a column on roleplaying
by Robin D. Laws
On a recent episode of our podcast, Ken and I talked about adapting Dreamhounds of Paris as a GUMSHOE One-2-One setting. In a moment of rash exuberance I promised to provide character cards for some of its key figures. Use these as a model for your own conversion if I failed to include the surrealist your player most wants to portray. You’ll need a copy of Dreamhounds to make use of this.
Luis Buñuel
Two Fisted Filmmaker
Investigative Abilities: [Academic]
Anthropology [Academic]
Art History [Academic]
Assess Honesty [Interpersonal]
Bargain [Interpersonal]
Charm [Interpersonal]
Chemistry [Technical]
Dream Lore [Academic]
History [Academic]
Inspiration [Interpersonal]
Intimidation [Interpersonal]
Languages (Spanish, French) [Academic]
Photography 3 [Technical]
Streetwise [Interpersonal]
Theology [Academic]
General Abilities:
Art-Making (Filmmaker) 2 dice
Athletics 2 dice
Cool 1 die
Devices 2 dice
Disguise 1 die
Dreamscaping 2 dice
Fighting 2 dice
First Aid 1 die
Instability 2 dice
Preparedness 1 die
Stability 2 dice
Starting Problem
Pugnacious
Continuity
You let your hot temper and Iberian machismo, not your superior intellect, determine when your fists go flying.
-1 to Cool tests to keep your fists in check when your temper flares.
Jean Cocteau
Resplendent Anathema
Investigative Abilities
Architecture [Academic]
Art History [Academic]
Chemistry [Technical]
Cthulhu Mythos [Academic]
Dream Lore [Academic]
Flattery [Interpersonal]
History [Academic]
Library Use [Academic]
Literature [Academic]
Medicine [Academic]
Occult [Academic]
Pharmacy [Technical]
Seduction [Interpersonal]
Streetwise [Interpersonal]
General Abilities:
Art-Making (Visual Art, Film, Fiction, Playwright) 2 dice
Art-Making (Poetry) 1 die
Athletics 1 die
Conceal 1 die
Cool 1 die (-1 penalty in real world, +1 bonus in Dreamlands)
Disguise 2 dice
Dreamscaping 2 dice
First Aid 2 dice
Fleeing 2 dice
Hypnosis 1 die
Instability 2 dice
Preparedness 1 die
Stability 1 die
Starting Problem
White Dragon
Continuity
You’ve kicked your opium habit a number of times. Which is the optimistic way of saying you never quite kick your opium habit.
-1 to Cool tests when tempted by the opportunity to smoke opium, or any of its Dreamlands equivalents.
Salvador Dalí
Calculating Visionary
Investigative Abilities:
Anthropology [Academic]
Archaeology [Academic]
Architecture [Academic]
Art History [Academic]
Biology [Academic]
Charm [Interpersonal]
Chemistry [Technical]
Dream Lore [Academic]
Flattery [Interpersonal]
History [Academic]
Languages [Academic]
Library Use [Academic]
Theology [Academic]
General Abilities
Art-Making (Visual Art) 2 dice
Art-Making (Film) 1 die
Art-Making (Poetry) 1 die
Athletics 1 die
Dreamscaping 2 dice
Cool 1 die
Fleeing 2 die
Instability 2 dice
Preparedness 1 die
Stability 1 die
Sense Trouble 1 die
Stealth 1 die
Starting Problem
Dependent on Gala
Continuity
Without your tigress wife by your side, even ordinary tasks, like crossing a busy street, paralyze you with fear.
-1 to Cool and Stability tests when away from Gala. After reuniting with Gala, gain +2 to Cool and +1 to Stability tests until next interval.
Gala
Protective Devourer
Investigative Abilities
Accounting [Academic]
Assess Honesty [Interpersonal]
Bargain [Interpersonal]
Biology [Academic]
Bureaucracy [Interpersonal]
Interrogation [Interpersonal]
Intimidation [Interpersonal]
Languages (Russian, French, English) [Academic]
Library Use [Academic]
Locksmith [Technical]
Medicine [Academic]
Occult [Academic]
Seduction* [Interpersonal]
Streetwise [Interpersonal]
*After making a Seduction Push, roll a die. On an even result, regain the Push.
General Abilities
Athletics 1 die
Card Reading 2 dice
Conceal 1 die
Cool 2 dice
Fighting 1 die
Filch 1 die
Fleeing 1 die
Stability 2 dice
Sense Trouble 2 dice
Shadowing 1 die
Stealth 2 dice
Starting Problem
Grasping
Continuity
Survival means everything. Your brother’s death during the Russian Revolution taught you that. And in this world survival means one thing: money.
-2 to Cool tests to avoid the temptations of avarice.
Kiki de Montparnasse
Free-living Muse
Investigative Abilities:
Assess Honesty [Interpersonal]
Bargain [Interpersonal]
Bureaucracy [Interpersonal]
Charm [Interpersonal]
Dream Lore [Academic]
Flattery [Interpersonal]
Locksmith [Technical]
Photography [Technical]
Reassurance [Interpersonal]
Seduction [Interpersonal]
Streetwise [Technical]
General Abilities:
Art-Making (Visual Art) 1 die
Art-Making (Dance) 1 die
Art-Making (Singing 6) 2 dice
Cool 1 die
Athletics 2 dice
Conceal 2 dice
Filch 2 dice
Fleeing 2 dice
Instability 1 die
Stability 2 dice
Sense Trouble 2 dice
Starting Problem
Hard Liver
Continuity
You adore nothing more than another drink. Except of course for the drink after that.
-1 to Cool tests to avoid overindulgence in intoxicants.
Valentine Hugo
Little Swan
Investigative Abilities:
Archaeology [Academic]
Architecture [Academic]
Art History [Academic]
Assess Honesty [Interpersonal]
Bargain [Interpersonal]
Charm [Interpersonal]
Dream Lore [Academic]
Flattery [Interpersonal]
History [Academic]
Medium [Academic]
Occult [Academic]
Pharmacy [Technical]
Photography [Technical]
Reassurance [Interpersonal]
General Abilities:
Art-Making (Painting/Illustration) 2 dice
Athletics 1 die
Cool 1 die
Conceal 1 die
Disguise 1 die
Driving 1 die
Dreamscaping 1 die
First Aid 1 die
Fleeing 2 dice
Hypnosis 1 die
Instability 2 dice
Preparedness 1 die
Stability 2 dice
Stealth 1 die
Starting Problem
Lovesick
ContinuityWhen you fall in love, you fall hard, and never give up, no matter how much resistance you face. Others call you a fool. You call yourself a lover.
-2 to avoid throwing yourself humiliatingly at the current object of your obsession, Andre Breton. Void during the brief period after 1931 when he finally gives in to you.
Great Stuff! I’d love to see a Mutant City Blues Confidential!