Character Themes:
Sensates, Ciphers, and Xaositects By Dave Chalker Chalk er Illustratio Illu stratio ns by Mat ias Tapia For th diz of th byod th mort word, d iy for tho who th City of Door hom, bif i owr. A big’ dditio to id h mor th jut hi or hr ro rity: i th mot mutb , it v h th groud r trvr wk o (or fi by). Th ftio tht vovd i Sigi d byod r mbmti of th owr of bif. Th idoogi orgiztio ut thir hioohi ito rti with vry tio thy tk. A though th Ftio Wr (d (d th tio of th Ldy of Pi) wkd wkd thir hod o Sigi, th ftio ti xit. Som hid i Sigi, om rtrtd to thir r troghod, whi othr wdr th mutivr d r ot hy bout ttmtig to rruit ymthti trvr to th u. Wh bif i owr, hrd bif i owrfu wo. Thi rt i dti thr hrtr thm drivig from Planescape ® ftio: th Soity of Stio, th Trdt Ordr, d th Xoitt. Th thm b ud i gm tkig bfor th Ftio Wr (th ttig of th origi Planescape origi Planescape Campaign Sett ing boxd t) or i ojutio with modr ditio of Sigi from Dungeon Master’s Guid e® 2 d th Manual th Manual of the Planes™ umt. Ev if th ft io o ogr
xit offii orgiztio, thir dhrt ti miti th owr of thir bif.
T he he S ocieTy of SenSaTion “How can you understand anything if you haven’t experienced e verything?” verything?” Soity of Stio mmbr r rfrrd to St d oft r trotyd hdoit, ur-kr, d ybout. For om mmbr, th hrtriztio r tru. Mor dditd St udrtd tht th oy wy to truy xri if i to k out vrity i thig. Athough ttig xoti food d drik i imortt, it’ jut imortt to udrtd wht it’ ik to go without v bi ut to xri th fig of drivtio. St k thi b. Th ftio th tht th oy wy to diovr th uro of th mutivr i to xri my tio, oor, txtur, imu, fig, m, d ory iut oib. Oy wh vry oib momt i xrid wi th truth bom r;
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Sensates, Ciphers, Ciphers, and Xaositects
Creating a Sensate CHARACTER THEMES
Your hrtr’ thm i rr, ig, or idtity tht drib who h or h i i th word. Jut r d rt bi dfiitio bout who your hrtr i, thm dd third hrtr omot to h rfi your tory d idtity. Th iudd thm ifiy rfr thr of th ftio from th Planescape mig ttig, digd to b ud i dvtur tht drw o th mig ttig or tht fou hviy o r trv. Ev if hrtr do ot offiiy joi o of th ftio, h or h ti mbody th hioohi ough to tk o thm. A f brd who i otty o th rh for w tt d tio might quify St. A hum mok who mhiz th mid d body wy tig i ort oud b mitk for Cihr. A gi orrr who i obd with ho i Xoitt i irit, if ot i m. For iformtio o uig thm rt of hrtr rtio, d ru for how to gi d u thm owr d ftur, “Hro of Ntur d Lor,” Dragon 399.
omoit udrtdig of xit wi rytiz to tho who hv ought out d rod it . A ofty go, for ur, whih i why th Soity biv tht o o h mgd it yt. Sti, it’ hrd to rgu with th bfit of kig out w xri, iy for dvturr d xorr. Th Soity of Stio th how to tur tho xri towrd migfu u.
Th Soity of Stio mbr big from wk of if, of y r, , or igmt. Eh mmbr brig diffrt xri to b hrd with th Soity, d thir divrity rovid thor of diffrt bkgroud to drw uo. Th hrig of tio d xri i ot jut mthor: To To joi th ftio, woud-b mmbr mut fiv xri from thir mmori ito “rordr to,” h fouig o o of th fiv . If th offrd tio otribut omthig to th Soity tht o urrt mmbr h xrid, th it joi th ftio. Othr wi, h or h mut xor th mutivr furthr to gi uiqu xri bfor tryig gi.
Starting Feature St f ruh of xitmt wh outrig w tio d xri. Benefit: Whvr you u outr outr ttk owr or diy ttk owr, you gi tmorry hit oit qu to o-hf your v.
