How to Create Characters and Crews in Blades in the Dark

Apr 26

Sponsor: Dice Tale Games: Blood and Doom: https://rebrand.ly/bloodanddoom

Blades in the Dark - How to Create Characters and Crew Sheets

Welcome to Duskvol, the dark and industrial city of the underworld. In Blades in the Dark, you can become a daring thief, assassin, or scoundrel trying to make a name for yourself in the criminal factions. But first, you need to create your character and crew sheet, and that's where we come in. If you missed the first episode where we give our first impressions, check it here.

Listen to the full Podcast or Watch it on Youtube.

Creating Characters

Step 1: Choose a Playbook

Choosing your playbook is like choosing your character class in other roleplaying games. Are you a Cutter who likes to dish out some pain, or a Whisper who's more into the arcane and supernatural? Other playbooks include the Lurk, Slide, Hound, and Spider, each with their own unique abilities and specialties.

Step 2: Choose Heritage and Background

Now it's time to flesh out your character's backstory. Choose your heritage, whether it's Akorosi, Iruvian, Skovlander, or any of the other options. Then pick your background, which can range from a street urchin to a noble scion. Your heritage and background can influence your character's abilities and skills, as well as their relationships with NPCs and other factions in the game.

Step 3: Choose Attributes

In Blades in the Dark, your character's capabilities are defined by their attributes, including prowess, insight, and resolve. Are you strong and agile, perceptive and intuitive, or determined and resilient? Assign points to reflect your character's strengths and weaknesses.

Step 4: Choose Special Abilities

Each playbook comes with a set of special abilities that can be chosen at character creation or gained through advancement during play. These abilities can be anything from specialized combat maneuvers to social skills or supernatural powers. For example, a Cutter might choose "Bloodletter," which lets them inflict more harm in combat, while a Whisper might choose "Ghost Veil," which allows them to disappear into the shadows.

Step 5: Choose Equipment

Lastly, you need to choose your equipment. Will you be wielding a pair of wickedly sharp knives or a heavy crossbow? Do you prefer to be heavily armored or more nimble? Choose the gear that best suits your character's personality and style.

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Creating Crew Sheets

In Blades in the Dark, a crew is a group of characters who work together in the criminal underworld of the city of Duskvol. The crew is made up of several player characters who have created their own unique characters and crew sheets, as well as any supporting NPCs or allies that they may have. The crew has a defined territory or "turf" that they control, and they work together to achieve their criminal goals, whether that be smuggling, assassination, or any other illicit activities. The crew also gains experience and advances as a group, allowing them to gain new abilities and upgrades to their equipment and resources.

Step 1: Choose a Crew Type

Now it's time to create your crew sheet. First, choose a crew type. Are you Assassins, Smugglers, or Hawkers? Each crew type has its own abilities and focus, so choose one that best suits your playstyle.

Step 2: Choose Crew Upgrades

As your crew grows and succeeds in their endeavors, they can gain upgrades such as improved training, specialized equipment, and new recruits. Spend resources to acquire the upgrades that will benefit your crew the most.

Step 3: Define Your Turf

Your crew also needs a defined territory that they control, whether it's a section of the city or a specific building. Define your turf and protect it from rival factions and law enforcement. Maybe you own a gambling den or a drug lab, or perhaps you're squatting in an abandoned factory

Step 4: Assign Roles

Finally, assign roles within your crew. Who's the leader, the muscle, the scout, and the planner? Each role has its own responsibilities and abilities, so make sure to choose players who complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. Maybe the leader is a charismatic Hawker, while the muscle is a brutal Cutter, and the planner is a conniving Spider.

Now that you have your characters and crew sheets all setup, it's time to dive into the world of Duskvol and make your mark on the criminal underworld. Good luck, and don't get caught by the Bluecoats!

One of the best parts of a roleplaying game is the building of characters. Character backstory, class abilities, race, skills, and combat are all different aspects that can be loved by players. In Fifth Edition, it tends to get clumped into the simple “not enough options” category. In 5e the single largest lackluster choice is the weapon. There isn’t much in the way of uniqueness to separate them, except for maybe the damage die and a few restricting traits. Not to mention, some of the weapon stats are literally EXACTLY the same (looking at you polearms). To an extent, this can also be true for armor as well. Aside from the bonus to AC, there isn’t really a reason to wear any particular piece of armor. Well, Exotic Equipment Perks hopes to remedy that. We want to make your choice of equipment matter just as much as a class, race, or skill option. We want it to be another defining feature of your play style.

