Concept Guidelines
Aureus San Francisco has a number of ready-to-roll story arcs and subplots, and so our starting situation is contrived: we want to be able to get characters involved with these stories starting with Game 1, but where these plots go next is up to the characters’ actions. Because we want to offer high integration of character and story, and because not all character concepts will work equally well with this tale, we’d like you to take some extra time and care with your concepts. Here is what we recommend:
The Situation
Please read the setting material on chronicle website to give yourself an understanding of the situation your character will be stepping into when the story begins. Check it out, mull it over and see what inspiration strikes.
Here is the opening situation in a nutshell:
Francesca Juarez was Prince of San Francisco until she went batshit crazy last year and destroyed most of the vampires in the city; only a handful escaped. A couple of months ago one of the escapees, the Prince’s former Seneschal, Renato, re-entered the city along with a few compatriots. They didn’t find the insane and murderous Prince Juarez, but they did find a nest of Belial’s Brood. Renato, an Unaligned Kindred who was once a member of the Carthian Movement, has just declared himself Prince, and is welcoming new vampires into San Francisco provided that they agree to help secure the city against the Brood and whatever else may be lurking there.
There’s more to it, of course, that you’ll find on the chronicle website. As you can see, the characters are all stepping into a tense, strange and uncertain environment. The crazy old Prince might still be in the city; she might be in torpor; or she might be dead, and if so then whatever managed to kill her is probably even more dangerous than she was. The vampires of Belial’s Brood are violent satanic monsters. Who knows what else might have crept into the city in the months when it was devoid of vampires? And then there’s the weird political situation: any Carthians in the city are probably not going to be happy that the new Prince was one of their own until he turned his back on them, and meanwhile the other covenants probably wouldn’t mind recruiting the Prince into their camps, if they can.
Two Kinds of Kindred
The contrived opening situation intentionally puts all characters into two broad categories: those who entered the city with Renato a couple of months ago and have been helping in his fight against the Brood, and those who have showed up just in the last couple of weeks, or even nights. Please indicate in your concept which of these two groups your character falls into.
NOTE: Characters from either category can be vampires who resided in San Francisco during the reign of Prince Juarez and fled. If that’s part of your concept you’ll be working closely with the Storytellers to figure out exactly what your character saw (or thinks she saw) during her time in the city, when she fled, where she’s been in the meantime, and how and when she decided to return. If your vampire is a total stranger to San Francisco, you need only read the setting information on the website at this point.
Submit a Concept
Please send your concepts to Phil Jones at pjtanton@hotmail.com, and include the following information.
- Brief concept – try to summarize in a sentence or two, at most, the gist of your character. Examples: “He’s a young, idealistic Carthian who wants to make San Francisco a beacon of vampiric freedom.” “She’s a Mekhet mystic who wants to find out what happened to her sire who lived in the city.”
- Clan or Bloodline.
- Covenant – which covenant does your character claim, and why?
- Character personality – How does your character act, generally? What are her basic behaviors? How do you see playing her in the chronicle?
- On a scale of 1 (meaningless) to 5 (critical), how important is your character’s covenant affiliation to her, and why?
- On a scale of 1 (meaningliess) to 5 (critical), how important are the vampire politics of the city to your character?
- What reason(s) does your character have for coming to San Francisco? If he doesn’t want anyone to know the real reason he’s here, what’s his cover story?
- If your character is brand-new to the city, why would he remain there once he learns about the terrible events that occurred just a few months ago?
- What are at least two personal goals (long- or short-term) that your character will have when the story begins?
After the Storyteller approves your concept, he’ll ask for a character sheet and background history. Feel free to work on those whenever you like, but please don’t submit them until the concept is approved.
Character Caps
If the character concepts indicate that a single covenant or clan will dominate the vampire population overwhelmingly, the Storyteller may opt to cap certain covenants or clans. Should this happen, the Storyteller will consider the timeliness and quality of concept submissions when deciding how many characters to allow into the capped groups.
Bloodlines: The Tricky
To reflect the rarity of bloodlines, there is an automatic 25-point reduction in bonus XP for any bloodline character (please see the character creation rules). This is a hefty price, especially for some characters, so please consider carefully whether or not your concept really requires membership in a bloodline to be playable and enjoyable.
The Storyteller will approve only a small number of bloodline characters, so if you are at all interested in playing a bloodline please contact the Storyteller as soon as possible – before you even submit a complete concept – so that he can research the bloodline and determine if it will mesh well with the chronicle setting and story.
The Forbidden
These character concepts won’t be considered:
- Mortals (ghouls are perfectly okay)
- VII
- Belial’s Brood
- Mages
- Werewolves
- Prometheans
- Changelings, Ghosts, and Telephone Sanitizers
Player Character Creation Guidelines
If you are playing either a Carthian or a member of the Circle of the Crone:
- You can create your character starting at Blood Potency 3 and may not purchase any Blood Potency with creation points. You gain a bonus dot in disciplines for a total of 4 rather than the customary 3. (2 dots may only be used for In-Clan Disciplines)
- Once your base character is created you may spend 75 experience points on the character. If you have decided to play a Bloodline you must subtract 25 points from the amount you may spend on your character for a total of 50 experience points that you may spend.
