How to Create a Character for Reckoning

To submit a character concept, send mail to the GMs at reckoning-larp@comcast.net.

Note: We will not do character creation at the game. You must have a character ready before the first game you intend to play in. Talk to the GMs, we are here to help with this.

Character Concepts

You are (or were) a normal human. Then something happened that changed your life. Now, you're just trying to cope with the changes.

These are the basics of a Reckoning character. We'll explain this a bit more for you though. But first, a quick note. "Normal humans" include those who dabble in the occult (magi) and those with mental powers (psions). When you live in a world with vampires and other creepy things, the existence of magic shouldn't be too hard to cope with. Also, just because these exist, don't feel like you need to play one to enjoy the game, the group will need all types of characters to survive.

A Reckoning character can come from any walk of life. To most characters, the life they had before they became hunters is all but gone. It's hard to maintain a normal life when you realize what's really going on in the world, and even harder when you take it upon yourself to help 'fix' the world. You may still be able to call on things from your old life, but it all takes a back seat to your new, unofficial job.

An important key to every character is a trigger event. This is what caused you to transition from a normal person to what you are now. It's the one thing that every character will share: a reason to be here. Read the Character History section for more information on trigger events.

One more note: the term 'Hunter' is one of convenience. Characters are not required to be hunting supernatural creatures, or even believe that supernatural creatures should be hunted in order to fit into the campaign. We hope to see characters with a myriad of ideas about the supernatural.

Character History

We encourage everyone to write up a character history. Character histories help both you and us understand your character. Also, character histories help us to create plot hooks for your character, which allow us to have plot specifically targeted at him/her. So, while writing up a character history is technically optional, we strongly recommend that you do it.

Also, there are a few things which you are required to answer before you can start playing your character. We'll have a questioner up soon, but in the meantime we want to explain the most important ones now, as they can play a big part in your character development.

• Trigger Event: Every player character in Reckoning has had an encounter with the supernatural. It may have been subtle or obvious, threatening or not, and you may not consciously know that it was supernatural in nature. But whatever it was, the event has shaped you, and is the reason that you have chosen to engage in such life-threatening activities.
  Trigger events were stolen from Unknown Armies, by John Tynes and Greg Stolze. We love them, even if they don't know it.
• 
  Adrenaline Response: What would you do if you were to encounter a Vampire? Please don't ask for any clarifications, although we will tell you that yes, you know it's a vampire.

Those are the most important ones, although the whole questioner is a bit longer. Think of it as a character trait cheat-sheet for both you and us.

Stats and Rule Stuff

Reckoning will be using Rules to Live By (RTLB) for its ruleset. Of all the Larp rules we've seen, we think RTLB is one of the fastest resolving and easiest to learn rulesets there is. That's why we're using it.

While we recognize that stats are an important part of your character, there's no easy (and non-copyright infringing) way to explain how to create the stats for your character on the website. What we recommend is that you focus on creating your character and his/her history, and then the gm's will help you create your character's stats.

If you are actually familiar with RTLB already, then check out our Notes on Character Creation. Remember, just because a character obey all the rules doesn't mean that we'll accept it, we just won't accept it unless it obeys the rules.