Why Character Histories?:

            Having a history helps you give reasons why you act the way you do. It answers some questions that are made from selecting your character's skills. It also answers the question does your character have any fears? Hatreds? Likes or dislikes? Enemies or friends? It always is handy to know why your character is in the town he or she is in. It helps set a goal for your character, make it whatever you want, but not to high (i.e. Being the next Master of the Forester's Guild is fine, but not becoming the supreme master of the universe.) And perhaps make some short term goals in the mean time. It always helps to give your character drive, so that you don't sit around waiting for plot come to you, go out and make plot go after you! Also this allows plot to flesh out the game of Dragon Crest as a whole. If plot knows your motivations, then you might have someone from you character's past show up when you least expect it. This can allow for a more "real" role-playing experience. Think of how interesting it would be if your character has make decisions like how your parents might feel about it, or will this draw attention to you from your enemies. The possibilities are endless!

Requirements:

            There are two basic requirements before a character history can be accepted:

            1) The character history must be typed, not hand written character histories will be accepted, no matter how good your handwriting is!

            2) Character histories must be between 1000 and 2500 words.

 

            These are simple requirements and anyone should be able to follow them. Also for an added bonus, if you send in your character history in electronic form (e-mail, disk, CD, etc.)Then you will get a 5 Dragon Point bonus, on top of other rewards (see below)

Sending your character history:

            To turn in your character history you can do one of two things:

            1) E-mail a copy of the history in either Microsoft Word, or plain text to Character Histories or,

            2)Snail Mail a copy of the history to

Character History

c/o Dragon Crest

P.O. Box 692281

Quincy, MA02269

 

Expect 2 weeks to a month before a response about whether or not your character history passes and what, if any, is the cost in DPs needed to make your character history possible.

Reward:

            When you send in your character history, you'll get two options:
            1) A blanket (number of XP equal to your total CP) added to the character in your history or,
            2) 25 DP off the total cost of the character history.(Of course this doesn't include the fun you'll get from your character history possibly being used in plots later on.)

Dragon Point Cost

            The range of Dragon Point (DP) cost for character histories can be very broad. It is quite easy to make a character history which will cost no DP at all, or one that could cost thousands. It all depends on what you want out of you character history. If you want to have some rank or stature then you will have to pay with DP. Below is a list of DP cost for writing a character history. I do this for you . . . )

 

Bribing Plot

For Character History Benefits

 

            These are approximate dragon point costs for bribing plot to include benefits in your character history. These benefits can include a former rank held in the local area, another chapter, or even the Empire. These benefits can also include a relative or friend that may have or formerly had such a rank, or may have other talents. The prices listed are approximations and may vary based on what exactly is written into the character history and the discretion of the plot committees involved.

            Although any player character may have any rank in the past, no PC may enter game with a current rank, and no PC should ever expect to be granted the rank he or she formerly held based on their history. All PCs must earn all current ranks in-game. This usually requires a number of events spent in pursuit of that goal.

Rank

Column A

Column B

Column C

Column D

Column E

Yeoman

5

10

15

20

2

Squire

15

30

45

60

3

Household Knight

30

60

90

120

4

Vassal Knight

50

100

150

200

5

Bannoret Knight

75

150

225

300

6

Lord

105

210

315

420

7

Baron

140

280

420

560

8

Viscount

180

360

540

720

9

Count/Earl

225

450

675

900

10



See
Imperial Ranks and the corresponding social standing

Base Costs

· Noble Rank - Has a base cost of 200 for Local Rank, 500 for Colonial Rank, and 1000 for Imperial Rank (as in from the Empire). This base cost is halved for non-relations. The Royal Order of the Sun is Noble.

·  Civil/House/Military Rank - Has a base cost of 100 for Local Rank, 300 for Colonial Rank, 50 for Imperial Rank (they cost less since they are from a far away land and have less impact). Colonial Ranks are cross chapter, and the base cost goes to the chapter the rank originates from. The character history must also be approved in that chapter. Ranks of Lord and higher have a base of 500.

· Guild Rank - Has a base cost of 50 for Local Rank, 150 for Colonial Rank, 25 for Imperial Rank. Colonial Ranks are cross chapter, and the base cost goes to the chapter the rank originates from. Ranks of Lord and higher have a base of 300.



Level

 

· NPC - The level of an NPC is equal to the value listed in the corresponding row of Column E. For Example, a Household Knight is 4th level and a Lord is 7th level.For a higher level Contact (such as a 10th level Lord) the price is the difference between 10th Level and 7th in Column A, which amounts to 120 (225 - 105) more DP in this example. Levels 16-20 is an additional 200, 21-25 in an additional 400, etc.

 

· PC - A PC must enter game at the corresponding level in Column E for the former rank desired. This level is not granted but must be earned by NPCing, blankets, etc. For Example if you wanted to start as a former Squire you would have to be at least 3rd level.

 

· Noble or Official Rank (Former Ranks are shifted one Column Left, i.e. D to C)

· Parent/Sibling - Rank cost from Column D

· Uncle/Cousin/Direct In-Law/Mentor - Rank cost from Column C

· Distant Relation/Indirect In-Law/Friend - Rank cost from Column B

PC Former Rank

· Former Rank (honorable discharge) - Rank cost from Column D

· Removed Rank (dishonorable discharge) - Rank cost from Column B

Influential Friend

· Without Rank - Level cost from Column A

· With Rank - Rank cost from Column B. Levels in addition to the rank are charged as the difference, the same as the Lord example above.

Powerful Mentor

· Without Rank - Level cost from Column A

· With Rank - Rank cost from Column C. Levels in addition to the rank are charges as the difference, the same as the Lord example above.

Unusual Race/Creature Ally

· PC-Like Race - Cost of 100 plus level costs from Column A. (These would be races like Aquanesti or Black Lizardmen.)

· Normal Animal - Cost equal to Total Hits of the animal (one specific animal).

· Magical Animals - Cost equal to Total Hits x 3 of the animal (one specific animal).

· Humanoid (Non-PC) - Cost equal to Total Hits plus Level costs from Column A.

· Humanoid Special - Cost equal to Total Hits x 3 plus Level costs from Column A. (An example of these would be Ogre Magi)

· Monsters/Immortals/Elder Races - Special (better not to ask).


                                                Organizations

Type of Organization

- Founder Cost

- Member Cost

- Example

Local/Off Board

- 500

- 50

- Thieves Guild/Mercenary Co.

Colonial

- 2000

- 200

- Merchant Co./Tribe of the Moon

Imperial/Noble

- 4000

- 400

- Large Merchant Co./Noble Order (non-noble status in the organization)



Resources
A Friend or
Mentor can be used as a Resource. After paying for the character, the PC automatically knows that he can use this person for one of the listed resources. This does NOT mean it is always available or will be free, just that the PC knows he can talk to this person about it. Each addition Resource taken from the list will has 2 levels of cost from Column A to the Friend/Mentor. (They do go up that many levels, just cost that much more)

· Loans

· One product from Merchanting (Damage Scrolls or Magical Components or Herbal Components, not all three)

· Fencing

· known to posses a particular magic item that may be available to loan or rent. (Woe betide the person to loose the magic sword!)

· Use of Forces or Troops

· Information

· Magical Aid, such as Rituals

            · Deals (You do this for me)