ZeroSpace 3e DE:Charaktererstellung

Inhalt

Einen Chrakter für ZeroSpace zu erstellen sollte lediglich 15 minuten dauern, sobald man etwas Erfahrung mit dem Vorgehen hat. Der schwierigste Teil ist es sich einen Hintergrund für seinen Charakter auszudenken und festzulegen wie der Charakter so tickt. In diesem Kapitel sollen ein paar Anregungen und Vorschläge festgehalten werden um dir dabei zu helfen, und es wird dir eine Checkliste der Schritte zur verfügung gestellt, denen du am besten folgen könntest. Die Reihenfolge ist dabei nicht so wichtig, folge dabei am besten deinen eigenen Vorlieben.

Es liegt an dir einen Charakter zu erstellen, der mit den anderen Spielercharakteren zusammen unterwegs sein kann und der sich am Spiel sinnvoll beteiligen kann. Realismus muss in ZeroSpace, wie in vielen Spielen, hinter das Argument der Spielbarkeit zurück treten. Der Charakter kann der faszienierendste und detailierteste Charakter sein, der je geschrieben wurde, falls er dir oder anderen den Spaß am Spiel in irgendeiner Weise nimmt, hast du keinen guten Chrakter erstellt.

Glücklicherweise ist das erstellen eines Charakters ein relativ einfacher Vorgang, und was beim ersten Mal nicht klappt kann im zweiten Anlauf um so besser sein. Es ist möglich einen lustigen und interessanten Character zu erstellen, der mit den anderen Charakteren zusammenarbeiten kann und auf lange sicht viel mehr Spaß im Spiel generiert, als es ein Charakter ist, der vielleicht eine brilliante Kreation ist, aber das Spiel stört.

Bevor du anfängst

Das Ziel von ZeroSpace ist es dir zu helfen zusammen mit Freunden Spaß zu haben. Falls möglich triff dich mit allen Spielern und erstellt eure Charaktere gemeinsam, So könnt ihr es vermeiden, das mehrere Spieler einen Charakter spielen, der in die selbe Richtung unterwegs ist. Es macht normalerweise mehr Spaß, wenn jeder Charakter seine eigene Rolle und Spezialisierung hat.

Manchmal kann es schwierig sein einen Grund zu finden, warum Charaktere gemeinsam unterwegs sein sollten. Warum sollte ein grüblerischer einzelgänger, der es mag einzelgängerisch zu grübeln je einer Manschaft gemeinschaftsliebender Weltraumvagabunden beitreten? Es kann hilfreich sein einen Grund für die Gemeinschaft zu finden, bevor das Spiel beginnt, eventuell durch vorherige bekanntschaften unter den Charakteren. Das kann etwas simples sein, wie ein gemeinsamer Kampf gegen Kopfgeldjäger oder ein ausgegebenes Essen. Falls jeder Charakter eine verbindung mit mindestens einem anderen hat, ist es einfacher die Kennenlernphase zu überwinden.

Checkliste für Charaktere

Tests haben ergeben, dass es am Einfachsten ist, wenn du einen Charakter nach den folgenden Schritten erstellst. Die Reihenfolge ist dabei lediglich ein vorschlag, fühl dich frei sie zu varieren und Lücken später auszufüllen.

• Archetypen: Was ist die Grundlegende Identität deines Charakters?
• Hintergrund: Was ist die Geschichte und der Hintergrund des Charakters?
• Motivation: Was Motiviert deinen Charakter, warum steht er morgens auf?
• Probleme: Was hindert deinen Charakter daran sein gesammtes Potential zu entfalten?

Wenn du diese wichtigen Teile deines Charakters geklärt hast, kannst du damit anfangen dir Attribute, Fähigkeiten, (Alien-)Eigenschaften, Gaben und Esoterische Kräfte von deinen Charakterpunkten zu kaufen, die zu deinem Charakter passen.

