Character Creation

This document is aimed at players who know their way around 2d6 systems. If not, just download a character sheet .pdf and follow instructions.

You know the drill.

Open a blank doc, or get out pen and paper, or whatever you do.
In-System Character google docs page
Name
Age (the default is 34, but you can deviate)
Sex if desired
Where you are from. Be fairly specific if you want. For example, "Luna, in the Capital, I grew up nextdoor to the Luna Civic Conditioning Complex"; or "Earth, in Ciudad de Mexico for my first 10 years, then the suburbs around Quito Spaceport."
Physical Description: eyes, hair, dimensions, etc. It is often (but not always) good to include some memorable feature (Detective Miller's hat).
Stats (characteristics): STR, DEX, END, INT, EDU, SOC; divide 48 points among them, any way you like, but no 15's. If you choose an age less than 34, you can add +1 to CON, but will have less skills.
Assign the numbers 25,50,50,and 75 to the following letters: H,A,L,T. For example: H 50, A 50 L 75 T 25. Don't worry about it for now.
Genetics, if any
XP's: 0
Currently Studying: a skill
Study weeks: 0

If you want to dice for some personality traits, page 21 in Orbital 2100 has some fun tables, they are recommended. Or use any of the myriad online tools.

Money: We turn to Cepheus Orbital 2100 for this: SOC x d6 x 500 credits.
Now that you have your money, go to page 34 in Orbital 2100 and make your space suit. Extra money can be spent on weapons on pages 39-41 if desired. Or miscellaneous using Cepheus Universal starting around page 141, just keep in mind TL 9 max.

SKILLS AND BACKSTORY

Unless of exotic origin, everyone starts with:
AI-0
Robotics(Social)-0
and either Network(Protocols)-0, or Zero and Low G(Operations)-0.

For the default age of 34, you will get one skill slot per every two years above the age of 18. That means 8 slots, placed wherever you like, to a max of 3 in any one skill. Whatever you do, you will also roll every four years on the event table, some of which result in skills; further, you will roll for one "package" of 3 additional skills, adding some randomness (now you're at 11); you will no doubt use the connections rule for another two skills (now at 13); depending on your 4 events rolls you might end up with more.

How your character spends their time between ages 18 and 34 is up to you. But you should make it explanatory of those 8 skill slots that you chose. You can and should freely adjust your chosen skills and backstory to include the 4 events and the three random skills. Don't overly optimize; tell a story. As a minimum, use a typical Mongoose Traveller career path, e.g. college for 4 years, followed by 12 years in the Navy.

Note the open Profession or Job category. It's open so you can write in anything you want. If you put 1-3 points there, corresponding to 2-6 years, it plays out in a flexible manner (similar to 1rst ED AD&D "Secondary Skills"). Let's say you put 1 point in "Job(Working on a fishing boat for my uncle out of Puget Sound for 2 years)." That allows you, the player, to wing up a plausible story, on the fly, to get a skill roll in a situation. In the above example, a player might reference rope use, fishing, boating, navigation, knowledge of tides and lunar cycles, handling motion sickness, fixing diesel motors, etc. For 2 years in a job, the typical maximum bonus would be skill level 1.

Regarding Science(xyz), much the same thinking applies.

In any case, you need to answer this question: What is or was your job immediately before the game starts?

The six packages

Skill Package 1: Carouse-1, Art-1, Electronics(Sensors&Remote Ops)-1
Skill Package 2: Science(Zoology)-1, Watercraft-1, Politics-1
Skill Package 3: Human Factors(Environment)-1, Melee(weapon)-1,Medic-1
Skill Package 4: Mechanic-1, Mining(Prospecting)-1, Steward-1
Skill Package 5: Robotics(Social)-1, Gambler-1, Vehicle Operations(ground)-1
Skill Package 6: Administrate-1, Broker-1, Carouse-1

Back to Main Page
To Annotated Skills ** To Skills Short List