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Your First Character

This guide walks you through creating your very first Yggdrasil character step by step.

Before You Start

Have your character sheet ready and consider what kind of character interests you. A Norse warrior? A cunning mage? A wise healer?

Step 1: Character Concept

Think About Your Character

Ask yourself: - Who are they? (Background, profession, personality) - What do they want? (Goals, desires, fears) - How do they solve problems? (Violence, magic, social manipulation, cleverness?)

Example Concepts

  • The Ambitious Apprentice: A young mage seeking to prove themselves
  • The Wandering Skald: A traveling storyteller who collects tales and secrets
  • The Exiled Warrior: A former guard trying to redeem their honor
  • The Village Healer: A wise woman who protects her community with herbs and magic

Choose Your Species

Most characters are Human, but other options exist: - Human: Versatile and adaptable - Other Species: Check with your GM about availability

Step 2: Attributes (15 Points)

Distribute 15 points across your 9 attributes (you start with 1 in each):

Physical

  • Strength: Raw physical power (lifting, hitting)
  • Dexterity: Agility and coordination (dodging, shooting)
  • Stamina: Endurance and health (running, resisting)

Mental

  • Intelligence: Reasoning and memory (research, planning)
  • Wits: Awareness and quick thinking (noticing, reacting)
  • Resolve: Determination and focus (resisting, concentrating)

Social

  • Presence: Force of personality (leadership, intimidation)
  • Manipulation: Social cunning (persuasion, deception)
  • Composure: Grace under pressure (staying calm, social poise)

Balanced Character: 3/3/2 in each category - Good at everything, master of nothing

Specialist: 4/3/2 or 5/2/2 in one category, lower in others - Excellent at one thing, weaker elsewhere

Example - The Ambitious Apprentice: - Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3 - Mental: Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 3
- Social: Presence 2, Manipulation 2, Composure 3

Step 3: Skills (25 Points)

Distribute 25 points across skills. Here are the most important ones for new characters:

Essential Skills for Most Characters

  • Athletics (Physical): Climbing, jumping, running
  • Brawl or Weaponry (Physical): Basic combat
  • Academics or Occult (Mental): Knowledge skills
  • Investigation (Mental): Finding clues and information
  • Empathy (Social): Reading people
  • Persuasion (Social): Getting people to help you

Character Type Recommendations

Warrior/Fighter: - Weaponry 3, Athletics 3, Intimidation 2, Brawl 2

Mage/Scholar: - Occult 4, Academics 3, Investigation 2, Expression 2

Social Character: - Persuasion 3, Empathy 3, Subterfuge 2, Expression 2

Generalist: - Spread points evenly, 2-3 in most relevant skills

Specialties (3 total)

Add specific focuses to skills: - Athletics (Running) - Weaponry (Swords)
- Academics (History)

Step 4: Anchors

Virtue and Vice

Choose your character's moral compass:

Virtues (examples): - Fortitude: Facing danger with courage - Justice: Standing up for what's right - Prudence: Thinking before acting

Vices (examples): - Wrath: Letting anger control you - Pride: Refusing to admit weakness - Greed: Wanting more than you need

Step 5: Abilities (30 XP)

Choose supernatural abilities that fit your concept:

Magic Schools

Physical Enhancements

Mental Powers

  • New players: Choose 1-2 abilities and get them to level 2-3
  • Experienced players: Spread across multiple abilities or specialize heavily

Step 6: Merits (15 XP)

Choose advantages and special traits:

  • Contacts (•••): People who can provide information
  • Resources (••): Financial stability
  • Weapon (• to •••••): Quality weapons
  • Encyclopedic Knowledge (••): Know a little about everything
  • Direction Sense (•): Never get lost

See the full Merits list for more options.

Step 7: Final Calculations

Calculate your derived traits: 1. Health: Size + Stamina (usually 7 for humans) 2. Willpower: Resolve + Composure
3. Speed: Size + Strength + Dexterity 4. Defense: Lower of (Dexterity or Wits) + Athletics 5. Initiative Modifier: Dexterity + Composure

Step 8: Character Details

Fill in the Story

  • Name: What are they called?
  • Age: How old are they?
  • Appearance: What do they look like?
  • Background: Where do they come from?
  • Goals: What do they want to achieve?

Equipment

Start with basic gear appropriate to your concept: - Weapons: If you have Weaponry skill - Tools: For your profession or abilities - Clothing: Appropriate to your social status - Money: Based on Resources merit

Example Character: Erik the Apprentice

Concept: Young mage seeking to prove himself worthy of his master

Attributes (15 points): - Physical: Str 2, Dex 2, Sta 3 - Mental: Int 4, Wits 3, Res 3 - Social: Pre 2, Man 2, Com 3

Skills (25 points): - Occult 4 (Runes), Academics 3 (History), Investigation 2 - Athletics 2, Weaponry 2 (Staves) - Expression 2, Empathy 2, Persuasion 2 - Other skills at 1-2 points

Virtue/Vice: Prudence/Pride

Abilities (30 XP): - Force Arcana ••• (18 XP) - Matter Arcana •• (12 XP)

Merits (15 XP): - Contacts (Scholars) ••• (9 XP) - Encyclopedic Knowledge •• (4 XP)
- Direction Sense • (2 XP)

Derived Traits: - Health: 8, Willpower: 6, Speed: 9 - Defense: 4, Initiative: +5

What's Next?

Your character is ready! Now: 1. Review Playing the Game to understand gameplay 2. Work with your GM to integrate your character into their story 3. Consider your character's relationships with other player characters