De Maledicto Anatis-Character Creation guidelines

Welcome to De Maledicto Anatis! In this campaign, you will play members & vassals of the Filinatis Rogue Trader Dynasty. Here are some basic character creation guidelines.

Base questions:
1) Choose: The blooded or the vassal:*
-Filinatis blood (trait): Gives currently undefined bonuses that will reveal themselves through play; cannot be navigator or astropath.
-Vassal's precedence: +5 to one stat of you choice.
2) Choose: Your role:
Adventurer (as Rogue Trader)
Astropath Ascendant**
Explorator
Missionary
Navigator**
Seneschal
Void-master
3)  Sub-sector of origin: each PC must be from the Calisota sector. All possible types of worlds can be found in the sector. As such, you will need to chose your sub-sector of origin, and you can chose to create your own homeworld (to get players involved in worldbuilding). (See here for details:
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/segmentum-obscurus-the-calisota-sector-wendigobob/c/calisota-sector-category


*Statistically, I considered these traits mechanically equivalent; so yes, the advantages of the filianatis blood arent obvious now, but they are equal (situationally) to a +5 to one stat.
**If you wish to play an astropath or navigator, please contact me directly. They have special conditions, and not all the following notes apply to them.

The following lists a number of questions that can be used to define your background. The PC is referred to as “They” or “You”. Some have a list of possibilities (one must be chosen). The others allow more free-form answers. The first 25 questions I need an answer from the perspective of your character.

1. The blood or the precedence: The patriarch Parvus Filianatis has been consumed by two things: finding those of Filianatis blood who are not cursed, and finding those allies with the skills to help them. Are you one of the last of the Blood, from branched family, bastard couplings or rare occurrence who have the innate power that comes with it? Or are you one of Precedence, those individuals of rare and exotic skill that no-one can deny?

2. The path: All men walk a path to bring glory to humanity; all men walk a path to find the light of the emperor. What path do you tread? (In-game “character class”)

3. The cradle: What type of world where you raised on? How does it mold its people? (As homeworld; please include a description of the world and choose the subsector the world is found)

4. The birthright: From birth to death, most Imperial citizens follow an immovable path towards their fate. However, some rare few are able to rise beyond their beginnings, however humble. What state have you risen from? What wretched or vaunted places did you tread as a child?

5. The lure of the void: It is a continuing, strange miracle of human nature that from the downtrodden, planet-bound masses arise adventurous, ambitious, and  sometimes  twisted or  rebellious  souls  who seek more, or have it thrust upon them by uncaring fate. It is these men and women who through endeavor, fortune, or the turning of great events strike off from their home world and set foot on a greater stage. What brought you to this stage?

6. Trials and travails: Individuals such as yourself are not simply the product of their background and training, but also of those experiences they have endured, experiences that have forged them into what they are where others around them were broken and destroyed. What tried to break you that you overcame? What has truly challenged you?

7. Motivation: Whether motivated by burning ambition, greed, or vengeance, there is always a compelling reason that someone leaves his home world behind and ventures forth into the unknown. What drives you? What pushes you forward through every day?

8. How you came to walk: What led to the path you now walk? What compelled you to the skillset that now brings you glory?

9. The even more specific path: For each career, there are a number of paths they may cross. What organisations or groups have you worked for in the past? (A few examples in the table; though if you think of any I havent mentionned, do not hesitate to put it in your sheet)



10. Religious leanings: The imperium is a place of strict religious order. Most are raised from birth to worship the emperor; though some such as the astartes honor him as a great man. How religious are you? Are you part of any specific cults? Are you more puritanical in your worship, or do you hold more peculiar beliefs? Do you see the emperor as a deity of a person of great honor?

11. What is your greatest strength and weakness? Strengths are what others see as respectable or admirable in your, while weaknesses are what you would struggle to hide from others, lest they look down upon your failures. What do you regard as his strengths and weaknesses, and how does this differ from your actual abilities?

12. How would others describe your appearance?

13. Who is the person your character trusts the most in the world? We all have friends and allies. How did you meet them? What position do they have in society?

14. What do you think of the political games that infest imperial noble families?

15. Are you married? Do you have any children, and if so, how many? If from a high class, are you betrothed?

16. Are you more loyal to yourself, your allies, or to the imperium? Many people are quite selfish, putting their own needs and desires before everyone elses. Some have strong loyalty to their allies, and those who are part of the same organisations as them, or even to the gods they follow. Many are loyal to the “ideal” of the imperium as a beacon of civilization that must be kept lit . Only the loyal are trusted, so who have you given this loyalty?

