File under: ▶ GM with too much time on his hands, ▶ Lonely fun.

I’m getting ready to run Sorcerer RPG for some new players. I made up an example character and kicker*; then I put on my GM’s hat and developed the hypothetical game’s backstory and situation. It was a surprisingly satisfying exercise, and I would love to play or GM for this character now! Here she is, for posterity.

First, the Two Statements about this hypothetical game:

*Kicker: A player-authored event that will happen at the start of play, and that presents an immediate problem or dilemma for the player’s character. The kicker provides the opening conflict that establishes a player-character as a protagonist, and is central to how the scenario is generated out of player input. It must be something that the character can not ignore, and can react to in one of several ways. An attack by a hungry demon is not a good kicker; it implies nothing more than one fight scene. Finding one’s mentor torn in half is a good kicker.

Now, here’s Alex.

Alex Exemplar

CONCEPT: Alex is a working boxer: she has a day job (construction), and has been boxing for too long now to ever be a champion. She lives frugally and saves every purse she wins. She has learned sorcery from her uncle, who is not the adept that her father was, and who is spending his inheritance on alcohol. Alex’s demon Nirar (parasite) helps her win bouts and has kept her competing long after most boxers retire. Its Need is making bets, which is risky business when its on her own matches, but is another source of income. Alex’s ambition is to buy back the family manor house.

APPEARANCE: Fix muscular woman, 30s, short blonde hair (dyed), crooked nose, boxing scars, impatient demeanor.

TELLTALE: Sorcerous tattoo

SCORES:

KICKER: Alex needs just one more big win, and she can finally buy back the old family manor from the bank, reclaim her family’s legacy. But today, she learns that someone else has bought the manor. They’ve already changed the locks and moved in.