Waste World was designed to let you get beneath the hood of the game engine, and design exactly the character you want to play. But- let's face it- sometimes you just don't have the time or the inspiration to come up with a character concept. Sometimes you just can't be bothered to do the math. We know this because we're exactly the same way ourselves. Well, next time this happens to you, just do what we do and use the quick and dirty character creation rules given here.
These rules use dice and templates to give you semi-random characters. The characters they create conform to common Waste World character types but there's a pretty wide variation of abilities depending on how the dice fall. If you get somebody real tough, well and good. If you get somebody who is pathetically weak, them's the breaks, unless you can plead with your Narrator and get them to allow you to re-roll.
So how does it work? Simple - just pick one of the templates given below and then apply the following rules. (Or roll a d6 and use a template chosen according to the result: 1) Skavenger. 2) Panzer. 3) Psycher. 4) Ronin. 5) Ikarean. 6) Wastelander.)
Normally every character will start with zero in all characteristics. Each template gives you a number of dice to roll on characteristic points. These are points that you can allocate to your PC's characteristics. One characteristic point spent gets you one point in the characteristic of your choice. This is cumulative. You can spend one point and get +1 ST. To move up from there to +2 ST would cost you another two points, so you would spend three points in total to go from ST zero to ST +2.
Some templates have minimums in characteristics. You must spend points to buy the required characteristics to the given level. Some templates may have maximum characteristics. You cannot buy the characteristics given to greater than the maximum.
Your LF will be (ST*2)+10. Your MR will be 4+ST. Any characteristic points unspent are lost.
This will tell you what advantages your character possesses.
This will tell you what powers your character possesses. Sometimes you may be asked to roll a dice to randomly choose between several options.
This gives you a number of skills. Roll a D3 to find out how many skill levels you have with each skill. Where one skill is a prerequisite for another these will be linked by a + sign. You make one roll and apply it to all skills linked by the + sign.
This tells you what equipment your character is carrying. You get d6 reloads for each weapon your carrying. In addition, all characters get the following standard equipment: rebreather mask, set of clothing and if human a survival suit. Every character also gets d20 x10 credits spending money. This is the ready cash your character is carrying. You cannot spend it buying equipment before entering play.
This tells you any disadvantages your character might labor under.
This gives you a brief outline of your characters origin and purpose. Feel free to embellish this in any way you like. If you want to customize your character by swapping any skills, powers, equipment etc on the template for other skills, powers, equipment etc of equal value from the main rulebook, feel free to do so.
Characteristics: 2d6
Advantages: Hardy
Powers:-
Skills: Drive (Wheeled Bike), Rifle (Assault Rifle), Handgun (Autopistol), Quick Draw (Autopistol), Stealth, Thrown Weapons, Awareness, Mek, Navigator, Survival.
Equipment: Wheeled Bike, Assault Rifle, Autopistol, 5 HEX Grenades, Hide Armor (AR:1).
Disadvantages: Prejudiced Against, Obligation to Gang, Paranoia (Mild).
Description: You are a Skavenger, one of the techno-barbarian nomads of the great wastes. In your time you've been a marauder and a bandit. Now you are looking for something else. Your wheels and your weapons are your most prized possessions for you know that without them, you will soon be dead.
Characteristics: 2d6
Advantages:-
Powers: Armor (AR:4)
Skills: Awareness, Blade (Chainsword), Rifle (Railgun).
Equipment: Bionic Eye (Energy Scan, IRIS, Scanner, Targeting, Telescopic), Chainsword, Railgun, Medium Ceramic Sheath Armor (AR:10 with Armor Power).
Disadvantages: Positronic Brain, Robotic Body.
Description: You are a Panzer, a killer robot, designed to make war on the enemies of your creators. You could be a renegade Promethean warbot, or perhaps you are the survivor of some ancient wars. In any case, you are a formidable foe.
Characteristics: d6, Minimum PW +1.
Advantages:-
Powers: Psycher, Psionic Blast +3, Psionic Shield +3, Telepathy +3.
