Character Creation #

Use an index card to keep a record of your character.

1. You are 20 years old, with 10 maximum Endurance, 10 Maximum Luck, and Status 0.
2. Roll a birth month.
3. Select a background or roll 1d6 to leave it to fate. Gain two skills from that background’s skill lists at rank 1. Roll on one of the tables for the first skill, then choose one other skill from the background. Players take turns developing their characters' backgrounds to gain skills and find out about their characters' lives before play begins. Take the following steps on each background turn:
   1. Roll 2d6 on the Background Events table. On any result other than death, apply the results.
   2. Roll for one or two skills, as prompted. Choose one of the Background’s skill lists, or the Personal Development skill list, which all careers share. Roll 1d6. On a 1-5, gain the indicated skill at rank 1, or increase its rank by 1 if you already have the skill. On a 6, choose one of the five skills to gain or increase. Italicized words are equipment. Add equipment to your possessions if you don’t already own it.
   3. Age 1d6 years. If you enter a new decade (30s, 40s, etc), lose 1 Endurance.
   4. Roll 1d6. If the result is less than the ten’s digit of your age, roll a misfortune and finish character creation.
   5. Decide if you will take another turn. If not, roll a misfortune and finish character creation.
4. Get starting credits. Add your status plus the tens digit of your age. Roll that many d6, add them together, and begin with that many credits.
5. Get a terminal. A terminal is a portable personal computer that enables a user to connect to local networks. Terminals vary wildly across cultures and tech levels. Terminals can be embedded in jewelry or clothes, implanted in the body, or be a more obvious piece of hardware with a screen. Decide what yours looks like.
6. Consipire. Before the game starts, discuss goals with the other players to help drive the initial action. Give the referee something to respond to. If you start with a ship and a shared debt, you may want to figure out how to make next month’s payment.

Skills ranks may not be raised higher than 4. When you would raise a skill to rank 5, select a different skill from the same list instead.

Skill list items in brackets are other lists, either weapon types or personal development. Roll on those tables as indicated.

If a list item has a skill followed by a slash and a bracketed skill list name, gain the listed skill if you don’t already have it. If you do have the skill, either increase its rank by 1 or roll on the list in brackets.

Instead of providing a skill rank, some results increase Endurance or Luck.

Birth Months #

Based on the Commonwealth calendar. The traditional zodiac signs are based on constellations visible from Heimat [H6 P7 A6 T6 AC-0001].

Background Events #

Backgrounds #

1. Laborer #

Most of humanity’s trillions never leave the system of their birth.

2. Scout #

Though now much atrophied, the Commonwealth Survey Corps still deploys its adventuring academics to worlds beyond and between charted clusters.

3. Soldier #

As power atrophies, new conflicts arise, and very old resentments reignite.

4. Merchant #

Instability begets opportunity.

5. Noble #

Your parents, or more distant forebears, eased your home world’s transition into the Commonwealth. For their efforts, they were awarded a modicum of power and your world a quantum of sovereignty.

6. Underworld #

Those who thumb their noses at the rule of law, despite all the law has provided for them.

Personal Development & Combat Skills #

Misfortunes #

The reason why the life you have led is over now.