1.4 Starting cp value

When the referee okays a character concept, he/she will tell the player what starting cp value to use for the character. The starting cp value (plus any background bonuses) represents the limit on the total character point (cp) value of all the character's attributes.

Based on the starting cp value, there will be a limit on:

• the total amount of cps that a player can spend on his/her character's characteristic scores;
• the maximum number of optional talents that a character can have (note - this does not include talents that the character is required to have because of his/her race);
• the maximum number of extra cps that a player can allocate to any single skill at the start of the game, above the number of cps required as a result of his/her background. He/she can allocate up to this amount to as many skills as he/she wants.

The referee decides the starting cp values and limits. Usually, the starting cp value will depend on the campaign level that the referee wants to run, as follows:

The referee may choose to give a player a higher starting cp value, for a number of possible reasons:

• Conversions from other role-playing games. Where an existing character from another game system is converted to Age of Magic, the referee should allow an appropriate Starting cp value to represent that character's previous experience.
• Retirement of previous character. Sometimes, a player will retire a previous character, who was significantly experienced, while the other players in the group keep their equivalently experienced characters. If this happens, the referee may decide to allow the player to start his/her new replacement character with a higher Starting cp value than usual, so that the new character is not significantly less powerful than the other characters. Note that "retirement" may include situations where a character died acting in character.
• Unable to balance a character. A player may have a very clear character conception and idea of the level of the character's ability scores. Sometimes, no matter how hard the player tries, he/she cannot make the character balance without compromising the character conception. In those circumstances, the referee should consider increasing the Starting cp value to balance the character. The referee should give this award only where he/she is very keen on the player's character conception. The referee should also claw back the additional Starting cp value awarded, by making a deduction from future experience awards to the character.
• Non-player characters. An NPC may well have had previous adventures before the point at which the player characters meet him/her. The referee should feel free to reflect this in his/her Starting cp value, when generating the NPC.

See also:

• Character generation process;
• Previous step in character generation: Character concept;
• Next step in character generation: Working out the character's characteristic scores.