Table of Contents
Random Character Creation
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Creating a random character, whether as a PC or NPC is a very similar to the process gone through by tarot card readers when they creatively invent their future predictions. Take a Tarot deck, shuffle it, and lay out the cards in a “Spread”. Have a look at where the cards are within the spread to determine what the character's game information is.
The Spreads
There are two spreads made for a character if you want a detailed description. The first is for the game-related statistics, and the second is for personality and background.
Characteristics
For characteristics, lay the cards out in 10 rows. Some rows will have only one card. When a particular item has several cards, add them together. No characteristic should exceed 10.
The positions
- Class (1 card)
- Birth (1 card)
- Body (1 card)
- Beliefs (2 cards)
- Reputations (2 cards)
- Favours (2 cards)
- Repartee (2 cards)
- Skills (5 cards)
- Contacts (3 cards)
- Currency (1 card)
Interpretation
Major Arcana | Minor Arcana | |
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Class | see Interrupt in the tarot card description | Suit = Major Class, Number = Minor Class |
Birth | see Birth in the tarot card description | see “Birth” in the tarot card description |
Body | see Body in the tarot card description | see “Body” in the tarot card description |
Beliefs | group as many descriptors into an appropriate belief as you can, and count each as +1 point for that belief | Suit, Staves = Sports, Chalices = Dance and theatre , Coins = Academics and philosophy , Swords = Profession Number = levels of the beliefs (can be split amongst several) |
Reputations | see Interrupt in the tarot card description, Level of reputation=8 | Suit = Major Class, Number = Level of reputation |
Favours | see Interrupt in the tarot card description, Level of favour=8 | Suit = Major Class, Number = Level of favour |
Repartee | see Repartee in the tarot card description | see “Repartee” in the tarot card description |
Skills | see Skills in the tarot card description | Suit = skill area, Number = points to be distributed |
Contacts | see Interrupt in the tarot card description, Level of contact=8 | Suit = Major Class, Number = Level of contact |
Currency | Number = livres readily available. If Mechant x10, If Noble x100 | Number = livres readily available. If Mechant x10, If Noble x100 |
Personality and Background
While this spread is easier to do, the interpretation is harder. Lay twelve cards out in a circle to form a clockface. Each position on the clock represents a separate zodiac house. 12 of the cards in the Tarot also represent zodiac signs. There are several things to look for in this spread-
- Which zodiac“ card is in which position.”
- Which other major arcana card is in which position.
- Where other normal cards fall.
The positions
- identity, personality, disposition
- values, finances, possessions
- communications or travel
- home, family, heritage
- creativity, children, romance
- work and health
- marriage or any other partnerships
- support from others, regeneration
- education, religion, philosophy
- profession / career, reputation, social status
- friendships, aspirations
- fears, sub-conscious, and secrets
The "zodiac" cards
- The Hierophant. — Ares - leadership role
- The Sun. — Taurus - domestic role
- The Moon. — Gemini - expressiveness
- The Star. — Cancer - sympathetic or emotional nature
- The World. — Leo - pride or self-assurance
- The Empress. — Virgo - industrious nature
- The Emperor. — Libra - cooperative or diplomatic nature
- The High Priestess. — Scorpio - motivation or determination
- Justice. — Sagittarius - philosophy or idealism
- Temperance. — Capricorn - resourcefulness
- Strength. — Aquarius - intellect
- The Hanged Man. — Pisces - intuition
Interpretation
- If a “zodiac” card falls within one of the positions, that is how the character views that area. i.e. If The Sun falls in the ninth position, the character probably lives as a teacher or curate - or they view education, religion or philosophy as a particularly domestic thing to do.
- If another major arcana card falls on a position - you can either interpret it according to that card's meaning (see the descriptors in the Tarot chapter), or you can regard it as a null (the character doesn't care about that subject).
- For the numerical cards, regard them as how important the subject of that position is according to the suit of the card (see the faculties in the Tarot chapter). i.e. An 8 of Staves in the fourth position means the character invests most of their creative energy in their home and family or their heritage.