17. How would your parents and family describe you? Do you have a proper relationship with your parents or are you estranged? Was your upbringing a source of joy or dismay for your parents? Are they still alive, or were they taken from you at a younger age?

18. How do interact with your social/hierarchical superiors? How about your inferiors? Cultural expections vary wildly. Most in the imperium tend to be deferential to their superiors. Those of power can vary wildly however, with many respecting only the competent and treating the others with disdain. Treatment of inferiors (who can do little to oppose you) varies quite a lot depending on your personality. How do you treat your inferiors & superiors?

19. Who opposes you most? Who is your greatest foe? As power comes to you, so come those who wish you harm.

20. What does your character think of the power of the warp? Despite the critical need of Navigators & Astropaths to keep the imperium running, most react to these powers with fear and disdain. Some of the more educated (and possibly heretical) sees it as the only way to keep the imperium safe. Most simply avoid them, unsure about their ability to properly cope.

21. What does your character think of xenos? As one who goes beyond the borders of the imperium, you will be faced with xenos. A great many believe that death is the only just fate for the alien. Others wish to steal their secrets & power, practicing the cold trade. Some believe an equilibrium can be reached, avoiding conflict with those willing to do so, and crushing those who are a clear and present danger.

22. What does your character think of heretics? Heretics have haunted the imperium since the fall of Horus. Some say they may yet be redeemed; but most believe that cleansing fire is too good for them.

23. How does your character react to archeotech? In the halo zone, far from the chaos of the eye of terror, many of humanity’s greatest technological works lie. Some of those are so far beyond mortal knowledge that they seem like magic. When faced with such wonders, what guides you: fear, fascination… or something darker?

24. Do you believe the patriarch and his belief in a curse? While Parvus is convinced that the family is cursed, it is easy to understand how some may believe him mad. Yet doom has consistently followed the Filianatis dynasty for the last two centuries. Do you believe it mere coincidence? Conspiracy? Or is something greater haunting the bloodline?

25. A train races down a track, with a fork coming up. On one side, a Xenos; on the other, a Heretic. In front of you lies a lever that will direct the train to one or the other, and you are too distant to alter the situation to kill both. Which do you kill?

20 more questions that can expand your character. These are optional, but they can help in expanding your character.

26. The light of civilization: what does your character think of the imperium’s policies? The imperium has a long history of civilizing primitive tribes, and seeing it as their responsibility to bring law to all humanity. Do you think this is good? Are you a person who supports this goal? Opposes it? Are you a zealot supporting the emperor’s power?

27. Do you have any prejudices? Everyone has some prejudices. Scholars look down on the ignorant, the rich look down on the poor, the righteous looks down on the heretic, and the hardworking humble folk look down on the lazy wealthy. What prejudices have you inherited from your background? What prejudices have come from your life experience?

28. Do you have any recurring mannerisms? Many have odd tics, strange habits and preferences. Some only eat plants, some wear almost no clothing, some run everywhere. What are your habits?

29. Who has taught you or tutored you? Do you have a mentor or teacher?

30. How does your character consider the power of the warp? Despite the critical need of Navigators & Astropaths to keep the imperium running, most react to these powers with fear and disdain. Some of the more educated (and possibly heretical) sees it as the only way to keep the imperium safe.

31. How educated are you? Few people are highly educated in the imperium. But due to your power, you may have had the chance. Have you sought to learn? Is your learning more intuitive and experience-based, or have you learned from the past experience of others?

32. What is your character’s secret, and what will happen if it is discovered?

33. What does your character do to relax?

34. If you were given a single throne, how would they spend it?

35. What are the names of your parents and siblings, and what do they do?

36. What is your most sacred possession?

37. Who is your characters closest friend?

38. What does your character love, fear, hate?

39. Who is your character’s ideal mate?

40. What advice would you give your character?

41. Who would be your ultimate enemy?

42. How do you feel about plants & nature?

43. What is your most treasured possession?

44. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

45. What would you do to kill time?

1) Rolling stats:
All 25 + 2d10; you can re-roll the lowest
OR
Point-buy method; distribute 100 points,
Wounds:
1d5
or
Average value (3)
Fate points: Always Roll

