Anachromerica: Character Creation
ANACHROMERICA CHARACTER DESIGN GUIDELINES
© Guy Hoyle 2006
ROOLZ STUFF
You'll need the Risus rules (available here). I recommend using the standard method of splitting 10 dice amongst your clichés, with a maximum of 4 dice in any one cliché. (I recommend having at least 3 or 4 clichés with no fewer than 3 dice in any one cliché.) Advanced Options I, II and III are recommended (Hooks and Tales, Pumps, and Double-Pumps), which affect the starting number of dice you wind up with. Funky dice are not permitted for beginning characters, but may be acquired by experience.
Example: John Watson, the Crime Doctor, is an Unrecognized Criminological Genius (4), a Celebrated Popular Novelist (3), Successful Private Physician (2), and Celebrated Sidekick of World-Famous Detective Sherlock Holmes (1). He starts with a total of 12 dice (10 + the extra dice from his Hook and Tale, see below), but he has reserved 2 dice for his Sidekick, the actor playing Sherlock Holmes (see below)
His Hook is that everybody thinks he's really like Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes stories, when he's really the crime-solving genius; for this, he gets an extra dice to start with.
His Tale (briefly summarized): Dr. Watson is the real creator of the legendary Sherlock Holmes, who he based upon himself. As the stories became more popular, he was forced to hire an actor to play Holmes. This actor, a drunk, an idiot, and a coward, is as diametrically opposed to the fictional Holmes as Watson is to the fictional Watson. Now he must to be a second banana to his own fictional creation in real life, which galls him constantly. (With a few more details, this Tale is worth another dice to start with).
The rules for Inappropriate Clichés are not allowed. When someone does not have an appropriate cliché to use, refer to "When Somebody Can't Participate" (Risus, p. 4)
You can also use these Advanced Options from the Risus Companion: Lucky Shots and Questing Dice (p. 50), Sidekicks and Shieldmates (p. 51), Eye of the Tiger (p. 52), and Boxcars and Breakthrough (p. 54).
Dr. Watson spends two of his starting dice to buy a Sidekick, Reginald Kincaid, an actor, to play the part of the celebrated (if fictional) Sherlock Holmes: Ham Actor Playing A World-Famous Detective Far More Intelligent Than Himself (4), Drunken Buffoon (2)
CHARACTER CONCEPTS
For an introduction to the setting, take a gander at Guy Hoyle's Anachromerica. When creating a character for Anachromerica, the concept is the key. You don't have to play a combination of two or more modern, historical, and/or fictional characters that have something in common... but then again, why not?
Example: Actor Christopher Lee played Count Dooku in the Star Wars movies and Saruman in the Lord of the Rings films (well, OK, only "The Two Towers", really), so he might be a lightsaber-wielding wizard named Count Dookuman. Lightsaber-wielding wizards are a bit uncommon in Anachromerica, except maybe in Hollyweird, but this is just an example anyway.
Example: Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Frankenstein have several things in common. Their last names begin with "Frank-", and can be easily combined into "Franklinstein". They were both scientists dabbling in electricity, another plus. The image of a cackling Ben Franklinstein winching a kite up into the sky to provide lightning for the reanimation of a stitched-together corpse is utterly irresistable!
Substituting one element of a famous character for another is a fine tradition in Anachromerica.
Example: William Shatner owns a horse ranch, and is an avid rider. Wild Bill Hickock was a gunslinger and Wild West showman. So Wild Bill Shatner, horseman, gunslinger, and scene-chewer extraordinaire, is born
Example: During the Civil War, the Irish Brigade was a collection of Irish immigrants fresh off the boat drafted into the Union army. In Anachromerica, however, those Irishmen are Celtic warriors and druids, bare-nekkid berserkers and bearded, robed spellcasters.
Since Anachromerica is a genre-bending setting, basing your character on other multi-genre characters from literature is also a legitemate way of creating a character.
Example: A combination action hero, rocket scientist, neuro-surgeon, and rock musician, similar to Buckaroo Banzai
Example: A California girl, cheerleader, and monster hunter, similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Take established character concepts and put a weird twist on them.
Example: A combination riverboat gambler, lovable rogue, and occult investigator, sort of like a cross between Bret Maverick and Carl Kolchak Example: An unusual Girl Threesome, consisting of a Scientific Girl, a Magical Girl, and a Religious Girl, like a weird Charlie's Angels. Example: Combining a Fast-Healing Mutant with Concealed Metal Claws with Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name
Example: Pirates of the Missourippi!
