More Robot Wars Character Creation

Basics

Level 1 - 1 CP - Hobbyist
Level 2 - 3 CP - Amateur
Level 3 - 6 CP - Trained
Level 4 - 10 CP - Professional
Level 5 - 15 CP - Skilled Professional
Level 6 - 21 CP - Experienced Professional
Level 7 - 28 CP - Expert
Level 8 - 36 CP - Master
Level 9 - 45 CP - Ancient Master
Level 10 - 55 CP - Superlative

Command

Command measures your character's trained proficiency at tactics, strategy, and his or her ability to make awesome plans and have them miraculously flow like water – most of the time. While low Command characters aren't necessarily stupid, high Command characters do tend to be the conspicuously smart or clever ones. Note that Command ability doesn't necessarily have anything to do with rank and is entirely optional - it is normally paired with Rank (see below).

Command is normally bought for specific (if broad) circumstances, such as Aerospace Operations, Warship Command, Mecha Squadrons, Infantry Combat, etc. General Command can be bought and applies to all situations where Command would be used, but it is treated as being one-half of its stated rating (rounded down, you munchkins), and is generally used to represent a basic amount of training that military officers (or resistance leaders) get before they specialize in any one field.

Conspiracy

While Charisma is a measure of how well you deal with people, Conspiracy is a measure of how well connected you are to the political machinations that underpin the story. In essence, it is how much of the ‘big picture’ the character sees. Conspiracy is an effective way of acquiring information, supplies, allies and even new machines, but remember that depending on who you're aligned with, there may be no loyalty, only self-interest in this.

Conspiracy is normally bought for specific groups ('Conspiracies), ranging from the Solar Federation Senate to INTACT to The Futurists and similar 'true' conspiracies. Likewise, it can be bought in the 'unlimited' format, for those who truly have their fingers in every pie and is treated as having 1/2 of its stated rating, rounded down.

Finally, Conspiracy can be used more generally for investigation, streetwise, simple cover-ups and other general low-level skullduggery.

Tuneup

Tuneup represents your ability to squeeze just that extra bit of effectiveness out of whatever you're flying. Every level of Tuneup gives you one additional Mecha Build Point, to a max of the associated primary stat. Note that in all cases these require a certain level of 'maintenance', be it the only person who repairs (or touches!) your machine to having to spend hours every day flying it to keeping good relations with your secret patron.

Mechanic is Wits-based, and represents tinkering with your own (or someone else's!) robot to make it work better. It most commonly increases melee, firepower or speed.

Engineer is Education-based, and represents applying advanced principles and techniques along with a dose of fancy R&D equipment to your machine. It most commonly increaseses firepower, defense or special.

Crack Pilot is Pilot-based, and represents simply getting every possible sliver of red-lined performance out of a machine. It most commonly increases melee, speed or defense.

Special Connections is Conspiracy-based, and represents someone out there with special interest in you providing you with some nifty toys. It almost always increases special, with firepower and defense being distantly behind.

Extras

These are things that are particularly limited in application or do not necessarily apply to character stats. It can cover things like having a family heirloom of exceptional power, a lot of money in portable format, mutant powers like healing factor, etc. Request one and the GM will provide a cost and effect.

Rank

Rank represents your position in the hierarchy of the organization you're a part of. Rank is always bought in reference to a specific organization, such as INTACT, the Combined ZOCU Militias, the USMC, etc. Depending on the campaign, one or more levels of it may be automatically granted. Rank, essentially, controls how many NPCs you have under your control.

While the specifics may vary depending on the exact organization one is a member of, these are the typical ranks and bonuses. Also note that Rank is fairly interpretive, so it's entirely possible (if fairly implausible) to have a General who is 'Low Ranked', someone who for whatever reason flies alone.

Low Ranked
Cost: 0
This normally represents enlisted or otherwise non-commissioned characters, but also applies equally well to commissioned pilots who have no wingmen (or are wingmen themselves), or simply are part of an all-elite group. Low Ranked is the default.

