Hello fellow survivors!
Someone asked me to do a detailed character creation walkthrough for AZ: After Zombies. So let’s no time and start surviving!
For purposes of this tutorial, I am going to be rolling many things randomly. Just know that almost all of these steps can be random, or not, as the player prefers.
Step 1: Choose a Background
My first step along the way is to choose a background. In this case, I’ve decided to roll randomly. I rolled a 30: Paramedic! Note that I could have chosen a background if I had one in mind.
This sets my base stats at the following:
CA 20 HT 40, IN 50, IT 45, LD 40, LK 40, QK 45, ST 40
This background is also going to give me a skill, and possibly let me swap out one of my Traits, but for now, we set that aside and move on to Step Two.
Step 2 Determine a Primary Attribute
So here I have to make a choice. What Attribute is best going to aid my survival. I choose Quickness! I will let me move faster, getting away from zombies and getting to injured people who need me in combat.
I roll 3d10, getting a result of 13. I’ll add this to my Quickness. Note: I could have taken the average of 16 rather than roll this.
My survival attributes are currently:
CA 20 HT 40, IN 50, IT 45, LD 40, LK 40, QK 58, ST 40
Step 3 Determine a Secondary Attribute
Ok, another choice. What is my secondary attribute going to be? I choose Intuition. I’ll be surprised less, have more Mental Toughness and be better at the Paramedic skill, should I select it.
I roll 2d10, getting a result of 17. I’ll add this to my Intuition. Note: I could have taken the average of 11 rather than roll this.
My survival attributes are currently:
CA 20 HT 40, IN 67, IT 45, LD 40, LK 40, QK 58, ST 40
Step 4 Determine Ordinary Attributes
Now I’m going to select three attributes as ordinary. They’re just a little higher than the base. I select: Combat Ability, Health, Intellect. I roll 1d10 for each and roll: 10, 7, and 2. Note I could have taken the average of 5 rather than roll this.
My survival attributes are currently:
CA 30 HT 47, IN 67, IT 47, LD 40, LK 40, QK 58, ST 40
Step 5 Determine Weak Attributes
This time there is no choice. By default, I’m down to the last three attributes that I have yet to think about. These are my weak attributes and they are lowered. My weak attributes are: Leadership, Luck and Strength.
I roll 2d10 three times to subtract from these attributes. I roll: 6, 9, and 14. Note I could have taken the average of 11 on all three of these rolls.
My survival attributes are currently:
CA 30 HT 47, IN 67, IT 47, LD 34, LK 31, QK 58, ST 26
Step 6 Roll a Trait
Not it’s time to get a trait. Just a little something that makes me different from other survivors.
I roll 89, which is Hawk, someone who prefers fighting to negotiation. This doesn’t seem to fit the character that’s coming together here. Let’s look at my Paramedic Background. At the bottom under typical traits, I see Dove, Numb and Team Player. Let’s swap out Hawk for Team Player.
Step 7 Determine Derived Attributes
Now that my survival attributes are more or less set, let’s see what my derived attributes are. The derived attributes are: Hit Points, Mental Toughness, Action Points, Endurance and Unity. I can’t determine Unity until all the players have reached this step, so I’ll wait on that.
As a reminder, here’s my survival attributes:
CA 30 HT 47, IN 67, IT 47, LD 34, LK 31, QK 58, ST 26
My hit points are Health (47) + Strength (26) = 73
My Mental Toughness is Intuition (67) + Leadership (34) = 101
My Action Points are my Quickness (58) divided by 10 rounded down = 5
My Endurance is my Health (47) times two = 94
Step 8 Pick a Disadvantage (Optional)
A disadvantage is a weakness or character flaw my survivor has that tends to make my life harder. Disadvantages are optional but it’s a good idea to take one. Not only can it allow you to select an extra skill, every time the disadvantage affects me, I’ll get bonus experience points.
If a disadvantage is taken, it’s always random. I decide to roll the dice. I roll a 55, which is Glue. This increases my group’s Unity, but if I am ever harmed, the group suffers. I roll 2d10 for the severity of the Disadvantage and score a 9.
Step 9 Select Starting Skills
Now it’s time to determine what I’m actually good at. All characters start with two skills, one from their background and one skill of their choice. Since I took a disadvantage I can pick a 3rd skill or increase a Survival Attribute by +5. I decide to take the skill.
First let’s look at the Paramedic Background: The skills are First Aid, Scrounging and Vehicles. I’ll take First Aid which is based on Intuition my highest survival attribute of 67.
The next two skills are any skills I desire. To compliment my high Quickness of 58, I take Athletics. Next I take Psychology. This is also based on Intuition and means I can treat the bodies and minds of my fellow survivors.
Here’s where my survivor stands now:
CA 30 HT 47, IN 67, IT 47, LD 34, LK 31, QK 58, ST 26
HP: 73 MT: 101 AP: 5 EN: 94
Skills: First Aid (67), Athletics (58), Psychology (67)
Step 10 Select Starting Equipment
Last step! I get to pick a minor piece of equipment: either a pistol, an archery weapon, a melee weapon, or a suit of light armor. Given my character’s lack of fighting skills, I take the armor.
And we’re done! Hope this helped.