There are probably many other ways to create a character in Anachromerica, so feel free to devise any character that appeals to you. In a place like Anachromerica, there's probably room for him somewhere!
OTHER RACES AND CULTURES
Generally speaking, there are no offical "races" other than the various human ones in Anachromerica. Unofficially, however, other choices present themselves to the player. Talking dogs, earthbound angels, stranded aliens, weird mutants, and hidden humanoids such as the Abominable Snowman and Bigfoot exist (of course they do on our planet, too; it says so in the tabloids...).
Another culture is generally just a modifier strapped onto a cliché. If you're an Evil French Overlord, then being French would be a part of one or all of your clichés; it usually isn't worth being a separate cliché.
Tools of the Trade
As per standard Risus rules (Risus, p.2), characters start the game with whatever equipment suits their cliché. No Paddlewheel Captain would be complete without a Paddlewheel Boat. No American Ninja would be caught dead without his red, white, and blue ninja suit and a fistful of shuriken. No Femme Fatale would be nearly as fatale without her slinky red dress with the plunging neckline, a grand piano to slink by, and a gallon jug of "Jungle Lust" perfume. Tools of the Trade can also be (according to the Risus Companion, p. 27)) larger, non-portable property such as residences, fortresses, and cruise ships, where replacements for tools normally can be stashed. "Yes-men" such as a hairless cat, an evil warlord's henchmen, and anything else that moves around with a semblance of free will.
Losing your tools might cripple your ability to participate in a conflict, or render it useless. Getting special equipment (such as a Flying Saucer) is often a matter of picking the right cliché (such as a Bug-Eyed Alien Disguised As A Human) when your character is created.
ANACHROMERICA STOCK CLICHÉS
This is by no means a definitive list of stock characters that can be found in Anachromerica. The items on this list are meant to stir your imagination, to provide a nucleus for your own pearls of great value. I have broken them down into several different categories for convenience' sake. Feel free to tinker with them and adjust them to your liking. Some suggestions for tinkering with them are given afterwards
LINKS TO SPECIFIC CLICHÉ LISTS
STOCK CHARACTERS
These are not so much like traditional character classes of many role-playing games, but more like dramatic roles from literature, movies, television, and comics.
Absent-Minded Professor
Action Movie Hero
Alien Living Among Us
All-American
Angst-Ridden Youth
Anti-Hero
Avenger
Bad Fiancee
Bad-Ass Mo'fo
Big Boss
Bimbo/Himbo
Bitter War Veteran
Black Mustache Villain
Boogyman
Brought-Back-To-Life Villain
California Girl
Celebrity
Chosen One
Combat Monster
Comic Relief
Competent Man
Con Artist
Condescending Academic
Contender
Cop on the Edge
Crackpot Inventor
Crazy General
Creative Type
Crusty Sea Captain
Cute But Unusual Pet
Damsel in Distress
Dancin’ Fool
Dark Lord
Dark Mentor
Dedicated Physician
Desert Shiek
Dilettante
Diva
Egghead Researcher
Elderly Martial Arts Master
Enfant Terrible
Evil Albino
Evil Clown
Evil Genius
Evil Stepmother
Evil Twin
Faith Healer, Crooked
Faith Healer, Genuine
Fallen Mentor
False Hero
Femme Fatale
Fish Out Of Water
Fop
Foreign Exchange Student
Gentleman Spy
Goth
Guru
Hardboiled Gumshoe
Haunted Hero
Hell-Raisin’ Redneck
High Plains Drifter
Honest Thief
Howling Leatherneck
Ill-Fated Lover
Ingenious Tinkerer
Ingenue
Inscrutable Oriental
Intrepid Explorer
Jock, Mean
Jock, Nice
Jokester
Jolly War Veteran
Kitten With A Whip
Kung Fu Joe
Leading Lady
Leading Man
Lovable Rogue
Mad Scientist
Man of God
Man On The Run
Nerd
Nerdy Girl
Noble Savage
Old Sawbones
Outlaw
Overprotective Father
Plucky Kid
Popular Girl
Reclusive Genius
Recurring Mentor
Redshirt Cad
Reluctant Hero
Repentant Traitor
Road Hog
School Bully
Shady Character
Sidekick
Soccer Mom
Speed Demon
Swashbuckling Pirate
Tart with a Heart
Teen Idol
Thief
Threshold Guardian
Thrill seeker
Tomboy
Tough Guy
Town Drunk
Tragic Hero
Treasure Hunter
Trickster
Trickster Hero
Two-Fisted Padre
Tyrannical Boss
Urban Cowboy
Venerable Sage
Vigilante
Violent Political Radical
Wacky Neighbor
Watchdog
Whiz Kid/ Boy Genius
Wicked Stepmother
Wicked Witch
Wise Old Man/Woman
Wiseguy Gangster
Womanizer
Miser
Southern Colonel
Southern Belle
English Butler
OCCUPATIONS, PROFESSIONS, ETC.
