NOTE: this post will change as I am able to get data typed up.
I have changed the rules set: we will be using Ova. Since most of your are beginners, and this is a pretty basic system that I want to try out and I think will be more intuitive, allowing you to take greater part in your character creation.
Here is a free handout listing hte core abilities and weaknesses that can be applied to characters. It's only two pages.
Core Concepts: you roll two standard, six-sided dice, plus any additional dice that may apply due to circumstances or other relevant skills. Doubles are added together. The highest number you get is the result, which you hope is higher than the target difficulty.
ie, if you are trying to scare some information out of a guard, and your score in Intimidate were 2, you would roll four dice -- You roll the four dice and get 2, 6, 4 and 4. YOu get to add the doubles, and so your results are 2, 6, and 8. 8 is the best score you got. Since this is a grunt guard, I decide it only took a 4 to beat him. He's trying desperately not to vacate his bowels, you scared him so bad.
Character creation:
Choose any number of abilities to be ones important to your character concept. Rank these 1-3 (three is really really good, and most characters will only start with one ability at this level, if any). The total number of ranks you assign should be less than 5. However this is off set by weaknesses
Weaknesses are assigned the same way as abilities, but they *subtract* from your ability total. Thus if you have a 1 in intimidate, a 1 in fighting, 2 in strong, and 1 in hobby (collects knives) and 1 in quick, you have a total of 6. However, you've also got a 1 in bad reputation, so this brings the total back down to 5. You have a legal character.
No matter how many weaknesses you take, your total abilities should *not* be higher than 10
Races: The most common races in this world are described
in the setting thread anything in addition to these listed can be approved on a case by case basis.
General descriptions of these will be made available soon. Feel free to add in new race ideas, just run them by me first.
Magic: magic item availability and cost will be roughly based on the rules in the DMG, but will not be automatic. Some will be cheaper (offered in the company store) and others will be more expensive and less available.
You may create your own first level character and submit it to me for approval. Or you may come up with a character concept, and I'll make stats up for you.