Shemping Player Characters

There’s a good chance I’ll be playtesting an as-yet-unannounced game tonight. I can’t say anything yet, but it will be using an established system and it will be a contemporary setting. I know the base system, although I don’t know what modifications will be made to fit the setting, or what specific types of characters will be available for play. All that’s fine; I can always put together a pretty decent character in terms of numbers and abilities. The hard part for me is always coming up with a personality.

So I decided to throw together some shemps before the game. Personalities, and a list of randomly generated names. What I’ll do then is look at the character types available for play, and pick the personality shemp and name that most seems to suit (or maybe not; I might pick a personality that doesn’t really suit the job, just to create roleplaying opportunities). I can pick abilities based on what seems to drive the character, and also adjust the character’s personality based on their role and abilities. I’m hoping that I’ll get a well-rounded character from the start.

Here’s what I’m going to work with:

Shemp #1
A spiritual person, nurturing and selfless. Maybe religious, maybe just dedicated to a moral or ethical code. More concerned about others than him(her)self. Very patient. Looks at the role as a spiritual practice, a way to link to the the divine, do good works, help others.

Shemp #2
Has destructive impulses, possibly self-destructive. Trying to overcome those demons and start a new life. May be new to this role, or may have had an epiphany as recent back story. Has empathy, a social conscience, is a sharing and cooperative person.

Shemp #3
A person who takes commitments seriously. Has some creative outlet as a hobby, as a way to express him/her self and let off steam. Likes challenges, going new places, seeing new things, doing what hasn’t been done.

Possible Names
Vernon Oxley
Kurt Bednarczyk
Jesse Strait
Erik Perrino
Neil Cully
Lon Sheedy
Max Borge
Christian McTiernan
Allan Dillinger
Clayton Hodsdon

I will, of course, report back on how this worked out… provided, of course, I can talk about it and the character doesn’t reveal too much about the game itself.