

CLIQUES (and CLASSES):

--Artist: You're known for being artistically creative, which is its own clique.
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 1.
--Starting Artists are always Bards, although certain other classes might change cliques and become Artists.
--Choose one set of stats for yourself:
+1 Emotional and +2 Mental, or
+2 Emotional and +1 Mental, or
+3 Emotional and 0 Mental

You get an extra +2 when you use the Impress move.

(IF THAT UP THERE DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO YOU, GO LOOK AT THE OTHER THREAD FIRST, to explain about Moves, Stats, Respect, and so on.)


--Jock: You're a jock. (Your gender(s), or lack thereof, don't matter-- you can be a jock no matter what.) Starting jocks are always fighters, paladins, or knights.
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 1.
--Your stats are +1 Emotional, -1 Mental.
----You get an extra +2 to using the Adventure move.
----You also get a special ability: Over My Head: The first time a character (PC or NPC) uses Lash Out against you, you just ignore it, like you made a total success with the Resist move. The second time in a scene the same character uses Lash Out against you, you get an extra +2 to your Resist roll. After that, you get no special bonuses until a new scene starts.


--Brain: You're known for being smart, which affects your popularity adversely. On the other hand, no one can say you're stupid. (They might accuse you of being emotionally-dense, but not mentally stupid.) Starting Brains can be Rogues, Bards, or Mages (this last category also includes both sorcerers and warlocks).
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 1.
----Your stats are +3 Mental, 0 Emotional.
----You get an extra +2 to Figure Out, Persuade, Speak Truth To Power
----You get an extra +1 to Resist.


--Cute Gal/Cute Guy: (Non-binary or Agender Cutes are just referred to as "Cutes.") You're known for being good-looking and fashionable. Starting Cute Gals and Cute Guys (and Cutes) are always Clerics. A common choice is to be a cleric of Chirosa, Goddess of Beauty and Wealth. Chirosa is the principal of the High School of the Afterlife, Holiday High, and she allows no other deities at Lawndale High. (The Demigods that the holidays are named after, on the other hand, are also possible options.)
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 2.
----Your Stats are +1 Emotional, 0 Mental.
----You get an extra +3 to the Lash Out move.



--Achiever: You're known for being really Type-A dedicated to doing well in your studies, either because you actually want to be like that, or because you're under pressure from your parent(s) or guardian(s). Starting Achievers are always mages (this category also includes both sorcerers and warlocks).
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 2.
----Your stats are (choose one):
------Mental +3 and Emotional -1, or
------Mental +2 and Emotional +1.
----You get an extra +1 to Figure Out and to Impress.


--Goth: You're known for dressing in black (maybe with some dark grays and/or medium grays, but mostly black), and for being quiet and gloomy and depressed. (You might not actually be gloomy and depressed, but you're known for that anyway.) Starting Goths are either: Rogues, Fighters, Druids, or Mages (this category also includes both sorcerers and warlocks-- in this case, especially warlocks.).
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 1.
--Your stats are: +1 Emotional and 0 Mental.
--You get an extra +2 to Resist.
--You get an extra +1 to Speak Truth To Power.
--You also get an extra ability: Underestimate. Everyone, at all times, underestimates you. You annoy them, but this also means they try to ignore you when possible. NPC teens will never pick on you if there are other targets around-- and this goes for some teachers, too.


--Uncool: You're known for being really uncool (and annoying) for some personality-related reason. Starting Uncool PCs can be any class (except cleric), but are often Druids or Mages (this latter category also includes both sorcerers and warlocks-- in this case, especially warlocks.).
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 1.
--Your stats are: 0 Emotional and +1 Mental.
--You get an extra +2 to resist.
--You also get an extra ability: Underestimate. Everyone, at all times, underestimates you. You annoy them, but this also means they try to ignore you when possible. NPC teens will never pick on you if there are other targets around-- and this goes for some teachers, too.


--Decent: You're known for just being a decent person. You'll never be the most popular teen in school, but hey, whatever-- you're just trying to do your best.
--Starting Respect: 1.
--Starting Gold: 1.
--Decents can be of any class.
--Your Stats are +1 Emotional and 0 Mental.
--You get an extra +2 to Reach Out.


Gold: When you buy something, roll Mental. If you want, before or after the roll, you can lose 1 Gold to help your roll by 1.

