|
Contacts
When
generic contacts are converted to solid ones, they
can be generated with whatever level of detail the
referee desires, just as with other NPCs. In
general, though, the more important the contact is
to a PC, and the more frequently that contact shows
up in the adventure campaign, the more detail will
be required for that contact.
It is
suggested that the referee allow players a strong
hand in designing the histories for their contacts.
After all, in some ways a contact's history is part
of the PC's history. But it is suggested just as
strongly that players not be allowed to know exact
numbers for the contact's attributes, skills, and
assets. To a player, the contact should seem like a
living personality, not a collection of numbers that
can be exploited. Ideally, then, a contact's basic
description will be generated by the player whose
character has established that contact, and the
referee will then create appropriate attributes and
skills to match the description.
In
designing a contact's history, a player should
justify why that contact would have established a
tie with the PC. For example, contacts could have
been classmates during an education term, coworkers
at a civilian occupation, or comrades in a military
career. Of course, for a contact to be someone who
will be interested in helping the PC all these years
later, they should have had something in common: a
shared hobby, a shared bonding experience (e.g.,
combat for a military career, a difficult job
assignment for civilians, debate partners or a
research assistant for education), or a shared
secret or common goal. The player should specify how
long ago this contact was gained (i.e., the term in
character generation in which it was earned) to
assist the referee in figuring out how much older
the contact is, and how much more (or less) powerful
the contact may have become in the intervening time.
The referee must decide whether to accept a history
as plausible or interesting, or reject one as too
ridiculous, requiring the player to try again.
Once the
history is agreed upon, the referee determines how
old the contacts have become by now, and just how
much clout they still have in their fields. Once
this has been established, the referee can look down
the skill list for appropriate skills, or simply
define the contact as a template NPC, making up any
necessary skill levels as the need arises during
play. It just depends upon how much time and energy
the referee wants to spend on the NPC.
Academic
Business
Criminal
Entertainment
Government
Intelligence Community
Journalist
Law
Enforcement
Medical
Military
Specialist
Trader
Wealthy
|