• Attribute: Was sind die Grundlegenden Mentalen und Physischen eigenschaften deines Charakters?
• Fähigkeiten: Was kann dein Charakter?
• Alien: Ist dein Charakter eventuell gar kein Mensch? Oder hat er eigenschaften, die ein normaler Mensch nicht hat?
• Gaben: Was setzt deinen Charakter von anderen Lebewesen ab und macht ihn besonders?
• Esoterische Kräfte: Welche Kräfte hat dein Charakter die ihn von normalen Menschen unterscheiden?

Archetypen

Wenn man einen Chrakter erstellt, kann es hilfreich sein einen Archetypen als Inspiration zu haben. Viele Bekannte Charaktere vereinein mehrere archetypen auf sich (" Alien Krieger Handwerker, Mystischer Ritter, Schlitzohriger Pilot). Einen guten Archetypen zu finden, kann den Rest der Charaktererstellung enorm vereinfachen, weil es dir ein klares Ziel gibt zu dem du deinen Charakter hin entwickeln kannst.

Handlanger

Die meisten Verbündeten und Gegner, die die Spieler antreffen werden, werden nicht in der Lage sein ihr eigenes Schicksal selbst zu bestimmen. Zum besseren oder schlechteren werden sie ihr Leben damit verbringen den Willen anderer auszuführen. Falls ein Charakter einfach nur Befehle befolgt ist sein Archetyp wahrscheinlich Handlanger, insbesondere falls er teil einer gruppe ist.

Mit den Folgenden Tabellen ist es Möglich Archetypen Zufällig zu bestimmen.

Zufallsarchetyp, Tabelle 2

Wurf 1w6 Wurf 1w6 Archetyp 1 1 Alien 2 Android 3 Aristokrat 4 Assassine 5 Barbar 6 Kopfgeldjäger 2 1 Schläger 2 Cyborg 3 Diplomat 4 Techniker 5 Unterhalter 6 Abenteurer

Wurf 1w6 Wurf 1w6 Archetyp 3 1 Spieler 2 Pistolero 3 Hacker 4 Detektiv 5 Ritter 6 Heiler 4 1 Söldner 2 Mönch 3 Mystiker 4 Friedenswahrer 5 Philosoph 6 Pilot

Wurf 1w6 Wurf 1w6 Archetyp 5 1 Weiser 2 Wilder 3 Gelehrter 4 Wissenschaftler 5 Schlitzohr 6 Kundschafter 6 1 Schmuggler 2 Soldat 3 Spion 4 Händler 5 Veteran 6 Krieger

Selbstverständlich gibt es keine Limitierung auf nur diese, relativ häufigen Archetypen, diese Liste soll lediglich als Orientierung für deinen Charakter dienen.

Hintergrund

In Rollenspielen gibt es immer eine Versuchung sich mehr darauf zu konzentrieren was ein Charakter tut, als auf das wer er ist und warum er es tut. Dafür gibt es einen guten Grund: Was Chraktere tun können macht ZeroSpace erst zu einem Weltraum Fantasie Rollenspiel und nicht zu irgend einem anderen Rollenspiel. Es ist jedoch so, dass das was das Spiel auf lange Sicht interessant macht, die entwicklung und erkundung der Persönlichkeiten eines jeden Charakters ist, vor welche entscheidungen sie gestellt werden und wie sie Interagieren. Und Hierfür ist es notwendig das ein Charakter einen Hintergrund als Basis seiner Persönlichkeit hat.

Persönlichkeit

Wie Verhält sich dein Charakter in gegenwart anderer Leute? Bist du ernsthaft, aber freundlich, grimm und bedrohlich oder lustig und kumpelhaft? Es liegt an dir, deinem Charakter Leben einzuhaufen. Falls dur eine klare Idee hast, wie sich dein Charakter in der Interaktion mit anderen verhält, wirst du einen Guten grundstein dafür haben deine Fähigkeiten und Motivationen auszuwählen.

