Today we take a look at the way we will use the character's Concept, which let's you define who the character is in more detail besides his Archetype.
Using the Character’s Concept
Characters are just like real people. The are more than just a single thing and have many layers of details on their lives. That’s what the character’s Concept does in this game. It established details and characteristics of said character, and this has an impact on how the game is played.
Every characteristic in a character Concept can possibly affect actions during the game and both the players and the Overlord may announce their effects in the game or propose a setback as described below.
Claiming Advantage
Whenever an action being attempted should benefit from a detail in the character’s Concept, the player may claim an advanced and receive a Positive Die on tests related to that action. The Overlord has the final say in whether the character Concept applies in the situation, but he should work the applicability with the player.
As the days have passed in the wastelands where Kaylia crashed, she started to doubt she will ever find a way out of there. Without food for a few days and down to the last droplets of water, she finds another ruin in the night. But from this one she can see the flicker light of a fire. Tired, with her body almost giving up, the Overlord says she will have to make a Difficulty 2 Physique test to reach the place before passing out on the sand. Looking at her character’s Concept, Alice notes she is a “Hopeful Mechanic from Isolated Planet”. She argues that the light is giving her hope to push forward and the Overlord agrees, giving her a Positive Die on her test.
Determining Disadvantage
When an action should be harder for a character because of something established by his Concept, the Overlord can determine he is in a disadvantage, and impose a Negative Die on tests regarding that action.
When Kaylia arrived in the ruins, she found a camp fire still lit but no one around. Tracks of a wheeled vehicle could be seen departing the place. On a improvised table was some sort of electronic mapping device she had never seen. Alice decided that Kaylia would try to figure it out, but the Overlord pointed out that since she is from an isolated planet according to her Concept, she would receive a Negative Die to decipher the device.
Accepting a Setback
If the consequences of a failure in some action seem interesting enough, to the Overlord can offer a setback to the player. In game terms, the character fails the test or perform an action that will lead him to a dangerous situation and, in exchange, he gains a temporary bonus of 1 point to his Luck score (that can be used as normal, but will go away at the end of the adventure). A player can also suggest his own setbacks to the Overlord, but the later still has the final say in the proposition.
Grabbing a motorcycle hid under rags in the ruins, Kaylia starts following the wheeled tracks through the wastelands. Halfway through she sees the wheeled vehicle turned back and is resting over a hill. A man, wearing a pair of goggles and ragged clothes comes out of it and calls her, saying he was looking for her for days. The Overlord, remembering Kaylia is a “hopeful” mechanic offers her a setback, giving her 1 temporary point of Luck if she follows him without the expected precaution.
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