Building Your Legend
Creating a character in Savage Worlds is like assembling your own superhero, anime protagonist, or fantasy adventurer. You start with a concept and build from there using a point-buy system that ensures everyone starts balanced but unique!
The Movie Trailer Method
Before diving into numbers, imagine your character's movie trailer. What three scenes would showcase who they are? For Spider-Man it might be: 1) Getting bitten and discovering powers, 2) Swinging through New York, 3) Saving someone while cracking jokes. This gives you their origin, abilities, and personality!
Character Creation Overview
Step 1: Concept and Background
Every great character starts with a compelling concept. This isn't about stats yet - it's about WHO your character is!
The Reluctant Hero
Examples: Frodo Baggins, Peter Parker, Shinji Ikari
Ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances
The Veteran Warrior
Examples: Aragorn, Captain America, Guts from Berserk
Experienced fighter with a troubled past
The Genius
Examples: Tony Stark, Shikamaru, Hermione Granger
Solves problems with intellect rather than brawn
The Chosen One
Examples: Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Naruto
Destined for greatness, whether they like it or not
Quick Concept Generator
Combine: [Adjective] + [Profession/Role] + [with a Secret/Goal]
- "Cheerful pilot searching for her lost sister"
- "Grizzled detective who sees ghosts"
- "Noble samurai seeking redemption"
Step 2: Choose Your Race
Your race provides your character's baseline abilities. In core Savage Worlds, you can be:
Building Custom Races
Want to play an elf, dwarf, or alien? Use these guidelines:
- Start with +2 points of positive abilities
- Balance with -2 points of negative traits (optional)
- No single bonus greater than +2
Example - Elf: Low Light Vision (+1), Agile/+1 die Agility (+2), All Thumbs with technology (-1) = Valid 2-point race!
Step 3: Assign Attributes
You have 5 points to raise your attributes. All start at d4, and each die increase costs 1 point.
Character Build Examples
The Spider-Man Build
- Agility d10 (3 pts) - Wall-crawling acrobat
- Smarts d8 (2 pts) - Science genius
- Strength d4 - Proportionate spider strength comes from powers
- Spirit d4 - Still learning confidence
- Vigor d4 - Relies on dodging, not toughness
The Captain America Build
- Agility d6 (1 pt) - Good reflexes
- Smarts d4 - Tactical, not scholarly
- Strength d8 (2 pts) - Super soldier strength
- Spirit d6 (1 pt) - Natural leader
- Vigor d6 (1 pt) - Peak human endurance
The Hermione Build
- Agility d4 - Not particularly athletic
- Smarts d10 (3 pts) - Brightest witch of her age
- Strength d4 - Books, not barbells
- Spirit d8 (2 pts) - Strong-willed and brave
- Vigor d4 - Average constitution
Step 4: Assign Skills
You get 12 points for skills (15 if you're human from your free Edge). Each die costs 1 point up to its linked attribute, then 2 points per die above that.
Skill Cost Calculator
Quick Skill Packages
The Fighter Package
- Fighting d8 (3 pts)
- Shooting d6 (2 pts)
- Athletics d6 (2 pts)
- Notice d6 (2 pts)
- Intimidation d4 (1 pt)
- Stealth d4 (1 pt)
- Common Knowledge d4 (1 pt)
Total: 12 points - Perfect for warriors like Cloud Strife or Conan
The Face Package
- Persuasion d8 (3 pts)
- Notice d6 (2 pts)
- Common Knowledge d6 (2 pts)
- Performance d6 (2 pts)
- Taunt d4 (1 pt)
- Research d4 (1 pt)
- Fighting d4 (1 pt)
Total: 12 points - Great for characters like Black Widow or Loki
The Scholar Package
- Research d8 (3 pts)
- Academics d6 (2 pts)
- Science d6 (2 pts)
- Notice d6 (2 pts)
- Common Knowledge d6 (2 pts)
- Persuasion d4 (1 pt)
Total: 12 points - Ideal for Tony Stark or Bruce Banner types
Step 5: Finishing Touches
Calculate Your Derived Statistics
Starting Gear
Heroes begin with:
- $500 (or setting-appropriate equivalent)
- The clothes on their back
- A weapon or two based on concept
- Personal items that fit their story
Modern Hero: Smartphone, wallet, car keys, pistol, kevlar vest
Fantasy Adventurer: Sword, shield, backpack, rope, torches
Space Explorer: Laser pistol, commlink, spacer's toolkit
Room to Grow
Remember, starting characters are competent but not legendary. You'll advance by:
- Earning XP through adventures (typically 1-3 per session)
- Every 5 XP = 1 Advance
- Advances let you improve attributes, skills, or gain new Edges
Think of it like leveling up in an RPG or training arcs in anime!
Complete Character Example: Web-Slinging Hero
Parker Peters - Definitely Not Spider-Man
Attributes
- Agility: d10
- Smarts: d8
- Spirit: d4
- Strength: d4
- Vigor: d4
Skills
- Athletics: d8
- Fighting: d6
- Notice: d8
- Science: d8
- Stealth: d6
- Taunt: d6
- Thievery: d4
Derived Stats
- Pace: 6"
- Parry: 5
- Toughness: 4
- Bennies: 3
Edges
- Alertness (free human Edge)
Hindrances
- Heroic (Major)
- Enemy (Minor) - School Bully
- Poverty (Minor)
Background
Nerdy high school student who recently gained amazing powers. Struggles to balance homework, heroics, and hiding his identity. Makes bad jokes when nervous (which is always).
Gear
- Homemade costume
- Web-shooters (when he gets powers)
- Smartphone with cracked screen
- School backpack
- $20 and a subway pass
Character Creation Checklist
- ✓ Concept - Who is your character?
- ✓ Race - Human or something exotic?
- ✓ Attributes - 5 points to spend
- ✓ Skills - 12 points (15 for humans)
- ✓ Derived Stats - Calculate Pace, Parry, Toughness
- ✓ Edges & Hindrances - Special abilities and flaws
- ✓ Gear - Starting equipment
- ✓ Background - A few sentences about their story