And So It Begins…
Creating Your Character
The Complete Guide to Creating A Character at PORTAL.
Achieve Your Success
Unlock Your Full Potential. Say Hello to THE NEW YOU
You reach the edge of the woods and look down a hill where the outlines of buildings glint dimly in the moonlight. Bright candlelight comes through the windows of a tavern as the night breeze brings you snatches of a drinking song and the occasional scent of roasting feast. You sigh, then walk down the hill into the town.
Let the past remain the past – the rest of your life begins here, now, with these people.
What Can Your Character Do?
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Look over the Basic Career Lists, Advanced Profession Lists & Skill Descriptions to see what you would like your character to be able to do when you begin.
Using the 35 Build Points each new character receives, you can purchase those skills that best suit your desires..
What Does Your Character Want To Become?
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Look over the Basic Careers & Advanced Professions; see if any of them matches your character’s goals.
You may want to think about what type of niche you might carve for yourself within the game.
For example, you may decide that you want to be Lord High Inquisitor. Is there someone else who already has that role in the game? Who would be the one to appoint you to the job? What can you do to make yourself the obvious candidate for the title?
What Does Your Character Look Like?
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Your costume is an integral part of your character. It is much easier to play the part if you look it!
An expensive costume is not necessary to have fun!
However, many players take considerable time and effort with their costumes, and it shows. In general, avoid devices that were invented in modern times; for example, zippers, blue jeans, t-shirts. Medieval-looking footwear can be expensive, so feel free to wear black or brown work boots.
Even a pair of sweat pants, old boots, and a loose belted shirt can make a good costume; there is always room for another warrior in a simple tunic or tabard. A good way to develop an impressive costume is to start with a few key items and add more as your character advances and your situation allows.
People should be able to look at you and tell something about your character.
Your character’s race and profession should be apparent from your appearance and roleplaying.
You do not have to maintain the classic fantasy stereotypes if you do not want to; not all Dwarves wear heavy armor, carry a battleaxe in one hand and a tankard of Dwarven spirits in the other. However, you might find it easier if everyone is able to identify you from a distance as a Dwarf.
Strive to develop a costume, the mannerisms, and the colloquialisms common to the race and profession you portray.
What Is The Story Behind Your Character?
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Writing a description of your character’s background will often aid you in deciding how to roleplay though various situations.
It will also give Plot enough details so they can arrange interesting events that could involve your character.
For example, if you write that you have a long lost Uncle Cedric, you may meet that uncle someday; of course, he may have changed since you last met him.
Your character description can be as long as you want it to be. If your character can be described in a paragraph, then that is enough.
Please try to keep your history under five pages, and try not to overwhelm Plot with a lot of detail. The purpose of the character description is to enhance your enjoyment of the game; it is not meant to be a classroom writing assignment.
If you need help or have questions about what you are allowed to put into a character description, you can contact Plot!
The Creation Process…
Races
When creating a character, one of the first steps is to decide what race you would like to play and what type of character you are interested in playing.
There are over 20 playable races to choose from, each with their own cultures, specialized strengths and unique weaknesses.
Who or what will you become?
Build & Skills
Every character receives 35 Build Points at the time of character creation.
These Build Points can be spent on any skill on the Basic Career Skill Lists and Miscellaneous Skill List, so long as the prerequisite to purchase the skill are met.
There are four basic career lists: Warrior, Mage, Rogue & Miscellaneous.
There are 11 Advanced Professions including those of arcane power and Paths of Faith that experienced adventurers may pursue in their travels…
Character History
Writing a description of your character’s background will often aid you in deciding how to role-play though various situations.
It will also give Plot enough details so that they may arrange interesting events that could involve your character.
For example, if you write that you have a long lost Uncle Cedric, you may meet that uncle someday; of course, he may have changed since you last saw him…
Create Your Character
Once you have chosen a race, sighted some skills and have an idea of your character history, you can finalize and create your character online OR at any event!
Goal Setting
Is your character looking for a long lost relative?