Mid Ranked
Cost: 5
At this level you either have a single named NPC in a comparable suit who can solidly cover your back and can be trusted to not steal your limelight, or else a three-man element (wingman + additional pair) with inferior skills and equipment - but don't mock the power of numbers.

High Ranked
Cost: 7 points (requires Mid Rankged)
This is generally the level of experience pilots, who will either have a three-man element as above who are of broadly PC grade ability, an entire squadron of inferior NPCs, or else a cruiser (but no NPC pilots - the ship is the NPC 'pilot'). Note that the character themself doesn't have to be the one commanding the warship, just have functional authority or decision-making capability with it - we're in an anime, after all.

Command Ranked
Cost: 13 points (requires High Ranked)
You're the Big Cheese. You've got a squadron of reasonably skilled NPCs at your beck and call, or two squadrons of inferior NPCs and a cruiser to carry them around in, or else a battleship with escorts. At this level it would not be unreasonable to have another PC with High Ranked as the Wing CO, if the Battleship option is taken. In really weird cases it could even take the form of a quirky miniboss squad flying midseason uglies, fully the match of any PC with their own names, unique and powerful mobile suits and special attacks. Oh, and character shields.

Traits

Traits are particularly exagerated aspects of your character. All Traits are free, and while multiple can be taken, they should make sense.

Veteran
While most protagonists tend to be relatively new at this whole ‘heroing’ thing (though not, let it be known, does this mean it is solely the domain of the young – see James Links) there are some who have had their time in the spotlight in the previous anime. These characters are better pilots, generally higher ranked and simply more skilled, having had an entire season or more of combat under their belt (or the backstory equivalent, if you’re Roy Fokker). They get +1 to Piloting and +1 Gunnery or Command (specific). Unfortunately, all Veterans suffer a -2 penalty to their effective Aleph Potential.

Hot-Blooded!
God certainly must protect fools and lovers, because you're a fool that loves a good challenge. Your entire life is a litany of guts, determination and sheerest foolhardiness. For any one turn you can channel your hot-bloodedness to survive any (reasonable) amount of enemy fire. However, you can be psychologically vulnerable and be easy prey for enemy deception and tricks. You're also unable to understand that your subordinates might not be able to keep up with you or that your commanding officer has a plan more subtle than 'Charge and win!'.

No Such Thing As Overkill
You love big guns, though you'll also gleefully accept lots of guns. In any mecha with a firepower rating or 5 or more, for one turn you can do an 'Alpha Strike' which significantly boosts firepower at the expense of speed - you're too busy shooting to move! Unfortunately, you ignore melee weapons as useless and always act at -1 melee.

Blademaster
The way of the (beam) sword is the one you follow, and you have become particularly skilled in deflecting enemy melee attacks by doing a continuous parry and dodge. This gives you the ability to increase your defense in melee by sacrificing your opportunity to attack. You will either have a specially modified machine or simply ignore range weapons if possible, giving you a -1 to effective Firepower. Additionally, if properly equipped with energy melee weapons or similar, you can even potentially defend against ranged attacks with your melee power.

Made Of Iron
Your character shields are so strong they extend to your mecha, like some sort of slasher film bad guy. And like them, whatever you're flying just seems to soak impossible hits as it cra-a-a-a-awls across the screen. Maybe you know how to angle your torso unit just right so the shots deflect. No matter how you do it, anything you're flying acts at +1 armor and -1 speed the moment you get behind the controls.

Paragon Interrupt
Your past includes some notable incident of heroism in the line of duty. Perhaps you held the line around the perimeter of the refugee camps on Rwanda Minor, or saved the Loum Colony from crashing. No matter the specifics (which should be detailed in your bio) you are seen as an exemplar of proper behavior. This gives you a charisma bonus in most situations, especially where being a hero would be relevant and even your enemies will give you a certain amount of respect. The downside is that you are bound by honor and the expectations of your history; there are few things more despicable than a fallen paladin. Note that this does not imply a code of honor - a code of honor is internal to the character, whereas Paragon Interrupt is the expectations of others.

