Another playtest of Under a Hostile Sun is coming up! And that meant a new set of players got to make their own characters. Here is an example of the process.

One player wanted to make a Hallowed Hunter named Rodger Greaves. 

Step 1: Picking Stats

For this game session we are using Hostile Sun’s Standard Array. Since Might is the key taming stat of the Hallowed Hunter we assigned 16 to Might.

The player then asked what other stats he should value. I offered three potential “builds”

The first option is to say that Odd Ore pairs with Molten Minerals to make Mithril. If you want to specialize in making this Elite Resource for the party, you can assign the 14 in the Standard Array to Technology. 

Alternatively you can realize that the Hallowed Hunter will often be on the frontline, due to his speed. A high Compassion ensures access to Helpful Herbs, vital for Healing. 

Lastly you can decide you want to mutate your tamed creatures, in which case Strange Sap and Arcane Algae will be key. 

Build Strategies in Under a Hostile Sun are often based on what resources you what your character to focus on. 

Ultimately the player chose to emphasize having Helpful Herbs.

The final Stat Array:

• Might: 16
• Agility: 11
• Focus: 9
• Tech: 13
• Compassion: 14
• Dominance: 7

The player was inspired by Steve Irwin for his character’s personality, which lead to the decision to value Compassion over Dominance. Molten Minerals can still be mined with a respectable 13, ensuring the ability to mine the prerequisites of Mithril.

Step 2: Movement, Stamina and Resists

The Hallowed Hunter’s Stamina (13), Disease Resist (12), Elemental Resist (12) and Pest Resist (14) are set by the Hallowed Hunter Archetype. The Hallowed Hunter also has an impressive speed – a base movement of 6 with a bonus movement of 4.

Step 3: Picking a Creature

For this campaign players with tame-focused Archetypes can start with one creature, and everyone can start with one recipe.

The player inquired about the planet we would be exploring. I revealed it would be a molten planet, with archeological ruins on it. The player wanted a creature that could help traverse said ruins, as well as large elevation changes. 

We decided on a Molten Snap Dragon, which has the Lavawalk ability, allowing the Hallowed Hunter to easily move over rivers of lava.

Step 4: Picking a Recipe

As for the recipe, given the players interest in mobility, I suggested a potion that would allow the Snap Dragon to melt and reshape areas of metal and stone to make them easier to traverse. The player loved the idea. 

We agreed that it would be an Instant, and a Predatory Mutation. The generic recipe for a mutation is [2 * Base Price] + [1 Purification Ingredient]. For a Predatory Mutation a Base Price is [1 Molten Mineral + 1 Strange Sap] and a Purification ingredient is 1 Odd Ore. All three of these resources can be mind reasonably well with the stats chosen for our Hallowed Hunter. 

The final recipe is 2 Molten Minerals + 2 Strange Sap +1 Odd Ore.  

In Hostile Sun there is no need for a “Spell List.” Two Charts and a bit of GM negotiation can allow any potion to be easily “Home Brewed.”

Step 5: Diplomatic Keywords

The player then had to pick his characters “Alignment” which for Hostile Sun takes the form of Diplomatic Keywords. 

The player wanted the character to have their own TV Show, like the Crocodile Hunter. So we decided “Merchant” for social class and “Spotlight” for personality seemed most appropriate. Given the life-on-the-road lifestyle of the character, “Autonomist” was chosen for moral outlook. Lastly due to the high Compassion store, “Compassion” was the final keyword. 

And with that we had a character! 

All we had to do was:

1. Pick an Archetype: Hallowed Hunter.
2. Assign Stats.
3. Negotiate a potion that could take advantage of the chosen stats, and the player’s play style.
4. Pick diplomatic keywords. 

Try Under a Hostile Sun!