DC Heroes RPG – Random magical character creation

Context

This is a system for the DC Heroes tabletop RPG. It uses dice rolls to create a random character sheet. This system has been used multiple times for our character creation contests such as the Halloween contests or the Spring contests.

It creates a ready-made magic-user or magic-oriented character for somewhat over 450 HPs. The tables offers numerous different outcomes and fun characters concepts are to be had – good luck!

(We also have another, more general random character generation system — Ed.)

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Random creation system

1. ATTRIBUTES

Rolling chart (roll for each attribute):

Notes: After all rolls are done, two AP-switches are allowed for Attribute balancing. An AP-switch pertains to any two rolled Attributes which may be swapped.

Example: rolled DEX 02 and STR 05 are switched so get DEX 05 and STR 02 instead. This may be done TWICE for any combination of two Attributes to balance characters of all classes. However, these rolled and switched APs are not final for Non-powered magicians who get to reroll a number of Attributes in table 3; these may be the final Attributes for Magic items users & Magic wielders although some factors in later rolling categories may change these numbers as well.

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2. TYPE OF CHARACTER

Roll one only and continue from that paragraph, then move on to 6.

Rolling chart:

Notes: All magic wielders immediately gain the Magic Background advantage. Furthermore, they all receive -1 AP to all Physical Attributes due to their specialization in Powered effects.

3. NON-POWERED MAGICIAN

As the name suggests these characters are no wizards or users of magical items. Rather, they are inherently magical in origin and ability.

The characters of this class are either gods, demi-gods, mythical creatures or other non-human characters. The Non-Powered Magician gets to reroll a few of their Attributes, the number of rerolls being determined in the chart below:

Rolling chart:

Notes: Importantly, rerolled Attribute cannot be lower than the originally rolled AP levels; if so then reroll until EQUAL or HIGHER AP-level is achieved.

The Player selects which Attributes are to be rerolled; furthermore, after all rerolls are done, the Player may switch any two Attribute values ONCE for balancing. APs of the selected Attributes are rolled using the table below:

Rerolling Attribute chart:

Note: In contrast to the 08 APs of the other classes, Non-powered Magicians can achieve a top score of 10 APs in an optimal case.

4. MAGICAL ITEMS USER

Rolling chart:

Notes: Characters with fewer Powers will benefit from raised Attributes as per above. All item’s will have a BODY score and other abilities as they commonly would.

Example: Sword [BODY 08, EV 04, plus whatever Powers are rolled], although all abilities will be Mystic-Linked except for Magic Powers. The R# will be 2 per default although the item may have Limitations (see below).

Three rolled items of any type may be exchanged with one freely selected item of any category (A-F) from these tables; Creatures (G) are excempt and must be rolled naturally to acquire. Also, for every respective item, roll about potential Item Limitations (Chart H below) to determine Item condition.

Item categories rolling chart:

A: Weapon rolling chart:

B: Armor rolling chart:

C: Gemstone rolling chart:

D: Jewelry I rolling chart:

E: Jewelry II rolling chart:

F: Miscellaneous rolling chart:

Item conditions and limitations are also to be rolled as per below for every item:

H: Item limitations rolling chart:

G: Creature
The character automatically receives the Pet advantage to this creature; the creature itself is created in a balanced and suitable manner by the GM, who may use the Animal File stats from WORG)
Rolling chart:

5. MAGIC ORIGIN

Source of magic
Non-magic wielders can only access Personal energy magic powers. Magic item user’s or Magic wielder’s energy source is rolled below:
Rolling chart:

Dimension energy magic powers (available to magic item users and magic wielders only) offer some very attractive mastery packages, but reaching them requires at least 3 powers and some very lucky rolls since Powers are rolled in the order of Personal, Universal, Dimensional and cycle!

Number of powers (all character classes) rolling chart:

For Magical Item users only: The number of powers are split up among all of the artefacts of a magical items user, meaning that some objects will have more than one power if the number of Powers roll exceeded the number of items rolled.
However, if the Number of Powers is lower than the total number of Items, all items will instead get one Power each; it wouldn’t otherwise make any sense to carry magical items without any magical abilities around. However, if the number of items is one or two only they have gained bonuses to their Attributes as per top table 4.

For Magic wielders only: if rolling 2 Powers only, also raise any single Attribute or Skill by 3 APs or 2 Attributes or Skills by 1 AP each. if rolling 3 Powers only, also raise any single Attribute or Skill by 2 APs. If rolling 4 or more Powers no Attribute benefits are gained.

For non-powered magicians: the Player may choose to give up to half of his Powers (preferably Physical abilities) the Innate Bonus if it is conceptually fitting.