Skills: Ancient Lore, Lore (Your Choice), Handgun (Autopistol).
Equipment: Autopistol, Dagger, Light Ceramic Armor (AR:3), Psi Shield (Protection:3).
Disadvantages: Prejudiced Against, Paranoia (Strong).
Description: You are a psycher, a person who wields powers unattainable by normal mortals, and who is feared and hated because of it. A lifetime of such hatred has taught you to be cautious, perhaps too cautious. Maybe this is the beginning of the madness that is said to afflict all psychers.
Characteristics: 2d6
Advantages: Ambidextrous.
Powers:-.
Skills: Blade (Sword)+ Forceblade, Unarmed Combat Brawling+ Martial Arts, Quick Draw (Forceblade), Ride (Skimmerbike), Handgun (Blaster Pistol), Courtier, Survival.
Equipment: Forceblade, Blaster Pistol, Medium Ceramic Armor (AR:6).
Disadvantages: Bad Reputation, Dark Secret, Samurai Code Of Honor (Strong).
Description: You are a ronin, a former samurai from the Shogunate who has been exiled. Maybe you committed some crime. Maybe you acted dishonorably. Maybe you are the last survivor of an extinct clan and your enemies would like to find you. Whatever the reason, you now wander the Wastelands working as a hired blade. You still have your honor and your pride, and you have not lost your knowledge of the courtly graces. You still see yourself as samurai, and woe betide anyone who thinks differently. Your Dark Secret is whatever caused you to become a Ronin.
Characteristics: d6+2
Advantages: Handsome/Beautiful.
Powers:-.
Skills: Aerobatics, Ikarean Battlesuit, Courtier, Ancient Lore, Demon Lore, Poison Lore, Appraise Value, Gamble, Fast Talk, Navigator, Thrown Weapons.
Equipment: Ikarean Battlesuit, 5 Hex Grenades, 5 Web Grenades, 5 Plasma Grenades.
Disadvantages: Prejudiced Against, Obsession: Hedonism (Strong).
Description: You are an Ikarean exile, one of the decadent nobility of the sky city. You are good looking, you are maliciously witty and you like the good things in life. You live only for pleasure. People hate you because of where you are from and yet are attracted to you because of your personal qualities. You seek to find what amusement you can among these downdwelling barbarians. Your prized possession is of course your razor-winged battlesuit.
Characteristics: d6+2
Advantages: -.
Powers: -
Skills: Awareness, Climbing, Healer, Rifle (Assault Rifle), Survival, Navigator, Desert Lore, Stealth.
Equipment: Medium Carapace Symbsuit with camouflage option. The symbsuit also grants darksight and innate sense of direction. Assault Rifle.
Disadvantages: Wastelander Code Of Honor (Strong), Obligation to your tribe.
Description: You are a Wastelander, one of the nomads of the deep desert whose symbsuits enable them to survive in the hostile wastes. You're people are descended from the Hydrans and you share an affinity with them. Your code of honor forces you to aid those who are lost in the desert and to seek vengeance on all those who have wronged you. You are honest and speak only the truth. You have an obligation to your tribe and its leaders.
As Narrator you can use these rules to quickly generate NC's. Bear in mind the following points. PC's are supposed to be tough, even by the standards of Waste World.
For average grunts just use the templates given. The NCs will have the equipment and the skills but their characteristics will all be zero and they won't have any skill levels.
The leaders of groups of grunts can be generated just like PCs. Roll the dice as normal. The Big Bosses that the PC's get to after wading through the grunts and their leaders will be really tough. Use the templates given but give them an extra d6 on their die rolls for characteristics, and roll a d6 for their skill levels. Using these rules you can quickly generate a random band of Skavengers if you need to.
We'll be publishing more templates for quick and dirty character creation in the future. Watch this space!
WASTE WORLD is a trademark of Manticore Productions Limited.
All Contents Copyright © Manticore Productions Limited, 1997.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
No challenge to these trademarks is intended.
Contact: info@manticor.com