04 November 2017

Inclusive NPCs Volume 1: Cedar

In PinkFae Archive #3, I mentioned that a good way to foster diversity and tolerance within the gaming community is to add diverse NPCs to your game. I've done this myself on several occasions. However, I also realise that it's not always easy for people to develop a diverse cast of characters for use in their games.

So, to that end, I am going to start a new series of posts called 'Inclusive NPCs.' Today's entry will be the first in that series, in which I introduce you to Cedar. I encourage you to adapt and use any NPCs that I publish here in your games as you see fit. With that in mind, I will (for both this entry and for any subsequent entries in this series) provide a basic write-up in four of the most common systems: D20, GURPS, the original World of Darkness, and FATE Core.

So let us meet Cedar. Cedar is an intersex agender individual who has chosen to become a vigilante. As a genderless person, Cedar prefers the use of gender-neutral pronouns 'they' and 'them' (as in 'They are a vigilante,' and 'Cedar has few friends, but all their friends greatly enjoy spending time with them'). Cedar was the child of parents who believed in the sanctity of the human body, and so refused to allow any surgical alteration to bring Cedar in line with any particular gender identity. As they grew up, Cedar presented as female until adolescence, when they began to explore the possibilities of being intersex. Eventually, they decided to eschew gender roles entirely, and began to identify as agender. Motivated by the mistreatment that they often received at the hands of others, Cedar chose to become a protector, and studied combat arts so that they could prowl the streets at night in search of people in need of help. Now twenty-five years old, Cedar considers themself to be an accomplished defender of the weak and helpless.
Cedar is skilled in the use of various melee weapons, and although they try to avoid using lethal force if possible, they have killed before (although that is something they greatly regret). Cedar is of average height and build, with close-cropped hair and a nose ring. They tend to prefer form-fitting clothing, which allows them to move easily through the streets, and they usually wear a close-fitting hood drawn tightly around their face to help conceal their identity.

D20 Stats

Level 1 Human
Strength 10 (+0) Size: Medium
Dexterity 15 (+2) Height: 5' 7"
Constitution 14 (+2) Weight: 135 lb
Intelligence 12 (+1) Eyes: Hazel
Wisdom 8 (-1) Hair: Light Brown
Charisma 13 (+1) Skin: Pale

Total Hit Points: 10
Talents: Evasion
Speed: 30 feet
Armor Class: 15 = 10 + 3 [class] +2 [dexterity]
Touch AC: 15
Flat-footed: 13
Initiative modifier: +2 = +2 [dexterity]
Fortitude save: +2 = 0 [base] +2 [constitution]
Reflex save: +3 = 1 [base] +2 [dexterity]
Will save: -1 = 0 [base] -1 [wisdom]
Attack (handheld): +0 = 0 [base]
Attack (missile): +2 = 0 [base] +2 [dexterity]
Grapple check: +0 = 0 [base]
Reputation: +0 = 0 [base]

Feats:
Acrobatic
Blind-fight
Brawl
Simple Weapon Proficiency [free]
Skill Name Key Ability Skill Modifier Ability Modifier Ranks Misc. Modifier
Balance Dex* 2 = 2
Bluff Cha 1 = 1
Climb Str* 3 = 0 3
Concentration Con 2 = 2
Diplomacy Cha 1 = 1
Disguise Cha 1.5 = 1 0.5
Escape Artist Dex* 4 = 2 2
Gather Information Cha 1.5 = 1 0.5
Hide Dex* 5 = 2 3
Intimidate Cha 1 = 1
Jump Str* 4 = 0 2 +2 [acrobatic]
Knowledge (streetwise) Int 3 = 1 2
Knowledge (tactics) Int 1.5 = 1 0.5
Listen Wis 0 = -1 1
Move Silently Dex* 4 = 2 2
Research Int 1 = 1
Ride Dex 2 = 2
Search Int 1 = 1
Sense Motive Wis 0 = -1 1
Spot Wis -0.5 = -1 0.5
Survival Wis -0.5 = -1 0.5
Swim Str** 0 = 0
Treat Injury Wis -1 = -1
Tumble Dex* 5 = 2 1 +2 [acrobatic]

GURPS Stats (4th Ed)

Point Total: 162; SM: 0; Ht: 5'7", Wt: 135 lb
ST 10 [0] HP 10 [0]
DX 14 [ 80] Will 11 [0]
IQ 11 [20] Per 11 [0]
HT 12 [ 20] FP 12 [0]
Basic Lift: 20; Basic Speed: 6.5; Basic Move: 6
Damage: Thrust – 1d-2; Swing – 1d
Advantages: Charisma +2 [10].
Disadvantages: Code of Honour: Vigilante's Code [-5]; Impulsiveness (12) [-10]; Secret Identity (mild) [-5]; Social Stigma: Intersex agender (Minority Group) [-10]; Struggling (wealth ×½) [-10].
Skills: Acrobatics 13 (DX -1) [2]; Area Knowledge: Local City (IQ +2) [3]; Brawling (DX +1) [2]; Climbing (DX) [2]; Detect Lies (Per +1) [8]; Disguise 11 (IQ) [2]; Escape 14 (DX) [4]; Intimidation 11 (Will) [2]; Jumping 16 (DX +2) [4]; Knife 15 (DX +1) [2]; Lockpicking 13 (IQ +2) [8]; Observation 12 (Per +1) [4]; Pickpocket 13 (DX -1) [2]; Running 12 (HT) [2]; Scrounging 14 (Per +3) [8]; Search 11 (Per) [2]; Shadowing 11 (IQ) [2]; Streetwise 12 (IQ +1) [4]; Survival: Urban 11 (Per) [2]; Throwing 14 (DX) [2]; Tracking 12 (Per +1) [4].

World of Darkness Stats

Nature: Visionary.  Demeanor: Deviant.
Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3.
Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 3, Appearance 2.
Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 3.

Talents: Alertness 1, Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 2, Intimidation 1, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 2.
Skills: Melee 1, Security 1, Stealth 2, Survival 2.
Knowledges: Investigation 1.

Conscience: 4
Self Control: 3
Courage: 3

Humanity: 7
Willpower: 3

FATE Core Stats

Refresh: 3

Aspects:
High Concept: Intersex agender vigilante
Trouble: Bitter at society's closed-mindedness
Sneaky acrobat
Rushes headlong into dangerous situations and manages to survive
Heart of gold

Skills:
Average (+1): Contacts, Deceive, Investigate, Notice.
Fair (+2): Empathy, Fight, Rapport.
Good (+3): Athletics, Burglary.
Great (+4): Stealth.

Stunts:
Hardcore Parkour. +2 to overcome actions with Athletics if you are in a chase across rooftops or a similarly precarious environment.
Quick Exit. A momentary distraction is all you need to vanish from the scene. Provided you are not in the midst of a conflict, you may roll a quick contest between your Stealth and the highest Notice in the room. If you succeed, the next time someone turns to look at or talk to you, you’re not there.
Slip Between the Shadows. +2 to create advantage or overcome with Stealth whenever you are in near-darkness or total darkness.

Afterword

So there you have it. Cedar, the agender vigilante. I've tried to make them as generic as possible, so that they can be used in any setting: fantasy, modern, sci-fi, etc. Hopefully, it will be easy enough to adapt Cedar for use in another system, if you're using Shadowrun, Call of Cthulhu, 7th Sea, or any other game.

But ideally, you can take advantage of this character to add a little diversity to your games. If you do, please let me know! I'd love to hear about their exploits in the various world they visit! Keep an eye out for more inclusive NPCs in the future, and in the meantime, be sure you don't forget to

Game on!

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