2) Origin Path:
-Free choice: choose any combination you want, though some weird ones (like a Navigator from a penal world, or a death world tech-priest) may be refused without good reason.
-Full choice: All options from the core rulebook & Into the storm are available. Do not forget you are limited by your starting XP
-Doubling up:
   -If you have a skill from 2 different sources, these stack (so a second would be +10, a third +20)
   -If you have a talent from 2 different sources, you only get the talent once and have a bonus of 100xp to the start

3) Starting equipment:
-Each career comes with a standard set of equipment
-Each caracter start a single item with an acquisition modifier of +0 (so one (+30) Extremely Rare (-30) object OR one (+30) good (-10) very rare (-20) item OR one (+30) best (-30) scarce object). If you chose a weapon, you have the weapon training talent to use it.
-Any number of common availability common-craft (or worse) items

(Reserved)

Tentative dibs on the Astropath Ascendant. I will need to look over the character rules to re-familiarize myself with the role.

Tentative idea is an Astropath who looks like a child in every aspect, thus is constantly underestimated and/or ignored among the worlds we visit etc, but who is very good at what he does. Might be inspired by the new Brightburn movie.

Iron and Metal wrote:

Tentative dibs on the Astropath Ascendant. I will need to look over the character rules to re-familiarize myself with the role.

Tentative idea is an Astropath who looks like a child in every aspect, thus is constantly underestimated and/or ignored among the worlds we visit etc, but who is very good at what he does. Might be inspired by the new Brightburn movie.

That would work well! We will need to talk about the specific details, as they tie in with your character "secret" (each character will have a secret associated with their background). And you will probably need the "unremarkable" talent. I will message you tonight.

That's awesome. The child idea has stuck with me and now I am thinking a very androgynous child - so I will not be differentiating between "boy" or "girl," nor assigning a gender to the character. I will also not use gender-specific pronouns.

This is going to be lit. Unremarkable is a definite for the character. I am getting excited about the concept.

Curse my all day work, the void master is taken
Well, what can you do, I'll make do with what is left

So is Astropath Ascendant! Back up off my shit!!!

I saw, I saw haha.
What's the difference between ordinary astropath and the ascendant? (not that I am thinking of playing ordinary astropath to be clear)

I like to think of them as Astropaths-plus. Normal Astros are frail, weak, powerful in what they do, but probably can't manifest it outside of their purpose - sending/receiving messages.

The Ascendants can do that. They have quite literally ascended in their power and abilities.

Oh, I see. So its a astropath not focused only on relaying messages.

After a (quick) look through rulebook, I am thinking Seneschal, a character that is of Filinatis bloodline, but some less important branch. I have to read more of the story to flesh it out

blackadder wrote:

Oh, I see. So its a astropath not focused only on relaying messages.

After a (quick) look through rulebook, I am thinking Seneschal, a character that is of Filinatis bloodline, but some less important branch. I have to read more of the story to flesh it out

Go for it! In fact, you can be from any background for the filianatis blood; the patriarch, Parvus Filianatis, strove to find anyone of Filianatis blood that didnt seem to be affected by the "curse" that has nearly destroyed all family members. You can be a bastard by-blow, a minor branch, a lost branch, or something even weirder (like being born from a magus biologis experiment to "clone" filianatis traits). The only important thing is that your character has to have accumulated some power/influence; not only is that a sign of their competence (a standard in RT game), but also of them being less affected by the curse.

Yeah, I had something similar in mind. I have to ponder a bit about it.

I'm thinking of taking Rogue Trader / Adventurer unless someone else really wants it. I've also ideas for a missionary or militant.

How does the Adventurer (Rogue Trader) work for character generation. Is it a Rouge Trader in all but name (no warrant)?

Carnelian wrote:

How does the Adventurer (Rogue Trader) work for character generation. Is it a Rouge Trader in all but name (no warrant)?

Exactly. Same stat costs & table choices, you just arent in control of the warrant

Do you mean 'in control of the warrant', I'm still in control of the ship, or is there someone else?

Yes, in control of the warrant, sorry. The ship, however, is technically owned by the Patriarch (though the team will control it. You will namely need to define your "officers", as in the official post you occupy on the ship, like captain, pilot, etc. It will be something that needs to be discussed as a group

I was going to take the Filinatis bloodline trait too to really play up the noble part. I was going to use it to justify the "Duty bound/duty to your dynasty" lure of the void trait if that's OK with you Wendigo? It's the only deviation from the Origin path and figured it might fit well. I was thinking about a distant bloodline that had avoided the calamity, but similar to what we discussed on LINE yesterday?