Als Beispiel: Was sind die Interessen und Hobbies deines Charakters? ist er Intellektuell und beobachtet die Welt um sich herum ganz genau oder ist er Impulsiv, und tut was er denkt was Richtig ist, ohne sich gedanken um Motivationen und Konsequenzen zu machen? Wie steht es um die Familie des Charakters? Stammen sie aus einem Starken Familienklan oder ist der Charakter ein Waisenkind? Wie sieht es mit Ausbildung, Moral und Persönlicher Lebensphilosophie aus? Jeder hinweis zur Persönlichkeit deines Charakters wird dir helfen ihn Realistisch darzustellen, was deine und die Freude anderer am Spiel Steigern wird.

Beschreibung

Wie ein Charakter aussieht ist nicht so wichtig wie seine Persönlichkeit, aber es hat einen Einfluss darauf wie sie mit anderen interagieren und wie er wahrgenommen wird. Sei vorsichtig mit der Beschreibung deines Charakters, und beginne mit Offensichtlichen dingen wie Größe und Statur. Haarfarbe und Kleidung unterstreichen eine Persönlichkeit. Trägt dein Charakter ein Kostüm oder eine Uniform? Ändert sich das Outfit oder hat der Chrakter faktisch immer das Gleiche an?

Das Erscheinungsbild beachtet auch dinge wie die Rasse, das Geschlecht, das alter und Ticks oder Körperschmuck. Stellt der Charakter seinen Reichtum zur schau? Hat er eine Lockere Haltung oder verhält er sich wie ein Militär? Was sehen Wesen die deinen Charakter das erste mal sehen? Hat der Charakter Narben oder ist er besonders Attraktiv? Je mehr details beschrieben werden, desto einfacher ist es für dich und deine Mitspieler ihn sich vorzustellen.

Du musst nicht alles am Anfang eines Spiels wissen, beginne mit einer groben Beschreibung und schmücke die Details während der Entwicklung des Charakters aus.ay.

Vergangenheit

Falls dein Charakter nicht an Amnesie leidet oder in einer Klonfabrik aufgezogen wurde, wird er Wahrscheinlich einiges an Lebenserfahrung mitbringen, wenn das Spiel beginnt. Wo kommt er her? Wie wurde er aufgezogen? War er beim Militär? Hatte er eine unbeschwerte Kindheit? Hat er bereits Abenteuer erlebt? Gab es eine größere Tragödie in seinem Leben? Wann wurde ihnen klar das ihre Ziele über ihren Heimatplaneten hinausgingen? All das ist wichtig wenn es gilt die Vergangenheit eines Charakters zu beschreiben.

Motivation

Sein zuhause zu verlassen ist nicht einfach. Die Meisten Menschen verlassen nie den Kontinent auf dem Sie geboren wurden, noch viel weniger den Heimatplaneten. Reisen im Weltraum sind nicht ungefährlich!

Was ist also ihre Motivation? Warum verlässt ein Individuum die Sicherheit seiner Heimat um ein Weltraum Reisender Vagabund zu werden?

Hier sind ein paar Motivationen, die als kreative Anregung dienen sollen. Wähle einige aus oder denk dir was neues aus. Denk aber immer daran, das einige der Motivationen moralisch nicht Astrein sind, und andere die dem Leben als Weltraumreisender eigendlich wiedersprechen!

Mit den Folgenden Tabellen kann eine Motivation auch zufällig bestimmt werden:

Zufallsbestimmung Motivation, Tabelle 1

Wurf 2w6	Komplexität
2	Würfle zwei mal auf Tabelle 2
3-7	Würfle drei mal auf Tabelle 2
8-11	Würfle vier mal auf Tabelle 2
12	Unentschlossen, wirf noch mal und beachte die Notiz

Unentschlossen: Der Charakter ist zwischen zwei sich gegenseitig Ausschließenden Motivationen hin und hergerissen. Würfle nochmal auf Tabelle 1 und stell die Komplexität der Motivation fest. Anschließend würfle auf Tabelle 2. Die Erste Motivation und die darauf Folgenden sind der Primäre antrieb, während das Gegenteil der Ersten Motivation der Sekundäre Trieb ist. Beispielsweise ist das Gegenteil von Abenteuerlustig Sicherheit.

