Sean Nittner suggested a new fangled method for character creation, intended for one shot games of Blades, here: http://www.seannittner.com/actual-play-the-strangers-6172016/ I want to highlight how good one part of this method really is.
The standard method (v7.1) uses a separate faction-ticking step where the players look at a long list of factions names and have a strict allotment of ticks they can make to indicate the crew’s status with factions of Doskvol. Sean’s new method suggests the GM instead should mark ticks against factions throughout character and crew creation based on what the players say about their characters and crew.
This how Sean put it:
If they tell you anything that smacks of interacting with a faction (Imperial Guard, Skovlan Consolate, Lampblacks, etc.) ask them follow up questions about how they either gained favor or made enemies in that faction and then mark a tick on the faction sheet accordingly…This is an opportunity to start making faction ticks and let them know as you do it. Oh yeah, you used to work for the Crows but now you’ve set off on your own? Damn, I bet that happened after Roric died and the gang crumbled a bit, I bet Lyssa hates you for leaving, doesn’t she?…if they even give a wiff of association with factions keep making ticks. It really doesn’t matter if you exceed the normal allotment, you’re looking to have their narrative reflected in the faction status sheet.
The GM obviously needs to be pretty well across all the factions, but I found it works really well to reflect the rich fictional setup the players create. It also skips a step that I’ve found to be rather cumbersome, because most players aren’t familiar with who the factions are and so are essentially just guessing, and it acts as a good reminder for the GM to pepper the players with questions throughout character and crew creation, helping to create richer and more concrete people and situations.
I’ve used it for my new campaign and it works great and I doubt I’ll ever go back.
http://www.seannittner.com/actual-play-the-strangers-6172016/
Yeah the faction process is clunky. I like this. Could also be interesting to just have it as a random roll and then make the players come up with why.
I always figured that was what the players were supposed to do during character creation, but I think you (and Sean) are definitely right about using this with players who don’t know the factions.
A variant of Sean’s method is integrated into v8. It’s a big improvement.
Adam (DLV)’s hack Mortally Bankrupt (previously Haunted Household Renovations of Great & Terrible Power) had a really interesting creation method for crew and character as well. That had a very quick entry into play.
Basically a series of questions during the first session of play determines where action dots – or even backgrounds are.
Really neat idea (I’d tag him, but forgot his G+ thing)