Lists and Tables

Below are various tables and lists of information which may be quite useful. Some of this material can be found in published book(s) others are unique to this campaign. Hopefully, this page is an easy way to find all the obscure references you might need.

Skills and Proficiencies

Here they are, the MAJORITY of skills and proficiencies available in my world. Just because you don't see it, though, doesn't mean I don't allow it. This list is just a starting point. You'll notice none of the martial arts styles are listed (yet) nor are the various fighting styles detailed (yet). So, whip out your character sheets and double check those skills...Bad math might mean you get a visit from Meklerex or Orcus...8->

One weapon is equal to two non-weapons and the two are freely interchangeable. For more information, see also Rule Changes under Gaining Non-Weapons and Learning Proficiencies.

Basic Role-Playing Questions

Here are the very basic "12 Questions" to help you flesh out your character into something more than "my guy".

• What is your character's complete physical description? What is his/her race, age, height, weight, build? Hair color, length and type? Eye and skin tone? Unusual marks or scars? Bearing and usual demeanor? Typical garb (include multiple scenarios, if appropriate)?
• What is your character's complete psychological description? What are his/her ethics, religion, philosophy, and deity? What kind of personality and interests does he/she have? Is he/she intense, passionate, prone to violence, insane, crafty, etc?
• What are your characters hobbies? What does your character generally do in his/her leisure time? What does your character do to "unwind"?
• Why does your character have the class, weapon proficiencies, skills, and languages that he/she does?
• What are your character's favorite things? Colors, smells, foods, drinks, sounds, animals, locations, etc. What are your character's least favorite things?
• Who are your character's current friends, lovers, allies and associates? What is the nature and intensity of these relationships?
• Who and what are your character's enemies and foes? Are these based on personal experience, second-hand encounters, cultural biases, etc?
• Does your character have any pets, henchbeings or constant companions? Does your character want any?
• What were your character's previous adventures and experiences? How have they shaped who your character is today?
• What are your character's attitudes, habits and vices? Does he/she drink, smoke, do drugs, have sex, gamble, steal, etc?
• What are your character's fears, phobias and issues? Do you have unresolved childhood traumas?
• Where does your character call home? Why? Have there been previous "homes"? Is your character a wanderer?

More Role-Playing Questions

Here are the "24 Questions" to help get some additional insight into your character's personality and history.

• Your character needs a horse for a long journey. Describe the steed's size, coloring, build, training and personality. Would your character rather make use of an exotic mount and/or use an esoteric manner of travel?
• What are your character's views on death and dying? What would be the "perfect death"? What would be a shallow or meaningless death? If your character has already died and been raised, how has this experience changed your views?
• From your character's viewpoint, which is better, being loved or feared? If the answer varies according to situation, please explain.
• Why is your character an adventurer? Is it the money? The magic? The power? The challenge? The excitement? The hand of Fate? Some combination of these?
• You return to a comfortable way-side inn that has housed you in comfort numerous times over the years. You find that the kindly family has just been threatened, beaten and robbed. You have the means to track down the guilty bandits. What do you do? Would your answer change if members of the tavern-master's family were killed or raped?
• Would your character be comfortable being reincarnated? Why (not)? (Remember, when a person is reincarnated, they often experience a fundamental shift in their personality. How would your character cope with this?)
• What was your character like as a child? How were you treated? Have you changed much? Was your character a late-bloomer, a wimp, a bully, a nerd, a snitch, a klutz or a rascal?
• Who were your character's childhood friends and companions? Were there strong bonds between you? Where are these friends now?
• What would provoke you to murder someone (not kill -- actually hunt down, stalk and slay without mercy)? This assumes the victim is of your same race, sex and social status.
• What are your character's strongest traits, personality-wise? What do others see in you? Do you agree? Do you as the character agree?
• What emotions can your character express easily to others? Which are more difficult? Which do you hide from others?
• What is your relationship with your god(s)? Are you devout? Do you feel that you have a personal relationship with the deity or more of an impersonal tie to the church and/or the social organization it represents?
• What were your thoughts the first time your character took a life (you may choose whether it was sentient or not)? How did this effect you?
• What is event or characteristic is your character most proud of? What meaning does this have in your life? Does your character display this pride openly or is it a personal matter?
• If you could live anywhere in the multiverse, where would it be and why? Would you bring others with you? If you are tied to one location, would you change the traits of that area?
• If you could have any one thing, what would it be? What purpose would you put it to?
• What is your character's greatest ambition? Do you have life-goal? Do you merely follow where events lead you?
• What is your character's family like? Your parents, siblings, cousins, home town, etc. Do you still think about them? Do you still see them?
• How does your character see others? What is your character's self-image in the eyes of others, as perceived by the character? Is this different than the player's viewpoint?
• What is your character's most prized possession and why? What would you do if it was stolen? If it was lost? If it was willfully destroyed?
• If your character had a wish, what would it be? Please be as long-winded as possible!
• Why has your character taken your particular alignment? What relationship does your character feel towards others of his ethos? Is your character evangelistic in this regard?
• Who is your character's best friend(s)? Would you sacrifice your life for this/these people? What is the basis of your relationship?
• If your character was suddenly catapulted onto 20th century Earth, how would you live? What profession would you pursue? Describe your probable life-style (vagabond, married with children, socialite, etc)?