There are thousands and thousands of things your character can do on a daily basis. Here are some of them.
Accountant
Ace Reporter
Actor
Air Force Pilot
American Gladiator
Anarchist
Antiquarian
Archaeologist
Army Soldier
Athlete
Bank Official
Bank Teller
Baseball
Berserker
Big-Game Hunter
Boxer
Burglar
Cartoonist
Cheerleader
Circus Acrobat
Clerk
Clumsy Hero
College Student
Comedian
Copywriter
Crazed Aviator
Criminal Profiler
Criminologist
Crusading Journalist
Delta Force Commando
Doctor
Drag Queen
Elvis Impersonator
Engineers
Entertainer
Entrepreneur
Equestrian
Espionage Agents
Explorer
Factory Worker
Farm Worker
Federal Agents
Field Scientist
Financial Advisor
Firefighters
Flying Ace
Food Worker
Football Hero
Foxy Mama
Freedom Fighter
Game Designer
Gang Member
G-Man
Graduate Student
Graphic Artist
Green Beret
Gunslinger
Gymnast
Henchman
High School Student
Historian
Hunter
Illustrator
Impersonator
Insurance Agent
Investigative Journalists
Investigator
Iron-Jawed Trucker
Lawyer
Librarian
Lumberjack
Magazine Columnist
Marine
Martial Artist
Mechanical Marvel
Middle Manager
Military Martinet
Military Officer
Military Police
Military School Student
Missionary
Mobsters
Movie/Television Producer
Musician
Mythologist
Navy Sailor
New Age cult leader
Newscaster
Novelist
Nurse
Ordained Clergy
Paramedics
Party Animal
Past-life therapist
Petty Criminal
Photographer
Physician
Playwrite
Police Detective
Politician
Private Detective
Private Institution Student
Professional Athlete
Professional Daredevil
Professor
Psychiatrist
Radio Personality
Rake
Ranger
Real Estate Agent
Relic Hunter
Religious Scholar
Renegade Mobster
Rescue Worker
Road Warrior
Rock Star/Rapper
Roller Derby Queen
Salesperson
Scholar
Scientist
Screenwriter
Secret Agent
Self-Help counselor
Seminary Student
Singer
Singing Cowboy
Skater
Soccer
Songwriter
Special Forces
Sports Team Mascot
Stage Magician
State Trooper
Surgeon
Survivalist
SWAT Team Member
Swimmer
Tax Preparer
Technician
Trapper
Theologian
TV Personality
Uniformed police
Weekend Warrior
Weight-trainer
World Class Athlete
School Teacher
SUPERS, SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY, & HORROR
Flashily-dressed spandex-clad youths with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Bearded, robed wizards peering into a cloudy ball of crytal! Bold adventurers going where no one has gone before!
Alchemist
Alien
American Ninja
Anti-UFO Crusader
Ape-Man
Archer
Armored Superhero
Astral Projector
Aura-Reader
Blaster
Brain In A Tank
Brawler
Brick
Champion of Truth, Justice, and the American Way
Clairvoyant
Conjurer
Defender of Humanity
Druid
Earthbound Angel
Evil Overlord
Exorcist
Exorcist
Flyer
Four-Color Superhero
Gadgeteer
Golden Age Superhero
Graphic Novel Superhero
Mage
Masked Avenger
Masked Luchador
Meddler in God's Domain
Medium
Mentalist
Mesmerist
Mindless Zombie
Monster Hunter
Mystic Guardian
Necromancer
Nose-Wiggling Witch
Occult Investigator
Omen-Reader
Oriental Sorcerer
Parapsychologist
Shaman
Shapeshifter
Six Million Dollar Cyborg
Size-changer
Speedster
Spiritualist
Strange Visitor from Another Planet
Super-Soldier
Talking Dog
UFO Lobbyist
Unfrozen Caveman
Weird Being
Witch Hunter
GIRL THREESOMES
No, it's not what you're thinking; get your mind out of the gutter! The various incarnations of Charlie's Angels are the stereotypical example of the Girl Threesome; each Threesome exemplifies a different combination of traits (The Bossy Girl, The Brainy Girl, the Flirty Girl; The Black Girl, The Caucasian Girl, The Asian Girl; etc.)