Weapons and equipment should be more than just objects that adventurers carry to slay enemies and protect themselves. In the proper hands of a master, they should be powerful tools to gain the upper hand in battle. In order to remedy this, we present to you Exotic Equipment Perks!

We want to give a huge shout-out to all the backers on Kickstarter who made this project possible! Thank you.

Inside you will find:

36 New Weapon Perks
12 New Exotic Weapons with Perks
16 New Armor Perks
6 New Exotic Armors with Perks
10 Toolkit Perks

Get your copy here and make your choice of equipment matter!

Magic Item: Boots of Silent Steps

Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)

These black leather boots are incredibly light and flexible, allowing the wearer to move with incredible speed and agility. While wearing the Boots of Silent Steps, the wearer gains the following benefits:

When you make a Dexterity (Stealth) check to move silently, you can roll a d4 and add the bonus to your roll.

You can move across any solid surface, including walls and ceilings, as if it were difficult terrain. To do so, you must have at least one hand free to grab onto the surface. While moving in this way, you can still make Stealth checks, but you cannot move faster than your normal speed.

As an action, you can speak the boots command word to activate the boots and gain the benefits of the Spider Climb spell for 10 minutes. This effect cannot be used again until the next dawn.

The Boots of Silent Steps were originally crafted by a legendary rogue named Valtorin the Silent, who was known for his incredible speed and agility. Valtorin was a master thief who specialized in heists that required him to move quickly and silently, and he spent years developing techniques and equipment that would allow him to accomplish his goals.

The Boots of Silent Steps were one of Valtorin's most prized possessions, and he wore them on countless heists throughout his long career. The boots were originally made from the hides of rare, silent panthers that Valtorin hunted in the wilds, and he imbued them with powerful enchantments that enhanced his natural abilities.

Over time, Valtorin became a legend in the world of thieves and rogues, and his boots were sought after by many who sought to follow in his footsteps. Some even claimed that the boots were cursed, and that those who wore them would be plagued by visions of Valtorin's past heists and misdeeds.

Today, the Boots of Silent Steps are still coveted by rogue thieves and adventurers who seek to move quickly and silently. Many believe that they still carry a small piece of Valtorin's spirit, and that those who wear them can tap into his legendary skills and instincts. However, others warn that the boots are dangerous to use, and that their power comes with a heavy price.

Player Tip: You and your Crew!

In many fantasy RPGs, players take on the role of singular adventurers or a group of adventurers who have come together to achieve a common goal. However, there are some compelling reasons why players should consider creating their own crews, similar to the gangs in Blades in the Dark.

Firstly, creating a crew adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the game. Instead of just focusing on the individual character's story, the players get to create and develop an entire group of characters who have their own unique personalities, motivations, and backstories. This allows for more dynamic interactions within the group and the potential for interesting conflicts and tensions to arise.

Secondly, a crew can provide valuable resources and support to the players. For example, a crew can offer access to specialized equipment, safehouses, or contacts in the underworld. This can be particularly beneficial for classes like rogues, who may rely heavily on stealth and deception to achieve their goals.

Creating a crew can also help to flesh out the game world and provide a greater sense of immersion for the players. By creating their own crew, players are essentially carving out a niche within the game world and adding their own unique spin to it. This can create a greater sense of investment in the game and a feeling of ownership over their characters' place in the world.

Another benefit of creating a crew is that it provides opportunities for collaborative storytelling. By working together to create and develop their crew, players are actively contributing to the overall narrative of the game. This can lead to some truly memorable moments as the players work together to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

Finally, creating a crew can open up new avenues for gameplay. Depending on the type of crew the players create, they may find themselves engaging in heists, smuggling operations, or even full-blown battles with rival factions. This can add a level of excitement and challenge to the game that may not have been present otherwise.

Overall, creating a crew can add a lot of depth, complexity, and fun to a fantasy RPG. By giving players the opportunity to create and develop their own group of characters, it can help to create a more immersive and engaging gaming experience. So next time you're starting a new campaign, consider gathering your fellow players and creating your own crew to take on the challenges of the game world together.

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