Rival
In the past you’ve cultivated a rivalry with another skilled pilot, often the inevitable side-effects of not managing to finish the job in the previous season. They will often bedevil you and while they can cause serious setbacks, they also mean that you can have episodes centered upon you and only you. Plus, spoiling their undoubtedly villainous plots is sweet sweet victory.

Races

Races are what you were born as or, less commonly, what you modified yourself to be and have little to do with pre-colonization 'racial identity', which is a social, not genetic construct. Pre-natal genetic modification has matured over centuries and few people born today have not had their or their ancestors' genomes sequenced before conception. It is a relatively inexpensive and mundane procedure, often subsidized by governments and while not 100% successful when dealing with something as complex as the entire genome of a human, still gives eminently acceptable results. Retroviral techniques to conduct systemic changes to adults are almost as old but are far more complex and difficult; consequently they are both much more expensive and rare.
Origin is a general representation of where a given race can be expected to be found as well as what relative proportion of the population they are. Note that it doesn't take into account specific circumstances; for example a gathering of Solar Federation captains would be almost all A- and S-types, with a minority of exceptional B-types.

Racial bonuses modify the effective value of your stats; racial modifiers do not increase (or decrease) the cost of a given stat. It is of course entirely possible for a baseline to be smarter or stronger than even an S-type - exceptional individuals occur everywhere. Note that depending on the campaign being run it may be entirely appropriate to provide cost breaks or cost divisors for transhuman templates; in the reality of More Robot Wars an S-Type is not penalized for being born superlative - they in fact have a huge leg up. This of course runs counter to game balance and GMs should be careful about travelling this path. Consider carefully before doing so.

Grounders (Baselines)

Most of the human population of known space inhabit planets and have minimal if any genetic alteration. Classed as E-Types in the Solar Federation, these baseline humans are often known as Grounder due to the fact that most unaugmented humans live (and stay) on planets. While at the dawn of the colonization era these were mostly those who were too poor or too disadvantaged to get genetic counselling, in modern times it has become something of a badge of perverse pride or religious devotion to call oneself a Baseline, Flat, Grounder or other previously-derogatory term. Some jurisdictions actually treat having baseline children as child abuse, though this remains difficult to enforce, not to mention politically charged.

Grounders cost 0 points and have no modifiers.

Origin: Common on planets across known space

Low Transhumans

Earlier or less drastic modifications to human genomes resulted in people that were only mildly changed from their parents. These changes are generally preventative in focus, removing various biological inefficiencies and 'evolutionary baggage'. Few actually have underground 'upgrades' in the conventional sense, the improvements these individuals see stems from broadly improved health and metabolism along with the (near-)elimination of genetic ailments like poor vision, etc. In the 23rd century, these are 'normal humans' to most people, the archaic label of 'low transhuman' slowly falling out of common use. In the Solar Federation these are typically ranked as D- or C-Type; Ds are simply 'fixed' humans, whereas Cs tend to have mild upgrades.

D-Type Low Transhumans

D-Types cost 15 points

D-Types get +1 Fit (Physique specialty) and +1 Perceptive (Smarts specialty)

Origin: Common across known space

C-Type Low Transhumans

C-Types cost 40 points

C-Types get +1 Physique, +1 Perceptive (Smarts specialty) and +1 Attractive (Charisma specialty)

Origin: Common across known space

High Transhumans

The cautious early steps in human augmenation soon gave way to more drastic and significant upgrades to the human condition. The concept of 'Human-plus' became a reality as deliberately recoded DNA brought forth the possibility of everyone achieving abilities substantially beyond the human norm and 'transhuman' became synonymous with 'transgenic'. Cognitive upgrades were also part of the package, and 'high transhumans' were not just more physically fit but also more intelligent and more sociable. Furthermore at this point inherent biological immortality (or at least exceptionally long lifespans) became the norm. In the Solar Federation these are ranked B- or A-Types.

