Character Creation: The Game of Twenty Questions
- Antarias
- Nov 25, 2018
- 9 min read
In a few weeks, I will be playing Legend of the Five Rings. Since I will be the Game Master, I will have to be able to explain the character creation process to my players. If you heard my PODCAST then you will already be familiar with The Game of Twenty Questions and if you haven’t, be sure to check it out. I thought I’d take this opportunity to break down the twenty questions and create a character to provide answers to each question. Before I begin, my character concept is simply a character than can use Earth powers and is a foreigner.
I will warn new players that they need a working knowledge of the lore and setting of Legend of the Five Rings or of their Game Master’s world before diving into character creation. For those without the rulebook, I recommend reading up on this WIKI.
1. WHAT CLAN DOES YOUR CHARACTER BELONG TO?
In Legend of the Five Rings there are 7 great samurai clans to choose from. Each clan is different and have their own lore and history. Choosing your clan can be akin to choosing your character’s race in other RPGs. The game’s setting and history are heavily baked into the clans, clan families, school, and mechanics so I recommend reading up on each clan to see what makes them unique.
The Dragon clan is known for their seclusion and individual pursuits for Enlightenment and expertise so this is the clan I will be choosing for my character. Choosing this clan gives me a +1 increase to my Fire Ring, +1 increase to my Meditation skill, and a Status of 30.
2. WHAT FAMILY DOES YOUR CHARACTER BELONG TO?
Within each clan there are 4-5 clan families that each have their own history and traditions. You can best relate families to subraces in other games like Dungeons and Dragons. Choosing your clan family will provide you with: a ring increase, skill increase, glory, and starting wealth. Keep in mind your clan family can affect which school’s you may have access to for the next question.
For my character, I will be choosing the Togashi Order. Rather than being a traditional clan family, it is a monastic order that welcomes anyone willing to embrace their teachings and capable of finding the order. This will play an important role into my character’s backstory that I will cover later on. For my ring increase I will choose a +1 to my Earth Ring because I plan to use Earth techniques. The Earth approach represents a cautious approach that involves taking unneeded risks to get results which is reflective of my character’s personality. I will choose a +1 to my Theology skill and gain a starting Glory of 45.
3. WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S SCHOOL, AND WHAT ROLES DOES THAT SCHOOL FALL INTO?
Each clan has its own set of schools you may choose from. Schools can be seen as character classes in other RPGs. Each school provides you with a ring increases, starting skills, honor, starting techniques, school ability, and starting equipment. As for role, a school can fall into Bushi (warriors), Courtier (politicians), Artisan (engineers/artists), Shugenja (magic users), Monk, or Shinobi (ninja).
Since my character is part of The Togashi Order, he will be part of the Togashi Tattooed Order, a school of monks that draw power from mystical tattoos. My character gains all of the following from his school:
· +1 increase to Earth Ring and Void Ring
· I chose 4 skills from a list to gain a +1. Fitness, Martial Arts [Unarmed], Meditation, and Theology. I chose these skills to reflect my characters physical and mental training.
· Honor value of 40.
· I chose the starting technique Earthen Fist to complement his tendency to the Earth approach.
· I gain the school ability Blood of the Kami which grants me one mystical tattoo which empowers my techniques.
· Starting Equipment: common clothing, bo staff, and traveling pack.
4. HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER STAND OUT WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL?
Now you must determine what makes your character stand out from other students in your school. Consider what type of student your character is and their personality. Depending on your character’s temperament you will receive a bonus to a corresponding Ring.
My character is very introverted, calm and meditative which falls most inline with the Earth approach. Therefore, he receives a +1 to his Earth Ring. Note that my character has reached the maximum starting value of 3 for his Earth Ring at this point.
