Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- campaigns:palimpsest:homepage:chronicles_of_darkness_system [2026/03/28 03:36] – [Step 4: Skills] asrasmussen
+++ campaigns:palimpsest:homepage:chronicles_of_darkness_system [2026/03/28 06:17] (current) – [Step 2: Anchors and Breaking Points] asrasmussen
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 Create 1 long-term aspiration for your character.
-====Step 2: Anchors====
+====Step 2: Anchors and Breaking Points====
 -----
 This is where your character's personality deepens.
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 Choose a virtue and a vice for your character.
-====Step 3:Attributes====
+Breaking Points are events that push your character beyond their limits. Such as:
+  * The character performs an action that either violates their personal moral code or that is considered unacceptable in society.
+  * The character witnesses something traumatic, terrifying, or that rattles their understanding of the world.
+  * The character is the victim of a supernatural attack, whether physical, emotional, or mental.
+The following questions should be considered to determine some breaking points for your character:
+  * What is the worst thing your character has ever done?
+  * What is the worst thing your character can imagine themselves doing?
+  * What is the worst thing your character can imagine someone else doing?
+  * What has your character forgotten?
+  * What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to your character?
+====Step 3: Attributes====
 -----
 CoD has 9 different attributes, grouped into 3 categories. (Mental, Physical, Social)
@@ Line 81: / Line 94: @@
 -----
 Like attributes, skills are grouped into mental, physical, and social categories.
+However, unlike attributes, you do not start with a ♦ in each skill.
 ^ Mental ^ Physical ^ Social ^
+| Academics | Athletics | Animal Ken |
+| Computer | Brawl | Empathy |
+| Crafts | Drive | Expression |
+| Investigation | Firearms | Intimidation |
+| Medicine | Larceny | Persuasion |
+| Occult | Stealth | Socialize |
+| Politics | Survival | Streetwise |
+| Science | Weaponry | Subterfuge |
+^ ♦ ^ ♦♦ ^ ♦♦♦ ^ ♦♦♦♦ ^ ♦♦♦♦♦ ^
+| Novice | Professional | Experienced | Expert | Master |
+In your favorite category, distribute 11x ♦.
+nd category, 7x ♦.
+rd category, 4x ♦.
+====Step 5: Skill Specialties====
+-----
+To further customize your character, you can determine skill specialties.
+You get to make these up! But if you'd like recommendations, ask your GM.
+These are niche situations in which your character is more proficient at a skill.
+For example, if your character has ♦♦♦ in Expression, that says on average, they are experienced at communicating their thoughts and emotions. However, you might be exceptionally skilled at slam poetry. That's a skill specialty.
+In the situations where you are expressing yourself through slam poetry, you will roll with ♦♦♦ + ♦.
+Choose 3 skill specialties.
+====Step 6: Merits====
+-----
+Merits are your character's unique abilities and assets.
+They are meant as a means to customize your character and do cool things! A merit's name is just a suggestion, and can be changed to better fit the flavor of your character.
+Merits are purchased with ♦. During character creation, you have 7x ♦ to spend.
+Some merits have ability score prerequisites. Others must be leveled up incrementally by purchasing the same merit over again. And some can be purchased at a variable price, to get a boosted effect.
+Take a look at the handbook and reach out if you have any questions.
+====Step 7: Determine Advantages====
+-----
+Advantages are aspects of your character used to determine how well they do in some of the crunchier parts of the game. (Like Health or Defence)
+^ Willpower | = Resolve + Composure | Willpower is spent to increase a dice roll by ♦♦. One willpower is regained per good night's rest. Willpower can also be gained by acting on your virtues and vices. |
+^ Health | = Size + Stamina |
+^ Initiative | = Dexterity + Composure |
+^ Defense | = Lower of Wits or Dexterity + Athletics |
+^ Size | = 5 for humans |
+^ Integrity | = Starts at 7 | Integrity can be lost by experiencing breaking points. The higher your integrity, the more likely you are to shake off traumatic events. |