What and how much should I read up on?

New Players
4

A (biased) guide to character creation

Step 1: Don’t try to read everything on the wiki

  • Remember it is okay not to know everything. Do you understand every detail of how your real life government works? Do you know the names of every village in Suffolk? Of course not! Your character comes from a small part of a large world and it is just fine to say “What’s that?” about something you haven’t heard about yet.

Step 2: Pick a nation

  • Your group must be all in the same nation. You cannot belong to multiple nations or none.
    • Nationality is magically enforced; you should conform to the look and character of your chosen nation.
    • Roisin’s O’Hare’s Empire Shorthand Guide has a short description of each nation.
      Empire Condensed - Google Docs
    • Otherwise go to https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Nation_overview. I would advise picking the two or three that most appeal and reading the “five things about” section on the front of each nation page.
      • If your priortiy is costume: follow this up with the “look and feel” page
      • If your priority is characterisation: follow up with “culture and customs”
    • Now pick one. Remember you can always switch and try another one later if you don’t like it.
      Further reading: https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Nation_FAQ

Step 3: Read up on your nation

  • Read the three core brief pages
  • (If you have time read the further reading)
  • Don’t try to remember everything; just look for the bits you find interesting or appealing.

Step 4: Pick your archetype/ group archetypes
Each nation has stereotypical character types. For a first character, you may wish to create a character matching one of those types - it will make it easier to fit in with the nation. Note that some character concepts won’t work easily together in a group eg. Hakima (who leave their families) and Dhomiro (head of a family) in the Brass Coast.
https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Archetypes

Step 5: Where exactly are you from?

  • Look at the territories page for your nation.
  • Pick one of the territories, then pick a region within that territory.
  • Read the recent history section in particular - that is what you have just lived through. Follow links and jot down some notes of which events you saw/heard about. Again, do not try to remember everything - one or two fictional memories set around recent events is ideal.

Step 6: Group Background
-Read: https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Bands
-And : https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/How_to_submit_a_background

You will need to write both a band background and a character background. Each nation will ask you different questions (below) and allow a free text background of up to 4000 characters. PD uses these backgrounds to help decide what plot to run.

General group creation prompts:
- What is your group’s history? Was there an event or person who created it?
- Why do people join it?
- What is your collective ambition? Why?
- Were you present at any recent events or battles?
- Do you have any enemies? Debts unpaid, or tragic star-crossed loves?
- Is there a style or colour you will all wear to make you easy to identify?

Further reading: If you are struggling with this, read through the nation pages again - look for sections relating to the archetypes your band is interested in, or the area which you are from.

Step 6: Create your personal identity:
Like the band creation, you get the chance to create and tell PD about your individual character. This is broken down into several parts:

A) Personality and background
-Who are you, what do you want to do and what brought you to Anvil?
There are three optional questions (different for each nation - see below) and have 2000 characters to tell PD anything else about you. You don’t need to repeat information that is already in the group background.

Here are some bonus character prompt questions if you get stuck

  • Do you have any prejudice against lineage (read your nation’s Lineage and Species attitudes for ideas)
  • Do you follow a specific virtue? Why/why not?
  • Why did you join your band? Why come to Anvil?
  • Do you want an Imperial position? Which one? Why?
  • What do you hate? Fear? Love?
  • What rules do you live by? What would push you to break them.

B) Skills:

C) Species/ Lineage/ Basic Human?

D) Resource
This is your money and earnings. They are all good things to have, pick the one that fits your character and what you want to do best. You may also want to consider whether particular resources enable you to elect your senator or not (this varies by nation, for example only people with businesses pick the Senators in the League)

E) Pick a name!
Appropriate name guides at the bottoms of these pages:

Step 7: Costume and tent decoration

Step 8: Reach out to the online community
This is a good time to have a look/ ask questions of the online Empire community. Join the forum https://forums.profounddecisions.co.uk/ or find the nation board on facebook. You may want to look through the archives or ask about

  • Ask for feedback on your costume
  • Ask for background links
  • Look for groups to join if you are coming in solo
  • Ask for advice on skills picks

Although please come ask for advice sooner if you get stuck with any of the stages above!

Step 9: Create the group and character on the PD website and book an event.
https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire/characterwizard?8

7 Likes