So, I had something like this in mind:
World - Imperial
Birthright- Child of the Creed
Lure of ther void - Duty Bound?
Trails and travails - ?
Motivation - Pride
Career - Seneschal

Character that was sent to become a priest, but as the family loses its more important members, is brought back to and reeducated so to say to better serve the family.
Its a rough idea.

Hydrako wrote:

I was going to take the Filinatis bloodline trait too to really play up the noble part. I was going to use it to justify the "Duty bound/duty to your dynasty" lure of the void trait if that's OK with you Wendigo? It's the only deviation from the Origin path and figured it might fit well. I was thinking about a distant bloodline that had avoided the calamity, but similar to what we discussed on LINE yesterday?

Yeah, no problem. You can even keep your planetary origin & explanation and be a distant branch of the family.

blackadder wrote:

So, I had something like this in mind:
World - Imperial
Birthright- Child of the Creed
Lure of ther void - Duty Bound?
Trails and travails - ?
Motivation - Pride
Career - Seneschal

Character that was sent to become a priest, but as the family loses its more important members, is brought back to and reeducated so to say to better serve the family.
Its a rough idea.

Seems good. If youwant though, you can look for extra origin path items in the "Into the storm" book. They cost some starting XP, but you might find something you want more.

Ok, I will look into the storm

Just to clarify, Astropath can only take the +5 to a characteristic score at PC creation, yes?

Iron and Metal wrote:

Just to clarify, Astropath can only take the +5 to a characteristic score at PC creation, yes?

For the "Vassal's precedence" choice yes. Its a vanilla +5, that does not influence further advances on the EXP table.

Heres what im thinking of for a Navigator:
Imperial world
Vaunted
Duty bound
Dark voyage
prestige

Are we doing the free choice method? im trying to build a navigator who's family has provided the navigators of the dynasty for centuries. He is simply fulfilling his duty with something akin to optimism and bring further glory to the navigator house.

Sylphilis wrote:

Heres what im thinking of for a Navigator:
Imperial world
Vaunted
Duty bound
Dark voyage
prestige

Are we doing the free choice method? im trying to build a navigator who's family has provided the navigators of the dynasty for centuries. He is simply fulfilling his duty with something akin to optimism and bring further glory to the navigator house.

Yeah, free choice all the way, unless its something too absurd (like a navigator from a penal world). There is even a clan of navigators who have worked with them for always: Tzemopoulos, a Nomadic House known for their skill at navigating the outer dark (without the astronomican) and their disdain of dirt-dwellers.

Quote :

Each caracter can have a single item of +0 availability (so one (+30) Extremely Rare (-30) object OR one (+30) good (-10) very rare (-20) item OR one (+30) best (-30) scarce object). If you chose a weapon, you must be able to use it.

I am having the hardest time understanding this.

For weapons, which stats are we using?

Iron and Metal wrote:

Quote :

Each caracter can have a single item of +0 availability (so one (+30) Extremely Rare (-30) object OR one (+30) good (-10) very rare (-20) item OR one (+30) best (-30) scarce object). If you chose a weapon, you must be able to use it.

I am having the hardest time understanding this.

For weapons, which stats are we using?

No, if you want to select a weapon with your single +0 availability, you have to have the weapon training talent to use it. I will clarify that.

I don't understand what "No" refers to. I didn't ask a yes or no question lol. I am asking which version of weapon stats we are using - DH2/OW or Rogue Trader?

More importantly, I do not understand your rule that I quoted above.

Iron and Metal wrote:

I don't understand what "No" refers to. I didn't ask a yes or no question lol. I am asking which version of weapon stats we are using - DH2/OW or Rogue Trader?

More importantly, I do not understand your rule that I quoted above.

Ah, ok, i didnt understand right. We are using Rogue Trader weapon stats, as well as rogue trader definitions for talents.

As for the rule quoted, each item in RT has an "acquisition modifier" based on rarity, numbers and quality. Each character starts with an additional item of their choice with a total acquisition modifier of +0
-So for example, if you want to get a single item, which counts as a negligible amount so +30 on the acquisition roll
-Lets say you want a man-portable lascannon, which counts as very rare so -20 on the acquisition roll
-Lets say you want it to be of good quality, which adds a -10 to the acquisition roll

=+30-20-10=+0 on the acquisition roll.

