Character Creation

In Wyvern Rising your character is the role that you play.

In Wyvern Rising your character is the role that you play. You determine what your character will be like and what skills he/she will possess. Your Character's likes, dislikes, attitudes and ambitions are all of your choosing. A well-designed character will grow and develop with experience as the game progresses. The more thought you put in to your Character, and the way you portray that persona, will affect the way in which others react to you. A solid character concept will help you to get more enjoyment form the game and will help the game staff create storylines that are of interest to you.

Creating an effective Character is an easy process. You must first have some concept of what skills your Character will have and what his/her general disposition will be. Ask yourself these questions: (Writing your answers down will help)

• What kind of lifestyle best suits your Character? Combat with weapons; use of magic; familiarity with the forest; espionage and covert activities; science and alchemy; or perhaps a tradesman or merchant?
• What is your Character's view on law and society?
• Do you have strong moral convictions?
• Do you like to go adventuring or are you content chatting and drinking with your companions in the local tavern?
• Are you a loner, or do you like to travel with a band of companions?
• What are your ambitions - wealth, fame, adventure, power?
• What social class were you born into?
• What are your parents' names? Do you have any brothers or sisters?
• What do your parents do for a living?
• What is the name of the town in which you were born?
• Why have you come to the new continent?

After you are able to answer these questions, we recommend writing a Character History. This is a brief (1-3 pages) biography of your character. This offers the opportunity for you to truly define who your Character is. (It will also get you extra role-playing points.) Your history can take the form of a story, journal, or memories from your Character. It should include the information developed from the questions above, as well as important events from your characters past. Remember, the Character History helps you to develop your Character and assists the game directors in providing stories and plots that may have some special relevance for you.

Next, choose what race your character will be. There are several options available. Review the Character Races chapter for descriptions of the various races available. Selecting an appropriate race is extremely important. You must be willing to abide by the costuming and role-playing restrictions that apply to the race you choose. Also, some races are more inclined to certain skills and trades than are others. All will have a series of racial benefits and detriments that distinguish them from other peoples. Humans are by far the most common race and the most adaptable. If you are uncertain what race you want your character to be, or if you are new to role-playing, it may be in your best interest to choose Human. If you choose a non-human race, you may have racial skills available for purchase in addition to those listed on the skill paths. Complete racial ability listings will be made available to players only after that player has confirmed his/her selection of the race. See a game director if you choose any non-human race. We reserve the option to restrict the number of Characters of any non-Human race due to our desire to maintain a proper population balance. Additionally, players who show themselves to be incapable of adhering to the costuming and role-playing requirements of a non-human race may have their privileges revoked and made to play only Human Characters.

Now that you understand who your character will be, it's time to give him/her the skills he/she will use to survive in a dangerous world. Skills are purchased with build points. The number of build points available will vary depending upon what race you have chosen for your character. Skills are purchased from one or more of the five skill paths. Choose which of the five paths will be your Character's Primary Skill Path (PSP). This should be the path that contains skills that are most aligned with your character's lifestyle. Keep in mind, you are not limited to your chosen PSP, but it will be more expensive, in build points, to purchase skills from other paths.

Starting Build

Each player receives a number of Build points to create a new character. Build points are spent to purchase skills, abilities, and additional Body. These initial Build points are free and vary depending upon what race you have chosen. They allow you to begin the game with a very basic character - usually two or three skills.

Earned Build

All subsequent Build points must be earned. There are three ways to earn more Build points. The first is to attend events. Each weekend event in which your character participates earns you two (2) Build points. All you have to do is show up, play the game, have fun and you will get two Build.