5. WHO IS YOUR LORD AND WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S DUTY TO THEM?
Now you must choose your Giri (sworn duty) and who you serve. Successfully carrying out your duty can earn you Glory and failing your duty can result in a loss of Glory. When choosing your duty, keep your school’s role in mind. For example, if you are a Bushi (warrior) you might be tasked with being a bodyguard, soldier, or general.
My character’s propensity for visions has led to investigating the existence of shinobi, which are illegal, in other clans. After failing to become his master’s heir, he now works for Kitsuki Jusai to root out corruption in the other clans.
6. WHAT DOES YOUR CHARACTER LONG FOR, AND HOW MIGHT THIS IMPEDE THEIR DUTY?
This question is essentially asking you to describe your character’s Ninjo (personal desire). Ideally, you want to choose a desire that will put your character at odds with their sworn duty. Their desire and duty should conflict in a way that forces your character to choose one at the expense of the other.
Having visions all his life, my character has become accustom to having answers magically come to him. He longs for answers and knowledge to come to him without having to seek them out. This conflicts with his duty which tasks him with actively investigating and confronting the enemies of his clan.
7. WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CLAN?
You must now decide if your character upholds the clan’s values and practices or if they disagree with them. Accepting your clan’s values will gain you +5 to your Glory and disagreeing allows you to gain 1 rank in any skill in which you have 0 ranks.
My character has spent most of his life as part of the Dragon clan and learning the ways of The Togashi Order despite being a foreigner. He upholds the views of the clan and therefore gains +5 Glory.
8. WHAT DOES YOUR CHARACTER THINK OF BUSHIDO?
To answer this question familiarize yourself with the tenets of Bushido and which ones are most important to your clan. If your character strictly adheres to the tenants, they gain 10 Honor or is they diverge from some or all tenets than gain 1 skill rank in either: Commerce, Labor, Medicine, Seafaring, Skullduggery, or Survival.
My character follows the tenets of Bushido when he has to keep up appearances. However, the only tenet he follows in its entirety is Sincerity and is willing to diverge from the other tenets if needed. To reflect this, he gains a +1 to his Survival skill.
9. WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT SO FAR?
This question allows your character to show off. You are free to decide what great feat your character has accomplished. You also get to choose a Specific Distinction that helps explain how your character accomplished this feat.
My character’s greatest accomplishment is finding and traveling to the hidden Togashi Order in the mountains of Dragon lands at the age of 8 by following his visions. To reflect my character’s hardiness to make the journey I have chosen Bishamon’s Blessing as my Specific Distinction.
10. WHAT HOLDS YOUR CHARACTER BACK THE MOST IN LIFE?
Consider what aspect of your character creates challenges for them. Do they have a bad temper, disability, or curse that holds them back? Choose from the Specific Adversities to reflect this.
My character is not only foreign to the Dragon clan but is also foreign to the country. The Togashi Order only cares about one’s devotion to the order and not their appearance. However, the other families and clans will likely treat my character as lesser. Therefore, Gaijin Appearance is the most appropriate Adversity.
11. WHAT ACTIVITY MOST MAKES YOUR CHARACTER FEEL AT PEACE?
When choosing an activity that makes your character feel at peace, consider how the activity affects those around you as well as why your character finds the activity peaceful. Select a Specific Passion that coincides with your chosen activity.
After going through all the Specific Passions, I found Fortune Telling to be the most fitting for my character. Fortune Telling plays off his visions and since he isn’t a people person, he can use fortune telling as a means of conversation.
12. WHAT CONCERN, FEAR, OR FOIBLE TROUBLES YOUR CHARACTER THE MOST?
Think about your character’s personality and their flaws. How does their shortcomings or fears affect the way the interact with other? Select from the Specific Anxieties list to represent the negative side of your character.
My character is very shy and introverted and slow to act when outside his comfort zone. Therefore, I selected the Meekness anxiety which will make it harder for my character to assert any kind of command.