Out to prove they are innocent of the murder of a noble in a neighboring kingdom?
Seeking a long forgotten tome of ancient lore?
What are your goals?
Higher Powers
Followers of the Light, Servants of Darkness and the Path of Nature
From the Paths of Faith to Mystical Beings unknown, the world has much to offer…
Feel the Rush
Play someone that excites you, do something that scares you, learn what you are really made of.
Even if you perish, it may not be forever…your resurrection beckons!
Telemere
The world of Telemere has many regions, cultures and features that may aid you as you create your character.
Check out the world map for more details!
Don’t Wait Any Longer. Start Forging Your Own Path Today!
Body Points
Body Points reflect the ability of the character to take damage. It is a measure of their hardiness and stamina in battle.
Your character’s Body Points are a result of how you have decided to spend your character’s Build Points.
For each skill you purchase you receive Body Points depending on the category of the list the skill is from!
Every character begins with 3 Body Points and those points are added to the total you receive from the skills you chose to learn. The table below is how you can figure out your character’s starting Body Points…before Logistics even sends you your Character Booklet!
Earning Build & Leveling
You earn build for a specific character by:
- Creating a New Character: 35 Build
- Purchasing a Skill Cycle or Full Event. Build is awarded per Skill Cycle based on the level of your character.
- Going on adventures
- PCing & RNPCing
- Full Time NPCing (see above!)
- Purchasing Build (maximum of 1 Build per month) 1 Build = $20
A “Level” is an overall indicator of how much adventuring a character has done.
There are skills that characters cannot learn until they have achieved a certain Level. Also, the strength of the monsters and the amount of treasure awarded on adventures often depends on the average Level of the obstacles the party faces on the adventure.
A character’s level is determined by the number of Build Points they have been awarded, not on the number of Build Points spent.
Your character can earn 20 Build Points and go up two Levels, but you may choose to spend only 2 Build Points on new skills. However, Body Points are awarded only for Build spent.
New characters receive 35 initial Build Points.
Awarded Build is the number of Build Points you gain above that initial 35. The Total Build is the sum of the awarded Build Points plus the initial 35.
The number of Build Points that corresponds to a character’s Level is on the above chart.
Energy Points
Energy Points are the value given to your Character’s ability to use certain skills in game.
Skills that are constant in duration do not require EP’s to use.
The more Energy Points that your Character has, the more times they can use the skills that require them! Use your characters Energy Points any way you desire, but be careful, when you exhaust yourself of EP’s they will not return until 7 o’clock.
Skill Cycles
Every 7am & 7pm marks the turn of the Skill Cycle where your energy points will refresh, refilling back to your maximum. Huzzah!
Energy Points enable your Character to use certain skills, cast spells, strike with unerring accuracy, or dodge the deftest blow.
A character cannot ever overspend Energy Points. If you do not have the Energy Points to use, you cannot use the skill or cast the spell. The skill or spell simply fails and the balance of the points are not spent.
When a character uses Energy Points, the player will mentally reduce their current Energy Point total to reflect the cost of the spell just cast.
Players keep a mental record of these changes and PORTAL operates on an honor system as well as utilizing Marshals to ensure the game runs smoothly.
The actual skill descriptions and charts will always indicate if a skill requires EP’s or not, please refer to them if you have any questions!
Questions To Ask When Developing A Character…
Below are some questions that might assist when creating a character history!
After you submit your history, you must get approval from the Plot Committee before your history can be brought In Game as the truth. You can play your character before you get approval, but your history isn’t true until it is approved.
Where and when were you born?
Into what social class were you born?
What does your character want to become?
What specific goals does your character have?
Who are your parents? Do you have any siblings?
What is the nature of your relationship with your family?
Do you have any close friends or enemies?
What do you want most in life?
What obstacles must you overcome?
What tempts your character?
How did you come to learn your trades (if you have learned any)?
How do you feel about fame, power & wealth?
What are your fears, do you have any superstitions?
What are your feelings about magic?