Girl Threesomes don't just have to take one type of Threesome. One team could simultaneously be a Asian-Hispanic-Black Threesome and a Naive-Flirty-Streetwise Threesome, and they could all be Ass-Kicking Girls.
The African-American Girl
The Ass-Kicking Girl
The Athletic Girl
The Blonde Girl
The Bossy Girl
The Brainy Girl
The Brunette Girl
The Caucasian Girl
The Flirty Girl
The Hispanic Girl
The Magical Girl
The Naive Girl
The Oriental Girl
The Redheaded Girl
The Religious Girl
The Scientific Girl
The Sensitive Girl
The Sophisticated Girl
The Streetwise Girl
The Gun-Expert Girl
The Melee-Weapons/Archery-Expert Girl
The Martial Arts Girl
ANATOMY LESSONS
Using advice from the Risus Companion's "Anatomy of a Cliché"
It's very tempting to look on a cliché as a "skill" or a "character class", but you can pack an incredible amount of character information into one.
Profession: Jobs, occupations, or pursuits.
Examples: River Boat Gambler, Six Million Dollar Cyborg, Flesh-Eating ZombieRace or Species: Something that sets you apart from normal humanity.
Examples: Earthbound Angel Meddling In The Lives Of Others; Cowardly Talking Dog; Helpful But Naive Alien "Pet"; Persecuted MutantCultural Background: Affects personality and abilities of the character
Examples: Aristocratic Southern Actor Bent on Avenging the South; Aspiring Actress Trying To Make It Big In The City; Washed-Up LaLaLand B-Movie Star Who Wants To DirectPersonal History: What you used to be still affects what you are.
Examples: Defrocked Priest; Ex-Champion of Truth, Justice, and the American Way; Retired Air Force PilotDegree of Dedication: How committed you are to your pursuit.
Examples: John Wilkes Booth's Biggest Fan; Part-Time Mystic Guardian; Amateur Assassin; Overzealous Masked AvengerReligious or Philosophical Bias: Beliefs about life, the universe, and everything.
Examples: Devout Catholic Zombie-Master; Nietschean Ubermensch; Atheistic Exorcist.Social Class or Financial Means:
Examples: Struggling Actress; Sharecropper's Son; Polo-Playing Dilettante; Society MatronGender: Either embracing or working against the typical gender of a cliché.
Examples: Brightly-Clad Toreador, High-Paid Gigolo, Beautiful AviatrixGroup Affiliation: The perks and responsibilities of membership in a group or organization.
Examples: SWAT Team Member; 33rd Level Mason; Corrupt Civil Servant; High School FreshmanDemeanor: Personality
Examples: Grumpy Elf; Cheerful Assassin; Cynical Motivational SpeakerAppearance: Judging a book by its cover
Examples: Shabbily-Dressed Private Detective; Mammarially-Enhanced Country Music Diva; Bookish LibrarianHam-Handed Reference: Direct allusion to real or fictional people.
Examples: A Modern-Day Julius Caesar; Don Knotts as a Cyborg; The Cleopatra of the MissourippiGoals: Aspirations that motivate a character's activities and abilities..
Examples: Mad Scientist Meddling In God's Domain; Self-Tortured Genetist Trying To Resurrect His Dead Wife; Self-Taught Financial Genius Trying To Make A Killing On The Stock MarketSelf-Image: Who the character is, and who he thinks he is.
Examples: Superhero With a Messiah Complex; Surgically-Enhanced Supermodel Who Thinks She's An Ugly Duckling; Bumbling World Conqueror-Wannabe Who Thinks He's Adolph Hitler, Alexander The Great, and Genghis Khan Rolled Into OneSub-Plots and Relationships: Interactions with other people.
Examples: The Ladies' Man; A Modern-Day Knight Errant Trying To Win The Love of A Southern Belle; The Guy Who Knows People, If You Know What I MeanProblems: Imperfections, challenges, and handicaps that make playing a character more fun.
Examples: Wheelchair-Bound Dodgeball Coach; Midget Gunslinger; Disembodied Brain In A Tank
EPILOGUE
Stop looking at this epilogue! You've spent way too much time reading about making up a character, now go make up one!