Character Rules

Character Types
During an Act, a variety of characters take the stage. Below is a list of the types of Characters that appear in [TNX] along with their rules and functions.

Cast
The player's characters are referred to as the Cast. Their creation method is divided into two categories: Quick Start and Construction. Their information is recorded in their Profile, i.e. the Character Sheet.

NPC
Non-Player Characters controlled by the RL. In [TNX] these characters are divided into three categories and rules for making them are covered in the Ruler Section.

Guest
Guests act as the main antagonists or supporting characters to the Cast and are typically left to the RL to role-play and manage. Guests possess the same or greater abilities to that of the Cast. i.e. They also possess 3 Styles, have Miracles, and various Skills.

Troop
Groups of people represented as one character are referred to as a Troop. They are the 'small fry' of the story and usually act as subordinates and mooks for Guests. They only possess 1 Style and do not have access to Miracles. However they do have access to Skills.

Extra
Characters that do no possess combat ability or much in the way of mechanical data are referred to as Extras. Extras are managed in accordance to the Act Rules as covered in the Ruler Section. If no specific rules are set in place then Extras are managed by consensus among the Cast and Ruler. If a Ruler says "I'm killing this Extra" and the Cast doesn't protest then that Extra is dead.

Quick Start
Quick Start Character Creation is when the RL prepares Sample Characters in advance for the Cast to choose from. The Cast simply needs to fill out their Lifepath and Personal Data to complete the process.

This process is designed to get you playing [TNX] as quickly as possible, and this book provides its own Sample Characters to choose from.

Quick Start Process
Quick Start follows the following process for creating characters.

Read the Act Trailer
The Ruler reads out the Act Trailer. This allows the Players to grasp the tone and atmosphere of the following Act or story. For full details on Act Trailers see the Ruler Rules Section.

Designate Sample Characters
The RL designates the Sample Characters available for the Players.

Read the Act Handout
After designating the Sample Characters the Ruler goes over the Act Handout. The handout contains important information and background details for characters necessary to know for the upcoming scenario, which can provide motivation for choosing a certain character. For full details see the Ruler Rules Section.

Select Sample Characters
The Players choose a Sample Character from the available list the RL provided them. The RL may also directly assign a character to a Player.

Record Character Data
Players fill out the chosen Sample Character's data onto their Profile sheet.

Decide Personal Data
Once the Sample Character data is recorded Players may decide their character's Personal Data using the following section. This determines thing such as your characters origins and environment, allowing a stronger mental image of your character.

Personal Data
Personal Data is information decided about your character separate from Quick Start select or Character Construction. It involves determining their origin, their past, and their affiliations with other characters. This also includes data such as name, age, gender, appearance, and other such details. It is recommended to decide on these details after their Lifepath selection.

Lifepath
Your Lifepath represents a brief and simple history of your character. Players will select one entry from each of the 3 different Lifepath tables and record them on their Profile.

Furthermore, each entry also comes with a  or  Skill. You gain 1 Skill Level in each of these Skills and record them on your Profile. Recommended Suits for these Skills are listed in the Lifepath table, but you may choose whatever Suit you'd like.

DOC
Each Lifepath table is labeled with the phrase DOC, which stands for Draw or Choice.

When selecting an entry through Draw, simply draw a card from a standard playing card deck and consult the card's value. This value corresponds to an entry on the Lifepath table. This option of selecting is best for Players unfamiliar with [TNX] or those who didn't previously have a strong image for their character in mind already.

If you draw a Lifepath that you don't find is suitable for your character you may re-draw or simply choose an option.

Selecting on entry through choice is rather self-explanatory. Simply choose whichever entry you want.

Origin Table: N◎VA (DOC)
This table represents things such as your character's birth, upbringing, and family background.

Experience Table: N◎VA (DOC)
This table represents things such as what kind of life your character has lived or what past events have left a strong impression on them.

Encounter Table: N◎VA (DOC)
This table represents a type of encounter you've had with a certain person.

Character Construction
Character Construction is a more detailed means of Cast Creation to Quick Start. For those familiar with TRPGs, [TNX]'s rules, and the setting; this is likely to be your preferred method. It is best to have your own copy of the rules available to you when using this method to save time. Character Construction comes in two varieties: Build Up and Full Scratch.

Build Up
Build Up is a method of Character Construction where you fill out each entry in your Profile in a Flowchart-style order, building up your character to completion. It follows the below process.

Select Styles
Styles reflect the Cast Member's beliefs, preferences, and way of life; and are a cumulative representation of their job, specialties, and personality. They play a similar role to that of Classes in other systems. Each Cast Member possesses 3 Styles, and character creation begins with the selection of these styles.

In [TNX] Core there are 22 Styles available, corresponding to the 22 Major Arcana of a Tarot deck. In other words, choosing a Style is choosing one of the Major Arcana. Please reference the Style List chart below for which Major Arcana matches which Style.

Each Style you select possesses a Style Level and this Level is dependent on which of the 3 patterns for Style selection you chose.

A) If you chose 3 different Styles then each is at Style Level 1.