Zufallmotivation, Tabelle 2

Wurf 1w6 Wurf 1w6 Motivation 1 1 Abenteuer 2 Askese 3 Wagemut 4 Gesellschaft 5 Mitgefühl 6 Mut 2 1 Neugier 2 Gleichgültigkeit 3 Erleuchtung 4 Entdeckung 5 Freiheit 6 Idealismus 3 1 Gerechtigkeit 2 Gnade 3 Herrschaftlich 4 Passion 5 Stolz 6 Rebellion

Wurf 1w6 Wurf 1w6 Motivation 4 1 Sicherheit 2 Materialismus 3 Subtil 4 Individualismus 5 Zorn 6 Furcht 5 1 Glauben 2 Verantwortung 3 Geheimhaltung 4 Abschottung 5 Kontrolle 6 Pragmatismus 6 1 Rache 2 Skurpellosigkeit 3 Gemeinschaft 4 Gelassenheit 5 Zurückhaltung 6 Traditionell

Adventure

Your character has an adventurous spirit and rarely turns down the opportunity for a bold quest or a daunting challenge, as long as the task is noteworthy, risky, and exciting. They tend to carry out any endeavour with a swashbuckling flair. This can be a good or a bad instinct depending on the circumstances.

In opposition to: Security

Asceticism

Your character practices severe self-discipline and avoids all forms of indulgence, typically for spiritual reasons. They may regard those who partake in earthly pleasures with good humour and patience, or they might look down on such hedonism as a moral weakness.

In opposition to: Materialism

Audacity

Your character is an adrenaline junkie driven by a desire to experience thrills and glory. They crave action, speed, and attention, and often leap before looking. On the positive side, this sort of person often deals well with chaotic situations that require quick reflexes and spur-of-the-moment decisions.

In opposition to: Subtlety

Community

Your character believes that the greatest measure of an individual is in their value to the society in which they exist. They seek to be dependable and helpful to those around them, and they encourage these traits in others. A character motivated by community might choose to work in isolation, but they would do so with the greater good in mind.

In opposition to: Individualism

Compassion

Your character wants to protect others and alleviate their suffering, particularly the innocent and the helpless. Seeing people in danger or in pain brings out the character's strongest instincts to act. By the same token, the character will tend to be quite careful when using violence in public places.

In opposition to: Wrath

Control

Your character detests the chaos of society, and seeks to impose order and discipline. They conduct their own affairs with precision, and they impose that same order on others when possible. If they are truly ambitious, the character might seek to control events on a grand scale as a kind of benevolent dictator or as a mastermind pulling strings behind the scenes for the benefit of the masses, who aren't competent to lead themselves.

In opposition to: Freedom

Courage

Your character chooses and is willing to confront agony, danger, and uncertainty. They seek to face physical pain, hardship, and death with equanimity, and they embrace the opportunity to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, scandal, and personal loss. They will be remembered either as a great hero or as a fool.

In opposition to: Fear

Curiosity

Your character lives and breathes to solve the mysteries of the universe. Their focus might be on cracking the puzzles of the natural world or on unraveling the enigmas of the heart and mind, but whatever their obsession, ignoring a riddle requires great effort. The expression "curiosity killed the cat" comes to mind.

In opposition to: Faith

Detachment

Your character seeks to avoid any emotional entanglements on a personal or professional level. They may feel that such connections would limit their freedom of action, and they may fear the obligation such a commitment entails. If offered the choice between maintaining their detachment or assisting with a cause that supports their other motivations, the character may have a crisis of conscience.

In opposition to: Responsibility

Enlightenment

Your character's true calling is education and enlightenment, both their own and others'. Nurturing talent and preserving or establishing a legacy are key goals in their life. They may seek to provide a moral compass to those in their company, or they may be prone to probe and test others' abilities.

