#sr rpg

Pardon this decadent little post. I’m working on character building for the Saints Row RPG that’s being planned. Since I’m rolling an OC rather than reworking an existing boss, I wanted to get a handle on her. Sharing because ... well, why the hell not.

1. What do they smell like?

Tala doesn’t wear perfumes or flowery lotions. She prefers unscented toiletries. If her hair’s been freshly dyed, then that acrid scent will cling to her a bit, at least until it all washes out. She mostly just has a clean, fresh scent mostly attributable to her laundering products and the barely scented lotion that she wears.

2. What is their voice like?

She’s soft spoken mostly. At least until she’s in a situation where she’s making a presentation, teaching a class, speaking on something she knows well. She can speak with great confidence in certain situations. In others, it disappears completely, especially interpersonal situations even with friendlier acquaintances.

3. What is their biggest motivator?

Proving that she’s not just some kid. She’s a very smart young woman with a lot of potential, or so she’s been told all her life. So she aims to prove it, often and magnificently.

4. What is their most embarrassing memory?

Probably being broken up with because she wasn’t a college freshman.

5. How do they deal with/react to pain?

Tala actually enjoys pain, when it’s her choice—piercings, tattoos, scarification. She still wants to try a brand. Getting beat up—not so much, though she doesn’t mind the bruises.

6. What do they like to wear?

Leather jacket, distressed tees, shredded jeans, and Converse. That is her standard uniform. She’ll mix in some plaid pants, comfy sweaters, and heavy leather boots into the mix. She always has a pair of fingerless gloves on her because her hands get cold. She also likes slouchy knit hats and cowls when it’s really chilly.

7. Which of their relationships have impacted them most positively?

Her friendship with her cousin and best friend Letty Adair. Letty and Tala were born within months of one another. They were each other’s playmate, best friend, partner in crime, confidante, cheerleader, and more. Letty was the only person who seemed to ever even try to understand Tala, except for her parents. Even when Letty did not understand exactly was her cousin was rambling about she was always present, always listening. She never treated Tala like other people did—like some genius freak, or a rebel, or an outcast. Letty only treated her like Tala. The pair of them inspired, challenged, and pushed one another to strive for more, to reach higher, and want more.

8. What’s the weirdest thing they’ve ever eaten?

Tala’s been all over the world. She’s eaten some things that, by American standards, might be considered strange. She just saw trying the food of a place as part and parcel of the adventure potential of a new city, a new country.

9. Describe the way that they sleep.

Tala lays herself out straight when she goes to sleep. But she never wakes up that way. She sleeps fitfully, mumbling or more, and usually wakes up in a ball or burrowed under the covers.

10. What is their favorite food/kind of food?

She likes spicy food, and more than just heat, but really lovely and flavorful foods that mix interesting combinations of flavors together.

11. What do they feel most insecure about? 

Their age. Growing up it didn’t matter that she was usually the smartest person in the room, because she was also the youngest she spent a lot of time feeling overlooked, ignored, singled out (in a negative way), and it continues to concern her.

12. How do they like to dress?

Loose, baggy clothes. She’s more interested in feeling comfortable. She also likes interesting and funky pieces.

13. How do they react to feelings of guilt?

One of the most vibrant memories of feeling

14. How do they react to/deal with betrayal?

She’s only been betrayed once, well she felt like she was betrayed. And she was upset for a little while, but it was like her cousin Letty told her, “If she couldn’t deal with pretty girl with a big brain then she wasn’t good enough for my cousin anyway.”

15. What is their greatest achievement?

In her opinion, completing her dissertation despite the trials and obstacles of it.

16. What are they like when they’ve gotten too little sleep?

Not much different. Though if she doesn’t at least get a nap she can get a little growly and snappish.

17. What are they like when they’re drunk?

Tala’s never been drunk. While she has done a little recreational underage drinking, she stopped when she got tipsy. In those incidents, she didn’t trust the people she was drinking with, so she never got truly wasted, or really high.

18. What kind of music do they enjoy?

Music is a big part of Comanche culture and Tala’s life. She joined the choir in school in grade school and her double major as an undergrad was in voice performance.

19. Are they right or left handed?

Ambidextrous. Writes equally well with both, though the handwriting looks like it was written by two different people. She can also do things like mirror writing.

20. Fears?

Failure. Not being taken seriously. Not finding her true love (she’s a hopeless romantic).

21. Favorite kind of weather?

Nippy fall day. The kind of weather where she can wear her leather jacket and be entirely comfortable.

22. Favorite color?

She doesn’t really have one favorite. But she likes bright colors, really vibrant. Possibly because she wears a lot of darker shades she likes to have contrasts that pop.

