Character creation

Joining this game is as simple as e-mailing the storyteller, and telling him exactly that. The only thing you need to play in SoD is a character. Usually this will be a wraith, like described in the introduction, but mortals or even something else is possible, as long as you OK it with the storyteller first. The complete character creation system is described in Wraith: The Oblivion, 2. ed.

If you have no experience with the Storyteller system at all, do not despair. A thought-out personality and history of a character is all that is really needed, everything else can be worked out by the storyteller, who can suggest appropriate traits for your ghost if you like. The only important thing about playing is creativity and enthusiasm, everything else is just icing on the cake, for creating that special Wraith atmosphere. The stories are all that matter.

With that in mind, you should consider the following questions: Who was your character when she was still alive? How did she die, and does she know why? What are the reasons that she is still around, what are her regrets? And what are her plans, now she has arrived in the land of the dead? You can choose to make a character that has just awoken after dying, or one that has existed as a wraith for centuries. All of these are up to you, just make sure your concept will suit the way you want your character’s perspective to be.

If you are familiar with the system presented in Wraith: The Oblivion, Second Edition, just follow those rules and send the storyteller a copy of the character sheet. A notepad version of the sheet can be found here. If you are not familiar with Wraith in particular, but with Vampire, Werewolf, or any of the White Wolf Storyteller games, you know the basics. The Wraith-specific traits are Passions, the desires that keep your character restless, Fetters, the items that keep your character in the shadowlands, and the Shadow. The Shadow is like a character within your character – it has its own personality, Dark Passions, and powers. If you fill out the character sheet as best you can, along with a description of the character’s history, the storyteller will be happy to help work out a suitable sheet with you. 

When your character is ready and approved, the newsgroup is open to whatever you wish to share. In-character stories can be written by yourself, with the storyteller, or with other players, and they are the core of this game. As long as it happens in the vicinity of Dallas, and it involves your character, we want to hear about it. Out-of-character comments, like praise or questions, should have their title preceded by an OOC: notation.

Interaction between player characters is strongly recommended, as the world becomes more real when the souls that inhabit it are able to touch each other, however briefly. And hopefully, all the stories on the newsgroup will eventually blend together to form a darkly beautiful painting of the Shadow of Dallas.