Finishing Touches

Bringing Your Character to Life

Congratulations!

By this point, you have chosen your attributes, selected your skills, chosen an archetype, and purchased your starting mutation powers. You now have the foundations of a unique young mutant ready to begin their journey at the Arcadian Institute.

Before your character is complete, there are a few final details to determine.

These finishing touches represent your character's overall effectiveness, awareness, resilience, and place within the world.

Character Details

Before calculating your derived statistics, decide upon the following:

Name

What is your character called? 

Age

All player characters begin the game as students of the Arcadian Institute and should generally be between:

16 and 20 years old

Characters older than this may be possible with GM approval.

Gender

Your character may be male, female, non-binary, or however they identify.

Arcadian welcomes students from all backgrounds and identities.

Appearance

What does your character look like?

Consider:

  • Height

  • Build

  • Hair

  • Eyes

  • Clothing

  • Mutation-related features

  • Distinctive characteristics

Personality

What kind of person are they?

Think about:

  • Strengths

  • Flaws

  • Goals

  • Fears

  • Hobbies

  • Relationships

  • Attitude toward their mutation

Background

How did your character discover their mutation?

What was life like before arriving at Arcadian?

What are they hoping to achieve?

Derived Statistics

Once your character's basic information is complete, calculate the following derived statistics.

Health

Health represents your ability to withstand injury, exhaustion, and physical punishment.

Formula

Health = 20 + Constitution Modifier + (Level × 5)

Example

Level 1 Character

CON Modifier: +3

Health = 20 + 3 + 5

Total Health = 28

Defence

Defence represents how difficult your character is to hit.

This includes agility, combat awareness, armour, and defensive powers.

Formula

Defence = 10 + Dexterity Modifier + Level + Armour Bonus

Example

Level 1 Character

DEX Modifier: +3

Armour Bonus: +5

Defence = 10 + 3 + 1 + 5

Total Defence = 19

Initiative

Initiative determines who acts first during encounters.

Formula

Initiative = 1d20 + Dexterity Modifier + Relevant Bonuses

Relevant bonuses may come from:

  • Powers

  • Archetypes

  • Equipment

  • Special abilities

Example

1d20 + 3 DEX + 2 Speedster Bonus

Movement

Movement determines how far your character can travel during a standard move action.

Base Movement

30 Feet

Certain powers may modify this.

Examples include:

  • Speedster

  • Animal Mutation

  • Flight

  • Elemental Control

  • Biokinesis

Flight Movement

Characters with Flight gain an additional Flight Speed determined by their Flight Rank.

This does not replace normal Movement.

Perception

Perception represents awareness, alertness, observation, and sensory acuity.

It is used to notice hidden threats, detect clues, spot concealed enemies, and observe important details.

A character's starting perception score is usually 10.

Formula

Perception = Wisdom Modifier + Perception Score + Relevant Power Bonuses

Example

WIS Modifier: +3

Perception Skill: +4

Enhanced Senses Bonus: +5

Total Perception = +12

Social Influence

Social Influence measures your ability to affect, inspire, persuade, intimidate, and connect with others.

It serves as a general indicator of your social effectiveness outside combat.

Formula

Social Influence = Charisma Modifier + Social Skills + Relevant Bonuses

Relevant skills include:

  • Persuasion

  • Leadership

  • Diplomacy

  • Intimidation

  • Empathy

  • Deception

Example

CHA Modifier: +4

Leadership Skill: +3

Persuasion Skill: +2

Total Social Influence = +9

Resistance

Resistance measures your ability to withstand harmful effects that do not directly target your Defence.

This includes:

  • Mental attacks

  • Poisons

  • Disease

  • Environmental hazards

  • Certain mutation powers

Formula

Resistance = Level + Constitution Modifier + Wisdom Modifier + Relevant Bonuses

Example

Level 1

CON Modifier: +3

WIS Modifier: +2

Resistance = 1 + 3 + 2

Total Resistance = +6

Hero Name

Most students at Arcadian eventually adopt a codename.

Your codename may reflect:

  • Your powers

  • Your personality

  • Your appearance

  • Your aspirations

Examples include:

  • Gravemantle

  • Ultramarine

  • WhiteNoise

  • Seastrike

  • Princess

  • Bedrock

  • Vortex

A codename is not required at character creation, but many students eventually choose one.

Starting Equipment

Unless otherwise approved by the GM, all new students begin with:

  • Personal clothing

  • Smartphone

  • Student ID

  • Standard dormitory accommodation

  • Basic school supplies

Additional equipment may be granted through powers, background, or gameplay.

Your Story Begins

The statistics on your character sheet are important.

Your powers matter.

Your skills matter.

But they are not what defines your character.

Every student arrives at Arcadian carrying hopes, fears, strengths, weaknesses, and untapped potential.

Some will become heroes.

Some will become legends.

Some may change the world.

The choices you make will determine which path lies ahead.

Welcome to the Arcadian Institute.

Your story starts now.