Personality, Archetypes & Alignment
Optional depth tools that add psychological complexity to your character. Pick an Archetype for daily benefits, choose a Past Trauma that can be overcome through play, and define your moral compass with the Alignment system.
Personality Archetypes
While optional, a Personality Archetype helps define your character's core trait, motivation, and behavioral tendencies — adding depth and complexity to their psychological profile while providing a unique daily benefit.
How Archetypes Work
- Each archetype provides a Daily Benefit — a once-per-day ability costing 1 AP that gives you an edge in specific situations.
- Archetypes also define your character's temperament, motivations, fears, and social tendencies for roleplay guidance.
- Choosing an archetype is optional — you can let your story define your character organically instead.
| Archetype | Temperament | Daily Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Elusive | Enigmatic | Gain +2 on an Awareness or Stealth Skill Check. |
| Fanatic | Intense | You deal 1d12 extra damage to sentient creatures that oppose your beliefs. |
| Innovator | Curious | Gain +2 to a Magic or Technology Skill Check. |
| Idealist | Passionate | You inspire an ally within 5 m, granting them +2 on their next dice Roll. |
| Manipulator | Charming | Re-roll a Dishonesty, Con-Artist or Persuasion Skill Check. |
| Maverick | Unconventional | Gain +2 on a Stunts or Stamina Skill Check. |
| Motivator | Confident | Gain +2 on a Persuasion or Performance Skill Check while giving a speech. |
| Pragmatist | Practical | You can re-roll a failed Awareness or Critical Thinking Skill Check. |
| Protector | Stoic | You can impose -2 on an Attack Roll against an ally within 1 m. |
| Renegade | Rebellious | Gain +2 on a Parkour or Performance Skill Check. |
| Scholar | Inquisitive | Gain +2 on a Recall or Critical Thinking Skill Check. |
| Strategist | Methodical | Re-roll a failed Awareness, Nuance or Insight Skill Check. |
| Stoic | Resilient | You can resist a mind-affecting Spell or Effect. |
| Survivalist | Pragmatic | Automatically succeed on a Survival or Fight-or-Flight Skill Check. |
| Tactician | Calculating | Gain +2 to an Initiative roll. |
Elusive
You are an enigma: shrouded in mystery. You are hard to read and even harder to understand.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Gain +2 on an Awareness or Stealth Skill Check.
Fanatic
Intensely devoted to their beliefs, often to the point of fanaticism.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
You deal 1d12 extra damage to sentient creatures that oppose your beliefs.
Innovator
Always seeking new ideas and approaches, thriving on creativity and adaptation.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Gain +2 to a Magic or Technology Skill Check.
Idealist
Driven by strong ideals and convictions, often striving for a greater good.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
You inspire an ally within 5 m, granting them +2 on their next dice Roll.
Manipulator
Skilled in negotiation and manipulation, able to navigate complex social situations with ease.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Re-roll a Dishonesty, Con-Artist or Persuasion Skill Check.
Maverick
Unconventional and often unpredictable, willing to take risks and push boundaries.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Gain +2 on a Stunts or Stamina Skill Check.
Motivator
Natural-born leader with a magnetic personality, capable of inspiring and rallying others.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Gain +2 on a Persuasion or Performance Skill Check while giving a speech.
Pragmatist
Focused on practical solutions and efficiency, adapting quickly to changing circumstances.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
You can re-roll a failed Awareness or Critical Thinking Skill Check.
Protector
Fiercely loyal and brave, committed to protecting others and upholding their values.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
You can impose -2 on an Attack Roll against an ally within 1 m.
Renegade
Rebels and free thinkers, challenging authority and forging their own paths.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Gain +2 on a Parkour or Performance Skill Check.
Scholar
Intellectual and curious, always seeking knowledge and understanding.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Gain +2 on a Recall or Critical Thinking Skill Check.
Strategist
Master planners and logical thinkers, adept at analyzing situations and formulating effective strategies.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Re-roll a failed Awareness, Nuance or Insight Skill Check.
Stoic
Unyielding and resilient, maintaining a calm demeanor even under stress.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
You can resist a mind-affecting Spell or Effect.
Survivalist
Skilled at making the most out of limited resources and adapting to challenging environments.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Automatically succeed on a Survival or Fight-or-Flight Skill Check.
