[HoE] character questions

["B.D. Flory" <bflory@frontiernet.net>]

I know there's been some interest in character creation questions on the
listserv in the past, so here's the questionnaire I'll be handing out
Monday when my posse generates HoE characters.  Some of the questions are
lifted from various sources and modified, and some are my own.

Describe your character physically.  Remember, this covers more than just
appearance.  Bearing, for example, can have a strong effect on people's
perception of you.  Focus on that which reflects his personality, and
affects the way others will treat him.




Does your character have any recurring mannerisms?  An accent, a nervous
habit, or an odd turn of phrase can be a handy shortcut to getting into
character, as well as a signal to the other players of when you are in
character.  Be careful: too many can turn your hero into comic relief.



What drives your character?  What keeps you going when you're out of ammo,
out of gas, and out of hope?  Greed? Love? Revenge? Sheer stubbornness?



What is your character's greatest strength? Is your hero really good at one
particular thing? Maybe you're an inspirational leader, or a phenomenal
shot.  Maybe you're never caught when you cheat at cards


What is your character's greatest weakness? Characters with no strengths
are difficult to keep alive, but those with no weaknesses are difficult to
sympathize with.  Is there something he's really horrible at? Maybe animals
just don't like him.  Maybe animals like him a little too much.  It's tough
to be taken seriously when dogs just won't leave your leg alone...


What does your hero love? For some, there's nothing quite like a good cup
of coffee in the morning.  Others are happy just watching the sun rise.


What does your hero hate? Everyone has a hundred little things that bother
them; most people have one big thing that drives them nuts.


What does your hero do to relax? The world is a hard place, and everyone
needs to blow off a little steam now and then.





What about your brainer's psychology?  Are you an ornery cuss, or do you
get along with most everyone? Maybe he thrives on adrenaline, and disturbs
his comrades with his laughter during a fight? What song or story brings a
tear to his eyes?



What makes you...
Happy?
Sad?
Angry?
Afraid?

What are your hero's highest ambitions?  When your hero dies, what does he
want people to say about him? Does he want to be remembered for anything
specific? Does he want to be remembered at all? Maybe he dreams of bringing
down General Throckmorton, or making a valiant last stand at the
Mississippi, as Walkin' Dead from the east flood onto the banks.




What one thing has your hero done that he is the most proud of?  This
doesn't need to be something heroic.  Maybe he quit drinking.  Maybe there
wasn't enough food in the bomb shelter, so he volunteered to leave and make
his own way.


What one thing has your hero done that he is most ashamed of? This need not
be a public humiliation.  Maybe your character was a priest before the war,
and he turned his back on God.  Maybe he ate the last twinkie in the bomb
shelter.

If your hero could live forever, what would he spend eternity doing?
Whatever the answer, your hero will likely take every opportunity to
indulge in it.



Does your hero have any prejudices? Maybe he can't stand "those filthy
mutants".  Maybe a Syker killed his brother, and now he hates all sykers. 
There may be no good reason to hate this group, but your hero believes
there is.  For the sake of party unity, it's a bad idea to hate a group
that you know someone else's character belongs to.  Remember that
prejudices can be positive, as well.







Where do your hero's loyalties lie? Most posses are loyal to each other
first, but there are often other considerations.  Mentors, relatives, and
other friends are all contenders.  Perhaps his first concern is looking out
for himself, or maybe he serves a greater cause.



Is your hero religious? With the Four Horsemen walking the planet, most
folks don't argue with Revelations any more.  Other religions have their
own "end of the world" myths.  On the other hand, many believe that God has
turned his back on Earth, and people have to look out for themselves.





Is your hero a member of any organizations? The Templars, the Law Dogs, the
Heretics, and so forth are all pretty notable groups.  But there are other,
minor groups out there as well.  Is he a convoy trucker? A postman?  A
librarian? Maybe he's a member of a road gang?



Does your character have any personal heroes? Historical figures,
characters from literature and film, and heroes of the Wasted West are good
examples of potential heroes.  Since this is 2094, and the Deadlands
history is not our own, feel free to concoct some fictional individuals.




How would your hero's best friend describe him? Keep in mind, this is a
hypothetical question- the best friend here doesn't actually exist.



How would your hero's worst enemy describe him? As above, this is a
hypothetical worst enemy.



What did your character do before the Big Bang? Keep in mind that not every
survivor was a cop, or a soldier, or a bounty hunter.  Jo the Templar, for
example, was a housewife.  Also, it's been thirteen years since the big
bang, so anyone younger than thirty was probably in school.



What was your brainer's life like before the Last War? Did he have a
family? A dog? A lot of friends? No friends at all?  Was he rich? Poor?
Middle Class?




Where was your brainer from? Immigration was strong until the Last War, and
during the War, many nations sent soldiers to fight in the Americas.  If
your character was from America, you should consider whether he was from
the Union or the Confederacy (or even Deseret).


How did your hero survive Judgement Day? Virtually every major city in the
Americas was hit by one or more Ghost Rock bombs.  Hundreds of military
bases were destroyed as well, along with strategic points along the
Mason-Dixon wall.  Where was he?


What has your character been doing for thirteen years?  That's a long time
to stay in one place, so you've probably done at least a little bit of
traveling.  Don't feel obligated to write a thirteen year long in-character
journal here, but touch on the major points.  Of particular interest are
any circumstances which gained your brainer an Edge or a Hindrance.











Why are you in Sanctuary, KS? Do you hold some sort of position, such as
the town's Marshal? The town is situated at a customs checkpoint on the
Mason-Dixon Wall, so it could make an ideal base of operations for a
character like a Trucker, a Postman, or a Law Dog.




If you could, what advice would you give your character?


Enjoy!

B. D. Flory