What the character statistics mean
Included in this online adventure are a set of pre-generated characters based on the cast of Buffy as of the start of the fifth season. They can be used to learn the basics of the game, and they’ll also come in handy for the fully-playable adventure provided.
A typical cast for the game consists of a mixture of Heroes, White Hats and possibly Experienced Heroes. Heroes are the action types, with higher attributes and skills than the norm. White Hats are the normal folks caught up in bad times, with only average abilities but determined to make a difference. They do start the game with double the amount of Drama Points that Heroes do though. Most of the Original Cast listed here are very experienced, blurring the line between types, but that’s to be expected, as they’ve been at this a while.
All characters have Attributes — basic physical and mental abilities. In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG these are Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Perception, and Willpower. Human Attributes range from one to six, with two being average.
Life Points (LPs) represent the amount of damage a character can absorb, and are calculated from her Attributes. When a character’s Life Points are exhausted she is at or near death.
Drama Points are the extra edge that allows a character to succeed when it is vital, against overwhelming opposition. They allow for huge bonuses to actions, and quick recovery from devastating wounds. Starting Drama Points are based on the character type, but will go up and down throughout an adventure as they are spent and earned by the character’s actions.
Qualities and Drawbacks are positive and negative traits that help round out a character. They can modify Attributes, Life Points, and provide special abilities or penalties. The game effects of the character’s Qualities and Drawbacks are explained under each entry, and bonuses to other Attributes are already applied.
Skills are the abilities of the Cast Member. Skill level one represents an amateur. A two or three represents general competency. Extreme competence comes with levels four or five. Higher levels are possible, indicating mastery of the skill. There are 18 broadly defined skills in the BtVS RPG, allowing a character to be just as proficient in a number of areas as their typical TV counterpart. Where skills may overlap (such as the ability to sneak in the case of Acrobatics and Crime), it is up to you to decide which applies in any given situation. The Wild Card skill is a catchall that allows the player to define a narrow-focus skill for character reasons, or to create a new skill not otherwise covered (at your discretion).
Manoeuvres are a list of a character’s signature combat moves (punches and kicks, that sort of thing — not screaming like a girl and running). They include the Attribute and skill Bonus and Base Damages already, so you don’t have to make like a calculator during play. Unless the Notes, which may contain modifiers, say otherwise.
The Original Cast Members supplied should get the group playing as quickly as possible. You should hand them around to the players or have each one select which Cast Member they wish to play. There are notes for each, describing the starting situations and personalities of each for the included adventure.