13. WHO HAS YOUR CHARACTER LEARNED THE MOST FROM DURING THEIR LIFE?
Consider who your character has learned from the most. It could be a school instructor, family member or Lord. You are free to chose anyone who has played a major role in your character’s life. Once you have chosen someone, choose one advantage related to your relationship or one disadvantage and increase a skill by one rank.
Finding the hidden monastery and having frequent visions garnered the attention of the Dragon Champion, Togashi Yokuni who rarely speaks and is very enigmatic. As such my character had to learn to read body language, intent and subtleties. The advantage Subtle Observer is a perfect fit.
14. WHAT DO PEOPLE NOTICE FIRST UPON ENCOUNTERING YOUR CHARACTER?
This is a means of giving your character extra flair meant to quickly set your character apart. This can be your clothing, strange mannerism, or appearance.
Since my character is a foreigner his physical appearance instantly sets him apart and makes him very distinguishable.
15. HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER REACT TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS?
This question further fleshes out your character’s personality. While under pressure what emotions and behavior manifest? How do they act when they lose control?
My character is somewhat closed off from the world and other people normally. When he is stressed out, he shuts down and closes himself off. He retreats into the confines of his own thoughts and acts slowly in the outside word.
16. WHAT ARE YOUR CHARACTER’S PREEXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER CLANS, FAMILIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRADITIONS?
Pool all the information that you have determined about your character’s personal history and history within their clans. Then consider any interactions your character may have had with other clans in addition to your clan’s views of the other clans. For example, all clans share a distrust for the Scorpion clan. Does your character partake in their clan’s opinion of others? Also choose an item of Rarity 7 or lower that your character gained from past interacts.
Although my character is from a foreign lineage, he was born in the Unicorn Clan which is known to have many foreigners. Due to growing tensions between the Lion Clan and Unicorn Clan, my character traveled to the Togashi Order and was allowed into the Dragon Clan. He holds no grudge with the Lion Clan but does harbor the Dragon Clan’s distrust of the Scorpion Clan. One of his visions led to the investigation of Scorpion Clan shinobi. My character’s additional item is a katana given to him by his parents when he set out on his journey.
17. HOW WOULD YOUR CHARACTER’S PARENTS DESCRIBE THEM?
This question is actually asking about your character’s relationship with their parents and family. In a world of samurai clans and families, one’s lineage and family ties can be very important.
My character’s childhood and relationship with his parents was nothing out of the ordinary. His parents knew that his visions meant he was meant for something great and they didn’t want him to grow up and by sent off to a war against the Lion Clan which is why they allowed him to travel alone to another land at a young age. Before he left, he received some training with a sword so I added 1 rank to the Martial Arts [Melee] skill.
18. WHO WAS YOUR CHARACTER NAMED TO HONOR?
This is a name your character chooses or receives at their coming of age ceremony and is often a name meant to honor an ancestor. Consult the Samurai Heritage table in the rulebook to determine the nature and benefits of this name.
I must admit this question can prove confusing. Your character’s last name or family name is already decided by the family you chose in Question 2. For example, since I chose The Togashi Order my character’s last name is Togashi. For this question all you are really doing is consulting the Samurai Heritage table to determine benefits.
19. WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S PERSONAL NAME?
Now is when you choose your character’s first name.
My character’s personal name is Tetsuo. There is no real significance as to why I chose this name aside from alliteration.
20. HOW SHOULD YOUR CHARACTER DIE?
Quite the interesting question as no player really plans for their character to die. However, combat can prove to be quite lethal in this game and it can be ideal to face death on your own terms.
Should Tetsuo meet his end in battle, he wants to face it devoid of fear and worries.
Completing The Game of Twenty Questions transformed a very simple character concept into a fully fleshed out character. Following this creation process somewhat forces each character to have a decent backstory connecting them to the game’s setting. It can make this game more difficult to dive in compared to other games like Dungeons and Dragons or Starfinder but that’s exactly why The Player’s Domain is here to help. If you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions be sure to leave a comment and let me know.
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