B-Type High Transhumans

B-Types cost 80 points

B-Types get +1 Physique, +1 Fit (Physique specialty), +1 Smarts and +1 Charisma

B-Types have a minimum unmodified requirement of 3 Physique, 3 Smarts and 3 Charisma.

B-Types may be Alephs, capped at 4

Origin: Solar Federation (common), Verge (uncommon)

A-Type High Transhumans

A-Types cost 115 points

A-Types get +2 Physique, +1 Smarts, +1 Charisma and +1 Attractive (Charisma specialty)

A-Types get a +1 to any Academic or Social skill

A-Types have a minimum unmodified requirement of 3 Physique, 3 Smarts and 3 Charisma.

A-Types may be Alephs, capped at 6

Origin: Solar Federation (uncommon)

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Outlier Superiors

Over the past century, the intermixing of bloodlines, technological improvements, quest for perfection and simple luck of the draw has resulted in the occasional birth of individuals who have truly exceptional genes. At the leading edge of the curve these superhuman individuals easily gravitate towards the peaks of power and responsibility. Attempts have been made to replicate the full range of their abilities but as so much relied upon the vaguarities of chance, these have had mixed results. Baroque breeding programs among the upper classes have become common, some ending up indistinguishable from dynastic marriages to seal agreements. In the Solar Federation these individuals recieve the coveted S-Type classification.

S-Types cost 220 points

S-Types get +3 Physique, +1 Smarts, +1 Charisma and +1 Attractive (Charisma specialty) and two +1s that can be assigned to any two of Smarts, Charisma or Aleph

S-Types get a +1 to any two skills

S-Types have a minimum unmodified requirement of 3 Physique, 3 Smarts and 3 Charisma.

S-Types may be Alephs, with no cap

Origin: Solar Federation (rare)

Seraph

One of the Seraphim Organization's purported goals and major successes has been the stabilization of a reproducible S-grade genetic template. First developed in the late 22nd century they were introduced to the public in 2210 where they have became extremely popular among those wealthy enough to afford the complex upgrade. A quirk of the specific genetic modifications makes them much easier apply to XX individuals as opposed to XY; consequently male Seraphs are much less common, making up less than 5% of the population of Seraphs. The flood of young standardized S-class transhumans and their gender disparity is already causing ripples in the Solar Federation.

Seraphs cost 180 points

Seraphs get +2 Physique, +2 Aleph, +1 Smarts, +1 Charisma and +1 Attractive (Charisma specialty)

Seraphs get a +1 to any two Academic or Social skills

Seraphs have a minimum unmodified requirement of 3 Physique, 3 Smarts and 3 Charisma.

All Seraphs are Alephs, with no cap

Origin: Solar Federation (rare), Seraphim Organization (common)

Floaters

Floaters have lived out in space on orbiting platforms, asteroid cities and the like for generations. Some are the descendants of colonists who chose a life in space away from the heavily-controlled colony worlds. Others are ship or station crews from less well-off parts of explored space where sophisticated zero-gravity gene adaptations were unavailable. No matter the origin, Floaters tend to be physically weak, though with an almost instinctive feel for three-dimensional movement; the result of long-term and poorly mitigated microgravity upon the human body. The Solar Federation generally labels these F-types, though few are citizens of the Federation.

Floaters cost 0 points

Floaters suffer -1 Big and -1 Fit (Physique Specialties) and -1 Manipulative (Charisma specialty)

Floaters get +2 Zero-G skill and +1 Engineering

Origin: Solar Federation (rare), Verge (uncommon), Rim (common)

Icarus

Icarus upgrades are a 22nd century response to the needs of the expanding deep-space presence in what would become the Solar Federation. Applying increased understanding of long-term low and microgravity effects on the human body to common transhuman templates, the Icarus became popular among those who settled on the high frontier. In fact the introduction of the Icarus template is seen as one of the root causes of the spread of the Outbacker movement, to the point at which there are more Icarus upgrades in the Verge than in SolFed space. The Solar Federation classes these individuals as O-types.