--If your purchasing roll doesn't fail, you get to buy what you want.
--If your purchasing roll fails, either you can't afford it, or you buy it anyway on credit but you'll be in trouble with your parent(s)/guardian(s) if you aren't able to pay them back in a few weeks...

In the case of purchasing rolls, if your result ties with the GM's result, then you buy it, but your parent(s) or guardian(s) notice, and give you a mild warning to watch your spending in the future.

The GM may add or subtract points to his roll if the thing you want is particularly cheap or expensive.


Race: Pick whatever race you want. None of them matter as far as game mechanics.

To choose randomly:
1. human
2. half-elf
3. elf
4. dwarf
5. halfling
6. gnome
7. half-orc
8. orc

(Other races may be allowed if you clear it with your GM first.)



Respect: You can choose to lose a point of Respect to get something you want from an adult without rolling for it. However, the lower your Respect, the more NPCs (especially NPC teens) will want to make your life harder. ON THE OTHER HAND, if your Respect is higher than 2, some NPCs will start wanting to take you down a notch.

Mental Points and Emotional Points: these are like your Hit Points in other games. If either your EP ever falls below 0, you lose it and start crying and/or screaming, clearly upset, embarrassing yourself, and running away (if possible). When that happens, you lose 1 Respect.

Losing MP is less dangerous. When you fall below 0 MP, choose one:
--Your head starts hurting bad, and you want to flee the scene. Roll, and add your Mental modifier. If you succeed in the roll, you leave the scene without taking any more damage. If you don't, you lose a point of EP.

Everyone starts with 6 MP and 6 EP.

Now that you know about Respect, MP, and EP, let's talk about how you gain and lose them.

--Lash Out: This is the most common way of losing MP and EP. If someone Lashes Out at you with sarcasm and/or insults and you fail to Resist, you lose an MP or EP (your choice).

--Speak Truth To Power: If this works, it does SIX points of damage, and the person it's aimed at loses 2 Respect.



Secret: Every character, PC or NPC, has a (shameful) secret.

HOWEVER, no one REALIZES this at first. At first, everyone is only aware that THEY have a secret. No one realizes that other people have a secret too until they start noticing clues that indicate this...

Secrets may include:

--Addictive behavior (gambling and shopping are the only two that teens will have, although adult NPCs may also have a secret problem with drinking)
--Blackmail, either doing it or being blackmailed
--Bullying
--Conning someone out of their money or some other valuable or valuables
--Doppleganger: this character is secretly a doppleganger! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it does mean they've been kind of lying to us all this time...
--Stealing
--Cheating: the character with this secret is either guilty of cheating academically, or of cheating on someone they've been dating...
--Snitching: this character is secretly a big snitch, running to authorities and tattling-- a big no-no in teen circles if the punishment turns out to outweigh the crime
--Framing: this character has, once or more than once, framed someone for something that person didn't do...
--Sabotaging: this person secretly sabotaged someone, and they do NOT want anyone to know that. Note: the secret might be that you sabotaged someone ACCIDENTALLY, and/or sabotaged the WRONG person, someone who wasn't the person you were TRYING to sabotage.
--False gossip: Gossip is SUPER APPROVED of by all teens, but spreading FALSE rumors about someone is super uncool and shameful if people find out you started it.
--Used to be Uncool at old school 
--Shameful parent: imagine the shame you'll feel at school if they find out that one of your parents who never comes to Parent-Teacher meetings (or, worse, one who does) is actually an evil wizard or a blackguard (paladin or knight who betrayed their oath)!

Finally, there's one secret shame that an adult can have that a teen can't:

Unfair adult: The adult NPC with this secret is secretly guilty of being really unfair to teens in some way they shouldn't, like passing a jock even though they're really making Fs on their exams-- or trying to fail a student unfairly.


You must pick a starting secret to make a character.

If anyone (whom you can't trust to keep it) ever learns your secret, you immediately take 9 points of damage. You might also lose Respect immediately and automatically-- or maybe not-- it depends on what the secret is.


TEMPTATIONS:

Pride
Greed
Jealousy
Wrath
Loneliness
Overindulgence
Sloth

Pick 2. One of the two you pick, the GM can tempt you with one at any time, although you may try to Resist. The other, you can act on at any time to get a Marker. Spend a Marker to give yourself an extra +2 on a roll. Cash in FIVE markers to get 1 point of Respect.



Okay, now-- if you want-- go glance at PART FOUR.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:01, Thu 19 May 2022.