Changeling characters are created using The Shining Host and The Shining Host Players Guide. Character that attend the first game are awarded 30 XP at character creation, and all others will be created with 20 XP.
Active Characters
Players are only allowed to have two active characters at any time and cannot have more than one character that rates in the slot 2 or 3 categories. You can play one character per game, and the experience gained from that game goes to that character.
Character Slot System
Certain character aspects are considered rare or more uncommon than others, and certain powers can be unbalancing to a game. These character aspects and powers are assigned slots based off of their rarity and/or unbalancing strength, and your character is considered slotted by the highest approval slot on the sheet. There are three slots and they are described as follows.
Slot One – Common. This is the catch-all of most aspects of a changeling character and has no
play or time restrictions. This slot is the only slot that does not require a background or regular play.
Slot Two - Uncommon. Uncommon aspects or powers fall into this category. An uncommon slot means that this character will be shelved after six months of inactivity, and may be removed from play after one year of inactivity. This slot requires somewhat regular play and requires a background.
Slot Three – Rare. Rare aspects and powers fall into this category, and a limited number of these aspects are allowed at any time. A rare slot means that this character will be shelved after three months of inactivity, and may be removed from play after a year. This slot requires regular play and a background .
Sample Slot Requirements
These are samples and not hard and fast rules; they are also subject to change at any time. Any items not listed here are still under ST discretion.
Slot 1:
- Any item not listed below. All items are still dependent on ST approval.
Slot 2:
- Kith: Sidhe
- Any Lore x4 or higher
- Commoners with Title 2 (Knight) or higher
- Status x3 or higher
- Treasure x4 or higher
- Chimerical Companion x4
- Secret Society Membership
- Metamorphosis for Non-Commoners
- All Commoner Positions
- Merit: Iron Resistance
- Merit: Regeneration
- Merits that recreate a kith birthright or flaw
Slot 3:
- Type: Nunnehi
- Type: Thallain
- Type: Denizens of the Dreaming
- Any Lore x5
- Chimera x 5
- Commoners with Title 3 (Baron) or above
- Sidhe with Title 4 (Count) or above
- Treasure x5
- Status x4 and x5
- Aphrodesia for non-Merfolk
- Kryos for non-Merfolk
- Stormcraft for non-Merfolk
- Oneiromancy for non-Denizens
- Discord for non-Denizens
- The Autumn Way for non-Denizens
- Chronos for non-Sidhe
- Infusion for non-Nockers
- Naming for non-Sidhe
- Sovereign for Non-Sidhe
- Background: Political Connections
- Merit: Fae Eternity
Banned From the Game (Slot No):
- Autumn People
- Prodigals
- Dauntain
- Merfolk
- Inanimae
- Hsien
- Oba
Population Control
In order to keep a balance in the game, Slot 2 and Slot 3 characters will be controlled on a player-to-rare-group ratio basis.
Slot Two Characters will be allowed for 25% of the player base (1 out of every 4 players).
Slot Three Characters will be allowed for 5% (1 out of every 20)
Slot Queues
After the quotas for any given slot are met, players wishing to start playing a character in Slot 2 or 3 can submit their concept to the staff, who will either approve it or send it back for improvement. Once that happens, the character concept is placed in a queue (kept track of by the staff) and when a space in that character's slot opens up, the next concept in the queue can be brought into play.
If, through play, your character is moved into a higher Slot category, you'll be immediately allowed to move that character up even if the Slot you are moving into has already filled its quota. (Even if you already have a slotted character, and your non-slotted character is moving up, we'll allow it: we won't penalize you for earning something through play since, chances are if we're giving it to you it's because you deserve it.) The next time a character leaves a spot in that Slot open (through death or shelving), the spot will not "open up"; your character will move into it instead, and everyone in the queue will have to wait for another spot to open up.
Shelved versus Removed
A character that has not seen active play for a substantial amount of time may be shelved by the ST. A shelved character loses its status as a slotted active character, and other players with waiting concepts will be given the opportunity to play a character of that slot. An IC reason will be given by the ST for why that character is unavailable (visiting sick parents, on vacation, etc.) and that character cannot be role played until that character's player returns to game regularly, and a slot is available.
If a character is inactive for a long enough period of time, that character may be removed from play by the ST. In the instance that the character is removed from play the character is considered retired as an NPC and may be used at ST discretion. In the instance that a character leaves play by any means, including being removed and including death, that player must then enter the bottom of the queue for slot spaces.
Traits and Trait Caps
Childling: 10 Physical/Mental/Social Traits. 9 Willpower. 12 Glamour. Abilities to 4.
Wilder: 12 Physical/Mental/Social Traits. 10 Willpower. 11 Glamour. Abilities to 5.
Grump: 14 Physical/Mental/Social Traits. 11 Willpower. 9 Glamour. Abilities to 5.
Merits and Flaws
In most cases merits and flaws can only be taken from the two changeling LARP books (In most cases you will not be allowed to take merits or flaws from the Kithbook or kith-specific supplements unless you are playing one of the characters the material is intended for. Trolls may take merits and flaws from Kithbook: Trolls, but Eshu generally may not). If you would like to take a merit or flaw from a different book you must have a good background reason, and the STs still reserve the right to just say no. ST approval and appropriate background information is required for all merits and flaws.
All flaws unless listed below do not give any character creation points, but instead serve as a way to flesh out your character that may result in awarded XP through play.
Flaws that you get character creation points for:
One Eye
Deaf
Blind
Lame
One Arm
Mute (Except for Sluagh)
Bad Moon
Greedy Glamour
Banality's Curse
Dark Fate
Iron's Curse (Kinain only)
Negative Traits
Players will not be allowed to take negative traits on their own at character creation. Instead, when the character sheet and background are submitted, the staff will read the background and determine negative traits that seem appropriate for your character. You are allowed to submit suggestions, and together the staff and player will choose the right negative traits. We won't add traits that you don't approve of - but you can't add traits that we don't approve, either.
Backgrounds
Certain Backgrounds are limited at Character Creation and may only be taken with ST approval and character history reasons. As with anything, the stronger the character history the more likely you are to get what you're interested in.
Holdings: Will be highly restricted at the beginning of the game. Please contact the STs if you're interested in having a Freehold.
Dross
Political Connections (Slot Three)
Treasure 4 and above (Slot Two/Three)
Companion 4 and above (Slot Two/Three)
Title (See Slot System)
Prestige: Not allowed at this time.
Status: Look over the House Rules section and speak with staff. Requires a submitted background and a good reason.
