Character Creation Challenge 2024 - 9: Evren [Vampire: The Masquerade 5e]

 Second Vampire: The Masquerade 5e Character

With the character I made to serve as a stand in character for someone that might show up to the Vampire campaign I am going to run this year out of the way, it's time to make some random stuff I could consider playing myself.


1. Core Concept

 So one of the things I want to do going forward, is to set more and more of the quasi-real world settings in Constantinople/Istanbul and Ur. Since Vampire is a modern day game, it would be Istanbul. I have no chronicle planned and it's been a while since I read up on modern day Istanbul so I am VERY ignorant of details of what the current city is like. And as Vampire also often deals with darker things and gets all muddled up in politics muddled with the supernatural, this is not so easy to start with blind. Easy to turn to stereotypes.

I am going to call the character Evren, whose Sire is Evrim. Big fan of the football club Galatasaray, and social life mostly revolving around matches and hanging with other people attached to the club. Was also active in doing charity work, and was first to help if anyone needed anything. Worked in shipping/warehousing, but more of a seasonal thing. Caught the attention of his Sire due to being passionate about everything he did, and having strong opinions on pretty much everything and was unafraid to voice them.


2. Clan and Sire

Evren is part of the Brujah clan. His Sire is Evrim, an anti-authorian who has been around since the Ottoman days.

 

3. Attributes

One attribute starts at 4, three at 3, four at 2 and one at 1.

  • Strength: ****
  • Dexterity: ***
  • Stamina: ***
  • Charisma: ***
  • Manipulation: **
  • Composure: **
  • Intelligence: *
  • Wits: **
  • Resolve: **
  • Health: 6
  • Willpower: 4
  • Humanity: 7

 Very physical guy with a spot of charisma for public speaking.


4. Skills

Going for the narrative way of picking skills again, not sure how narrative it was last time but eh. It makes me think about what makes sense rather than a checklist of skills like Runequest is becoming.

  • Athletics *** (Professional)
  • Technology [Surveillance Systems]** (Professional)
  • Persuasion ** (Professional)
  • Brawl *** (Event)
  • Medicine ** (Event)
  • Drive * (Leisure)
  • Politics * (Leisure)
  • Melee ** (Extra)
  • Leadership ** (Extra)
  • Insight * (Extra)
  • Intimidation * (Extra)
  • Awareness * (Extra)
  • Finance * (Extra)

Various warehouse skills. Having to brawl and fix up your mates when you "accidentally" meet fans from other clubs in the wrong part of town. And then some various other skills that would make sense given the life situation. In my head, at least.


5. Disciplines

One with 2 dots, one with 1 dot, still the rules.

  • Potence ***
  • Presence *
  • Lethal Body (From Potence rank 1)
  • Prowess (From Potence rank 2)
  • Soaring Leap (From Potence rank 3)
  • Awe (Presence rank 1)
     

Be reasonable first, if they still don't listen, punch? Goes along well with the skills.


6. Predator

Scene Queen, despite the name, seems to fit well. Still hangs out with the football fans, and feeds on them.

  • Add Specialty: Leadership (Ultras)
  • Gain one Dot in Potence
  • Gain Advantage: Fame *
  • Gain Advantage: Contact *
  • Gain Flaw: Influence - Disliked *


7. Advantages

7 Advantages, 2 Flaws.

  • Advantage: Looks (Beautiful) **
  • Advantage: Eat Food **
  • Advantage: Base Haven *
  • Flaw: Haunted Haven (*)
  • Advantage: Resources **
  • Flaw: Stalkers (*)


8. Convictions and Touchstones

 Last character I thought it had to be 3 convictions - it's actually 1 to 3. Which makes things a bit simpler:

  • Helping the downtrodden is always right.
  • The group is always more important.

I then need 2 touchstones to be linked to these:

  • The person organizing aid to refugees that comes to Istanbul.
  • That one elderly guy that always shows up to Galatasaray matches, no matter what, and always brings something for people near him in the stadium.

 

9. Sea of Time

The character is a neonate, which gives the following:

  • Blood Potency *
  • 5 EXP buys Celerity *
  • Rapid Reflexes (From Celerity Rank 1)
  • 10 EXP buys Celerity **
  • Fleetness (From Celerity Rank 2)

 

Character Summary

Evren, Brujah Neonate of the Anarch Sect

Attributes

  • Strength: ****
  • Dexterity: ***
  • Stamina: ***
  • Charisma: ***
  • Manipulation: **
  • Composure: **
  • Intelligence: *
  • Wits: **
  • Resolve: **
  • Health: 6
  • Willpower: 4
  • Humanity: 7

 Skills

  • Athletics **
  • Technology [Surveillance Systems]**
  • Persuasion **
  • Brawl ***
  • Medicine **
  • Drive *
  • Politics *
  • Melee **
  • Leadership [Ultras]**
  • Insight *
  • Intimidation *
  • Awareness *
  • Finance *

Disciplines

  • Potence *** (Lethal Prowess, Prowess, Soaring Leap)
  • Presence * (Awe)
  • Celerity ** (Rapid Reflexes, Fleetness)

Traits

  • Predator: Scene Queen
  • Advantage: Looks (Beautiful) **
  • Advantage: Eat Food **
  • Advantage: Base Haven *
  • Flaw: Haunted Haven (*)
  • Advantage: Resources **
  • Flaw: Stalkers (*)
  • Gain Advantage: Fame *
  • Gain Advantage: Contact *
  • Gain Flaw: Influence - Disliked *
  • Conviction: Helping the downtrodden is always right.
  • Conviction: The group is always more important.
  • Touchstone: The person organizing aid to refugees that comes to Istanbul.
  • Touchstone: That one elderly guy that always shows up to Galatasaray matches, no matter what, and always brings something for people near him in the stadium.

This was a bit less of a rushjob than last time. Without having a clear idea of what I was creating beforehand, this character creation process isn't helping much. But more on that later.


In Play

I have already put this down, but this is the kind of guy that would bring up things in a calm and collected manner and use reason make people see his point and how it is right. If they don't buy that, anger, rage and violence might follow. I have a sneaking suspicion I have walked straight into a stereotype trap by having to just come up with SOMETHING. Interesting how that works, too, however.

Character can handle both social bits and combat well enough. Not the most learned guy, but still well rounded.


Opinion

I am of two minds when it comes to Vampire 5e character creation. It's a bit too much of things, especially considering the fact the basic system is fairly shallow. Having a very front loaded character generation system with lots of fiddly bits, and then put in powers that is very fiddly and the merit/flaw system and what have you.

These Vampires still feel more organic than most character creation systems I've deal with, but I can't help but think it is getting dull once I get to Disciplines and the rest, as in it's too much and you need to figure out your character before you get to that point otherwise you have to pull some ideas out of a hat.

I am going to be a bit surprised if I make more Vampire characters this challenge.



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