Beyond the Shadows

Welcome To Industrial Fantasy



Character Concept

Character creation in Industrial Fantasy starts with figuring out a concept for your character. This could be taken from one or more characters from your favourite books or films, or it could be about something that you want your character to be able to do, like having magical powers, flying around on demon wings, or being able to build and repair airships. Player characters need to be powerful and interesting people. The kind of people that are proactive in dealing with their problems and the difficult situations they find themselves in.

Character Concept is the first slot that becomes unlocked for any character, and is by far the most important, both mechanically and narratively. In the Beyond the Shadows campaign you can think of your Character Concept as a combination of your characters job/role in life/calling and their species/style/history. If you are intending to play a species other than common (highly recommended) then it must be reflected in your Character Concept. Otherwise if you are playing a common character, feel free to leave that detail out of your Concept unless the fact that they are of the common race is important. Here are some examples to help you understand what you should be aiming for:

  • You can follow your intended species directly with your literal job: Catfolk Detective, Common Knight of the Queen’s Air-Guard, Ratfolk Gun-Wielding Thug.

  • You can use adjectives and other descriptors to refine the idea: Desperate Mayor of Shadowflower, Reluctant Catfolk Detective, Ambitious Ratfolk Thug.

  • You could mash different ideas together that most people would find odd: Werewolf Private Detective and Wizard, Dancing Knight of the Queendom, Vampire who is a Monster-Hunter by night and an Accountant by day.

  • You might incorporate an important relationship your character has: Black Sheep of House Irongrad, Orcish Street Thug for the Fool’s Demise Gang, Fire Spirit Patron of the Church of Flame.

Your Character Concept represents what you are really good at, but should also represent a responsibility you have to deal with. One that is filled with complications and opportunities all its own. To simplify, like all character slots you should fill your Character Concept slot with some good elements, but also with some bad.

Don’t worry too much about nailing an amazing Character Concept right off the bat! If you can’t seem to come up with anything straight away then have a read through the player hand out, choose a species that sounds cool to you and a role that piques your interest. Mash the two together for now and you can go back in and tweak your Concept later on.


Your Unique Thing

Your character’s Unique Thing is a special element of their backstory which sets them apart from every other hero. It is unique to just you in all of the world. Try to think of a special trait that is markedly unusual. Something that might be immediately obvious to the those around you, something that anyone who would tell tales of your deeds might use as a clue for the audience. Some examples might include:

  • I am the only Undine Gunslinger in service to the Republic of Normwinter.

  • I have a Clockwork Jewel embedded in my chest that keeps me alive.

  • I am the only known example of direct offspring between a Fire Elemental and a pureblood Kitsune.

  • I wield a power unknown to this world. Brought to me from another dimension.

Again, here in your Unique Thing you are looking to include elements of your character’s fiction that are obviously good for them, but also something that might complicate their life from time to time. Your Unique Thing is the only character slot that is unavailable for change later on (unless something truly epic occurs), so if you don’t have a good idea for this at the start of the game it is fine to leave it to be worked out during play.