Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 13 STR 3 12- Lift 151.6 kg; 2 1/2d6 HTH Damage [3] 13 DEX 9 12- OCV: 4/DCV: 4 13 CON 6 12- 10 BODY 0 11- 13 INT 3 12- PER Roll 12- 13 EGO 6 12- ECV: 4 15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 10 COM 0 11- 4 PD 1 Total: 4 PD (0 rPD) 3 ED 0 Total: 3 ED (0 rED) 3 SPD 7 Phases: 4, 8, 12 6 REC 0 26 END 0 24 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 40 Movement: Running: 6"/12" Leaping: 2"/4" Swimming: 3"/6" Cost Powers & Skills 1 "Took To The Water": Swimming +1" (3" total), END 1 Perks 10 Friday: Follower (50-point base) Skills 6 +2 with Early Firearms 3 Animal Handler (Birds, Bovines) 12- 3 Climbing 12- 3 Concealment 12- 4 KS: The Bible and Christian Theology 13- 0 Language: English (idiomatic; literate) 2 Language: Portuguese (fluent conversation) 1 Language: Spanish (basic conversation) 2 Navigation (Marine) 12- 2 SS: Mathematics 11- 2 Survival (Tropical, Tropical Coasts/Pelagic Environments) 12- 3 Tactics 12- 3 Trading 12- 4 TF: Large Wind-Powered Boats, Rafts, Small Rowed Boats, Small Wind-Powered Boats 4 WF: Early Firearms, Axes, Maces, Hammers, and Picks, Blades 3 Jack of All Trades 2 1) PS: Basket-Weaving 12- 1 2) PS: Carpenter 11- 2 3) PS: Farmer 12- 1 4) PS: Fisherman 11- 2 5) PS: Knot-Tying 12- 1 6) PS: Merchant 11- 1 7) PS: Potter 11- 2 8) PS: Sailing 12- 1 9) PS: Shipwright 11- 1 10) PS: Tailor 11- 3 Traveler 1 1) AK: African/Guinea Coast 11- 1 2) AK: Brazil 11- 4 3) AK: Island Of Despair 14- 1 4) CK: St. Salvadore 11- 1 5) CuK: Customs of the Sallee Rovers 11- Total Powers & Skill Cost: 81 Total Cost: 121 75+ Disadvantages 0 Normal Characteristic Maxima 15 Psychological Limitation: Code Versus Killing (self-defense only) (Common, Strong) 15 Psychological Limitation: Fears Discovery By Cannibals (Common, Strong) 10 Psychological Limitation: Strong Believer In The "Merciful Dispositions Of Heaven" (Common, Moderate) 6 Experience Points Total Disadvantage Points: 121
Background/History: Robinson Crusoe was born in 1632, in the city of York, the son of a businessman. Rejecting the prospect of spending the rest of his life engaged in a mindless and monotonous trade, he runs away to sea, taking ship September 1, 1651. Shipwrecked, he remains undaunted, and sets out again, only to be captured by Moorish pirates, and kept as a slave for two years. Escaping from captivity by boat, he makes his way south, along the coast of Africa, accompanied by a young boy named Xury. The two are picked up by a Portuguese ship bound for Brazil. Robinson befriends the ship’s captain, and with his help acquires a plantation.
Robinson spends six years in Brazil, improving his plantation and amassing a small amount of wealth. Asked to join an expedition to Africa to purchase slaves, he agrees, but the ship is wrecked in a storm and Robinson finds himself alone on an island 40 miles off of the coast of what will eventually be Venezuela. His companions all dead, all he has is what he can salvage from the ship or find on the island. Gathering up what supplies he can, Robinson makes the best of it, eventually spending 28 years, 2 months, and 19 days on the “Island of Despair.”
Personality/Motivation: Originally dismissive of the simple life his father led, Robinson undergoes a major change while on the island. Having as his only reading material a Bible, he puts aside time every day to study it, eventually reading it through numerous times. This awakens in him a religious fervor, bringing him to thank God for his present situation, instead of cursing him. Robinson realizes that instead of dying a lonely death at sea, he has all he needs at hand, and wants for nothing, except for companionship. Thus, if he’s meant to be rescued, he will, and he might as well as get on with the business of survival until God sees fit to send him a saviour.
That said, Robinson understands that man must also provide for himself and God doesn’t suffer fools. He does all he can to fortify is living area and takes to hiding when cannibals from the mainland arrive to feast on captives taken in battle. He considers killing them, but holds off, realizing he has no right to kill men who aren’t committing a crime (by the cannibal’s customs). Simply put, as they have shown him no violence, he won’t either. Finally, however, he manages to help rescue a captive from one of the feasts, and eventually attacks another cannibal feast, driving them away from the island for good.
Quote: “And thus I left the island, the 19th of December, as I found by the ship’s account, in the year 1686, after I had been upon it eight-and-twenty years, two months, and nineteen days; being delivered from this second captivity the same day of the month that I first made my escape in longboat from among the Moors of Sallee.”
Powers/Tactics: Robinson Crusoe is very much an ‘everyman.’ He’s not exceptionally strong, fast, intelligent, or skilled, but is industrious, and by trial and error teaches himself a wealth of skills needed to survive on his deserted island. His time spent at sea has given him a “competent knowledge of mathematics” as well as an understand of the “rules of navigation.” He can keep an account of a ship’s course, take astronomical observations, and in general, “understands some things that were needed to be understood by a sailor.”
Appearance: Robinson never describes himself physically. although he mentions having an extensive beard and mustache. He does list his clothes and traveling gear, which consists of a cap, jacket, and breeches of goat’s hide. Around his waist runs a belt, which supports a saw and a hatchet, while another belt is slung over one shoulder and enables him to carry a pouch of powder and another of shot. On his back is a woven basket, he rests a musket on his shoulder, and rigged a goatskin umbrella over his head. His skin is tanned, but not as dark as one would expect.
Designer's Notes: A while back I picked up a number of classic novels from Borders. Each was $5.95, and they included Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Gulliver’s Travels, and Robinson Crusoe. While I liked the first two, I found Robinson Crusoe tedious, mainly because of Defoe’s constant inclusion of Puritan Christian ethics and praises. While I don’t mind Robinson becoming closer to God during his isolation, the repetition of Robinson praising Providence seems overdone.
Robinson Crusoe is written to be a fairly healthy and fit Heroic-level human, hence the 13s in many of his characteristics. While his 11- in many of his Skills might seem a little generous, he does have 20+ years to perfect them, and in many cases, has to make down without proper tools.
When going about the island, Robinson has a musket on one shoulder and two pistols in his belt. He also hangs a cutlass from his waist.
Robinson Crusoe's Hero Designer File
(Robinson Crusoe created by Daniel Defoe, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
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