Serene Dawn: Creating Characters (Part 1)

Cracking open my copy of Clarence Redd’s M-Space, I’ve decided to follow the character creation process and generate a Proving Team for our Serene Dawn setting.

A Proving Team is made up of several character roles, each with its own slang title: Boss, Enforcer, Nerd, Geek, Snitch, Quack, Face, and Fixer. Potentially, that’s a crew of eight characters.

Because we wanted to allow flexibility of group size, however, the eight roles were designed to allow either a full-complement of eight players or be down-sized by combining roles into a single character. I’m going to aim for a team of four heroes but I’m open as to who will fill each role at this stage.

Rolling Characteristics

The default character generation rules in M-Space use a roll-up option which suits my solo style well. Thus, I aim to generate four different sets of characteristics and design some specific heroes around what I roll.

My straight set of rolled-in-order dice rolls netted me the following:

With a high Intelligence and Dexterity, Set 1 seems to point towards the Nerd / Geek archetypes; Set 2 features a compelling Strength and Size pairing for the Enforcer; Set 3 has the Intelligence, Dexterity, and Charisma to offer potential as the Face and/or Quack; the last set is all-round but smart and strong, suggesting options for a Snitch.

I decide to create:

• Character 1 to fill the Nerd and Geek roles.
• Character 2 to fill the Enforcer and Fixer roles.
• Character 3 to fill the Face and Boss roles.
• Character 4 to fill the Snitch and Quack roles.

Starting with a Leader

Because I like to start with a strong archetype to lead the team, I’m grabbing Character 3 first. He will fulfil the role of the Boss and the Face.

The Boss?

The Boss is the team leader and functions like a ship Captain when on a mission. Although formerly titled the “Team Leader” by SEEDMA (and approved as such), the role is popularly referred to as “the Boss”. As the designated decision maker, the job of the Boss is to get the mission completed and bring the Proving Team home in good order. Most Bosses are accomplished pilots too, having the tricky job of flying the team in and out in one piece.

The Face?

The Face is combines the functions of embedded media journalist, Force Recon, communications, and unmanned vehicle asset management. It seems like a lot… and it is.

The Face is not freelance media by any stretch. In the embedded media role, it performs like a reality TV director, whose job is to create an exciting record of each mission suitable for public consumption – usually as a Vlog. Actual technical records and mission vid- or voice-logs are kept by all members of the team, although the Face will often use sections of these as “narrative additions” to their Vlogs.

The Face can also employ an array of remotely operated assets which include sensors, unmanned vehicles, “Biologicals” (such as cyber-augmented creatures or micro bio-tracers) and satellite communications. In-between missions, this specialist also gathers intelligence on “the competition” – other teams, their claims and potential new missions. This role is equal parts techie, artist, infiltration specialist, negotiator and propagandist.

Introducing… Alexandro Priskov

Not asking for much, are we? This character has big shoes to fill. I decide to give him a name and start working through the character creation steps.

Not wanting to detail every single detail here (for brevity), nonetheless there are few key things to mention:

• I applied the Mythras Core Rules table for Action Points, netting Alexandro 3 AP.
• M-Space / Mythras Imperative seem to leave out the +40% bonus to Native Tongue and Customs, so I decided to apply it from the Core Rules too.
• Alexandro gained the Urban culture from M-Space and chose Streetwise, Language (Anglic), and Courtesy as professional skills. I gave him a basic Combat Style called ‘Street Thug’.
• I chose the Journalist career for him to gain the Oratory, Politics, and Research skills.
• With all the steps, I applied the standard Mythras Core Rules caps of + 5% to +15% on each skill.
• I decided that the pilot role would go elsewhere, as Alexandro has enough on his plate already.
• I chose the Acting skill as a hobby, using the Core Rule.
• For Passions, I gave Alexandro a Loyalty to the Gazprox Corporation (who sponsor the team); he also picked up ‘Discover Alien Life’ and ‘Protect the Team’.
• I gear him up with a Jumpsuit, Headcam and Mic, 10mm Pistol, and a Combat Knife; he rolls up 10,000 Credits for starting cash.

You can see a copy of his initial character sheet here: Alexandro Priskov v1.0

Adding the Enforcer

Character 2’s stats implied a big and strong chap but also gave me a sizeable Power to play with. Because I like the idea of a Psion, I’ve decided to make the Enforcer function as the team’s Fixer by using the power of the mind. It also lets me try out M-Space’s psionic rules.

The Enforcer?

The Enforcer is tasked with keeping the mission safe from the many hazards that might be present. Typically a combat veteran, the SEEDMA regulations also allow the Enforcer to assume control of situations related to the security of the mission or the survival of the Proving Team. This special leadership function is typically activated by the Boss and covers specific circumstances that are outside of the Boss’ own area of expertise – such as tactical command in a firefight.

Enforcers are especially involved when a mission includes the deployment of non-voluntary assets, such as the Chipped or wholly owned Uplifts. The Enforcer will monitor and weigh-in on the application of such assets to tasks. They will inform the Quack on security issues related to their charges.

The Fixer?

The Fixer is officially referred to as the Quartermaster. This role is responsible for preparing mission resources, maintaining and conserving resources during a mission, evaluating resources needed to exploit a system, and locating viable exploitable resources. Paying attention to resupplying the current mission, this role is often tasked with locating sites suitable for long-term habitation and exploitation.

Introducing… Marcus Schenk

Marcus began with a reasonable set of standard skills. Here’s the summary of choices made:

• Marcus comes from the Orbit culture. That said, I noticed the Pilot skill was listed under Standard Skills and decided this must be a typo – I chose it as a Professional Skill, along with Astrogation and Mechanics. This makes Marcus the starship pilot.
• Decided to use the Smuggler career. Chose Commerce, Comms, and Sensors as Professional Skills. Gave him the Combat Style named Smuggler and increased his Gunnery style too.
• Added Bureaucracy skill as a hobby.
• Decided that Psionics apply to gifted characters and added three powers: Avoid Harm; Affect Mind; Healing.
• For Passions, I gave Marcus ‘Make the Ultimate Deal’, ‘Bring Order’, and a Loyalty to the Gazprox Corporation.
• I gear him up with a Jumpsuit, a Comlink, a 5.56mm Assault Carbine, and a Combat Knife; he rolls up 7,000 Credits for starting cash.

You can see a copy of his initial character sheet here: Marcus Schenck v1.0

That’s enough for one sitting.