23. Do they collect anything?

Anything with skulls. Rings, earrings, shirts, fingerless gloves, socks, notebooks, bags … she’s got a morbid fascination with them. She even had one of those head feeling dummy guys in her college apartment. Freaked out more than one date, that weird lifeless face staring at the bed.

She also has a huge obsession with hi-top converse. She’s probably got 20 pairs, easy. Tala loves to find the artists that decorate them. She’s got several pairs of those, but saves them for special occasions.

24. Do they prefer either hot or cold weather more?

Depends on the task at hand. Sightseeing: warm weather. Movie night: cold weather.

25. What is their eye color?

A jade/sea green.

26. What is their race/ethnicity?

She is Comanche on her father’s side, and Iranian on her mother’s.

27. Hair color?

Naturally black to black/brown. But since about 16 she has constantly dyed it a vibrant rainbow of shades.

28. Are they happy where they are currently?

Since I’m going to “date” this completion before the Zin invasion, Yes. At that moment in her life she’s finished her dissertation. She’s got two beautiful job offers, one to be part of a theoretical research project in the field of societal computing, and the other a more practical application of her education (but also more lucrative). She’s passed her boards and all that remains is her public dissertation defense.

29. Are they a morning person?

No. Never. She very proudly claims that the only time she’s ever seen the sunrise was accidentally from the window of a plane.

30. Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset. Sunrise is far too early for her. Though she’s pulled all-nighters that went straight into the next day, but not to see the sunrise.

31. Are they more messy or more organized?

Organized chaos is what she calls it. Everything has a place and she can find it in a second, but other people would see it as clutter. Tala, however, would pull up the latest research that supported the old saying that clean desk is a sign of a sick mind.

32. Pet peeves?

Moving her things. Touch all you want. Move it and it’s lost and she might just actually growl at you.

33. Do they own any objects of significant personal importance?

Yes, a dress her father made for her.

34. Least favorite food?

Popcorn jelly beans. “They are just unnatural.”

35. Least favorite color?

White. At least as far as clothes are concerned.

36. Least favorite smell?

Vomit.

37. When was the last time they cried?

After she turned in her completed dissertation, but they were tears for joy and relief because it was finally done.

38. Were they with anybody the last time they cried?

No.

39. Tell us about one of the times they got injured?

Tala’s gotten your usual bumps, bruises, scrapes, and such. But she hasn’t really gotten any real injuries. Though she got electrocuted as a child trying to take something apart that she shouldn’t have been.

40. Do they have any scars?

In a way, yes. At one point, she dated a young man who was blind and she was rather entranced by the tactile feel of Braille. Of course, this was also about the time she decided to jump into it and try the scarification thing. She has a short phrase scared into her chest.

41. Do they struggle with any mental health issues?

Not so far.

42. Do they have any bad habits?

She can completely loose herself in research and programming, like totally tuning out the rest of the entire damn world.

43. Why might someone dislike them?

She knows she’s smarter than most people, and sometimes forgets not to act like it.

44. Why might someone love them?

She’s a hopeless romantic and totally adorkable. She’s kind and unflinchingly loyal when she truly connects with people.

45. Do they believe in ghosts?

Yes, unflinchingly. Science be damned, she believes in spirits.

46. Is there anyone they would trust with their lives?

Her parents and her cousin Letty.

47. Are they romantically interested in anyone?

Not currently though they did just end a long-term relationship of about a year.

48. Are they dating/married to anyone?

No.

49. Do they like surprises?

Yes.

50. When is their birthday?

July 2nd.

51. How do they usually celebrate their birthday?

She’s usually with her mother. And the two of them would take the whole day which would end in a dinner at a fancy restaurant and a show or some other special event depending on the city they were in.

52. Do they have any family?

Her parents and on her father’s side she’s got a ton of relatives.

53. Are they close to their family?

Most of them she’s fairly close to. But she’s really only extremely close to her parents and her cousin Letty.

54. What is their MBTI type?

Not sure. Might check later. But probably not.

55. What is their zodiac sign?

Cancer, the crab.

56. What Hogwarts House would they be in?

Ravenclaw, probably. (at least from the trait things I can find)

57. What D&D alignment are they?

Probable Chaotic Good

58. Do they ever have nightmares? If so, what about?

On occasion, and her nightmares tend to be anxiety based—like the horrible naked on exam day on, being chased by monsters. She also probably puts a little more stock into her dreams than other people might.

59. What are their views on death?

Death is just another step in life’s journey. One we all must take sooner or later.

60. What is something that they’re sure to laugh at?

Someone falling victim to one of their pranks.

61. When bored, how do they pass time?

They’ll usually find a way to get themselves in trouble. Pranking payback. Looking for something to read. A long relaxing bath. Or scrounging for some electronic trouble to make.

62. Do they enjoy being outside?

Yes.

63. Do they have an accent?

No.

