VaticanT/DragonBloodCGLifepathStyle

Dynastic Lifepath Character Generation System

This isn't a traditional Lifepath system, in that it's all pretty freeform, but it does flesh-out backgrounds and give people a sense of where they came from, which I think is important for dynast games. Here it is, roughly:

[B]Step 0:[/B] Assign Attribute points.

[B]Step 1:[/B] Describe your family - add 5 background points, and 3 ability points, to reflect your families priorities.

[B]Step 2:[/B] Tell a short story about your childhood - add 2 ability points, and 1 virtue point, to show how this experience changed your development.

[B]Step 3:[/B] Tell a story of a Conflict in school, and involve at least 1 other PC in the story - add 1 Virtue Point, 4 ability Points, and 1 background.

[B]Step 4:[/B] Tell the story of the moment of your Exaltation. Choose 1 Charm, and your aspect.

[B]Step 5:[/B] Tell a story from Secondary School. If another PC attended the same school, include one of them in the story. Then add the following: Archery 1, Lore 2, Martial Arts 1, Melee 1, Performance 1, Presence 1, Ride 1, Socialize 2, War 1, 2 Virtue Points, 3 Background plus the following based on school: [B]Cloister of Wisdom:[/B] Martial Arts 2, Integrity 2, Medicine 2, Resistance 2, 2 extra points of abilities, and up to 3 Immaculate or Secular Charms. [B]House of Bells:[/B] War 2, Presence 2, 6 extra points of abilities and 5 Charms. [B]Spiral Academy:[/B] Bureaucracy 3, Investigation 1, Linguistics 3, 3 extra points of Abilities and 5 Charms [B]House of Ancient Stone:[/B] Bureaucracy 2, Occult 1, 7 extra ability points, and 5 charms. [B]Heptagram:[/B] Occult 3, Lore 1, Linguistics 1, 5 extra points of abilities and 5 Charms. [B]Palace of the Tamed Storm:[/B] Larceny 3, 7 extra points of Abilities, and 5 charms.

[B]Step 6:[/B] Describe your first posting/job/lifestyle - add 2 charms, 1 virtue point, 5 ability Points, and 4 background points.

Now this makes a character roughly on-par with a standard dynastic character, just slightly more powerful. I like running Dynast games with experienced characters, so I add the following step

[B]Step 6b:[/B] Describe your legend - the thing that has spread your fame far and wide. Add 5 Charms or 4 Immaculate Charms, 1 Virtue Point, 2 Background points, and 2 attribute points.

The following are less History but more character hooks. [B]Step 7:[/B] Describe an obligation you owe. Add 2 background points.

[B]Step 8:[/B] Describe a debt you are owed. Add 2 background points.

[B]Step 9:[/B] Think of an ally who is problematic for another PC. Add 2 points of Ally background.

[B]Step 10:[/B] Describe your greatest failure so far.

[B]Step 11:[/B] Describe a time your limit condition caused problems for another PC.

[B]Step 12:[/B] Assign bonus points, calulate pools, etc.

This creates slightly more powerful characters, but I see that as the reward for the process. Also, it's important not to go through all the steps with 1 player, then repeat; rather, take turns doing each step. That gives players time to come up with ideas, and they can bounce things off each other.