In opposition to: Secrecy

Exploration

Your character lives to seek out new places and new ideas, to "boldly go where no one has gone before." The same old routine is not stimulating enough, and though proper planning is important, cautionary tales are often ignored in favor of seeking the new.

In opposition to: Isolation

Faith

The character believes in something which is not supported by empirical evidence, and this belief gives meaning to their life. They may feel compelled to adhere to a code of conduct inspired by their faith, or they may strive to spread their beliefs to others. Depending on how militant the character is about their faith, their beliefs may cause friction with those who require objective evidence for extraordinary claims, or those whose beliefs conflict with the beliefs of the character.

In opposition to: Curiosity

Fear

Your character makes every effort to avoid injury, danger, and uncertainty. Threats of physical pain, hardship, or death will compel the character to take preventative or palliative action, and they are likely to shift their position when faced with popular opposition, scandal, or personal loss. He who runs away may live to see another day.

In opposition to: Courage

Fellowship

Your character seeks to eliminate artificial barriers between individuals, such as socioeconomic status or political influence. They attempt to treat all sentients as equal in fundamental worth and social status. This may cause friction with those who do not share the character's egalitarian views.

In opposition to: Nobility

Freedom

Your character detests the rigid structure of society, and seeks to escape any imposed order and discipline. They conduct their own affairs with wild abandon, and they disrupt the carefully-laid plans of others when possible. If they are truly ambitious, the character might seek to disrupt events on a grand scale as a kind of "agent of chaos", for the benefit of the masses who are too complacent to free themselves.

In opposition to: Control

Humility

Your character strives to maintain a healthy perspective regarding their own importance in the universe, for in a vast and uncaring universe, what does a single sentient life matter? They are likely to decline honors and rewards, no matter how well-earned, and they are usually polite and respectful even in the face of abuse and deliberate malice. At the same time, since their sense of self-worth is internal, they pay little heed to rude or disrespectful behaviour. In the cosmic scale, such things simply do not matter.

In opposition to: Pride

Idealism

Your character believes in some cause or ideology so strongly that they would willingly die to protect it or uphold it. For example, your character might believe that their worth as a person is tied to their adherence to a code of honor, including such tenets as keeping one's word, appropriate use of force, and respect for rank. Any challenge to these ideals is sure to provoke a strong response.

In opposition to: Pragmatism

Individualism

Your character believes that the rights of the individual hold the highest moral value, above any society or philosophy. The character seeks to be self-reliant and independent, and encourages these traits in others. A character motivated by individualism might work with a team, but their reasons for doing so would be personal, rather than out of any sense of obligation.

In opposition to: Community

Isolation

Your character seeks to avoid exposure to new places and new ideas, preferring the comfort and safety of the known. It may be that they are frightened of what lies beyond the horizon, or it may simply be that they like the world as they know it and feel no desire to discover anything else. In extreme cases, the character may wish to avoid being contaminated, either physically or culturally, by strangers and their uncouth customs.

In opposition to: Exploration

Justice

Your character seeks to ensure that misdeeds are met with appropriate punishment. If the structure of society is such that the judicial system usually works as intended, then the character would seek to deliver criminals to the appropriate authorities (along with evidence of their crimes, if possible). However, if the system is corrupt (or if the character believes it to be so), then the character may decide that the cause of justice would be best served by taking the law into their own hands.

In opposition to: Vengeance

Materialism

Your character wants to amass great wealth. Whether they spend it freely or even pursue philanthropy on a large scale is likely based on other personality traits, but the accumulation of riches is an end in itself for this character. Some might even call them greedy.

In opposition to: Asceticism

Mercy

Your character practices benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness. They make a point of doing so particularly when the recipient is, by any objective measure, undeserving of such consideration. They might do this for any number of reasons, from the purely selfish (e.g., it makes them happy) to the pragmatic (e.g., they believe that by showing mercy, the person unworthy of forgiveness may change their ways) to the altruistic (e.g., they believe that each small act of kindness makes the universe a better place).

