Editing Character Creation

Official Inheritance of Ashes character creation guide: [[File:IOA Character Creation Guide.pdf]]

The above PDF takes precedence over anything below that may contradict.

= Step 1: Inspiration =

Start with a concept of who your character was before they Awakened.  Pick a simple word, like artist, teacher, bum, businesswoman, etc.  A general label that you can hang onto the character easily is good.

== Tradition ==

Pick the kind of mage your character became.

Shortlist of the Traditions:

* Akashic Brotherhood - Mystical martial artists.  Specialty sphere: Mind
* Celestial Chorus - Singers of divinity.  Specialty sphere: Prime.
* Cult of Ecstatsy - Seers who dance and seek pleasure.  Specialty sphere: Time.
* Dreamspeakers - Spiritual naturalists.  Specialty sphere: Spirit.
* Euthanatos - Balance seekers who relieve suffering.  Specialty sphere: Entropy.
* Order of Hermes - Specialists of a thousand years.  Specialty sphere: Force.
* Sons of Ether - Scientists of magic.  Specialty sphere: Matter.
* Verbena - Rememberers of old rites and cycles of nature.  Specialty sphere: Life.
* Virtual Adepts - Hackers of the information age.  Specialty sphere: Correspondence.
* Hollow Ones - Nihilistic goth mages.  Specialty sphere: None.
* Orphans - Mages who Awakened without guidance or mentorship.  Specialty sphere: Any one.

== Nature and Demeanor ==

Nature is a foundation of your character's internal drives and desires.

Demeanor is how that character expresses theirself and navigates the world.

== Avatar Essence ==

An Awakened mage has an Avatar attached to their soul.  The Avatar's Essence determines their view magical goals for the mage.

Pick one of the following Avatar Essences:

* Dynamic - The Avatar seeks endless change and the birth of new forms.
* Pattern - The Avatar enforces conformity and reinforces existing structure carefully.
* Primordial - The Avatar destroys old forms and sows chaos to bring about renewal and rebirth.
* Questing - The Avatar builds upon a series of experiences to reach some eventual goal.

= Step 2: Attributes =

You have 3 Trait categories for Attributes Traits: Physical, Social, and Mental.  Pick a primary, secondary, and tertiary category.

Assign 7 Traits for your primary category, 5 Traits for your secondary category, and 3 Traits for your tertiary category.

Attributes:

* Physical Traits: Agile, Brawny, Brutal, Dexterous, Enduring, Energetic, Ferocious, Graceful, Lithe, Nimble, Quick, Resilient, Robust, Rugged, Stalwart, Steady, Tenacious, Tireless, Tough, Vigorous, Wiry
* Social Traits: Alluring, Beguiling, Charismatic, Charming, Commanding, Dignified, Diplomatic, Elegant, Eloquent, Empathetic, Expressive, Fearsome, Friendly, Genial, Gorgeous, Ingratiating, Intimidating, Magnetic, Persuasive, Seductive, Witty
* Mental Traits: Alert, Attentive, Clever, Creative, Cunning, Dedicated, Determined, Discerning, Disciplined, Flexible, Insightful, Intuitive, Knowledgeable, Observant, Patient, Rational, Reflective, Vigilant, Wily, Wise

= Step 3: Advantages =

== Choose Abilities ==

Pick 5 Abilities that make sense for your character, using history, Tradition, and other things according to your character to decide.  You can choose multiple levels of an Ability.

Abilities: Academics, Alertness, Athletics, Awareness, Brawl, Computer, Cosmology, Crafts, Dodge, Drive, Enigmas, Etiquette, Expression, Firearms, Hobby/Professional/Expert Ability, Intimidation, Investigation, Law, Leadership, Linguistics, Medicine, Meditation, Melee, Occult, Performance, Science, Stealth, Streetwise, Subterfuge, Survival, Technology

== Assign Specialty Spheres ==

Write down the first level of your Tradition's specialty Sphere.

== Choose Backgrounds ==

Pick 7 total Background Traits.  No Background may go higher than 5 traits, and it requires Storyteller approval to start with more than 3 Traits in any one background.

Backgrounds: Allies, [[Arcane]], [[Avatar]], Contacts, [[Destiny]], [[Dream]], Influence, Library, Mentor, [[Node]], Resources, [[Wonder]]

== Assign Arete Trait ==

Unless you assign Free Traits to increase the total Arete Traits, you only start with 1.  You cannot have more than 3 Arete Traits via spending Free Traits.

== Assign Willpower Traits ==

You start with 5 Willpower Traits.  You can improve this to 10 Willpower Traits.

== Assign Resonance Traits ==

Resonance Traits reflect a mage's personal spin on magic that colors their Effects in a subtle manner.

Pick one Dynamic, Entropic, or Static Resonance Trait when you begin play.  You may gain additional Resonance Traits later.

Resonance traits are associated with Avatar Essences.

Resonance Traits:

* Dynamic - similar to the Dynamic Essence
* Entropic - similar to the Primordial Essence
* Static - similar to the Pattern Essence

== Negative Traits ==

You may take up to 5 Negative Traits for 1 bonus Free Trait each, but you should limit it to no more than 3 in one Attribute category.

Negative Traits:

* Negative Physical Traits: Clumsy, Cowardly, Decrepit, Delicate, Docile, Flabby, Frail, Lame, Lethargic, Puny, Sickly, Slow, Soft
* Negative Social Traits: Bestial Callous, Condescending, Dull, Feral, Ghastly, Meek, Naive, Obnoxious, Repugnant, Shy, Tactless, Untrustworthy
* Negative Mental Traits: Deceitful, Forgetful, Gullible, Ignorant, Impatient, Oblivious, Predictable, Shortsighted, Squeamish, Submissive, Unstable, Violent, Witless

== Derangements ==

Derangements are personality problems that affect the outlook a character has on the world.

Taking a derangement grants 2 bonus Free Traits that count against the limit of five Negative Traits (note: Does this mean a derangement counts as 2 Negative Traits, or 1 Negative Trait).

Derangements require advanced roleplaying, so consult with a Storyteller before taking one.

Derangements: Bulimia, Crimson Rage, Fugue, Hysteria, Manic-Depression, Megalomania, Multiple Personalities, Obsessive/Compulsive, Paranoia, Regression, Schizophrenia

== Assign Free Traits ==

You start with five Free Traits, plus any bonus Free Traits from Negative Traits or derangements selected earlier.

Free Trait costs:

* 1 for an additional Attribute Trait (max 10 per category).
* 1 for an additional Ability Trait (max 5 per Ability).
* 1 for a specialization in an Ability that you already have (max one specialization for a particular Ability).
* 1 for an additional Background Trait, subject to Storyteller approval.
* 2 for an additional Arete Trait.  This cannot raise the rating above a total of 3 Arete Traits.
* 3 for an extra Willpower Trait, to a maximum of 10 permanent Willpower Traits.
* 3 for the first level of any Sphere, subject to Storyteller approval.

== Choose Spheres ==

If you have one Tradition specialty sphere, you pick 5 additional levels of Spheres.

If you have a Traditional Sphere and a faction specialty Sphere, you pick 4 additional Sphere levels.

If you have no specialty Sphere, you can pick 6 levels of Spheres of your choice.

No Sphere level can exceed your Arete Trait total.

= Step 5: Spark of Life =

* History: Figure out your character's history, backstory, etc.
* Secrets: What are your character's secrets?
* Motivation: What drives your character's day-to-day?
* Appearance: What does your character look like?
* Foci: What does your mage use as a focus for each sphere?
* Quirks: What mannerisms do you do?
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