Character Creation Cheat Sheet

Pathway Map Key

Symbols

Square

Lead (PC).

Circle

Extra (minor NPC). When a second Lead draws a Relationship arrow to an Extra, that Extra gets upgraded to a Feature.

Double Circle

Feature (major NPC). Features generally start out as Extras.

Diamond

Location.

Other Terms

Abilities

Super-powers. New Abilities start with one Special Effect (a thing you can do with that Ability), which you can choose at the end of Pathways. Each Ability also has a Descriptor (a keyword like magic, heat, psychic power, etc) and a Limit (a limitation that stops the Ability). You can leave off choosing the Special Effect till you're done with the Pathway. New Abilities start at d4.

Assets

Distinctions, Abilities, and Gear. All new Assets start at d4.

Distinctions

Things that make your character distinctive. Generally aspects of personality, like Smartass or Big-Hearted. Each has a die rating. Each also has three triggers that let you do things; one you can use right away when you get the Distinction at d4, one you can use when it hits d8, and one that you have to wait for d12 to use. Also see Heritages.

Drives

Values and Relationships. Each has a die rating and a statement.

Extras

A minor NPC. Extra can usually only do a couple of things, and those things are called specialties, and rated in dice. New Extras start at 2d4.

If an Extra is upgraded to a Feature, move it from Resources to Relationships. It loses a die, but stays at the same die size (for example, a 2d8 Extra becomes a 1d8 Feature).

Gear

Like Abilities, but with a particular Limit: Gear can be lost, stolen, or broken.

Heritage

Some Abilities thematically fit together into sets associated with a Heritage Distinction. Clark Kent, for example, has a Kryptonian Heritage that has a bunch of Abilities tied to it, and a common Limit.

Heritages are Distinctions, and can be stepped up by anything that lets you step up a generic Distinction, but you can't take a new Heritage as a generic new Distinction. You can only acquire a new Heritage at the Origin (Alien) and Life-Changing Event (First Contact or Destiny) stages of the Pathway.

Locations

Places that provide a bonus to the people that control them. They have specialties, and are rated in dice. New Locations start at 2d4.

Relationships

With other Features. Relationships start at d4 (though if your group is larger than four players you get to upgrade one of them).

Resources

Extras and Locations. New Resources (or either type) start at 2d4.

Special Effects

Things you can do with your Ability.

Stress Tracks

I don't think we have to worry about these during Character Creation.

Traits

Drives, Values, Relationships, and Stress Traits. Traits have die ratings.

Values

Duty, Glory, Justice, Love, Power, Truth. These are your character's motivations. They all start at d4.