64. Upon seeing a slice of chocolate cake, what is their first reaction?

If they are alone, they might eat a few bites and save the rest. If Tala is with someone else, she’d grab two forks.

65. If they knew they were going to die, what would they do/say?

I’m honestly not sure how she’d react. I’m sure she’d try to avoid it, if possible. There are things she still wants to accomplish with her life.

 66. How do they feel about sex?

They’ve had good and bad experiences. And she enjoys it, but she’s a little more particular. She won’t just jump into the sack, she prefers to know the person and know them rather well before sleeping with them.

67. What is their sexuality?

Tala is bisexual. For her attraction, has more to do with the person than the body.

68. Do they become squeamish at the sight of blood?

Probably a little.

69. Is there anything that they find really gross?

Throwing up.

70. Which TV Trope(s) best describes them?

She might fit into the Work Hard, Play Hard tropes.

71. Do they enjoy helping people?

Yes.

72. Are they allergic to anything?

Not that they know of.

73. Do they have a pet?

Not since she massacred tank after tank of fish as a girl.

74. Are they quick to anger? What are they like when they lose their temper?

No. Unless you question their intelligence. Then Tala might lose her temper and get snappish.

75. How patient are they?

They are a programmer. They are fairly patient, but it does have a limit.

76. Are they good at cooking?

She is capable of not starving with some style. She’s actually a pretty good cook. But it is not something she does a lot.

77. Favorite insult? Do they insult people often?

She tends to insult people in other languages, languages they likely won’t know.

78. How do they act when they’re particularly happy?

If she’s happy, people will know it. Big smile, bounce in her step, twinkle in her eye.

79. What do they do when they learn about other people’s fears?

She’ll try her damnedest to shield them from it if she can. Or help them work through it if she thinks she can manage it.

80. Are they trustworthy?

Yes.

81. Do they try to hide their emotions? Are they good at it?

Not really, unless she’s interested in someone. Then she tries to play it cool, and usually fails miserably.

82. Do they exercise regularly?

Kind of. She’s always kind of fallen in like with Dresden’s idea. She doesn’t run for fitness; she runs that so when shit goes down she can GTFO.

83. Are they comfortable with the way they look?

Mostly. Because she knows her style is all her own. It’s what she wants to wear and what makes her comfortable. But she does worry, usually, if she’s crushing on someone, that she’s too young looking, to plain, or just not pretty enough.

84. What are some physical features that they find attractive on people?

Eyes, lips, and hands.

85. What kind of personalities do they find attractive?

People who are kind, mischievous, and considerate.

86. Do they like sweet foods?

In moderation.

87. What is their age?

21

88. Are they tall or short or somewhere in between?

In between, leaning toward shortish. She’s 5’5”.

89. Do they wear glasses or contacts?

No, not yet. But given their line of work and interests, it is only a matter of time.

90. Do they consider themselves attractive?

No.

91. What is their sense of humor like?

Awkward and geeky.

92. What mood are they most often in?

Focused.

93. What kinds of things anger them?

People overstepping their bounds. Moving or taking her stuff.

94. Outlook on life?

Generally positive. She can be slow to trust people or her own feelings—she tends, with people, to think that they are just trying to get close to find a softer spot to stick the knife.

95. What kind of things make them sad/depressed?

When the self-doubt in the things they are feeling gets really heavy. When they are struggling with a problem and can seem to find a way through it.

96. What is their greatest weakness?

Her ability to lose herself in what she’s doing. She can tune out the whole world at the highest points of her concentration.

97. What is the greatest strength?

Her intelligence and resolve. She will find a way to get the job done. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.

98. Something that they regret?

Not telling Arielle sooner that she wasn’t an undergrad. It would have saved her so much time and a bit of heartache.

99. Biggest accomplishment?

Completing and defending her dissertation.

100. Create your own!

Nope. Not creating my own. As it is I think some of these questions are doubled up through rewording.

Designing Shadowrun: Crossfire has been a happy blend of translation and innovation.

Translation matters because Shadowrun goes beyond being a beloved roleplaying game. Shadowrun is one of the touchstones. Even gamers who have never played Shadowrun know that the game takes cyberpunk, magic, Native American shamans, elves, and orks, and purees them into its own brand of Kurosawa-touched street noir.

Shadowrun struck a chord when it was published in the 80s and it’s still finding new chords for new audiences. I’ve met Native American parents proud that their kids were playing a game in which Native Americans take the country back. I’ve met gamers who shudder when they talk about what happened to Chicago.

Cisco Trid - 01.02.2013 4:43PM - Jackpoint

Welcome back, trid-fans. This week I’ll be taking a look at Hollow Points, the latest action-trid from that dynamic duo, prolific producer Elliot Rome and budding two-gun superstar Roy McQueen.

By Drew Toal • January 23, 2013