Character Creation: Hood

Tally-ho! Forsooth! For yon, Chevy Chase!

The Game: Hood: Swashbuckling Adventures in Sherwood
The Publisher: Fearlight Games
Degree of Familiarity: None
Books Required: Just the one, hey nonny nonny

Hood is from the same company as Baker Street, and has a similar setup. The characters are Merry Men, part of Robin's company, and the game explicitly takes its inspiration from the Erroll Flynn/Douglas Fairbanks portrayal of Robin Hood, rather than Costner or Crowe or, like, a fox. 

I don't think it's quite as natural a fit as Baker Street, where the players had a defined role and Sherlock himself wasn't around, but it'd be perfectly workable. The book spends a lot of time talking about the Robin Hood mythos and how the Victorians influenced it, and setting up expectations for what life would be like in the time of the game. There are rules for duels that are quite honestly the most interesting thing for me (both parties pick one of four actions, which might result in both of them standing there awkwardly or trading witty banter), and, as with Baker Street, the emphasis and the systems focus on the elements of the target genre. 

So anyway, on we go! First thing I'm asked to do is choose two Skills and a Profession. I want to take Swine Herder as my Profession (I dunno, sounds fun) and I'll take Animal Handling and Tracking as my Skills. Oh, wait, those are at d8, and then I get three more Skills at d6. Cool. I'll take Clubs d6 (I figure he carries a cudgel while herding them swine, so he can bop unruly wolves on the head), Notice d6 (always wise), and Survival d6.

And now, physical and personality traits. I get a shitload of these, two d8 and three d6 from each category. There's a list, but you're encouraged to make up your own. 

Well, for personality, I already picture this guy as being pretty jovial, so I'll take Jolly. I like Responsible and Popular, too. Better take a couple that aren't quite as flattering, though. Nosy, I think, and Oblivious (he's the kind of guy that can't take a hint to leave a party). I'll put Oblivious and Jolly at d8, the rest at d6.

Now, physical! I know I want Smelly as a d6 (swine herder, he smells like pig), and I don't necessarily want him to be fat, but Husky d6 is fine. I picture him as being pretty strong, and I don't think I need a synonym there, so Strong d6. Need my d8s, now. Hardy is good, and I'll take Steady as well.

Virtues and Vices! I get two of each, then one more from either, all at d8. Well, Vices are a little harder to narrow down for this guy, but I think Reckless isn't bad, and I'll take Worldly as well (as opposed to Pious). For Virtues, I want Honest, Forgiving, and Loyal.

Next would be Flair, which is meant to be done in a group, but you're just picking one so it's not like I can't include. I'll take Witty, just because it's not the first thing you'd think of for this guy.

According to the chargen section, that's it other than the details and the backstory, but I dunno, I see a lot of blanks on the sheet. Let's investigate! 

Well, Stunts happen in play, so that does stay blank. Equipment, meh. He's got a cudgel and some dirty clothes, and a herd of swine. But what about these circles in the top right of the sheet? Looking through the book and at the pregens, apparently they also start blank. OK, then.

My swine herder's name is Peter, but folks in Sherwood call him "Piggy Pete." He doesn't mind; he knows who he is. He herds his pigs and sells them for meat and so on, but he doesn't eat pork himself - he jokes that it would be like eating one's horse or dog for him. Pete is a big fella, but he has a weird grin and he speaks with a slight lisp, and it just kinda makes him come off as goofy. Everybody likes Piggy Pete, but you do have to get used to the aroma. 

That's it! Oink!