Creating your character
Ready to get started making your first character?
Creating your character is your first step towards adventure at Shadowmoor LARP. Choose an ancestry (such as Elf or Dwarf) and a class (such as Rogue or Warrior) to start, and then through a combination of your imagination, rules, and role play with other players, you'll start to build who your character is.
Before you dive into step 1 below, think about the kind of character you want to play. Has there been a character you've seen in a movie or maybe played before (in a previous LARP, tabletop, or video game) that you've enjoyed? Try building a character based around that. Remember, Shadowmoor is light-to-medium touch combat, and we frequently fight in different terrain at different times of day and night. We encourage you to consider what you feel the most comfortable and excited doing.
If your first character doesn't quite hit the mark, you have until the beginning of your fourth event to change anything and everything about them, from their name, ancestry, and class to individual skills.
Okay, let's get started!
Step 1: Character background
Shadowmoor is located in the center of the Oasis and is neighbored by the towns of Docksides, Solace, and Aragon. You would be familiar with the rumors of Shadowmoorian Heroes (both good and bad). But the Oasis hasn’t always been on Amroth. Long ago, the Oasis was part of a different world known as Tyrra. But due to a series of events involving greater powers (a war and a sorcerer), the Oasis was ripped from the world of Tyrra and placed on this entirely separate world of Amroth where it is now. If your character is Tyrran, and you’re older than 20, you would not have been born in this world. If you’re Amrothi, older than 20, the Oasis (and Shadowmoor) is relatively new.
For your first few events, we recommend you keep your character's background pretty open and start with the following:
· Where is your character from?
· Any family?
· What are they doing in Shadowmoor?
The map shows the Oasis, centered on Shadowmoor and surrounded by Aragon, Solace, and Docksides. Read more in World Lore
The map shows the Oasis, centered on Shadowmoor and surrounded by Aragon, Solace, and Docksides. Read more in World Lore
Step 2: Choose an ancestry
Every character belongs to one of the ancestries that inhabit the world of Amroth. We encourage you to play any ancestry and cultural background that speaks to you. Some of the ancestries have sub-sets; for example, Elves include Grey Elves, Sampan Elves, and Primal Elves.
As long as you meet the make-up and costuming requirements, there is no restriction on which ancestry you may play from the list of available Shadowmoor ancestries below. Before creating a character, any full makeup or heavy costuming ancestries must be approved by the Shadowmoor Ancestry Marshal team via email (shadowmoor.marshal@gmail.com) or by submitting the request through the form at the end page.
Playable Ancestries
The following ancestries are playable.
Step 4: Spend your Build
Now that you’ve decided on your ancestry and class, it’s time to build your character sheet! A character sheet is essentially the same thing as you might experience in a tabletop roleplaying game- it’s a way for our game to keep a record of your character, the skills they have, and what new skills are “purchased” over time. The Shadowmoor game system is based on purchasing skills with a character's build points (Build or BP).
Your character can be created online prior to your first event using our Character Database.
To help with determining your character’s starting build, we recommend using our Character Build Calculator.
To use this Google sheet:
1. Open the link
2. Click File > Make a copy
3. In your new copy, start by inputting your chosen ancestry and class
4. Use the # of purchases beside the skills to determine build cost. You’ll want to stay at or just under your starting build cost.
5. Once you have a final draft of your character’s skills, print it out and bring it to site to speed up character creation.
Step 3: Class
The following ancestries are playable.
Warrior
The Warrior is the master of all things combat-related and can buy combat Skills that no other class may purchase.
Scholar
Scholars focus on their ability to use magic and have easier access to unique magic and rituals other classes have difficulty learning.
Oracle
The Oracle class is available to those in our community who are medically unable to enter combat.
Templar
The Templar is a warrior-mage perfect for those who wish to fight and use magic equally well.
Rogue
Rogues are a Jack-of-all Trades class that can more easily learn how to backstab, assassinate, and poison enemies in combat.