To go through CharGen, you must first get setup with a character (see INFO CHARACTER GUIDE and +HELP CDB REQUEST). Once you have been sent the password to your character, you should log into it and go through the initial setup and registration. Simply follow the instructions in each room until you have finished the setup phase. You will then find yourself in CharGen waiting room. Once you have prepared yourself for going through CharGen, type ‘Start’ to enter the CharGen.
Before you do this, however, you should—at the very least—read through the following overview of each step of the CharGen. You will probably also want to read the specific files for each room to find out more information about each step. For example, SYSTEM CHARGEN ASSETS will show you the file on assets.
In the first room, you select your ASSETS and FLAWS.
Assets and flaws are modifiers and traits that may raise or lower stats or skills, or alter other aspects of your character. Each tier is given a certain number of asset points to spend, and for each asset point that is spent, a flaw point must also be spent. Asset points are counted as positives, flaw points as negatives, and the final sum must be 0.
Some assets and flaws can be taken more than once, and some can only be taken once. Some assets and flaws are restricted to certain tiers and some cannot be combined with certain other assets and/or flaws. If you try to take one of these combinations, you will get an error message.
Assets and flaws are good ways of fleshing out your character. It is important to consider your selections carefully, as in most cases they will be permanent. When selecting flaws, you should also keep in mind that you may be disapproved if too many flaws relate to the same aspect of your character.
Some assets can be purchased outside of CharGen, and most flaws can be acquired at no cost outside of CharGen.
In the second room, you select your STATS.
There are nine stats, divided over three statgroups.
The scale for stats is 0-100, with 35-44 considered as average. The scale is unisex.
Each tier receives a certain amount of points to spend on stats. There are also assets and flaws that affect the starting values for a stat. Each tier also has to observe certain caps on how many stats over a certain number that they can have. The stats are also affected by your age: characters younger or older than the peak age range (21-45) have the stats in the Mobility and Physique statgroups reduced by specific percentages.
The most important things to consider when setting your stats are how well they fit your character concept, how well they relate to each other and how well they relate to your other choices in CharGen, such as your Height and Weight. Illogical combinations, such as very large person with high dexterity, are grounds for disapproval.
In the third room, you select your SKILLS.
The scale for skills is 0-100, though it is possible to get past 100 with certain ASSETS and it is also possible to have bonuses that lead to an effective score over 100.
Each tier receives a certain amount of points to spend on skills. There are also ASSETS and FLAWS that affect the available pool of points, and the pool of points is also affected by your character’s age: its decreased below and increased above the peak age range (21-45). Each tier also has to observe certain caps on how high they can make their skills.
Skills should be carefully chosen with regards to your character concept, and you should keep in mind that you will need to JUSTIFYall high skills and all skills that would be considered unusual for your type of character.
In the fourth room, you write your BACKGROUND and JUSTIFY.
Your background should give a good idea of who your character is and how he/she got to where he/she is today. It should cover important events in your character’s past, and present a well-rounded portrait of your character.
Your justify should explain your various choices in the CharGen. It needs to cover all ASSETS and FLAWS as well as all notably high or low STATS and all SKILLS that are either unusual for your concept or notably high or low for your concept.
In the fifth room, you fill out your INFO, DESC, PREFS and FINGER.
Although these steps come after the BACKGROUND and the JUSTIFY, they involve providing some further information about your character (which is reviewed during the approval process) as well as some information about your roleplay preferences.
It is very important that your character’s info is filled out to the best of your ability, as this is the information that will be shown when other players look up your character via the +CDB (see +HELP CDB) commands.
You should also set your desc (see HELP @DESCRIBE), as it needs to be set before your character can be reviewed by the Admin.
It is also important that you carefully set your prefs (see +HELP +PREFS) to reflect your roleplay preferences.
Finally, it is recommended that you fill out your +finger (see +HELP +FINGER) at this stage.
Once you have done this, you should type ‘FINISH’ which will conclude the actual CharGen process for you.
After typing ‘FINISH’, you will end up back in the Player Lounge. By passing through the ‘FINISH’ exit you will also have been placed in the approval queue and the Admin will make every effort to review your character as soon as possible. Once they have made a decision, you will be notified of whether your character has passed the APPROVAL process or not.
If your character is approved, you will then be able to access the IC grid and to start roleplaying. If your character is disapproved, your next step depends on the type of disapproval. In some cases, you may only need to make some small changes, but in other cases you may have to redo CharGen and it is also possible that you may be asked to try for a character of a less restricted type instead.