STEP 0 - Think about your Character concept.
Dave wants to play in Guy's campaign, set in the mythical land of Lyonesse. This is a Heroic campaign with characters created using the Heroic Points method. Although not Christian the lands of Lyonesse are very religious, owing their continued existence to the worship of the God of the Sea Dylan. Although Dave usually likes to play sneaky types like thieves or foresters this time he decides that he would like to play a Knight, not too highly up the social scale, but the sort of noble Warrior that undertakes Quests and rescues fair damsels. He already decides on the name "Sir Rhys ap Noson Lawen" for his character.
STEP 1 -Choose your race
Although Lyonesse has a small Elven population, and Dwarves are known to trade with it, Dave wants his character to be Human.
STEP 2 -Decide which method to use in creating your character (pg 1-1 to 1-2)
Since Guy has specified that the campaign is a Heroic one, Dave has 150 points to spend on Rhys.
STEP 3 - Birth Omens (pg 1-2)
Dave buys Rhys "Well Aspected". This costs him ten points leaving him a total of 140 points.
STEP 4 - Determining Personal Attributes (pgs 1-2 to 1-4)
As Rhys is to be a Knight, Dave checks the details of the Knightly Vocation on page 1-39. The primary and Secondary Attributes are Strength and Constitution so they should be high. Agility should also be high to make Rhys fast and accurate in combat and a high Discipline and Piety might not go amiss for fortitude in the face of danger and to be in good standing with the Gods of Lyonesse. Characteristic Level Points Cost AR   AGIL 17 15 + 2 + 2 = 19 82% STR 17 15 + 2 + 2 = 19 82% CON 15 15 76% INT 13 13 70% WIS 12 12 66% DISC 14 14 73% BV 11 11 62% APP 13 13 70% PTY 12 12 66% Total Points Spent 128 Dave has spent 138 points so far, leaving him with 12 yet to spend, though he might be able to gain a few points by taking some adverse effects later.
STEP 5 - STEP 5 - Determine Player Character's background (pgs 1-4 to 1-11)
Dave wants to have a character whose father is a Landed Knight, so he pays the 9 points to gain that Social Class, only 3 remaining, Rolling the dice on table 1.5g (bottom of page 1-9) Dave rolls a lucky 74, making Rhy's father a superior kind of Knight, a Bannerette. This is a military title and Rhys may not automatically inherit it, even if he inherits his father's lands and title of Knight. Looking at the notes (page 1-9) on the Feudal Gentry and the table Rhys gains (in addition to Brawling and Counting [He has Intellect greater than 11] see page 1-5) the "Basic Chivalric Training" package and 3 Combat skills. As Rhys has 13 Intellect he also knows how to read (see notes on Landless Knights table 1.5f) According to the note to the table Rhys can swap the additional Combat skills for other skills befitting Leadership his social status, for example Heraldry, but Dave will decide on that later. Rhys might also choose to forego military training in favour of a scholarly life but Dave wants a warrior so a warrior he will be.
STEP 6 - Sibling Rank (pg 1-11)
Although Dave could spend the final 3points to buy Rhys status of 3rd Child, Dave decides to risk the dice. He rolls 11, illegitimate but acknowledged. Ouch I suppose it could be worse. Because Dave rolled for it he does not get the points bonus that he would have got had he chosen it as an option. At least this gives Rhys a reason for wandering the world seeking adventure and his fortune, he is unlikely to inherit his father's estate. It also gives a good explanation for Rhys's name, "Rhys of the Merry Evening"
STEP 7 -Status in the Family (pgs 1-11 to 1-12)
Dave doesn't want to risk Rhys being a Black Sheep so he defaults to "Credit to the Family".
STEP 8 - The Curse (pgs 1-12 to 1-13)
As Rhys is "Well Aspected", Dave doesn't have to roll for a curse and he decides not to choose one.
STEP 9 - Special Talents and Abilities (pg 1-14)
Dave decides to see if the Rhys is unusual in any way and rolls a 32%. Checking the first table on 1-14 that means that Rhys gains one special ability or talent. A roll on that table gives him 53% Night Vision. As long as some dim light is present Rhys can see a lot better than the average human. Of course this means that Rhys will also have to roll on the "Deficiencies and Defects table"
STEP 10 - Deficiencies and Defects (PGs 9/10)
Dave rolls 50%, as this is more than 40% then Rhys doesn't have a flaw.
STEP 11 -Personal Fears (pgs 1-11 to 1-12)
Dave decides that Rhys doesn't have any personal fears, yet. Time enough to develop them in play later.