- You may purchase up to one discipline that your clan or bloodline does not normally have at start of the game. However you may only choose the main disciplines common between the clans, not obscure or secretive disciplines found among bloodlines for which you do not belong. This option is only available at character creation; if you do not elect to purchase an extra discipline at character creation you must learn it through a teacher in game play.
If you are playing either an Invictus or Lancea Sanctum:
- You can create your character starting at Blood Potency 3 and may not purchase any Blood Potency with creation points. You gain a bonus dot in disciplines for a total of 4 rather than the customary 3. (2 dots may only be used for In-Clan Disciplines)
- Once your base character is created you may spend 50 experience points on the character. If you have decided to play a Bloodline you must subtract 25 points from the amount you may spend on your character for a total of 25 experience points that you may spend.
- You may purchase up to one discipline that your clan/Covenant/Bloodline does not normally have at start of the game. However you may only choose the main disciplines common between the clans, not obscure or secretive disciplines found among bloodlines for which you do not belong. This option is only available at character creation; if you do not elect to purchase an extra discipline at character creation you must learn it through a teacher in game play.
If you are playing either an Unaligned or Ordo Dracul:
- You can create your character starting at Blood Potency 2 and may not purchase any Blood Potency with creation points.
- Once your base character is created you may spend 25 experience points on the character. If you have decided to play a Bloodline you must sacrifice the 25 experience points to do so.
- You may purchase up to one discipline that your clan/Covenant/Bloodline does not normally have at start of the game. However you may only choose the main disciplines common between the clans, not obscure or secretive disciplines found among bloodlines for which you do not belong. This option is only available at character creation; if you do not elect to purchase an extra discipline at character creation you must learn it through a teacher in game play.
Ghouls:
- All Ghoul player characters must have a player character regent. That regent must start each game one-blood trait down in their Blood Pool.
- A ghoul can only learn the disciplines which his/her regent has learned at creation.
- Ghoul player characters receive experience points based on his/her regent’s Covenant choice. They receive 50% of their regent’s starting experience points at creation rounded up. (Carthian and Crone Ghouls will start with 38 experience points. Invictus and Lancea Sanctum Ghouls will start with 25 experience points. Ordo Dracul and Unaligned Ghouls will start with only 13 experience points.)
- At creation Ghouls will have three dots to distribute between their disciplines/powers.
- Ghouls are exempt from having to pay 25 experience points at creation to be a part of a Bloodline. If their regent is a member of a Bloodline they are by default and need not pay any experience for this privilege.
Universal Character Creation Rules-
- Players may elect to lower their Blood Potency at creation down to 1. For each point they lower their Blood Potency they will receive an additional 25 experience points to spend on their character.
- Player characters may elect to lower their Humanity at the start of game by up to two points, for 5 experience points each. The reason for this lower Humanity must be explained in the character’s history.
- Players may elect to purchase Devotions. As Devotions are described as rare, and often guarded, a reason for the characters possession of one and a description of the education process need to be included in the character history.
- Player Characters will start the game with no City Status. City Status will have to be earned in game. Characters may however purchase Covenant and Clan Status at character creation equivelant to their Blood Potency. For Example if your character is Blood Potency 2 then the maximum Clan or Covenant Status they can start with is 2 in either or both. (More information on status on theHouse Rules page.)
Experience Point Rewards-
- For each game that a player attends they will receive 2 experience points.
- For each game report that a player submits they will receive 3 experience points.
- For a detailed character history that meets the character history criteria you may take an additional 15 experience points at character creation, but only after it has been reviewed and approved by the storyteller.
- For a detailed character history that meets the character history criteria that is submitted late will only receive 5 experience points. Extensions must be pre-approved.
- Plot Pots: throughout a chronicle there are certain discoveries, accomplishments, milestones, breakthroughs and successes that will be accomplished by the player characters. Plot pots are experience prizes that will be distributed among the player or players who accomplish these plot points. If you don’t think that the amount of experience points you will receive by showing up and turning in your game report is very much this is the way you can supplement that amount and your incentive to get involved in stories. Plot pots will range from 5 experience points for relatively minor plot points to 100 experience points for major plot points.
Character Histories
Players who wish to earn some extra experience points in the creation process may earn up to 15 points for filling out a Character History. This is not a requirement to play, merely a way to better develop and integrate your character into the story. Brief backgrounds will still be accepted. However, the 15 points are for a full Character History.
It would be prefered if the Character Histories were written as a narrative which included, amongst other things, the following items.
However, a link to a webform is at the bottom of this page for those who would find it easier to just answer the blasted questions directly.