Does your character have a set of ethics?
Meet Tathia
Sample Character History
“My family moved from our small hut in the Mire to an even smaller place in Sefra, the Big City. The swamps are an enchanting place but I had a taste of luxury and needed more. My parents weren’t happy about my decision to become a Valorian Citizen, but our elders weren’t happy about them leaving our little place in the Mire either, so…sssssss!
I want to go someplace where I can explore myself without boundaries, where no one knows I’m a poor, sad Saurian with almost too many siblings to count. I want to make something of myself! What, I’m not so sure. I’ve always had a nack for returning my sister’s scale softener without anyone noticing…
I wonder if that could be of use, if I could be of use to this world. All I really want is to be noticed, for people to know my name.
I’m going to Valoria!”
Saurian Rogue - Journey To Creating A Character, A Player's Perspective
I really wasn’t sure what character I wanted to play until I saw the section on Saurians. They get to purchase the Poison Spit Skill and although the mage list costs more for them, I don’t think I want to learn any magic right away. Plus, when I saw their costuming & makeup, I knew they were for me!
With my 35 starting Build, I began by checking my Saurian Racials to see what my requirements were, if any. I know I must purchase Poison Spit for 3 Build. Wow, that will come in handy! I now have 32 Build.
I then chose the Rogue’s Skill List which left me with 22 Build Points. I’m new to LARP fighting so I wanted to start with a longer weapon, like a sword rather than just a dagger, so I purchased One Handed Edge, leaving me with 20 Build. Small Weapon (my dagger) was free! I have both weapons and I’d like to fight with both at the same time, so I purchased Florentine leaving me with 17 Build.
I think I’d like to be able to get into things, so I chose Pick Lock, now I have 15 Build to spend. I should definitely have Waylay since I don’t always want everyone knowing I’m getting into things…10 Build left. I need Energy Points to use Waylay, so I’ll buy 5 Energy Points which cost me 5 Build Points, leaving me with 5 Build to spend! Saurians get Natural Claws and Swim for free when you start the game, so I got those too!
I want to be able to know about the items I might come across so I purchased Evaluate Item for 3 Build. I spent 33 Build and am leaving the remaining 2 Build for the next event! Who knows what I might get to learn!
Find Your Balance. Set Your Goals. Take A Challenge. Reward Yourself.
Your character history can be as long or as short as you want it to be.
If your character can be described in a paragraph, then that is enough.
Please try to keep your history under five pages, and try not to overwhelm Plot with a lot of detail. The purpose of the character description is to enhance your enjoyment of the game; it is not meant to be a classroom writing assignment.
If you need help or have questions about what you are allowed to put into a character description, you can contact Plot.
Here are some things to consider when you write your character description.
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Here are some things to consider when you write your character description.
What is the Story Behind Your Character?
Give your character a past that describes how your character got to be the way they are now.
Past events that you include in your character description may come back to affect your character – old enemies, family debts, etc.
What Obstacles Must Your Character Overcome?
Do not make life too easy for your character. Some of the most interesting characters in the game are those who have been handicapped by their players in some way.
Perhaps your character is cursed and is looking for a cure. Maybe your character has some strange beliefs. Does your character dislike Elves? Hate Dwarves? Believe everything a Gypsy tells them?
What Are Your Character’s Goals?
You should feel free to include a wish list of events or goals that you would like for your character.
For example: Is your character looking for a long lost relative? The sword that was stolen from your character’s mother in battle? Proof that they are innocent of the murder of a noble in a neighboring kingdom? A long forgotten tome of ancient lore? A chance to meet the Queen of the Elves? A magic gate to the stars?
Do not expect everything you wish for, but do expect your wishes to come true when you least expect it.
Create Your Character
Once you submit your character creation, Logistics will get back to you with any issues or missing prerequisites, etc.
Once any issues are resolved, Logistics will inform you of your successful Character Creation!
You can always come to an event to begin or finalize creating your character. We will print out your Character Booklet in person at your first event and every event thereafter!