Additional Features Featu res Level 5 Feature Th Soity’ mmbr work to xd th rh of thir o tht thy truy rit th dth of xri, whthr ttig it wi, fig th ht of ur mt fm, or gzig ito th hrt of wy rtd dmi. Benefit: You gi gi +2 owr owr bou to Edur hk d Prtio hk.
Level 10 Feature
Suh ightd St gi rwd thuim for hgig irumt. Benefit: Whi you hv tmorry hit oit, you gi +3 owr bou to ki hk.
Optional Powers Th mor dititiv iru mt you hv outrd, th mor you udrtd how to u tho xri to your dvtg. At th m tim, you’r drw to k out w xri, omig omig you to k out mor hgig itutio.
Level 2 Utility Power Pi i tio, oft muh trogr d mor rogizb th mot. Your wiig to xri vritio of i rt you from dbbig St, who wt imy to joy if. St Utiity 2 Sensory Caress In a moment of quiet reflection , you open yourself to another’s pain. Encounter Minor Action Melee 1 Target: Target: O y Effect: You trfr o fft tht v d from th trgt to yourf. Uti you ud o vig throw git tht fft, you gi +2 owr bou to vig throw.
Level 6 Utility Power St k xtiv jour of wht thy hv xrid d wht thy ho to xri. A ity-dwig St’ jour oud iud tvr viitd, grd md, d itrtig rtur mt. Your jour might iud dti o motr bttd d ijuri uffrd.
A vr St vtuy vtuy ri z tht thr i muh mor to if th hi or hr immdit urroudig. Th oy wy to truy xri vrythig i to k out w dgr d hg. 2
Sensates, Ciphers, Ciphers, and Xaositects Been There, Done That
St Utiity 6
You know the dark of how to deal with predictable sods. Encounter Immediate Interrupt Personal Trigger: Trigger: A my hit you with ttk. Effect: You gi +2 owr bou to df git th triggrig my’ ttk uti th d of your xt tur.
Level 10 Utility Power By th tim you’v dvturd for whi St, you’v gid vt rry of diffrt xri from whih to drw, whtvr th itut io. Athough it’ diffiu t to fid w tio wh you’v b through o muh, your your if xri giv you dg i dgrou itutio.
Breadth of Experience
Th Trdt Ordr th tht th th to ightmt om from kowig your body d rig to it to wht xit i tig you to do itd of wht your mid i yig. Thi quity giv th Ordr’ mmbr th ruttio for big imuiv, yt thy o b toi d itrotiv. Thi dihotomy, i dditio to th ft tht thy k thir wr from withi, d othr to thm Cihr, i thy b idihrb to tho ot itig i th right . Th Trdt Ordr th tht tio without thought i th mot rft form of tio, i tht tio i tk i hrmoy with th mutivr. Thi hioohy do ot ot m tht Cihr hrg i bidy whvr oortuity ri; it m tht h or h ttmt to trd th momt d touh highr uro.
St Utiity 10
Variety is the spice of ending someone’s life. Daily ✦ Stance Minor Action Personal Effect: You um th brdth of xri t. Uti th t d, you gi +2 owr bou to th ttk ro of ttk owr you hv ot yt ud durig thi outr.
he T r anScendenT ranScendenT T he
order “Would you rather be remembered as someone who thought about action, or someone who took action?” Thr i rhythm to th tht fw hr. It i roud, rmtig vry ivig big, vry i of d d , d vry t of mgi. Yt it oft go muffd d igord, drowd out by th oud of your thought. Oy by kowig yourf d uifyig thought d tio you xit i hrmoy with vryt hig.
Creating a Cipher Cihr grvitt wy from th xtrm of igmt, i mor od of kid imy mur of yi. Thu, mot Cihr r uigd, rfrrig to worry bout thir ow ightmt mor th th trugg of othr. Triig th body d mid to work i rft hrmoy mot trogy to mmbr of mrti uh fightr d rogu. Th highr v of oiou tht Cihr triv for o trogy to ioi hrtr, iy mok. Stig omtim hv diffiuty ombiig thir tudid mthod with th Cihr hioohy, though tho who do b highy dgrou dvrri.
Starting Feature Th triig of Cihr tr quik d uhittig tio. Big b to rt to dgr without thikig bout th ro i o of th firt o Cihr r. Though om rt to dgr by
hdig dirty towrd it, othr ook for th biggr itur d mov whr th itutio ditt. Benefit: You gi +2 owr owr bou to iititiv. I dditio, wh you ro iit itiv d do ot hv th hight rut, you u fr tio to mov u to your d bfor yo ’ tur i th outr.