In opposition to: Ruthlessness

Nobility

Your character was born to rule and command the respect of their lessers. They may look out for the little people based on a sense of noblesse oblige, but they take action because they feel it is necessary and proper to do so, not because someone else demands that they act. At best, a slight condescension is apparent in most interactions with others not of exalted lineage.

In opposition to: Fellowship

Passion

Your character has a visceral, perhaps even savage, nature that they may have to struggle to control. At the same time, they may have a strong sense of loyalty or compassion. In general, your character is ruled by emotions and has to work to fit into a rational world, but they may also have insights that logical people overlook.

In opposition to: Serenity

Pragmatism

Your character believes that practical accomplishments are more important than ideas and philosophies. Honor and ideologies are of little value if they do not produce the desired real-world result. This approach is likely to become controversial when the pragmatic approach violates the ethical tenets of the culture at large.

In opposition to: Idealism

Pride

Your character seeks to personify the ideal of something, whether a culture, species, social class, or profession. They hold to an exacting standard of behavior and expect to be in the public eye, commanding respect for what they represent. They are not likely to appreciate scandals or public slights.

In opposition to: Humility

Rebellion

Your character doesn't fit into the larger society, living as a loner due to prejudice or personal choice. The rebel scoffs at popular trends and pays little heed to public mores. They may seek out other iconoclasts who follow their own drummer or they may just want to be left alone.

In opposition to: Traditionalism

Responsibility

Your character feels that they have abilities or burdens that limit their freedom of action. They have a duty to someone or something outside of themselves, and they feel that casting this duty aside would be selfish or irresponsible. If offered the chance to cast aside this burden, the character may have a crisis of conscience.

In opposition to: Detachment

Ruthlessness

Your character will allow no personal feelings or squeamishness to cloud their judgment. The feelings and well-being of others are irrelevant to the achievement of your character's ambitions. If this means that some must suffer while you claw your way to your objective, so be it: it matters not whether those in your character's way deserve such treatment. Perhaps your character's goals are so lofty that the ends justify the means; perhaps your character is just a heartless bastard.

In opposition to: Mercy

Secrecy

Your character strives to hide information from those who are unworthy of it, or from those who are unready to hear it. Knowledge is power, and power must be kept in the hands of those most fit to wield it. They may attempt to conceal or destroy information in order to prevent its dissemination, or they may seek to discredit those who attempt reveal that which should remain hidden.

In opposition to: Enlightenment

Security

Your character strives to minimize risk, despite the potential reward or excitement. Even the most extraordinary task is carried out with an eye toward avoiding or eliminating anything which might be potentially interesting (and thus, dangerous). Ideally, this will lead to a long life, albeit a dull one.

In opposition to: Adventure

Serenity

Your character seeks to maintain a spiritual, mental, and emotional balance. This may be for spiritual reasons, or it may be a mechanism for coping with the character's inner demons. It's probable that they try to avoid situations that might trigger bad memories or unhealthy behaviors, but learning to face these challenges with equanimity is an important step toward recovery.

In opposition to: Passion

Subtlety

Your character seeks to achieve their goals without attracting attention. Careful planning is usually high on their list of priorities, but success alone is not enough. From your character's point of view, the greatest achievement is one that no one else ever knows about. The most powerful hand is the one that no one sees.

In opposition to: Audacity

Traditionalism

Your character believes in structure, tradition, and the chain of command. They appreciate the value of respecting authority, and of following and giving orders. They thrive on stability, structure, and clear objectives. This can potentially create a crisis of conscience if those orders conflict with their personal morals.

In opposition to: Rebellion

Vengeance

Your character seeks revenge for some past wrong done to them or their loved ones. Any personal sacrifice is worthwhile. Depending upon the character's other motivations, sacrificing others might be worth the cost as well.

In opposition to: Justice

Wrath

Your character exults in causing death and destruction, particularly when the target is guilty or despicable. Seeing people abuse their power or behave in an offensive manner brings out the character's strongest instincts to act. The character will tend to be careless when using violence in public places.

