Quick Start Guide

Step 1 Character Concept

• Choose concept (short phrase that describes the core of your character’s being – i.e. Stodgy Bureaucrat, Criminal with a Heart of Gold, etc.)
• Choose a caste: Dawn (soldier), Zenith (priest), Twilight (scholar), Night (spy) or Eclipse (diplomat)
• Choose a Motivation: a driving and epic goal for your character
• Note your caste’s anima powers (found in the player manual)

Step 2 Attributes

• All attributes start with 1 dot
• Prioritize Physical, Social and Mental skills – you will get 8 dots to put in your primary category, 6 dots to put in your secondary category, and 4 dots to put in your tertiary category
• Divide the dots in each category among the attributes within that category – no attribute may be higher that 5 at game start

Step 3 Abilities

• Note your caste’s chosen abilities by ticking the box to the left of those abilities
• Select 5 favored abilities and check the boxes to the left of those abilities as well – favored abilities cannot overlap with caste abilities
• Divide 10 dots between your caste and favored abilities – each favored ability must have at least one dot.
• Divide 18 dots among any abilities you choose – no ability may start at higher than 3 dots

Step 4 Advantages

• Spend 7 dots on Backgrounds (found in the manual)
• Choose 10 Charms – note that all charms have prerequisite ability scores and may have prerequisite charms as well (found in manual)
• Spend 5 dots on Virtues – no virtue may start at higher than 4 dots
• Choose a Virtue Flaw based on your highest virtue

Step 5 Finishing Touches

• Record your Permanent Essence (new Solars start at 2 essence)
• Calculate your Willpower score (sum of two highest virtues)
• Calculate your Personal Essence Pool ([Permanent Essence x 3] + Willpower)
• Calculate your Peripheral Essence Pool ([Permanent Essence x 7] + Willpower + [Sum of all Virtues])
• Record your starting Health Levels (one -0, two -1, two -2, one -4, one Incapacitated)

Step 6 Bonus Points
You have 15 bonus points to spend – the prices for different traits are listed below

• Attribute Dot: 4 Bonus Points
• Ability Dot: 1 Bonus Point for Favored/Caste Abilities, 2 Bonus Points for Non-Favored
• Background Dot: 1 Bonus Point
• Specialty: 1 Bonus Point
• Virtue Dot: 3 Bonus Points
• Willpower Dot: 2 Bonus Points (no higher than 8)
• Permanent Essence Dot: 7 Bonus Points
• Charm: 4 Bonus Point for Favored/Caste Ability Charms, 5 Bonus Points for Non-Favored