Additional Features Feat ures Level 5 Feature Th Cihr hioohy th tht rtur gi hrmoy with th mutivr by tig ito th tur d of th . By ttuig yourf to tht fudmt rhythm, you u your hyi big to bom mor urt d ri. Benefit: You gi +2 owr owr bou to Arobti hk d Athti hk.
Level 10 Feature A Cihr o th th to trd bgi to udrtd th rhythm of thig, iudig th bb d fow of btt. Big i th right d trikig t th right tim mk th diffr. Benefit: O r dy, you u od tio oit durig outr.
Optional Powers Whthr hrmoy om from rtiig your rft whi bttig dmo i th Aby or rtiig trit rgim t th Grt Gymium, th mor i tu your body d mid bom, th mor mzig dd you omih.
Level 2 Utility Power Th firt go of Cihr i to r how to t without thikig. Iitiy, you hiv thi tt oy for hort burt.
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Sensates, Ciphers, Ciphers, and Xaositects Action Momentum
Cihr Utiity 2 It’s toug h to control the mind of a cutter who’ s not controlled by his or her thoughts. Encounter Immediate Reaction Personal Trigger: Trigger: A my hit your Wi with ttk. Effect: You mk vig throw to d o fft imod by th triggrig ttk o you, rovidd th fft h ttd durtio.
Level 6 Utility Power A Cihr who mtr th biity to t iti tivy hiv th rk of Mtr of th Hrt. You bom b to tr tio tr, tt of ur tio utmrd by thought.
Action Trance Trance
Cihr Utiity 6 You have learned to place yourself in a state that relies on reflex alone. Encounter ✦ Stance Minor Action Personal Requirement: You mut hv t t o tio oit rmiig. Effect: You um th tio tr t, whih d if you d tio oit. Uti th t d, you gi +1 owr bou to d d vig throw.
Level 10 Utility Power A Mtr of th Hrt who r to t i hrmoy with th mutivr bom Mtr of th Mid. Your ttumt to r rhythm t thi v ow you to udrtd th tritory tur of imirmt.
Master of the Mind
Cihr Utiity 10 You know that all things must pass, and any hindrance is temporary. Daily ✦ Stance Minor Action Personal Effect: You um th mtr of th mid t. Uti th t d, you mk vig throw t th trt of your tur git o fft tht v d. If you fi th vig throw, you ti mk vig throw git th fft t th d of your tur. Additioy, wh you ud o vig throw, you gi 5 tmorry hit oit.
aoSi Te cTS X “Great . . . wheel? Sounds boring. T he multiverse is a pile of goo, with some crunchy bits. Occas ionally, someone adds salt.” Pttr. Ru. Ordr. Th r too of th dim d th igort u to ttmt to odify th mutivr d udrtd it. Itd, Xoitt (o kow th Chom) biv tht th wr i trig vryo i th f: Thr r o ru, d thr i o dr mig to xit. Attmtig to imo y kid of trutur i tithti to wht it m, d tryig to tm th tid of hg d diordr ut you frthr wy from udrtdig it d fidig your i th hoti of rity. If thi viw i tru, do tht m tht rity i mig, d vryo houd ik ito dir? Y d o. (Or o d y.) Othr ft io might wow i doom d goom ovr t hi rivd futiity, but th Xoitt’ udrtdig go dr th tht. Dow ito dir i rtiy o dirtio, but body who mbr ho i quy iky to fot u ito hi, or idwy ito th trt. Rity i mig, but k of mig i’t bd thig i d of itf. Abdoig rh for mig i th urt wy to fid it. Th mor your
Sensates, Ciphers, Ciphers, and Xaositects if rft ho, th mor your if i ik th muti vr, d both r our of d urri.
Creating a Xaositect Cho i roud you d i you, d vr mid tho u od who try to igor th ft. Your uro i if i to k vrythig hgig. Whthr you bthd i th mt rgi of hoti or jut hit your hd too hrd, th of ho i irritib. Th Xoitt ftio t yo. Exudig ifi r or woud m mkig ru bout tht rohibitio, d rtig ru rt r otrditio. Sorrr who foow th th of th wid mg r th mot ommo —if ythig oud b id to b ommo mog thi divr d hgb grou.