6. MAGIC SCHOOL

Does the character belong to a Magic school? rolling Chart:

School rolling chart:

Note: If the rolled magic schoolar sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise well-balanced character sheet and clear concept, the GM may allow switching it out with another more fitting one (from the table or not) for the cost of 05 starting HPs (if the character has that; sections 8 & 9!).

7. POWERS

Non-powered magicians only have access to Personal Energy magic powers. All Powers are Mystic-Linked unless the power is already a Magic Power (and some may also be Innate as described above). There are some options regarding rerolling on the Personal and Universal Power tables, but this comes with a cost (see below).

Personal energy magic powers rolling chart:

Notes: A Player may opt to exchange two Rolled Personal Energy magic powers with one freely chosen Power from the same table for conceptual reasons, although the total Base Cost of the new Power cannot exceed that of the combined Base Costs of the two Powers to be exchanged. A Player should reroll the dice if receiving a Power that he/she already has rolled forth earlier.

Universal energy magic powers rolling chart:

Notes: A Player may opt to exchange two Rolled Universal Energy magic powers with one freely chosen Power from the same table for concept reasons, although the total Base Cost of the new Power cannot exceed that of the combined Base Costs of the two exchanged Powers. A Player should reroll the dice if receiving a Power that he/she already has rolled forth earlier.

Dimensional energy magic powers rolling chart:

There are no rerolls available on the Dimensional Energy magic power table! A Player should reroll the dice if receiving a Power (group) on the Dimensional Energy magic powers chart that he/she already has rolled forth earlier, unless those rolls pertain to the Connection option, which may be taken multiple times.

The Cosmic Entity connection must be chosen as a Low Level Connection, which can be done after the free Universal Power has been rolled; the Entity can then boost the effect of that Power (usually by one column shift) but it has to be role-played (Persuasion, Occult Ritual Casting, Paying a HP fee for a higher temporary Connection, a Subplot etc.).

APs of Power rolling chart:

Bonuses rolling chart (for each power, respectively):

8. SKILLS

Number of skills rolling chart:

All characters of all classes may choose to have Occultist as one of their Skills; this is highly recommended unless a specific character idea pops to mind (accidental magic hero, godling etc.)!

Skill table rolling chart:

A Player may opt to exchange two Rolled Skills with one freely chosen Skill if desired for concept purposes. If a character has already received a Skill from the Power Tables that was also rolled here, then reroll until a new Skill is received.

Skill APs rolling chart (roll for each Skill, respectively):

9. WEALTH & HPs

Wealth rolling chart:

Starting HPs rolling chart:

10. ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS

Number of Advantages & Drawbacks rolling chart:

A character may not have more than two more Drawbacks than Advantages; number of advantages are rolled first, which is the decisive factor. Example: it is not possible to have four Drawbacks and only one Advantage, while three Drawbacks and one Advantage is possible, as is four advantages and no drawbacks.

Advantages rolling chart:

A Player may opt to exchange two rolled advantages with one freely chosen Advantage if desired.

Drawbacks rolling chart:

A Player may opt to exchange two rolled drawbacks with three freely chosen drawbacks if desired as long as their total Bonus is no less than that of the original two rolled drawbacks.

11. OPTION – STARTING HERO POINTS

In my own games I’m very heavy-handed with starting HPs for new characters. However, that is my personal preference and may not fit the overall view of many other GMs, and there have been requests for more starting HPs for the random characters. For example, Omni-Connection and Guilt do need starting HPs.

Instead, the below Starting HPs rolling chart could be used if both the GM and Player agree on that (and in the Contests any Contestant should liberally use this optional table):

Starting HPs rolling chart:

This will give all starting characters between 1 and 50 HPs; that will cover a huge range of backgrounds and immediately make them playable without being game-breaking.

One should also remember that the random character creation system allows for spending any such HPs for character improvement as if the character were still being made (i.e. getting a Scholar Advantage costs 10 HPs, etc.). Character improvement by HPs should not be abused, however, but only be used for balancing out too odd results and to fulfill valid character concepts.

12. ADDENDA

• Remember that the character may receive one free Familiarity advantage for each 2 APs of INT.
• Any available starting HPs may actually be used for purchasing additional Advantages at creation price.
• When getting a Bonus to a Power one is allowed to choose any of the Default Bonuses listed in that Power’s description (regardless of its +FC).
• In the case that there is no GM during character creation, such as during the Halloween contests where listmembers roll their own characters, a GM decision actually means a decision by the roller.
• Instead of rolling on H: Item limitations rolling chart, the roller may choose to add +3 to the R# of the Artifact; this may only be done to cancel out one Limitations roll per Artifact.

By Dr. Peter S. Piispanen.

System last updated 16^th of September, 2015.