Character Creation

From The Domains of Dread

Every character begins with character creation in The Domains of Dread. Anyone may freely connect and add more characters to their server vault at any time, though only 2 characters may ever be designated as active at the same time and able to leave the out of character experience. For more information about the allowlist process, please see its article. The following is a step by step summarization of the choices available during character creation with many linking out to their own, more detailed articles.

Pre-Game Creation

“Pre-game” in this context means before a character has physically spawned into the out of character experience, after the player has selected “New” when viewing their server vault.

Phenotype

vanilla: Gender

There are three phenotype options which alter the character’s body model: Masculine, Feminine and Androgynous.

Race

No subrace options exist at this time on The Domains of Dread—the choices available from this menu mirror what is available in-game.

Portrait

A community portrait pack is made available on the Steam Workshop. Those seeking to contribute their characters’ portraits to be included in this pack should see that page for submission guidelines and instructions.

Class

Do be advised that particular class archetypes require their own application, such as Divine or Occult.

Alignment

The character’s starting alignment may change in-game but, at character creation, must observe any alignment requirements from their chosen ideoligion (if present) or class archetype selection.

Attributes

vanilla: Abilities

A player must observe mild build restrictions when appropriating their character’s attributes—see its article for details.

Packages

Skills are not selectable in the pre-game character creator, as they are automatically banked to be spent on the 2nd and 3rd level once inside the out of character experience. Spells are not chosen either as they are allocated all at once with archetype selection at the 3rd level.

Customize

Character model adjustment is disabled from this screen however other features such as name, age, voiceset and initial description are available. Everything entered from this screen may be altered in the out of character experience.

In-Game Creation

New characters are automatically moved to their own area in the out of character experience, separate from the area accessible by characters who have already entered the world.

Presentation

This option controls how non-player characters are expected to address the character in their dialogues and any other interactions. Limitations necessitate only three options are available: Masculine (he/him), Feminine (she/her), and Neutral (they/them). This may be changed at will by invoking the personae menu with the !persona, short alias !p chat command. A character’s presentation is appended to the bottom of their examine window when viewed by other players.

Origin

A character may be native to the demiplane, or an Outlander. If they are from a supported setting, region/domain of origin will also be specified. Characters receive the lingua franca of their chosen domain or region as a bonus language regardless of INT.

Background

The background chosen provides minor skill adjustments, NR adjustments, features or complications. Every character must choose a background that is some way relevant to their backstory.

Ideoligion

The character’s belief system. If permitting, a deity will also be chosen. Unsupported ideoligions such as those from homebrew or unsupported settings may be selected with “Other”.

Newly or Established Misted

All player characters will have been Misted to their start location regardless if they are a native or an Outlander. If there are no Mist Tokens to spend, then they are newly Misted—their arrival in-game correlates with their arrival fictionally. Should Mist Tokens be spent on the applicable perk, they start instead in a different area at the 5th level. They may have spent up to three months already inside the Realms of Terror if they are an Outlander if and only if the player has chosen the Mist Token backed option.

Social Lineage

Certain social lineages such as nobility require the character to be native with an application made and approved by the Game Masters in addition to its cost in Mist Tokens. Outlanders are free to be nobility from their setting however such titles will hold limited sway in the Realms of Terror.

Perks

Perks are minor advantages which are bought by Mist Tokens and selected from this menu, beyond the above two options.

Languages

Bonus languages are in addition to Common and any language awarded due to race or origin selection. A player may also forfeit their character’s knowledge of Common at this step. Bonus language allocation does not need to be done during character creation, but must be performed in the out of character experience.

Equipment

Supporting equipment, tools and weapons may be purchased from this menu interface, paid with the character’s starting silver stipend. It may be invoked at any time during character creation using the !menu, short alias !m chat command.

Appearance

All details of a character’s appearance beyond phenotype may be altered from this menu for free. It may be invoked at any time during character creation or again in the out of character experience with the !customize, short alias !c chat command.

Finalization

Once approved by the Game Masters, a player may choose their character’s starting location, pay out any Mist Token cost incurred from their account balance and enter the world.