Next, you have the opportunity to earn even more Build points per event by showing good and consistent role-playing. All game directors, and some other designated individuals, will be actively observing the PC's for individuals who role-play damage, and don't break character. These people will be rewarded with Role-Playing (RP) points that can be converted to Build points. Each 100 RP points you receive will earn one additional Build. There is no limit to the number of Role-Playing points you can receive in an event, but a good role-player will average about 100-300 RP. Remember, you are an actor and everyone else is your audience. You are constantly being observed and evaluated, so stay in character. Avoid talking about things that don't exist in game. Conversations about football and video games are completely inappropriate and break the entire mood of the game.

The third way to receive additional Build points is through service to the Wyvern Group. Running an event weekend is a lot of work and requires huge amounts of preparation. We are always very thankful for any assistance you can offer, and we will reward you with Service points (SP). Service points are similar to Role-Playing points, but they will be given for tasks like arriving early to help set up the camp or staying late to help clean up. There are always projects to be done between events as well, such as constructing, cleaning or organizing props and costumes or preparing character cards and skill tags. The amount of points awarded will vary with the time and task.

Service points can also be earned by making donations to the game. We are constantly in need of well-constructed boffer weapons, spell packets, and costumes. Additionally, we will accept candles, masks, and various other props that will add to the fantasy atmosphere. Points will be awarded according to quantity and relative value of the items. 100 Service points may be converted for one Build point. You may convert up to 200 SP to Build per event.

Acquiring Build points for skills and abilities is the most obvious way to advance your character. It is not, however, the only way. If you crave wealth, there are plenty of opportunities to find, earn, or steal money and precious items. You never know when you might find a small chest of coins or jewels while rummaging through an ancient ruin. If you possess a trade or useful skill, you might consider making a living from it. Sometimes hard work is the best way to pay the bills. Thieving is a possibility if you are so inclined, but if you are caught, justice can be swift and unforgiving.

Perhaps you have the ability and ambition to be a leader of men. You could organize a trade guild or become involved in politics or public life. It may not even be too much to hope that you may one day hold a seat on the Council.

There are those, however, who seek only knowledge and self-fulfillment. Some find it in books and scrolls, some in the wild, living wilderness. Some others turn their heads to the Deities for enlightenment. All these opportunities wait for those who are bold enough, wise enough, or foolhardy enough to seek them. If you play your character consistently and with depth, those of like minds will find you and lead you, or perhaps follow you, to new horizons.

Character Card and Tag Ring

Once you have created a character you will be issued a character card and tag ring. Your character card is a record of all of your character's Ability Points, Body Points, Build Points, skills, Role-Playing Points, and Service Points. When you check in before each event you will be given an envelope with your character card in it and when you check out at then end of the even you must turn in your character card so that it may be updated. New skills that you have learned, as well as RP and SP that you have earned during an event are often recorded on the back of your character card. Your tag ring holds all of your Ability Points, Body Points, Armor Points, prayer and spell tags, and items tags. Your tag ring also holds your life tag, which has your character number recorded on it.

You must have your life tag and character card on you at all times. These serve as records that you are playing a valid character and are not cheating. Failing to produce either of these when requested will cause your character to instantly fall into the third phase of the Death Count (see Death and Resurrection for more information on the Death Count). We recommend that you keep these very important items safe and secure in a place on your body or gear that you know they will not fall out of.

Phys-Reps, Weapon Cards, Armor Cards, and Item Tags

A phys-rep is a physical representation and refers to any item that is used in place of or to represent some other item. Boffer weapons are phys-reps for real weapons. Some phys-reps used in the game require special cards or tags. Every weapon and piece of armor a character possesses requires a Weapon Card or Armor Card. These cards list the attributes of the weapon or armor such as what materials they are made out of, any special properties they have, which character owns them, and how many armor points they are worth.

Other special items such as potions or magical gems may be represented either by a phys-rep or an item tag. An item tag is sometimes used to represent an item instead of or in addition to a phys-rep. Players must have phys-reps for any items larger than the palm of a hand that they carry on their person. Palm-sized or smaller items may be represented by an item tag. Larger items that a player does not have a phys-rep for must remain in a cabin or other appropriate location.