Advanced Role-Playing Questions

Here are the other "24 Questions" (for a full 48) to help get an even better grasp on your character's personna.

• What animal or creature best symbolizes your character? Which traits do the two share? Which are different? Is this creature or beast the same as your totemic animal? If not, why not?
• How does your character view life? Is it a puzzle? A challenge? A stream of events? How does your character fit in? Does your character care?
• What is your character most afraid of? Why? Is your character aware of this fear? What would your character do when confronted by this fear?
• What was your favorite adventure? Why?
• How do you feel about stealing? What justification do you need? How far would you go to steal/recover something? Do you see adventuring as robbery (of poor orcs/ogres/dragons/etc) or justice?
• Do you feel you risk your life when you adventure? Why (not)? Have you ever thought about the odds of survival? Do you care?
• Are you a virgin? If not, what was your first time like -- the partner, the experience, the relationship, etc? Either way, how has this affected your life?
• What secrets does your character keep? How personal are they? Whom do/would you confide in?
• Does your character like him/herself? Why (not)? Do you as the player agree?
• What characteristic are you most interested in improving? Why? How would this change your life?
• Are you a fairly independent person? How often do you ask others for aid? How well do you work in a group?
• How does your character react to clerics and other "god-servants"? Do you hold people or things as sacred? How do you feel about rival deities and faiths?
• How easy is it for you to kill? Do you limit yourself to slaying only monsters? Only non-humanoids? Animals? Do you ever try to restrain foes with non-lethal force? What are your limits?
• Do you believe in destiny? Do you have a specific destiny to fulfill? How does this belief color your decisions?
• What fallacies or myths do you believe in? Examples: psionic powers/drow/spell-jamming don't exist, Oerth is flat, all witches are evil, DC is NOT God, etc. Please keep in mind your cultural biases.
• What magical item does your character most want? Why?
• If you could change any one thing about your character, what would it be? Why? Would the character also want to change this?
• Do you want to have a family and/or children? Why (not)? If your character is part of a lineage, explain what that ancestral connection means to you.
• If your character could become some other person or creature what would it be? Why does your character feel this way? As the player, do you agree/feel this is a valid reason?
• What is your definition of happiness? Have you ever achieved this? What would you do to achieve this state (again)?
• What would you as the player most like to see happen to your character? Why?
• Do you believe in Law or Justice? Which is more important, the Ends or the Means? If your answers vary with the situation, please explain.
• Have you ever been in love? With whom and when? What would you do to achieve a strong and healthy romantic relationship?
• If your character was born and raised in our 20th century Earth, how would you live? What profession would you pursue? What kind of car would you drive? Your favorite band? Describe your probable life-style (vagabond, married with children, socialite, etc)?

Questions? Comments? Funny stories? Lemme know...

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