Random Character Generation for Cepheus Deluxe: Enhanced Edition
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One of the features of Cepheus Deluxe: Enhanced Edition was making character generation non-random by default. We wanted to catch everyone's attention and showcase what could be done with the 2D6 OGL Science Fiction mechanic. Making custom characters is a feature that greatly helps Referees speed things up for pickup games¸ and it helps bring new players to Cepheus Deluxe. No longer is this that game where you can die in character generation¸ and even if you survived¸ you won't really get to play the character you wanted to play. Point allocation with minimal-to-no randomness is the standard nowadays. Players want to make the character they want to play¸ and they do not want to feel stymied or that they are fighting both the game and the Referee from the outset.
However¸ non-random character generation removes one of the most beloved mini games from the 2D6 OGL Science Fiction experience. It also takes away from the Old School experience that Cepheus Deluxe: Enhanced Edition otherwise provides: dying in character generation is the risk you run while you gain more skills. Having a character come out entirely different from what you intended is part of the fun and gives the player a lot of fodder for meaningful background development and roleplay. With random character generation¸ you can generate a hero wrongfully convicted of a crime¸ who then escapes from prison with nothing but plans for revenge. The character's backstory is more than just an exercise in creative writing¸ it's actually part of the gameplay. This means that the backgrounds developed this way are actually part of the setting!
This supplement requires Cepheus Deluxe: Enhanced Edition for use.