Keyforge 0: Character Creation

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Video episode originally posted Nov 7, 2022.

This is the text version of the Sphere Hoppers: Keyforge solo actual play by Royce Roeswood for the Ragamancers YouTube channel. It has been adapted for readability.

Texts and Tools

Transcript of Play

We are going to be doing some random character creation for Keyforge: Secrets of the Crucible. I’m using the core rulebook, as well as tools from Mythic and some other tables that I’ve created myself.

Let’s get in and see what kind of character we’re going to be playing for this adventure.

First, we need to determine the background. Does the character see The Crucible as a home or not? We’ll say 50/50—under 50, it’s home.

  • d100: No.

This character does not see the Crucible as home. Instead, they view the Crucible as…

  • Chart: A challenge.

Okay, so they don’t feel like they belong here on the Crucible, but they welcome the chance to test themselves and to challenge themselves here.

All right, let’s roll for a species. Let’s see what we get.

  • Species: Saurian

Oh, this is going to be really interesting and fun!

If they don’t see the Crucible as home, they might hearken back to ancient history. They sort of see themselves as belonging to the original Earth.

As a Saurian, they have Evolved Arrogance, which means they can use a story point to heal all strain after a successful opposed check. That’s very interesting.

I’m going to pick out a random dinosaur to generate what kind of dinosaur they are based on.

  • Random dinosaur: rajasaurus

This is a Rajasaurus. It looks kind of like a T-Rex. So, they’re going to be kind of like that. They’re not quite a T-Rex—they are called a Rajasaurus. They look like a T-Rex, so people are going to confuse them for one, but they’re actually a separate species.

Next, we need to choose their career.

  • Career: Arbitrator

Interesting. That seems like a good career for a Saurian.

“Many Arbitrators travel across the Crucible from village to settlement to city, offering their unbiased services as judges to settle intractable conflicts or oversee trials and mete out punishments.”

Oh, that’s going to be interesting. This character will be adventuring to resolve conflicts.

“Arbitrators may also act as agents of justice or bounty hunters, becoming skilled in dispensing violence themselves. This is particularly likely in places where there’s no law, or when culprits have fled beyond the reach of local officials.”

What if we’re in sort of a Wild West-style setting? This could be like a rogue sheriff coming in.

Before spending experience during character creation, an Arbitrator may choose four of their career skills and gain one rank in each of them. Let’s go ahead and get them some skill in Ranged (Light)—maybe they’ll have a cool ranged weapon. Let’s give them another rank in Culture so they sort of know everything. Their Presence isn’t very good, so let’s give them a rank in Coercion. And let’s take Vigilance.

So, they have a disorienting gun—sort of like a stun weapon. That’s cool. I don’t think a dinosaur would wear scaly clothes; that would be kind of weird for them. Instead, let’s say they have a long brown dust jacket or cloak to give them that Western vibe.

Their starting aembits is 83—that’s pretty good!

All right, I’m going to go ahead and increase their Presence. I’ll also give them a rank in Charm and a rank in Brawl. Let’s take a rank in Piloting, and maybe also in Survival. Hmm, they don’t quite have the Cunning for that, but let’s take it anyway.

Oh, since I raised Presence, we should definitely take a rank in Negotiation—that’s a career skill. Let’s take another rank in Charm because that’ll be fun. I’ll also take another rank in Coercion, so they can really get people to do what they want—whether they’re nice or mean. Are they a good dino or a bad dino?

Oh, I didn’t take any talents yet. Let’s take Quick Draw—that seems thematic.

Next, let’s roll up some desires.

  • Desires: Love

Oh, just a lonely dino looking for love in the wilds of the Crucible.

Your character might already have a true love or strive to find someone to be loved by.

Let’s clarify: do they long to be reunited with their true love, or are they looking for someone? Under 50: yes. Over 50: no.

  • d100: They’re looking for someone.

All right, next is their fear.

  • Fear: Humilation

Okay, so they’ll avoid looking foolish or unprepared.

Let’s get them a strength.

  • Strength: Curious

Oh, perfect! They’re always wanting to learn new things and explore different places. That’s a great quality to have on the Crucible.

Finally, their flaw.

  • Flaw: Greed

The last thing we need is a name. I wrote up a little Python script to generate random syllables.

  • Syllables: Fabum

That sounds vaguely Roman. Fabum Rajasauros.

Here we go: Fabum, a Saurian Rajasaurus, looks like a T-Rex but isn’t one. Fabum is an Arbitrator, exploring the wilds of the Crucible to settle disputes. They wear a long brown cloak and carry a disorienting gun. Cowboy-style. Vigilante.

Is Fabum male or female?

  • d100: Female

She’s a curious, greedy vigilante searching for love and terrified of humiliation.

That’s a really great and interesting start. Excellent!

Next Episode: Keyforge Ep. 1 The Midnight Jungle

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