Starting Feature Xoitt oft rmb thir h, mki g thm diffiut to udrtd by tho ot utomd to dihrig hoti tk. Thy o hv th biity to rmb th h of othr. Aftr , gug i mig, d thy’r jut xoig it for wht it i. Benefit: You gi th babble owr.
Babble
Xoitt Attk
Geegle dooo bleagh owlbear ron grickle flick tarrasque meat! Encounter ✦ Charm Minor Action Ranged 5 Target: Target: O rtur tht hr you Attack: Hight biity modifir + 2 v. Wi Level 11: Hight biity modifir + 4 v. Wi Level 21: Hight biity modifir + 6 v. Wi Effect: Th trgt ot k itigiby or divr y fft tht ri o h (v d).
Additional Features Featu res Level 5 Feature Xoitt r how to rit mgi, o thy bttr vigt vr-hgig rity. Thi udrtdig mk thm bttr t oviig othr of th truth of thir rtio. Benefit: You gi gi +2 owr owr bou to Ar hk d Buff hk.
Level 10 Feature Som y th mutivr h ru. You biv th ooit: Ay ru tht might xit r md to b brok. You hv th biity to igor th ru d ro with y hg tht om og. Benefit: You gi gi +2 owr owr bou to df git oortuity ttk. Additioy, you ot b urrid whi you r oiou.
Optional Powers Xoitt do’t joi ythig, iudig thir ow ftio, xt wh thy do. Of tho who truy mbr th rdom of , giftd fw brig tht ho to thir vrydy iv—omtim to th hgri of tho roud thm.
Level 2 Utility Power Projti ry o vr ftor: trjtory, for id, th wid, d o o. A itt ifuio of ho mk your my’ rrow bhv u rditby. Xoitt Utiity 2 Hornung’s Deflector A hemisphere of elemental matter manife sts around you, deflecting incoming missiles or making you a bigger target. Encounter Immediate Interrupt Personal Trigger: Trigger: You r hit by rgd ttk. Effect: Th ttk itd hit rdom rtur (iudig yourf) withi 3 qur of you.
Level 6 Utility Power Th di i uivr ymbo of ho. I th bk y of th mutivr, to of di hg th fortu of th owit bggr. You biv thi rii i to th god thmv—thy mut u di to ditt th ft of mir d word.
The Die Is Cast
Xoitt Utiity 6
Chaos reigns in every glance, strike, and pose. Those who ally themselves with randomness can change their reality. Encounter Free Action Personal Trigger: Trigger: You ro d20 d diik th rut. Effect: Add 1d10 to th ro, d th ubtrt 1d4 from th ro.
Level 10 Utility Power Th of Emt Cho dmotrt dmotrt th utimt mifttio of th hiftig tur of vrythig. Th mt, , d v tim twit i urditb fhio thr. With itt rti, you brig tht roh to th bttfid.
Battlefield Shuffle
Xoitt Utiity 10 Sometimes you just have to toss everything up and hope it works out for the best. Daily Free Action Close burt 20 Trigger: Trigger: You ro iititiv d diik th rut. Effect: You d h rtur i th burt rro iititiv. You d your i gi +4 owr bou to th ro, d your mi tk –4 ty to it.
Sensates, Ciphers, Ciphers, and Xaositects Abou t the Auth or Dave Chalker i th ditor-i-hif of Criti-Hit.om, dvor for th Marvel Heroi c Roleplay ing gm from Mrgrt Wi Produtio, d th uthor of vr Dungeon d Dragon d Dragon rti iudig “Srt of th Nij Ai” i Dragon i Dragon 404. H’d ik to thk th uthor of th origi P lanesc aPe Campaign Setting boxd t d The Factol’s Mani festo for om txt d iirtio for thi rti, d h ’t did if h’ Dutm or Xoitt t hrt.
Dvor Tanis O’Connor Editor Michele Carter Mgig Editor Kim Mohan, Miranda Horner Dvomt d Editig Ld Jeremy Craw ford Sior Produr Christopher Perkins Produr Greg Bilsland, Stan! Sior Crtiv Dirtor Jon Schindehet te Art Dirtor Kate Irwin Iutrtor Matias Tapia Digit Studio Coutt Dan Helmick Grhi Produtio Mgr Angie Lokot z
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