Dark Sun for Sword of Cepheus: Part III– Character Creation

Here’s the third part of my conversion of the AD&D Dark Sun setting to the 2d6/Cepheus Engine/Traveller based RPG Sword of Cepheus. This will cover the initial character creation process. I’ll also create one career – Nomad – to start out with.

Character Creation

We’ll be using the same basic rules as the Sword of Cepheus rule book with a few small modifications.

Rolling Characteristics – Only the Strong Survive

To reflect the toughened denizens of Athas, when rolling stats for a character, roll 3D, dropping the lowest die for the following stats: Strength, Endurance, Intelligence, & Dexterity. The normal 2D can be rolled for Education and Social Standing.

Background Skills

When selecting the background, you can choose one free skill.

Background	Skills (Choose one)
City-State	Streetwise-1, Carousing-1, Craft-1
Client Village	Craft-1, Steward-1
Slave Village	Art-1, Deception-1
Caravan	Liaison-1, Animals-1, Riding-1, Steward-1
Nomad	Survival-1, Recon-1

Careers

I’ve never been entirely comfortable with the whole career system for fantasy-based Cepheus/Traveller/2D6 games. The whole four-year term idea seems a little too wedded to Traveller-style military and institutional careers. Mike the data analyst has a career, Merlin the magician had a mysterious past steeped in myth and legend. However, I want to make this thing completely compatible with Sword of Cepheus, so I will make full careers. (Maybe I should call them sagas – that would at least make it feel more fantastic)

I am however, also going to include the optional choice of a package-based creation, similar to the one used in Mongoose’s Traveller Companion.

Here’s my initial idea of a list of careers (I may be getting a little ambitious here)
Nomad, , Elvish Herdsman, Gladiator, Slave, Merchant, Warrior, Defiler, Preserver, Templar, Elemental Cleric, Druid, Thief, Bard, Psionicist

I’ll start off with one here, and gradually add more of them in the next few weeks.

Nomad

Qualification	END 7+
Survival	END 7+
Advancement	STR 6+
Re-Enlistment	6+

Ranks

Rank	Title	Skill or Bonus
0		Survival-1
1
2
3		Leadership-1
4
5
6

Mustering Out Benefits

1D	Treasure	Materials
1	10 cp	Weapon
2	20 cp	Armor – Erdlu wing leather – Protection 4
3	30 cp	+1 END
4	10 sp	Armor
5	20 sp	Kank mount
6	30 sp	Small (1d6+2) flock of erdlu – Can be sold(10 cp each) or eaten
7	10 gp	Retainer

Mishaps

1D	Mishap
1	Raiders! A band of raiders come for your flock of erdlu. You drive them off, but at a cost. Roll on Injury table.
2	Drought! – Your normal water supplies dry up – Reduce END by 1
3	More Raiders! –  A band of raiders seized your tribe’s entire flock of erdlu and scattered your douar. You will need to join another douar. Lose all benefit rolls and reduce rank to 0.
4	Betrayed – A fellow nomad turns on you. Gain an Enemy
5	Stampede! You are injured in a erdlu stampede – Roll on the Injury table.
6	Dragon Attack! – The dreaded Dragon of Tyr devastated your people. Roll END 10+ to survive

Events

2D	Event
2	Mishap – Roll on Mishap Table
3	Caravan – You spend some time dealing with caravans – Gain Liaison, Deception, or Language
4	Raiders – You lead the defense against a band of gith raiders – Throw 8+. If you succeed gain one level of either Melee Combat or Archery. If you fail, roll on the Injury table.
5	Hard Times – Defilers spoil your grazing land. Throw END 8+. If you succeed, gain a level of Survival. If you fail, roll on the Injury table.
6	Enslaved – You are enslaved and brought to a city, though you eventually escape. Lose one Benefit roll for one turn and gain Streetwise
7	Life Event – Roll on the Life Event table
8	The Great Hunt – You lead a hunt to take down a dangerous wounded megapede. Gain one of Archery, Recon, or Survival.
9	Treasure- You find a treasure hoard in the wastes. Gain an extra benefit roll.
10	Greener Pasture – You find a better pasture for the flock. Gain a DM+1 on one Benefit roll
11	Wizard – The Preserver wizard who leads the douar takes a liking to you. Gain an Ally.
12	Psionics – A latent psionic ability becomes active – roll on Psionics Table (I’ll write one up eventually)