Ah ok, gotcha.

Wendigo Bob wrote:

Sylphilis wrote:

Heres what im thinking of for a Navigator:
Imperial world
Vaunted
Duty bound
Dark voyage
prestige

Are we doing the free choice method? im trying to build a navigator who's family has provided the navigators of the dynasty for centuries. He is simply fulfilling his duty with something akin to optimism and bring further glory to the navigator house.

Yeah, free choice all the way, unless its something too absurd (like a navigator from a penal world). There is even a clan of navigators who have worked with them for always: Tzemopoulos, a Nomadic House known for their skill at navigating the outer dark (without the astronomican) and their disdain of dirt-dwellers.

I don't mind starting from a predestined house at all. Though with that backstop I may want to change the pc path a bit. Switch imperial world for void born, maybe switch out one of those other options for something more sinister (for the times with out of the astronomical and all)

I believe that I've made all the relevant choices and rolls for Magos Ignatio Pulsanus. Things I'm in question about are whether he's in the right to claim the title of Magos, whether it's acceptable to get a good quality Cortex Implant with my background (thus starting off with unnatural intelligence), and whether a good-quality advanced helmet system can have two upgrades. Nevermind, Cybernetic senses gets it just fine.

Also, are there any questions or concerns about my character?

Pyritefoolsgold wrote:

I believe that I've made all the relevant choices and rolls for Magos Ignatio Pulsanus. Things I'm in question about are whether he's in the right to claim the title of Magos, whether it's acceptable to get a good quality Cortex Implant with my background (thus starting off with unnatural intelligence), and whether a good-quality advanced helmet system can have two upgrades. Nevermind, Cybernetic senses gets it just fine.

Also, are there any questions or concerns about my character?

Love what you've done so far! And there's no problem with being a Magos. Considering the background you described, Magos Technicus would be most appropriate, as they are experts of repair, maintenance & archeotech (since you cant create archeotech, you can only keep it working). Here are a few notes:

Zealot: The origin path element refers to bionics, not implants. Normally you would need to chose something from "Bionic replacement limbs & body parts" (p 147 CRB) for that choice, basically replacing limbs or organs; However your backstory justifies it well, so I will allow it.

*Do not forget, each explorator gets 2 starting common-craft bionics that can be upgraded by paying XP (see p. 72 CRB). FTM, I will limit them to a being "rare" or more common, as some of the others get exotic fast.

I would also ask you use the same format as the others for the character sheet. This one is a good example:
https://playbypostgaming.forumotion.com/t325-roderick-maccoinneach-void-master

As a tertiary note, we use the following program for OOC chating & coordination:

https://line.me/en-US/download

It works well, can be installed on most smartphones & PCs.

Wendigo Bob wrote:

Wounds:
1d5
or
Average value (3)

Are you saying even though Hive world gives me 1d5+1, I actually just get a straight 1d5?

If the answer is yes, I'd say I'm loosing out a little as while things are definitely not balanced with FFG games the +1 would have been considered when 'balancing' out Hive World with the other Home Worlds.

I think he means just for the roll. If you get one or two on it then you can take 3instead and still add your +X result. That's how I interpreted it for Roderick at least

Hydrako wrote:

I think he means just for the roll. If you get one or two on it then you can take 3instead and still add your +X result. That's how I interpreted it for Roderick at least

Thinking about it you're probably right. Worth clarifying though, at least for my dumb ass.

haha I hear that

Carnelian wrote:

Hydrako wrote:

I think he means just for the roll. If you get one or two on it then you can take 3instead and still add your +X result. That's how I interpreted it for Roderick at least

Thinking about it you're probably right. Worth clarifying though, at least for my dumb ass.

hydrako is right, the average take is just for the roll. I'll clarify it up top when I have the time.

ok so i'm looking at other characters, and their stats seem quite different than the ones i ended up with, which makes me think i probably did something wrong, or wasn't valuing some stats as highly as i should've been

i did base 25 for each stat, then added 100 wherever (max 20 per stat), then added in the various bonuses from like background things (ie he's from a forgeworld, so +3 to any stat & +5 int -5 ws)
is that right?

I'm pretty sure everyone else rolled for stats, using the rolling engine you'll see on most of the recent doc posts.

But if you use point buy you indeed should start every stat at 25, then add points from your pool of 100, then apply your origin bonuses and penalties.

What stats are you coming out with? Keep in mind a lot of us have spent XP on stats as well.