Icarus Upgrades cost 65 points

Icarus Upgrades get +1 Dexterity (Physique specialty), +1 Smarts and +1 Friendly (Charisma specialty)

Icarus Upgrades get +2 Zero-G skill and +1 Engineering

Origin: Solar Federation (uncommon), Verge (common), Rim (uncommon)

Alpha

Originally a popular genofixing template from the late 21st century, 'Alpha' has since became a broad term for a generalized blend of transhuman traits. They are considered equivalent to B-Type transhumans, though Solar Federation genetic techniques are superior to those of the outer worlds and consequently Alphas lack the highly upgraded immune and healing abilities of SolFed High Transhumans. Many citizens of the League of Outer stars are Alphas where there has been a government push via socialized genofixing to bring all children to this level. Recently the so-called Alpha-Plus has entered the market, though those capable of providing the equivalent of cutting-edge Solar Federation science are rare.

Alpha Upgrade

Alphas cost 70 points

Alphas get +1 Physique, +1 Smarts and +1 Charisma

Origin: Verge (common), Rim (uncommon)

Alpha-Plus

Alpha-Pluses cost 110 points

Alpha-Pluses get +1 Physique, +1 Smarts and +1 Charisma, along with any a +1 to any two specialties

Alpha-Pluses get +1 to any two skills

Alpha-Pluses have a minimum unmodified requirement of 3 Physique, 3 Smarts and 3 Charisma.

Alpha-Pluses may be Alephs, capped at 4

Origin: Verge (rare)

Ishtar

The Ishtar upgrade was intended to result in an individuals with exceptional warms and personality, in which it succeeded admirably. One of the second generation of transgenic upgrades from the early 22nd century, the Ishtar template substantially improves on the basic human ability for empathy and socialization, as well as memory and perception. Standard upgrade techniques also improve their bodies, with Ishtars universally having leggy, perfectly-proportioned recruiting-poster builds and faces that merely start at 'attractive'. Consequently Ishtars have spread throughout the Verge and often form the social glue of groups and organizations. Ishtars also tend to have vivid, unnatural hair colors which contributes to their stereotype as flighty pop stars, no matter what their occupation.

Ishtars cost 125 points

Ishtars get +1 Physique, +1 Smarts and +2 Charisma

Ishtars get a +1 to Savoir-Faire, +1 to Ettiquet and +1 to any other Social skill

Ishtars have a minimum unmodified requirement of 3 Charisma.

Origin: Verge (common)

Omoikane

Like Ishtars, Omoikanes are second-generation upgrades, with a focus instead on intellectual abilities, in which they are supremely gifted. Capable of effortlessly grasping complex concepts and recalling vast amounts of information they find ready employment in any technical or intellectual field. Thanks to the advances in cognitive science by the 22nd century they are not socially crippled robots either, and while not as capable of demonstrating bottomless well of effortless social acumen they are still quite socially adept. One unique feature about Omoikanes is their neural processes are optimized for machine reading and neural interfaces work particularly well for them. Most Omoikanes have light silver or stark white hair, which is actually pigmented white (as opposed to the progressive loss of hair pigmentation over normal human aging) and is something of a visible trademark.

Omoikanes cost 125 points

Omoikanes get +1 Dextrous and +1 Fit (Physique specialties), +2 Smarts and +1 Charisma

Omoikanes get a +1 Remote Operations, +1 Neural Interfacing and +1 to any two other Academic skills

Omoikanes have a minimum unmodified requirement of 3 Smarts

Origin: Verge (common)

Careers

Careers are what your character has been trained to do and presumably continues to do. Each Career is a set package of stats, skills and traits and is generally the summation of a number of years of both experience and learning. Unlike Races, Careers do not provide modifiers, they provide base values which can then be increased as normal per skill improvement.
Most Careers also have the option of taking one or more Vocations, which can represent additional or unusual training for the chosen Career or time spent doing 'something else.' If a Career and a Vocation have bonuses to the same skill, the bonus from the Vocation is converted to points and then added against the cost to get to the next skill rank(s).

