Continuing our theme of "let's get it over with!"
The Game: Ironclaw
The Publisher: Sanguine Games
Degree of Familiarity: None
Books Required: Just the one, I think? I have the "Omnibus Edition" from some bundle or other
I shouldn't be down on Ironclaw, it's just the game screams "furry" to me and I'm not really into that scene. But the game looks perfectly playable; it's a fantasy game with a rich political setting and all. There's just nothing about it that hooks me, not the anthropomorphic animal PCs, not the aforementioned setting, and looking back on it now I can't even remember the system. But let's make a character and see if I just need a second look.
We start off doing Traits. I get a d4, three d6s, and two d8s to put into Body, Speed, Mind, Will, Species, and Career. I'll apparently be able to change these later, though. Feels like we should really start deciding Career and Species, since those are so intrinsic to concept, but whatevers, I don't really have an idea. I guess I'll take the book's advice and put a d8 into Career (the thinking being that that's what you'll be rolling most often), and I'll put the other d8 into Mind, 'cause I feel like making a smart character. Maybe an owl.
I'll put the d6s into Body, Species, and Will, and that leaves a d4 in Speed. I'm smart, but slow.
Moving on! Species! There's a list, actually. Let's see. No owl, alas. How about a goat? Goats are stubborn and kind of misanthropic, but I can lean towards "gruff and curmudgeon" more than "people suck, wah".
Ooh, Increased Trait: Will. I could go back and rearrange my stats a little. Nah, I'll bump Will to a d8 and go on my merry way.
Career is next. Kinda want to do something magical, but that lets me lean in to my "old goat on the hill" thing. Let's be a Thaumaturge.
Next I pick a Personality, which is just a descriptor that I can include with certain rolls. I think "Gruff" is nicely on the nose.
Normally my GM (sorry, "Host") would tell me where the game is set and I'd get Local Knowledge for that area, but it's just me so I'll skip that.
Skills! I get 13 "Marks" to put in Skills. Each Mark gives me a die boost (d4-d6-d8), and I can't go more than 3 Marks in a given Skill.
Well, I think I'll put two into Supernatural, since I'm a Thaumaturge. I'll put one each in Academics and Brawling. Why is there a Digging Skill? Weird. I'll put one in Endurance, one in Melee Combat, one in Observation, two in Presence. Searching, sure. I'll put one in Throwing, too. That's 11, I've got 2 left. I'll go back and put a second Mark in Brawling and Academics.
Gifts! I get three Gifts. There's a huge list. Let's see. Ooh, I like Clear-Headed. I can shake off mental influence or just being confused in battle. I'll take Fast-Climber (sure-footed as a goat!), and I'll take Haggling (he doesn't much like people but he likes paying them even less).
Cool. Fill in the numbers for skills, that's easy. Now we need a name. There's a list, and I like the named "Calixto." Call him "Lix," please, not "Cal."
And now we need a personal motto. "Leave me the hell alone" is cute, but it's unpleasant at the table. Let's say Lix' motto is "Be first good company to yourself."
And then a Starting Goal, something that would get me on the road to adventure. I'll say his immediate goal is "Relax at the pub with a pint and a book." Yes, doesn't seem adventurous, but c'mon. If you don't want adventure you stay home, not go to a pub.
Now I fill in the battle array, which is mostly just writing in numbers and regretting my low Speed die.
Lix isn't an old goat, but he kinda looks like he should be. His pelt is grey and his eyes are yellow and he walks with a kind of shuffle - not quite a limp, and he can climb quickly, but he doesn't move fast. Lix is a Thautmaturge but folks say he missed his calling as a merchant. People who know Lix well point out that being a merchant would require much more social contact than Lix has any patience for.
That'll do it! Made my six in August, yay me.
