Ideal Career System

Having looked at a few career systems, what am I looking for? What do I want out of my ideal career system?

Character Creation Is Play

It has better or worse outcomes

You have a feeling that it went well or poorly.

It involves risk

You can’t be certain to get those better outcomes.

It uses mechanics present in the later game

Characters might make attack rolls, saves, skill tests, etc… in the process of creation. Or at least the same die mechanic.

It can give you what you want

If you have a certain concept in mind, you can achieve it.

It can lead you somewhere un-expected

What you get might not be exactly what you’d imagined. It invites interpretation and offers inspiration.

Creates Characters Suited for Adventure

It creates competent characters

They have abilities and interests that suit them to the game’s adventures.

It creates driven characters

They have reason to go out and seek adventure.

It holds a wide number of types

Whatever concept you come up with, there is an option in the system.

It creates bonds between characters

The characters have a reason to be together.

Character Creation is Specific

It provides characters with neat stuff

Not just items bought off a list, but equipment that characterizes.

It gives characters something more than numbers

Special abilities, personality quirks, fears, scars, and desires.

It places characters in the world

If the game has an explicit setting, characters should be placed specifically with in it. If the game has an implicit setting, hints of that should be seen throughout the process.

Character Creation is Elegant

It has efficient rules

They don’t take too long to use. It doesn’t contain things you don’t need. Its parts are re-usable.

It has consistent rules

It is easy to use. If you can build one character, you know how to build another.

It has pleasing rules

It is fun just to build a character, even without an expectation of playing them.

That’s a tall order. Perhaps I may see it someday.