B) If you chose 2 Styles then select one to be at Style Level 2 and the other at Style Level 1.

C) If you have only 1 Style then it's Style Level 3.

Essentially, for options B and C, you are choosing the same Style multiple times to level it up.

Calculate Attribute and Control Ratings
Each Style possesses 4 Attributes and corresponding Control Ratings, and has their own unique spread of Attribute and Control values. Using the Style List Table below as reference add up the Attribute/Control spreads of you selected 3 Styles together to get your Cast Members Attribute/Control values. For Styles at Level 2 or higher, you simply add the same Style's spread again for each Level above 1.

Bonus Point
Simply adding up each Style's values is not the end of the process, however. You are granted 1 bonus point to distribute to an Attribute or Control Rating as you please. You may use this bonus point to either cover up a weakness or further increase a strength.

Each Style has 7 points distributed between the 4 Attributes, and 16 points distributed between the 4 corresponding Control Ratings. So in total you should have 21 Attribute points and 48 Control points on your character, not including your 1 bonus point. If this is not the case, double-check your work.

Upon confirming your Attribute/Control scores record them on your Profile.

Record Miracles
Each Style possesses their own Miracle that can be used during an Act once. Record each of your Style's Miracles on your sheet. If you have selected a Style multiple times you have multiple instances of their Miracle.

Acquire Skills
Skills represent a character's practical and specialized knowledge and abilities. Cast Members with Skills will be able to more easily carry out their tasks. Furthermore, the Cast gains access to Style Skills(Special Skills, Secret Skills, Ultimate Skills) based on their selected styles. With these, the Cast is able to demonstrate a level of power that surpasses normal human ability.

Non-Style Skills accessible by everyone are referred to as General Skills and the term Skill itself refers to both General and Style Skills. Finally, among General Skills there is the further distinction of Knowledge Skills.

During Character Construction you may not raise a Skill's Level above 3. When acquiring or leveling up a skill you may choose the Suit for the Skill.

Recording Skills to Your Profile
After listing their name there are two further steps to recording Skills on your Profile. The first is filling out the Suit for the Skill. Typically you are free to choose whichever Suit you want for the Skill but there are some situations, such as the Free Skills below, that specify which Suit you need to take when acquiring the Skill. If for some reason you have acquired the same Skill twice with the same specified Suit, you are free to change the specified Suit of one to whatever you wish.

After filling out your Suits the next step is to list your Skill's Level(or SL for short). This is typically just the number of Suits you have in a Skill so just record that number in parenthesis next to the Skill's name.

Free Skills
Cast Members come with a collection of Skills already learned before Character Creation. These are called Free Skills and are listed below.

Skills without a Specified Initial Suit

 * 1 Skill Level to distribute in the  Skill
 * 1 Skill Level to distribute in a  Skill
 * 2 Skill Levels to distribute between  Skills

For  you may either acquire 1 Skill at SL2 or 2 skills at SL1. While you may choose whatever you want for your free  Skills it is recommended to choose an Industry  Skill. Also keep in mind that  and other  Skills have a Max Skill Level of 1.

Select Other Skills
Consulting the below chart select the rest of the skills. Keep in mind that you may not raise a Skill's Level above 3 as well as the Style Skill Limit covered in the Character Growth section below.


 * 8 total Skill Levels to distribute between General and Special Style Skills
 * 2 Skill Levels to distribute between Knowledge Skills
 * 2 Skill Levels to distribute between Secret Style Skills

Acquire Outfits
In [TNX] Outfits represent important assets to the Cast Member. They represent everything from their favorite brands, to the tools they specialize in, their fashion sense, their homes, and even their lifestyles.

Unlike Skills, you are not obligated to take an obtainable Outfit if you don't want to. However, you cannot trade or sell back these un-selected Outfits.

Free Outfits
Your obtainable Free Outfits are determined by your Character's rating in their [Mundane] Attribute. Reference the table below. You may take any one Residence Outfit that is either at or below your [Mundane] rating. In other words, rich Characters may choose to live in a less lavish house, but poor Characters cannot obtain a Residence above their price-range.

IANUS
An IANUS is system installed in the body that allows a constant link to the Web, and is a necessary device for viewing Augmented Reality displays and installing Cyberware to your body. It also acts as an ID, Credit/Debit Card, Driver's License, Passport, and so on. Every Cast Member gains an IANUS as a Free Outfit, which can be found in the Cyberware Section of the Outfits page. However, if a Cast Member later obtains the [Wet] Background Outfit, which denotes an Un-Cyberized Character, then they remove this IANUS.

Select Other Outfits
After obtaining Free Outfits the Cast Member may obtain their own selection of Outfits. They have 20 total Experience Points to select Outfits with and record to their Profiles. These Experience Points cannot be saved for later or be used to buy a Skill instead.

Preserve Outfits
Preserve all Outfits you've obtained from Character Creation. Preserve rules are covered more deeply in the Character Growth section, but essentially think of it as denoting an Outfit as a a favored or signature possession of your Character that they cannot lose.

Personal Data
Finally, fill out your Character's Personal Data. Make sure you record your  and  skills obtained from your Lifepath.

