Characters in WEIRD consist of a number of standardized Characteristics, a number of Genre-specific Expressions, Gumption, your Character’s Flair, and your Character’s Burdens and Convictions.
Characteristics represent who and what your Character is, both narratively and mechanically. They help inform the Game Master of what kinds of stories you are interested in for your Character and also how you want to engage with the game mechanically during Combat.
Things like magical affinity, mech piloting style, or cell type are all considered Characteristics.
Regardless of the Genre, Characteristics will be presented as a series of different options with each option having a number of available Abilities.
For example, in Sagebrush, you choose a Class from a list of 8 different Classes. After having chosen a Class, you then choose a number of Abilities from that Class for your starting Character.
Expressions tend to be less standardized than Characteristics and can represent a myriad of different skills or traits for different Genres. While they can help inform the Game Master of what stories you are interested in for your Character, they tend to be more mechanically focused.
Things like what weapons you carry, your magical overload response, or mech frame would all be considered Expressions.
Based on the Genre you are currently using, you will be instructed to choose some number of Expressions to complete your character.
For example, in Sagebrush, each Character chooses a Weapon and some Equipment to start their Character with.
Gumption determines how quickly your character acts in combat, how ready they are to spring into action. When Combat starts, turn order is determined by each Character’s Gumption, starting with the highest and moving to the lowest. Gumption is difficult to change, meaning that the relative turn order within a group of characters will typically remain the same.
Gumption is determined by your Characteristics and is unlikely to change throughout the course of play.
For example, in Sagebrush, your Character’s class determines your Gumption.
Flair is how you would describe your Character to someone else. Is your Character tall, dark, and handsome? Or maybe they’re mysterious, wreathed in shadow, and speak in a harsh whisper?
Regardless of the specifics, each Characteristic you choose will present a series of possibilities for your Character’s Flair, helping you determine their looks, mannerisms, and personality.
Flair has no mechanical impact on the game, so if none of the options presented match your vision of your Character, feel free to disregard them and choose your own Flair.