No Character Class..No Problem
about 4 years ago
– Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 06:00:44 PM
Whispers in the Dark is a world without paladins, wizards, sorcerers and the like. As such, character creation is slightly altered from typical D&D. The first two step, choosing an ancestry and a background, serve replace the need for classes.
Step 1. Choose an Ancestry
All characters appear human but some hide a secret ancestry. You may be descended from the mysterious inhabitants of Leng, or have the blood of the deep ones in your veins. Your choice of ancestry gives you access to certain proficiencies and may grant you special abilities. Make a note of these on your character sheet. Chapter 4 provides more information about ancestry. For our example we'll look at Lengians. There are three ancestries in the quickstart book and Horror in the Windy City introduces a fourth, the Tcho-tcho.
Human (Lengian)
Legend tells of an ancient plateau named Leng — of ancient lands, inhospitable mountains, and temples of horror older than any civilization extant in our modern world. Yet some humans have traces of Lengian ancestry. Physically indistinguishable from common humans, they have certain special attributes, notably resistance to the influence of eldritch powers.
- Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
- Darkvision. Your Lengian blood gives you superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
- Otherwordly. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
- Skill Versatility. You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
- Languages. You can speak, read, and write your native language, Leng, and one extra language of your choice.
- Saving Throw Proficiency.Choose one of the following: Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
- Foul Blooded. Your scent is repugnant to animals. You have a -2 penalty to Animal Handling checks.
Step 2. Choose a Background
Your character’s background reveals what you have been doing prior to the start of your adventures. It very often corresponds to an occupation (such as soldier or journalist), but sometimes it refers to a way of life. It may be your former occupation, or you may still be employed. See Chapter 5 for details.
Backgrounds determine the skills, equipment, savings, and income you start with. This may be the most important choice you make when creating your character — after all, a soldier learns a very different set of skills to a journalist. It’s a good idea to talk to the other players so that your group covers a wide range of skills. There are eight backgrounds in the Quickstart manual and six more in Horror in the Windy City. For this example we'll look at a new background, the athlete.
Athlete
From an early age you excelled at physical pursuits. You may have been a gifted natural athlete, or achieved success through dogged determination, sacrifice, and discipline. Most likely it was a combination. Competitions thrill you and you seek challenging situations to test your limits. You may be a member of a team sport, an individual competitor, or an accomplished amateur.
- Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Acrobatics, and Performance
- Weapon Proficiencies: Simple, and one martial melee weapon of your choice
- Saving Throw Proficiencies: Dexterity
- Additional Languages: Any one of your choice
- Equipment:A singlet or uniform of your chosen sport, a good luck charm, a pair plain clothes, and a comfortable pair of shoes
- Money:You have savings of 1d4 x $50. Your monthly income is 1d6 x $10.
I hope you enjoyed this look at the mechanics behind Whispers in the Dark, and encourage you to ask me any questions you may have here or on Twitter @matthewdcorley.
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Matt