Please include the following information in the Character History:
Before the Embrace:
- Characters full Mortal Name
- Year Born (please keep in mind your blood potency in mind when picking this year.)
- Where was your character born?
- What was your personality like as a mortal?
- What level of education if any did your character achieve before the embrace?
- What kind of relationship did your character have with their mortal family?
- Did your character have any jobs or social positions as a mortal?
- At what point in your mortal life did you meet your Sire?
- How long did you know your sire before your Embrace?
- Describe the relationship you shared with your Sire prior to the Embrace?
- What was it about you that interested your Sire?
As a Ghoul: (This is only relevant to Ghoul characters or characters that spent time as a Ghoul before their embrace.)
- How old was your character when they were made into a Ghoul?
- When you became a Ghoul did your Regent change your name or give you a nickname?
- Did becoming a Ghoul change the relationship you had with your Sire/Regent?
- How cooperative were you with your Sire/Regent as a Ghoul?
- How protective was your Regent?
- If playing a Vampire is your Regent and Sire the same person? If not explain how that happened.
- What was at least one significant event that occurred while you were a Ghoul?
- As a Ghoul how did your Sire/Regent’s associates treat you?
- How were you treated in Vampire society as a Ghoul?
- Did you maintain any contact with your mortal family after you were made into a Ghoul? If so did that relationship change?
- Did your personality change when you became a Ghoul?
- Did or has your Sire/Regent indoctrinate you to a Covenant?
- What are or were your general duties as a Ghoul?
The Embrace (Vampire Players Only)
- What year was it when you were Embraced? Making you how old?
- What were the circumstances surrounding your Embrace?
- Did your Sire prepare you for the Embrace? If so in what way did he/she do this?
- What was your characters initial response to being embraced?
- What did your Sire do immediately after your character was embraced?
- Did your Sire teach you anything about being a Vampire?
- How much time did your character spend with their Sire before parting ways?
- Did your character join the same Covenant as their Sire? If not how did that impact their relationship?
- After you were embraced did your Sire give you a new name (nickname) or did you adopt a new identity on your own?
Your Sire / Regent
- What is your Sire/Regents name?
- Was your Sire/Regent a member of a Lineage?
- How active was your Sire/Regent in your early years as a Vampire or Ghoul?
- How active is your Sire/Regent in your characters nights now?
- What is the current status of your Sire/Regent?
- Where does your Sire live now? (Ghouls must have player character Regents)
- How would you describe the relationship with your Sire/Regent now?
- Have you and your Sire/Regent had any significant adventures or experiences together?
- Vampire: If no longer living in the same city as your Sire what were the circumstances of your parting?
- Vampire: Does your character maintain any kind of contact with their Sire?
Since the Embrace
- How involved in Kindred politics has your character been since the Embrace?
- Has your character always been a member of one Covenant? Or have their loyalties changed over the years? If so describe how this happened and the motivations?
- Has your character ever committed Diablerie? Please describe this event?
- What has been your primary function as a Vampire since the Embrace?
- How well have you performed in that function?
- How careful is your character about observing the Traditions?
- Has your character held any political positions in the past? If so how did they attain these positions?
- For every point of Blood Potency please list one accomplishment or significant event in the characters history.
General Questions
- Describe your character’s personality and how you plan to act this out in game.
- What are the primary personal motivators for your character?
- What are your character’s interests?
- What is the thing your character fears the most?
- Does your character have any aliases?
- Does your character have any dark secrets?
- Does your character have a lover, past or present?
- What would offend your character the most?
- Does your character belong to a Coterie? If so describe the Coterie, the other Vampires in it as well as the relationship your character shares with each of them.
- Why is your character here in San Francisco? What brought them here?
- What motivation do they have to remain in San Francisco once they discover what happened here, assuming they didn’t know when they arrived?
- What does your character think of the events that occurred here little more than a year ago?
- What are your character’s impressions of the political setting of the city?
- Does your character own a business? (If so please make sure you purchased the appropriate Merits.) If you own a business or starting one up please describe this business and describe your business goals.
Haven
- Does your character maintain a private or communal Haven?
- If you share a communal Haven who else resides there?
- Describe your Haven?
- If you have taken any dots in Haven Size, please describe the space in which you reside.
- If you have taken any dots in Haven Location, please describe the location of your Haven.
- If you have taken any dots in Haven Security, please describe the security measure you have taken. (Please keep in mind your dots determine how good your security is not your description, this is information I may need.)
Status
- Does your character have any Status with their Clan, Covenant, or in the City?
- If your character has Status who gave it to them?
- How did your character earn Status?
- How important is Status to your character?
Merits & Flaws
- Have you selected any Flaws for your character?
- Describe how your character came into possession of each Merit and Flaw you took for them? (i.e. Kung-Fu 2, I trained under Master Kinto for five years and practice 2 hours four nights a week to keep up my training.)
- How do these Merits and Flaws impact the Characters unlife?
Should you care to use the quick form it is located
HERE
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