This isn’t something I want to run immediately; I’ve just been contemplating character generation and systems lately and I wanted to do a thought experiment. Thus, if you feel like commenting on the following, please do. Or even run through the exercise of answering the questions.
So: modern occult game with some action, a touch of conspiracy, you know the genre. Occult is defined as weird stuff, including mad science, psionics, and so on. The framework is a group of free-lance journalists/bloggers; they might know the occult exists but don’t have proof. They’ve got a group blog and cooperate on investigations. Funding is sparse. Thank God for Google AdWords.
Players in the one-shot can define their characters before the game by answering the following questions in prose.
1. What is the core of your character? This could be a profession, a hobby, a way of looking at the world. Describe it in a paragraph or so.
2. What’s another thing that defines your character? Could be a side profession, a skill, a possession, a heritage, whatever. Again, describe it in a paragraph.
3. And a third defining element.
4. OK, now tell me what your character’s flaw is. Same deal, give us a paragraph.
5. What’s your motivation? Why do you do these things you do?
6. What’s your big secret? You really don’t want people knowing this.
7. And, finally, tell me about an important person in your past.
