Character Creation: It Came From Swanton Ohio

Seriously, that's where Stellar Games was based.

The Game: It Came From the Late, Late, Late Show
The publisher: Stellar Games
Degree of familiarity: Some. Played it once or twice, ran it a couple years back at Origins.
Books Required: Just the core.

 

I could have made a character from Slasher if it was out, or something like kill puppies for satan if I had it, but for now, let's go with the lighter side of the holiday.

It Came From the Late, Late, Late, Show (or "Lateshow" for short) was a game I picked up back in Toledo, around the time I picked up Nightlife. It's a game in which you play an actor playing a role in a bad horror movie, so even if you "die" it just means you're out of the movie. There are rules for the film breaking, for walking off the set, and for holding the film hostage until the Director gives you a break of some kind. I like running it because it's fun to describe cheesy special effects.

So anyway, let's do this. Whee, random chargen!

There are five Abilities: Build, Dexterity, Brains, Looks and Fame. Need me to explain those? All righty, then. This handy site gives me 38, 39, 32, 31, 20 and if I assign those in order, I get an actor whose quick and tough, not altogether un-smart or homely, but just hasn't made a real splash yet. He's looking for his big break. He's in LA, and he's gonna make it, man. God gave him a gift. He was so good in his...high school production of...Brigadoon. (I'm quoting a David Cross routine. Just seemed appropriate.)

Anyway, my actor's name is Trap Martindon (it's totally a stage name). Trap is from...fuck, someplace inane. Juneau, Alaska. He came to LA to be the next THAT GUY (insert your favorite actor here), and he's gonna make it. He knows he is. But to make it, he's got to do his time in cheesy horror movies first. That's how Johnny Depp started, you know. Kevin Bacon, too.

So Trap is working for Buckets o' Blood Studios or whatever. They love him because he can do his own stunts convincingly. He always gets cast in the role of the Corporate Guy That Tries to Buy the Monster And Then Gets Eaten (see also: Carter Burke) or the Apparent Bad Guy That Reforms And Sacrifices Himself At the Last Minute (I dunno, what's a good example?). So obviously, I'll be needing some Props. I get 2 props (my Fame/10) and they have to be chosen from the list for Fame 1-30. I'll pick a Watch, Pocket and a Pet, Hamster (I know the comma after "Pet" is unnecessary; that's the way it's written in the book). The hamster was my agent's idea. Makes me a good PETA spokesman. Not that they've returned my calls yet - might have been the burger commercials I did...

Anyway, now Skills. I roll 20d10 and add those numbers to a given stat for the Skill rating. Oy. So here's my list:

Unarmed Combat 47
Spear 45
Pistol 46
Acting 40
Carousing 66
Etiquette 40
Gambling 30
Lying 40
Motorcycles 45
Sports (Football) 44
Screaming 36

Sounds good. Note the best skill: Drinking.