Character Creation: NOVA

It's Spanish for "doesn't go."

The Game: NOVA
The Publisher: Gila RPGs
Degree of Familiarity: None
Books Required: Just the one

I was talking the other day about how games like Into the Odd, while they're playable and even compelling, sometimes feel thin and speculated that it's because they tend to lack the "handshake" text that RPGs usually have. I think NOVA kind supports that, at least to me, because while it's also a shorter game with a simple premise and an easy-to-understand, mission-based setup, it doesn't feel thin or incomplete. 

Anyway, in NOVA the sun exploded and now cities have formed around "sun shards" on Earth. You play Sparks, or rather the people in Sparks - Sparks are mechsuits that pilots use to go out into the Dusk and do things (drive back monsters, get resources, whatevs). The mechanical system is similar to the author's other game Slayers, although this game seems like it's got a slightly more robust and tactically engaged system (but I hasten to add that my experience with Slayers is limited and I haven't played NOVA at all). 

In any case, reading the game made me want to run it, so that's a win. Let's make a Spark.

First thing I do is choose which model I want to pilot, and boy howdy does this game pass the Chupp test (basic character types was an area I felt like Slayers could've done with more variety). So one of the Sparks can raise dead enemies as soldiers, one of them "Damns" enemies so they hurt themselves if they attack you, and so on. But I think I'm gonna go with the Scorch because the picture is dope as fuck (I mean, they all are, but I really like this one). 

I need a callsign. Been watching Lucifer lately, so I'll say my callsign is "Morningstar." 

I get a free point in each of my attributes (Sun, Moon, and Shade) and then I get 4 points to increase them. Attribute are kind of like Approaches; Sun is loud and showy and obvious, Moon is quick and reactive, and Shade is patient and precise. Let's put two into Shade and Sun and leave Moon at 1; Morningstar is deliberate and powerful but not great at reacting because by that time everything's already on fire. 

I get Health and Fuel of 2, and then 8 more points to split into those. Let's split them evenly; one of the things the Scorch can do is convert enemy drops of Fuel into Health and vice versa, so there's not really an advantage in having one bigger than the other. 

Now I get mods. Here I have a complaint, not about the system itself (which is pretty cool) but about the terminology. The collective term for mods is "Flares." Flares can mod the Spark itself (generally boosting its stats) or its powers (which are fixed based on the Spark type), but, well:

This seems to imply I can only take power mods Flares at chargen. Is that true, or could I take Spark mods? There's no example of chargen, so it's hard to know. Anyway, I'll take Lethal and put it on my Snuff Out power (making my heaviest attack a little heavier), and Efficient and put it on Kindling (meaning my burst/healing burst doesn't cost me Fuel). 

And then all that's left to do is describe my pilot. My pilot's name is Tobias Stratton. Tobias (please call him "Strat") is the nicest, gentlest cinnamon bun you'll ever meet. He's a light in the darkness, and the people of this city live in darkness, so that's good. He volunteers his time and is always willing to do a favor, be it to listen, carry something, babysit, or whatever. That's probably how he became a Spark, someone put out a call and he suited up.

And yet, his fellow Sparks are kinda scared of him, because when he's in the armor he completely changes. Oh, he's still kind and helpful - the Scorch armor is useful because it can heal and refuel other Sparks - but Strat also has a habit of letting enemies swarm him and then activating the Engulf or Kindling powers, burning them to crisp and lighting up the Dusk. One of his fellow pilots heard him whisper something on one mission through an open channel: "Can you see the light, Father? Can you see the light I've brought them?" Strat worries his co-Sparks, just a little. 

Strat is in his early 30s. Light tan skin, black hair, vaguely Mediterranean features. He's got sparkly blue eyes and a pretty smile, an easy laugh and a warm voice. And maybe stares at firelight just a little too fondly. 

That'll do it!