Over_the_Edge_Players'_Survival_Guide

Players’ Survival Guide
CHARACTER CREATION
CUTUP Character Generation
Creativity is the process of filtering random, nondeterministic
data through meaningful structure, as
in the evolution of a species or the development of
a novel. The CUTUP (Causally Unrelated Thoughts
Under Pressure) system for player-characters gives
you raw data that you then “make sense out of.”
Since the data are random, you face creative puzzles
that you might not develop spontaneously out of
your personal bio-computer; but since you have final
say in what these data mean, you retain creative
control. Enjoy.
Step 1. Determine Catch-Words
Before getting into the nuts and bolts (i.e. your
character’s traits), roll three times on the chart below
to determine catch-words that involve your character.
You may use these catch-words any way you want,
but they must somehow be a part of your character.
Once you have generated the catch-words, a character
concept previously lurking in your sub-psyche
may spring Athena-like from your head. If so, create
your character the normal way (i.e., inventing traits).
If no character concept fights its way to your consciousness,
move to Step 2 and keep rolling.
You have a lot of leeway in making sense of these
catch-words. For example, consider the following
group of catch-words: doubt, heart, training. These
words could inspire the following concepts for a new
PC named Samantha:
Catch-Words
Roll a die three times for each catch-word. The first die determines which chart to use, and the 2nd
and 3rd dice determine which word from that chart to use.
Chart One (use on a roll of 1, 2, or 3)
Second roll indicates column, third roll indicates row.
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 addict blood coma damage drug ghost
2 alien brain computer death fear grind
3 ancient broken contraband deep fire hand(s)
4 assassin brother/sister control disease flesh heart
5 beast cancer cult doubt foreign holy
6 book car current dream genetic insane
Chart Two (use on a roll of 4, 5, or 6)
Second roll indicates column, third roll indicates row.
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 insect money overload random side effect UFO
2 lie mother/father pain religion snake unconscious
3 light movie poem reverse space virus
4 logic music poison secret subterranean visitation
5 love mystery psychic sex theft vision
6 mind neural radiation sharp training warp
27