Tactician
Expert in tactical planning and execution, with a focus on efficiency and precision.
Daily Benefit • AP: 1 • 1 Charge
Gain +2 to an Initiative roll.
Past Trauma / Life Events
You may also select a Past Trauma or Life Event. These provide interesting emotional nuances for your character and create opportunities for powerful narrative growth.
Overcoming Trauma
- Each trauma imposes a minor penalty reflecting your character's emotional burden.
- Through narrative, actions, and character evolution, your character may overcome their trauma.
- When this happens, the penalty inverts into a bonus — symbolizing healing, growth, or resolution.
- It is recommended to consult your GM regarding your choice of Past Trauma and how it can fit into the overall narrative.
| Life Event | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Almost Famous | -2 on Performance Skill Checks. |
| Betrayed by a Trusted Ally | -2 on Insight Skill Checks. |
| Canceled | -1 to Charm based Skill Checks. |
| Corporate Runaway | -2 on Persuasion and Dishonesty Skill Checks when dealing with their former Corporation. |
| Experienced Poverty or Hunger | -2 on Endurance Skill Checks. |
| Failed a Major Project or Mission | -1 on Skill Checks when rolling on Skill without Aptitude. |
| Fugitive | -2 on Charm based Skill Checks when dealing with Law Enforcement. |
| Grew Up in Isolation | -2 on Persuasion Skill Checks when meeting new people. |
| Had a Major Illness | -2 on Defense Rolls against Disease. |
| Imprisoned Unjustly | -2 on Will Defense Rolls when confined or restricted. |
| Injured in an Accident | Suffer -1 to your Strength or Agility Score. |
| Lost All Possessions | -2 on Skill Checks related to material loss or financial stress. |
| Lost a Loved One | -2 on Charm Skill Checks when dealing with loss or separation. |
| Refugee or Exile | -2 on Charm Skill Checks when dealing with inhabitants of new locations. |
| Survived a War | -2 on Will Defense Rolls to resist fear in combat situations. |
| Survived a Natural Disaster | -2 on Defense Rolls against Elemental Damage. |
| Survived a Magic Mishap | -2 on Defense Rolls against magical effects. |
| Vehicular Manslaughter | -2 Reflex Defense Rolls when operating a Vehicle. |
| Witnessed a Supernatural Event | -2 on Rationalism Skill Checks in environments reminiscent of the event. |
Almost Famous
Penalty: -2 on Performance Skill Checks.
Narrative: Is recognized as someone who did not quite achieve fame, often treated with ridicule, feels shame for not succeeding more.
Betrayed by a Trusted Ally
Penalty: -2 on Insight Skill Checks.
Narrative: Trust issues and skepticism towards others' intentions.
Canceled
Penalty: -1 to Charm based Skill Checks.
Narrative: Often treated with disdain and contempt when recognized in public, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Corporate Runaway
Penalty: -2 on Persuasion and Dishonesty Skill Checks when dealing with their former Corporation.
Narrative: Treats all Corporations with paranoia and distrust.
Experienced Poverty or Hunger
Penalty: -2 on Endurance Skill Checks.
Narrative: Deep-seated fear of poverty, may hoard resources or money.
Failed a Major Project or Mission
Penalty: -1 on Skill Checks when rolling on Skill without Aptitude.
Narrative: Self-doubt in abilities and fear of failure in similar tasks.
Fugitive
Penalty: -2 on Charm based Skill Checks when dealing with Law Enforcement.
Narrative: Treats Law Enforcement with paranoia and distrust.
Grew Up in Isolation
Penalty: -2 on Persuasion Skill Checks when meeting new people.
Narrative: Difficulty in understanding social cues and forming relationships.
Had a Major Illness
Penalty: -2 on Defense Rolls against Disease.
Narrative: Health anxiety or a strong focus on physical well-being.
Imprisoned Unjustly
Penalty: -2 on Will Defense Rolls when confined or restricted.
Narrative: Claustrophobia or anxiety in confined spaces, distrust of authority.
Injured in an Accident
Penalty: Suffer -1 to your Strength or Agility Score.
Narrative: Physical reminders of the accident, caution in similar situations.
Lost All Possessions
Penalty: -2 on Skill Checks related to material loss or financial stress.