In opposition to: Compassion

Complications

All of the most interesting characters have complicated lives. They may have physical or mental impairments, old enemies that never seem to give up on their quest for vengeance, or plain old social awkwardness. Think of one or two complications for your character. This will add depth to your character's background, and provide an easy way for the GM to come up with stories that are uniquely suited to your character. Additionally, when one of their character's complications causes a serious problem for them during the game, the player may gain a plot point. Plot points are spent to alter the game world, gain a bonus die, or gain an advantage in combat. See the Actions chapter for more information.

Dependence

The character depends upon an environment unlike that of most sentients. They may be distressed by an otherwise harmless environment or substance, such as water or bright light. Alternately, they may need an unusual atmosphere or temperature in order to operate comfortably. If the character is in an incompatible environment without the appropriate breathing gear or protective equipment, they will incur a defense penalty when attacked. While painful and debilitating, a dependence of this sort will not directly kill the character.

See the Actions chapter for more information.

Enemy

The character is an outlaw, hated and/or hunted by people more powerful than they are. Perhaps the character is on the run from a government agency, or perhaps one of the character's childhood friends blames them for some tragedy. Maybe the enemy is obsessed with the character, and won't stop pursuing the character until the character falls in love with the enemy or converts to the enemy's world view.

Gruesome

Sometimes being an adventurer isn't pretty. Perhaps an accident or genetic manipulation has twisted or changed them in some startlingly horrific way. Perhaps the character is from another world or plane of existence and is considered handsome among their own people, but hideous among humans. Whatever the reason, the sight of the character horrifies adults and makes children cry. They may have difficulty in social situations, particularly when meeting someone for the first time.

Obligation

The character has a duty to a person or organization beyond themselves, which may conflict with their own immediate desires or best interests. For example, the character might be a member of an esoteric order, and called upon from time to time to perform specific tasks. Such an obligation is typically one that the character desires to maintain, despite its occasional inconvenience.

Character Points

Once you have the the important parts of the character sketched out, you can start writing up the character's abilities. Characters in ZeroSpace are created using "character points". The player begins with 30 of these character points, and then spends them to buy attributes, skills, gifts, and so on. (Characters in ZeroSpace are extraordinary: relatively normal people would be created with 20 character points.)

Improving Your Character

Unlike most roleplaying games, ZeroSpace assumes that the player characters are relatively complete when they are created. In the books and films which ZeroSpace seeks to emulate, characters don't grow ever more powerful as time goes on, as is common in some roleplaying games. However, part of the fun of a roleplaying game is developing new skills and abilities, so ZeroSpace uses the concept of "experience points", but the increase in power over time is relatively slow compared to most other games.

At the end of each story arc (every half-dozen game sessions or so), the GM determines how many experience points to grant each player, and each player adds that amount to the "Unspent Experience" on the character sheet of the character they played during that story. If they played more than one character (due to plot requirements, death or incapacitation of the first character, or any other reason), the player can pick which character receives the experience points. If the player receives more than one experience point and played more than one character over the course of the story arc, they can distribute those experience points among the eligible characters as the player sees fit.

Experience points may be spent at any time to improve or modify a character's attributes, skills, alien traits, gifts, or esoteric powers. Each experience point is used just like the character points used to create a character: improving an attribute, buying a skill or expertise in that skill, buying a new gift, and so on. The GM should keep a close eye on any new abilities the character gains, as well as on any increases in the character's attributes that might make the character unsuitable for the game being run. It's never a bad idea for the players and the GM to discuss how the players plan to spend their experience points.

The GM should award experience points to players who role-played exceptionally well and made the game more fun for everyone. Here are a few suggestions.

Table: Awarding experience points

Activity	Award
Showed up for the game	+0 pts
Played the game enthusiastically	+1 pts
Concluded a lengthy series of games	+1 pts
Has the lowest quantity of experience points in the group	+1 pts

Remember that the purpose of the game is to have fun playing, not to rack up the highest score. If it rubs your players the wrong way to receive different amounts of experience points, it may be easier to just give each player two experience points at the end of each story arc and be done with it.