Full Scratch
Full Scratch is a much more precise version of Character Construction than Build Up. Allowing further customization of your Character. It follows the below process.

Select Styles
This is the same as Build Up.

Calculate Attribute and Control Ratings
The same as Build Up. However, you do not gain a Bonus Point.

Record Miracles
The same as Build Up.

Skills
You gain the same Free Skills as Build Up.

Outfits
You gain an IANUS and the same Free Outfits as Build Up.

The Rest
Finally, you gain 170 Experience Points to spend on whatever you like. You may raise Attributes, Control Ratings, buy Outfits, or Skills. Please see the Character Growth selection below for details on XP Prices.

However, during Character Creation an Attribute may not exceed a value of 10, a Control Rating may not go above 16, and you may not raise a Skill above Level 3. Also keep in mind your Style Skill Limit.

Personal Data
Fill out your Personal Data. The same as in Build Up.

Death & Changing Characters
If a Player loses their previous Character or simply wishes to make a new one for an Act they are refunded all their spent Experience Points and can make a Character using the Full Scratch rules. In other words, during the Full Scratch step [The Rest] they gain 170 XP + their refunded XP to make their character with.

In this situation, they may ignore the Character Creation Limit to Attribute/Control Ratings and Skill Level.

Character Growth
During the Post-Act the Cast is awarded Experience Points(XP), and this section covers how to use your acquired Experience.

Experience Points
Both Players and the RL receive XP when participating in an Act. You may use this XP to better your Cast Member in whichever way you please. However, your XP is your own and you may not transfer or trade it with another Player or the RL.

Once your XP is spent it is of course gone, but keep careful track of your spent XP either by yourself or by informing the RL so they can record the numbers on the Act or Record Sheet.

Growth
Experience Points can be used to increase Attributes and Control Ratings, level up Skills, purchase new Skills, and Preserve Outfits. Whether it's the Pre-Act, Main Act, Post Act; you may use your XP at any time you come up with an idea to spend it on. However, you need the RL's permission first.

Attribute/Control Rating
Below is the following XP requirements for leveling Attributes and Control Ratings by 1 point.

In other words, if you wish to raise your [Life] Attribute from 9 to 10 it's 20 XP, and from 10 to 11 it's 40XP. If you possess some kind of Outfit or Style Skill that increases your Attributes or Control Ratings, then use their un-altered values to determine the XP cost to level them. When you raise your Attributes, remember to recalculate your Combat Speed if necessary.

General Skills
Below is the XP requirements for leveling up or obtaining a General Skills.

 Knowledge Skills may not be raised above SL1. General Skills can be leveled to 5 and beyond, but due to there only being 4 suits you simply denote the new Skill Level when doing so.

Style Skills
Style Skills(Special, Secret, and Ultimate Skills) are obtained and leveled in much the same way as General Skills. However, unlike General Skills they each have their own Skill Level Limits they may not be leveled beyond. Furthermore, Secret and Ultimate Style Skills have a limit to how many you may obtain. You may obtain up to [Style Level x 2] Secret Skills from a possessed Style, and up to [Style Level] Ultimate Skills from a possessed Styles. The higher the Style Level, the more powerful Skills you may have from that Style.

Finally, while this should be obvious, you may not select Style Skills from a Style you do not possess.

Below is the XP requirements for leveling or obtaining Style Skills.

Preserving Outfits
During an Act, Characters will obtain a variety of Outfits through a variety of means. They may steal them, they may be loaned them from an employer, and of course they may simply buy them. At the end of an Act, all of these Outfits disappear.

However, there is a method for a Character to more permanently obtain an Outfit, record it as a fundamental part of their Character Data, and have access to it each Act without losing it at the end. This is known as a [Preserved] Outfit.

To Preserve an Outfit you must consult the Outfit's Buy Rating, specifically the value on the right side of the "/". This number is the amount of XP you must spend to Preserve it. After doing so, record the newly Preserved Outfit on your Profile.

A Preserved Outfit is automatically obtained and in your possession at the beginning of every Act. Even if it was lost or destroyed during the previous Act you simply gain it again when you start the next Act.

Record Sheet
As a player you may wish to keep track of your earned and spent XP separate from the RL. Be sure to keep both your acquired and spent XP recorded, such as writing something like [Spent XP/Total XP] or [Total XP - Spent XP = Remaining XP]. This way you are prepared if you wish to make a new character, remake your current one, or play in different Acts/Campaigns using your current progress within your Game Group.

Act Sheet
As stated before, the RL also receives XP and records this in the Act Sheet and/or their own notes. A RL may wish to hand over the mantle to another member of the group and enjoy some time as a Player after all, experiencing a new GMing style and atmosphere to [TNX].

In [TNX] the RL gains more XP than the Player does, so we highly suggest changing up which members of your group are the Players and which is the RL.

Character Growth Table
† May only obtain up to [Style Level x 2] Secret Style Skills

※ May only obtain up to [Style Level] Ultimate Style Skills

※※ Preserving an outfit costs XP equal to the value on the right side of an Outfit's Buy Rating