Character Histories

Stolen from Jeremy Kintigh and modified for Crossroad's Usage! Thanks Jeremy!

Why Character Histories:
Having a history helps you give reasons why you act the way you do. It answers some questions that are made from selecting your character's skills. It also answers the question does he or she have any fears? Hatreds? Likes or dislikes? Enemies or friends?It always is handy to know why your character is in the town he or she is in. It helps set a goal for your character, make it whatever you want, but not to high (i.e. Being the next Master of the Forester's Guild is fine, but not becoming the supreme master of the universe.) And perhaps make some short term goals in the mean time. It always helps to give your character drive, so that you don't sit around waiting for plot come to you, go out and make plot go after you! Also this allows plot to flesh out the game of Dragon Crest as a whole. If plot knows your motivations, then you might have someone from you character's past show up when you least expect it. This can allow for a more "real" role-playing experience. Think of how interesting it would be if your character has make decisions like how your parents might feel about it, or will this draw attention to you from your enemies. The possibilities are endless!

Requirements:
There are two basic requirements before a character history can be accepted:
1) The character history must be type, no hand written character histories will be accepted, no matter how good your handwriting is!
2) Character histories must be between 1000 and 2500 words.
These are simple requirements and anyone should be able to follow them. Also for an added bonus, if you send in your character history in electronic form (e-mail, disk, CD, etc.)then you will get a 5 Dragon Point bonus, on top of other rewards (see below)

Sending your character history:
To turn in your character history you can do one of two things:
1) E-mail a copy of the history in either Microsoft Word, or plain text to Keith or,
2) Snail Mail a copy of the history to

            Character History
           c/o Green Knights
            337 N Green
            Wichita, KS 67214

Expect 2 weeks to a month before a response about whether or not your character history passes and what, if any, is the cost in DPs needed to make your character history possible.

Reward:
When you send in your character history, you'll get two options:
1) A blanket (number of XP equal to your total CP) added to the character in your history or,
2) 25 DP off the total cost of the character history.
(Of course this doesn't include the fun you'll get from your character history possibly being used in plots later on.)

Dragon Point Cost
The range of Dragon Point (DP) cost for character histories can be very broad. It is quite easy to make a character history which will cost no DP at all, or one that could cost thousands. It all depends on what you want out of you character history. If you want to have some rank or stature then you will have to pay with DP. Below is a list of DP cost for writing a character history.

These are approximate dragon point costs for bribing plot to include benefits in your character history. These benefits can include a former rank held in the local area, another chapter, or even the Empire. These benefits can also include a relative or friend that may have or formerly had such a rank, or may have other talents. The prices listed are approximations and may vary based on what exactly is written into the character history and the discretion of the plot committees involved.

Although any player character may have any rank in the past, no PC may enter game with a current rank, and no PC should ever expect to be granted the rank he or she formerly held based on their history. All PCs must earn all current ranks in-game. This usually requires a number of events spent in pursuit of that goal.

	Column
Rank	A	B	C	D	E
Yeoman	5	10	15	20	2
Squire	15	30	45	60	3
Household Knight	30	60	90	120	4
Vassal Knight	50	100	150	200	5
Bannoret Knight	75	150	225	300	6
Lord	105	210	315	420	7
Baron	140	280	420	560	8
Viscount	180	360	540	720	9
Count/Earl	225	450	675	900	10

See Imperial Ranks and the corresponding social standing

Base Costs

Noble Rank - Has a base cost of 200 for Local Rank, 500 for Colonial Rank, and 1000 for Imperial Rank (as in from the Empire). This base cost is halved for non-relations. The Royal Order of the Sun is Noble.

Civil/House/Military Rank – Has a base cost of 100 for Local Rank, 300 for Colonial Rank, 50 for Imperial Rank (they cost less since they are from a far away land and have less impact). Colonial Ranks are cross chapter, and the base cost goes to the chapter the rank originates from. The character history must also be approved in that chapter. Ranks of Lord and higher have a base of 500.

Guild Rank – Has a base cost of 50 for Local Rank, 150 for Colonial Rank, 25 for Imperial Rank. Colonial Ranks are cross chapter, and the base cost goes to the chapter the rank originates from. Ranks of Lord and higher have a base of 300.

Level

NPC – The level of an NPC is equal to the value listed in the corresponding row of Column E. For Example, a Household Knight is 4^th level and a Lord is 7^th level. For a higher level Contact (such as a 10^th level Lord) the price is the difference between 10^th Level and 7^th in Column A, which amounts to 120 (225 – 105) more DP in this example. Levels 16-20 is an additional 200, 21-25 in an additional 400, etc.

PC – A PC must enter game at the corresponding level in Column E for the former rank desired. This level is not granted but must be earned by NPCing, blankets, etc. For Example if you wanted to start as a former Squire you would have to be at least 3^rd level.

Noble or Official Rank (Former Ranks are shifted one Column Left, i.e. D to C)

Parent/Sibling – Rank cost from Column D
Uncle/Cousin/Direct In-law/Mentor – Rank cost from Column C
Distant Relation/In direct In-law/Friend – Rank cost from Column B

PC Former Rank

Former Rank (honorable discharge) – Rank cost from Column D
Removed Rank (dishonorable discharge) – Rank cost from Column B

Influential Friend

Without Rank – Level cost from Column A
With Rank – Rank cost from Column B. Levels in addition to the rank are charged as the difference, the same as the Lord example above.

Powerful Mentor

Without Rank – Level cost from Column A
With Rank – Rank cost from Column C. Levels in addition to the rank are charges as the difference, the same as the Lord example above.

Unusual Race/Creature Ally

PC-Like Race – Cost of 100 plus level costs from Column A. (These would be races like Aquanesti or Black Lizardmen.)
Normal Animal – Cost equal to Total Hits of the animal (one specific animal).
Magical Animals - Cost equal to Total Hits x 3 of the animal (one specific animal).
Humanoid (Non-PC) – Cost equal to Total Hits plus Level costs from Column A.
Humanoid Special – Cost equal to Total Hits x 3 plus Level costs from Column A. (An example of these would be Ogre Magi)
Monsters/Immortals/Elder Races – Special (better not to ask).

Organizations

Type of Organization	– Founder Cost	– Member Cost	- Example
Local/Off Board	- 500	- 50	- Thieves Guild/Mercenary Co.
Colonial	- 2000	- 200	- Merchant Co./Tribe of the Moon
Imperial/Noble	- 4000	- 400	- Large Merchant Co./Noble Order (non-noble status in the organization)

Resources

A Friend or Mentor can be used as a Resource. After paying for the character, the PC automatically knows that he can use this person for one of the listed resources. This does NOT mean it is always available or will be free, just that the PC knows he can talk to this person about it. Each addition Resource taken from the list will has 2 levels of cost from Column A to the Friend/Mentor. (They do go up that many levels, just cost that much more)

Loans
One product from Merchanting (Damage Scrolls or Magical Components or Herbal Components, not all three)
Fencing
Known to posses a particular magic item that may be available to loan or rent. (Woe betide the person to loose the magic sword!)
Use of Forces or Troops
Information
Magical Aid, such as Rituals
Deals (You do this for me, I do this for you . . . )

Trademarked and Copyrighted by William Flippin and Susan Crispo, 1996
Dragon Crest Games, P.O. Box 2281, Quincy, MA 02269 1-888 DRAGON CR