Character Creation

In the Cypher System, each character can be described as follows:
“I am a __(Descriptor)___ ___(Type)___ who __(Focus)__.”
This simple formula is used to craft an array of characters who not only have distinct powers and abilities, but also feel truly exciting. The Cypher System has detailed rules for creating characters. The process for character creation in Splinter-Reach is largely the same. Most options contained within the Cypher System Rulebook are generally considered acceptable “as is” unless otherwise noted in the corresponding sections that follow.

---

Types

Types represent the core "archetype" if you will of who a character is. Is this character the face of the group? A spell-caster? A rogue? These questions are typically impacted by the character's type. The Splinters setting introduces five new Types the player can choose from to create unique characters that fit the theme of the world.

Bastion

Bastions often view themselves as all that stands between the world and oblivion from the Vael. They are powerful and direct, often filling the role of front-line fighters or tanks for their groups.
Read up on Bastions

Link

Links often serve as diplomats between Splinters, building connections and agreements. A Link is almost always the driver of any social situation.
Read up on Link.

Magen

Manipulators of the Pael itself, Magen command forces beyond the mundane to manipulate the world around them. Each Magen focuses in a particular specialty (Virtue) of magic and those specialties influence what powers a Magen can draw. Magen within groups range from long-range artillery to utility casters..
Read up on Magen

Reacher

A true product of the Splintering, the Reacher possesses a small portable Reach that allows for a variety of interesting tricks and techniques, making the Reacher extremely mobile. Reachers often fill the role of scouts.
Read up on Reachers

Scrape

Certainly the topic of scorn, Scrapes might be argued as the most practical of types found in Altan’ruhl. They are adept at sifting through the remains of a destroyed civilization and securing what might be beneficial to survival.
Read up on Scrape.

Types from Other Material

If you wish to select a type from any other Cypher System, it is possible they can be adapted to fit the setting. The core types from the Cypher System Ruleset book are listed below with notes about adapting directly to the Splinters setting.
Speak to your GM about any Type beyond the five laid out specifically in this reference.

Adept

Almost any character that might fit as an Adept probably belongs as a Magen. There are places in Altan’ruhl where magic behaves in different ways (and there are forces older than Altan’ruhl at play that leverage magic in an entirely alien manner), so go here with caution.

Explorer

Be sure that any character built purely as an explorer couldn’t be already served by playing any of a Link, Reacher, or Scrape as all three share many qualities with the Explorer.
Despite the options, the world of Altan’ruhl has many mysteries to explore and secrets to uncover that would fill life-times worth of adventures for the Explorer.

Speaker

Speakers are best categorized as Links in the Splinters setting, but it’s possible there are face-type characters that aren’t interested in traveling from Splinter to Splinter (although I might ask what makes them a PC vs an NPC). That said, there is no reason a custom speaker character couldn’t be created.

Warrior

While the Bastion was built based on the Warrior template, there are many styles of combatants in Altan’ruhl that wouldn’t be captured by any Bastion build. The need for Warriors is tremendous. Assassins can materialize directly into the heart of a city’s defenses by using a Reach, and then of course there’s the desire to protect the Reaches themselves. No crown treasury has ever carried the same kind of value, or been as vulnerable to thieves, as a Reach.
Widespread destruction caused by the Pael has strained the faith in Magen, given that they were self-professed to be the masters of controlling the Pael and have seemingly been helpless against this manifestation of it. Likewise, where once a single Magen might be considered the equal of a hundred warriors, the introduction of Cyphers into the world have massively leveled the playing field as warriors are now able to bring their own unexpected tricks to every encounter.

---

Descriptors

The Cypher System Ruleset contains a number of descriptors, listed below; most of these will function without change. Any specific changes have been called out specifically.

Appealing	Cruel	Hideous	Mad	Skeptical
Beneficent	Dishonorable	Honorable	Mechanical*	Stealthy
Brash	Doomed	Impulsive	Mysterious	Strong
Calm	Empathic	Inquisitive	Mystical*	Strong-Willed
Chaotic	Exiled	Intelligent	Naive	Swift
Charming	Fast	Intuitive	Perceptive	Tongue-Tied
Clever	Foolish	Jovial	Resilient	Tough
Clumsy	Graceful	Kind	Risk-Taking	Vicious
Craven	Guarded	Learned	Rugged	Virtuous
Creative	Hardy	Lucky	Sharp-Eyed	Weird

* The Mechanical and Mystical Descriptors do not apply in Splinter-Reach.
Splinters also introduces 16 new Descriptors for use in your games, some of which are specific to this setting, others that carry value in any setting they are applied. For more on these, see the section on New Descriptors.

Focus

If the type represents the core nature of the character, and the descriptor represents a weighting of that character towards a particular trait... The Focus is what makes the character truly an individual. Foci represent the uniqueness characters possess, and the distinct flavor you might find. Cypher likewise contains a fairly comprehensive list of Foci, but these tend to have more specific abilities and benefits, many of which would not be relevant in the Splinter-Reach setting. That said, there are too many to walk through in detail, so review the list contained within the core handbook, and work with your GM to tailor the Focus to fit the setting.
The influence of the Pael has caused a number of unexpected and bizarre changes to people, which can result in a wide range of special skills and unique abilities. However, no amount of "Pael" is going to make "Pilots a Starship" setting appropriate... But airships do exist within certain Splinters, such as the Saldragon Princedom. Perhaps the Focus could be tweaked to "Pilots an Airship" with minimal adjustments?
Likewise, the Splinter-Reach setting introduces a number of new Foci. See the New Foci for specific details.