Some Careers might also have minimum stats - nobody's going to make it through special forces training with a physical of 1.

Solar Fleet Pilot

The many, the proud. All SolFleet Pilot PCs are assumed to have already distinguished themselves in some way. They get +1 Pilot, +1 Gunnery and Mid Rank, and all but the most exceptional cases will be at least Low Transhumans.

Solar Fleet Officer

The brains of the most powerful war machine humanity has ever seen, commanding warships against the SolFed's foes. To carry out their task they have +1 Command (Spaceships), +1 Command (Mecha), +1 Education (Intelligence), +1 Education (History), +1 Conspiracy (Solar Fleet) and High Rank.

INTACT Lictors

Lictors are the public face of INTACT, front-line warriors and troubleshooters. Due to stringent testing and requirements, most Lictors are S-type transhumans, with a few A-types and some truly skilled 'lessers'. There are actually many different training paths for Lictors, but the kind you'll be playing get a +2 Pilot, +1 Gunnery, +1 Charisma (Diplomacy) and +1 Conspiracy (INTACT).

INTACT Censor

Those few humans who have been born with exceptional Aleph powers are often enrolled in INTACT to serve as Censors. These mentalists recieve special training to focus their neuroquantum powers. As such, they recieve +1 Education, +5 Aleph Points and +2 Conspiracy (INTACT), and require a minimum of Aleph 5.

INTACT Legate

The Legates are the commanders and leaders of INTACT, typically having authority over one or more warships, bases or ground operations group. They recieve +1 Command (Universal), +1 Education (Politics), +1 Charisma (Diplomacy), +2 Conspiracy (INTACT) and High Rank.

League Combatsystem Operator

The League has few pilots, instead having 'operators' acting as telepresent squad leaders. These men and women are rigorously trained to capably time-share their attention between various viewpoints and react to shifting engagements from a rear-area perspective. Combatsystem Operators recieve +1 Tuneup (Engineer), +1 Education (Computers), +1 Command (AI Mecha) and Mid Rank.

League/Union Battlemanagement Director

With the League's predisposition towards automated weapons, their leaders must be just at home managing complex info-combat systems as they are at managing people. Battlemanagement Directors recieve +1 Command (Universal), +1 Education (Computers), +2 Conspiracy (League Military) and High Rank.

Union Mechanized Vanguard

Union command frames are typically piloted by Alphas, leading squads of robotic soldiers into combat. To this end they have +1 Pilot (Mecha), +1 Gunnery (Mecha), +1 Command (AI Mecha) and Mid Rank.

Republic Fleet Officer

The Republic entrusts these officers with some of the most powerful weapons ever invented by man. To defend the Republic's interests, Republic Fleet Officers have +1 Command (Spaceships), +1 Education (History), +1 Conspiracy (Republic Fleet) and Command Rank.

Royalty

The extended de Godsforde royal family of the White Rose kingdom are accountable to no one. They are trained to lead and maintain the interests of themselves, their subordinates, and ultimately the state through policy. (+1 Charisma, +2 Conspiracy (White Rose), High Rank, License Holder)

Special Forces

Not everything happens in space and all polities in the universe require personnel whose foremost proficiency is on conducting operations on his her feet. (+1 Physical, +1 Physical (Chosen Specialty), +1 Wits (Alertness), +1 Smarts (Security))

Vocations

ARROWs Liason

While INTACT focusses almost exclusively on fellow humans, ARROWs deals with the inhuman. Those in its ranks range from cogscience lawyers to xenoarcheologists to combat pilots to theotechnicians. A period in ARROWs is often seen as a way to escape the politicking that is common in other Solar Federation organizations and see far more of known space than otherwise.