Narrative: Possessiveness over belongings, fear of losing more.
Lost a Loved One
Penalty: -2 on Charm Skill Checks when dealing with loss or separation.
Narrative: Struggles with attachment and fears losing others.
Refugee or Exile
Penalty: -2 on Charm Skill Checks when dealing with inhabitants of new locations.
Narrative: Feelings of not belonging, longing for a lost home.
Survived a War
Penalty: -2 on Will Defense Rolls to resist fear in combat situations.
Narrative: Haunted by memories of conflict, reacts strongly to violence.
Survived a Natural Disaster
Penalty: -2 on Defense Rolls against Elemental Damage.
Narrative: Fear or anxiety related to the elements of the disaster.
Survived a Magic Mishap
Penalty: -2 on Defense Rolls against magical effects.
Narrative: Distrust or fear of magic, or an obsessive need to understand it.
Vehicular Manslaughter
Penalty: -2 Reflex Defense Rolls when operating a Vehicle.
Narrative: You accidentally killed someone with a vehicle. Just looking at one fills you with an anxious dread.
Witnessed a Supernatural Event
Penalty: -2 on Rationalism Skill Checks in environments reminiscent of the event.
Narrative: Paranoia or obsession with the supernatural.
Character Alignment
Character Alignment is an optional customization meant to provide a thoughtful framework for defining your character. An Alignment captures a character's moral, ethical, and behavioral compasses, providing a framework for:
- How your character interacts with others
- How your character views the world
- A character's values and how they affect their behavior
Building Your Alignment
The Alignment axis is divided into three brackets, each consisting of 3 roles. You select one from each bracket to form your axis.
Bracket 1
Societal Conformity
Lawful • Rational • Anarchist
Bracket 2
Egocentricity
Altruistic • Pragmatic • Self-Interested
Bracket 3
Social Dynamics
Harmonious • Individualist • Dominant
Societal Conformity
This axis helps understand a character's stance towards authority, systems of governance and law, and social order.
Lawful
Respect authority and order, valuing structured laws and traditions. They aim for stability and social harmony, often adhering to codes of conduct and working within established systems.
Rational
Maintain a balanced stance towards authority and rules, focusing on personal freedom and autonomy. They may act based on practicality, self-interest, or situational factors, often detached from societal or political structures.
Anarchist
Reject authority and hierarchical norms, championing personal freedom and autonomy. They actively oppose oppressive systems, advocating for a society free of imposed authority. Emphasizing individual rights and voluntary cooperation, they challenge the status quo.
Egocentricity
This axis highlights a character's tendency to prioritize the well-being of others or focus on their own self-interest.
Altruistic
Place others' well-being above their own, driven by compassion and a desire to improve the world. They're selfless, often making personal sacrifices for the greater good and actively seeking ways to help.
Pragmatic
Approach situations with practicality and rationality, prioritizing what's most beneficial or effective over moral considerations. They focus on realism, weighing actions' costs and benefits, and are solution-oriented, valuing efficiency and adaptability.
Self-Interested
Prioritize their own needs and ambitions, focusing on self-preservation and personal gain. They may be opportunistic, seeking to maximize their own benefits while showing less regard for others' needs, often aiming for personal power or wealth.
Social Dynamics
This axis explores a character's stance on interpersonal relationships and power dynamics between themselves and others.
Harmonious
Focus on cooperation and unity, valuing consensus and empathy. They aim to create peaceful environments, prioritizing group well-being and resolving conflicts amicably, driven by a sense of community and mutual understanding.
Individualist
Emphasize personal freedom, self-expression, and autonomy. Valuing independence and their unique identity, they often challenge societal norms and prioritize personal growth and self-fulfillment, cherishing the freedom to make their own choices.
Dominant
Seek power and control, often at others' expense. They aim to assert authority and influence, potentially subjugating or manipulating others for personal gain or ambitions. This manifests in desires for power, wealth, or imposing one's will.
Example Alignment
A character who is Anarchist + Altruistic + Individualist might be a freedom fighter who rejects corrupt governments, fights for the oppressed, and walks their own path — answering to no one but their conscience.
Ready to Build Your Character?
Combine your Archetype and Life Events with a Genotype, Background, and Class to create a truly unique survivor of Adamah.