sol invictus.indd

CHAPTER 1 • CHARM DESIGNCHAPTER 1CHARMDESIGNCharms are more that just cool powers — they’rethe ultimate expression of an Exalt’s personalityand thematics. At the same time, they’re part of acomplex interlocking system of abilities. With allthis to keep in mind, it can be challenging to designgood Charms. However, there are underlyingprinciples that all Charms share. This chapterexplores the rules — both mechanical and thematic— for Solar Charms, in order to help you with theprocess of writing your own. Presented below areguidelines for creating Solar Charms, describingboth the thematic and mechanical boundaries ofSolar Charms, along with advice on designing yourown Charms.DESIGNING A CHARMWhen creating new Charms, a player shouldtypically work with her Storyteller to make sure theeffects and balance decisions made are appropriateto the individual game. The following process maybe helpful to players and Storytellers who wish todesign their own Charms.Determine your goals. In basic terms, what do youwant your Charm to do? This should let you knowwhich ability the Charm is most appropriate to(although there are several with areas of overlap.)It’ll also help you get an idea of the power levelyour Charm is likely to have.7