To Chapter Four
Note: This discussion assumes that the players will be playing Cherubim characters. While this is suggested quite strongly, there is nothing in the rules that stops a player from playing a Belial character. It is up to the Storyteller if he really wants characters like that running around in his game.
Playing Angel/Demon characters will present itself as a new challenge to even the most experienced role-player. Unlike the other World of Darkness games the players are not playing characters brought up in human society. Vampires, Werewolves, Mummies, Immortals, and Mages, although supernatural, are basically human. The Cherubim were born before the birth of time, their intellect and wisdom exceeds far beyond even a mortal's wildest dreams. They are, in short, perfect beings. Luckily this is not the character that the players must play. Like the powers of the Cherubim, much of their intellect is taken up in maintaining the link to heaven. When in Eden they are bounded by the physical and mental limitations of humanity. They are not the super-beings that they are in heaven, and they are prone to human mistakes and error.
Pursuant to this, Angel/Demon players do have to make a character just like everyone else. This does not represent the true abilities of the character however, it represents the aspect of the character that can materialize itself into reality. A Cherub in his own sphere is a force that humanity cannot comprehended. Even with this though, an Angel/Demon character is still mentally superior to mortals while on earth. Only compared to his true form is he a babbling fool.
The first thing a player should do is come up with a good concept for his or her character. This will make character creation a lot easier. Then you must choose the choir you come from. The most common choir is the Cherubim, the common angels (Well, as common as an angel can get). But there are a few others. There are the Belial, the demons from hell. The Uriel, the angels of death. The Fallen, angels that have sinned and are teetering on the edge of oblivion. And The Sundered, demons that have escaped hell but can't gain entrance to heaven. (The choirs will be explained in depth later in the book).
Angel/Demon characters have a Nature like any mortal character. This can be anything virtuous or selfish. This may seem a little unusual that a Cherub can be selfish, or a Demon could be virtuous, but you must keep in mind that Angels, just like humans, have the power of free will. This was responsible for Satan's fall, and it may serve the characters in a very similar manner. Remember, not even the Cherubim are beyond the grasp of Lucifer. Angel/Demon characters very seldom have a Demeanor different than their Nature. They are socially rather simple creatures, saying what they think, and feeling what they feel. Players start characters in the Luna Sphere, the lowest one, they must work their way up with good deeds if they wish to get more powerful.
Angels are not men or women. They are not tall or short, good looking or ugly, fat or thin. You do not to determine any physical characteristics for a Angel/Demon character, though you will have to do twice as much work on his mental ones. There are only five of the nine attributes that an Angel/Demon character can allocate points to: Charisma, Manipulation, Perception, Intelligence, and Wits. Beings without bodies have little need for Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, and Appearance. These four attributes will change every time the character enters a new host, and will be determined by the Storyteller every time the character switches bodies. In the five characteristics that the character will create, the character starts with a base 2 dots in each. She then has 9 attribute points to allocate though these attributes, and yes an attribute can be raised above five (See Players Manual or World of Darkness: Mummy for details on this). As I said, Angels are still mentally superior to mortals.
Abilities, on the other had, are done in exactly the same fashion as in Vampire/Werewolf/Mage. Why are beings of such power not as advanced in abilities as they are in attributes? Two reasons. One, abilities are not something that is used outside of Eden, so everything that angels have learned they have learned while on earth. Two, angels don't spend very much time in any one body so they don't spend much time learning one skill. Even though they are very old they are not really in any position to learn a single skill very well. Hence normal abilities.
The only trait angels have is Willpower, and this trait they use to a great extent. Apart from being able to do what every other character can do with Willpower, an Angel/Demon character can all use it to fuel his powers. All characters start with a five in Willpower, and this can be increased with the use of freebie points. In this version of the Storyteller System Backgrounds are not used. This is not a hard rule however, if you can dream up some Backgrounds that make sense for an Angel character ('cause 'frankly I can't) go right ahead an put 7 points into them. But unless inspiration strikes you, this is a useless advantages.
The sphere powers of the angels are given according to their choir, but their power in each is determined by their sphere. There are also a number of extra powers that they might learn as gifts from their choirs. The number of points that each character gets in these extra powers depends on the choir.
Angel/Demon characters have 15 freebie points to spend. This is identical to Vampire/Werewolf/Mage except refer to the points costs bellow.
| Attributes | 5 points per dot |
| Willpower | 3 points per dot |
| Abilities | 2 points per dot |
| Backgrounds | 1 point per dot (if in use) |
| Powers | 7 points per dot |
This is basically all there is to creating a Angel/Demon character. You may want to determine what your characters motives and methods are, and how they differ from the usual motives and methods of the Cherubim/Belial. Feel free to push the boundaries of the game and what you believe an Angel to be. Remember, even heaven has its Mavericks.
To Chapter Four