STEP 12 - Determine Character size (pgs 1-16 to 1-17)
Unless Dave wants to go back and either reduce some attributes or take on some flaws then he has to roll for Rhys's height, not having enough points to adjust it. He rolls on the Heroic Human Male selection (2D10 + 62) for height and (D10 + 2) for build and Rhys gets 75" height and 6 for build. The build is adjusted by -1 (for having 17 AGIL) and +1 (for having 15 CON) giving him 6 -1 + 1 =6. Rhys is 6' 3" and weighs (10 + (35 * 5)) = 185. Modified for his build that is (185 * 1.05) = 194.25 = 195 pounds, obviously not over muscled.
STEP 13 - Body Levels (pg 1-17 to 1-18)
Checking the table on pg 1-17 Rhys gains 21 Basic body points. Another 2lbs heavier and it would have been 22. To that is added his CON of 15 and half his STR of 17 (rnd down) and Rhys has 21 + 15 + 8 = 44 Body Points Dave consults the table on page 1-18 With a CON of 15 he gains back 7% (3) of his total Body Points per day of rest, meaning that it would take him about 14 weeks to recover from being at Death's door to almost full health
STEP 14 - Fatigue Levels (pgs 1-17 to 1-18)
As Rhys has a a higher STR than DISC, then Dave adds the STR of 17 to the CON of 15 for a total of 32. Dave also takes a note of Rhys's recovery rates, 8 Fatigue Points per hour of Sleep or 5 in the first 10 minutes of resting after strain
STEP 15 - Carry Capacity and Lifting (PG 13)
With a STR of 17, Rhys's lifting Capacity is 140% of his own body weight plus 5 pounds. 5lbs + (195lbs x 1.4) = 278lbs. Fractions would be rounded up. Rhys's Carrying Capacity is half of his Lifting capacity (rounded up). 278lbs x 0.5 = 139lbs.
STEP 16 - Jumping (PG 13)
Next Dave calculates Rhys's jump JUMP = ( 0.25 x (17 + 17)) + 2 = 10.5 Again Fractions are rounded up, so the base jump is 11 feet. If unencumbered then Rhys has a Running Jump 11 + ½D10 Standing jump of five and a half feet.
STEP 17 - Movement (PGs 1-20)
as Rhy's Constitution is higher than his Intellect Dave adds Rhys's BAP = (17 + 15) ÷ 2 = 16 (Fractions are rounded down)
STEP 18 - Horoscope (pgs 1-20 to 1-21)
Dave decides to roll Rhys's Horoscope, gaining Leo which means the Stars favour Combat and/or Outdoor pursuits for his chosen Vocation. This gives him two skills to select later. As COMBAT skills exist within a Knight's Primary Vocation there is a chance of a free Mastery later.
STEP 19 - Age (pg1-21)
David uses 2 of his last 3 points to buy Rhys a starting age of 19. Rhys has 5,500 experience points to spend as Guy sticks to the rulebook as far as starting experience goes.
STEP 20- Personalising your character's Looks (pg 1-20)
Dave decides Rhys is going to have long straight, brown hair, be clean shaven and have a fair complexion, a sharp nose peering over green eyes.
STEP 21 - Completing your basic character (PGs 1-3 to 1-20)
Rhys has 1 points left to balance, which Dave uses to increase Rhys's Wisdom to 13. Dave already knows that he wants Rhys to be a Knight for whom STR and CON (unless DISC is higher) are the two most important Attributes. With a STR of 17 and CON of 15 (and a DISC of 14), Rhys will gain an additional mastery every 6 levels (table 4.2 on pg 1-37) but like every one else he has 5 Mastery skills, plus the two skills from COMBAT and OUTDOOR that he gains thanks to his Horoscope (Step 18) which he may be able to use for extra Primary Vocational Mastery skills. Rhys will have the following as Primary Vocational Skills, which means that he reduces the DF by one for all those Skills Animal Riding. Mounted Combat Three Combat Skills Rhysed as (K for Knights) Conditioning Endurance Stamina Battlefield Tactics (If Rhys was smarter and wiser then he would get this skill Mastered for free. See the note at the foot of page 1-39) Leadership Any Noble Skills Rhys must chose Animal Riding and Mounted Combat as two of his Masteries if he is to be a Knight. A Knight's secondary skills, which he can reduce the DF of if he takes a Mastery are All other Combat Skills. First Aid Any of the skills gained because of his background
STEP 22 -Buying those Skills and choosing the Masteries (PGs 20/21 and 29 to 74)
Rhys has 5500 points to spend on Skills plus the two skills from his Horoscope. Rhys could just choose to pick up his Masteries but he will want to buy skills. His chance in each skill will be Base Chance (based on the DF) plus any bonuses from his Attributes plus 3% per the level of skill. Each skill has a pair of associated Attributes. These are totaled and compared with table 3.4 on pg 1.29 to find the bonus. Remember Skill Chance = (Base Chance + Attribute Bonus +[3% per level]) First of all he notes his background skills. For these he gets a free level of zero. For an Intelligence over 12 Rhys gets Accurate Counting, which is a non-standard skill rather than a skill roll. (Page 1-63 - Lore Scientific). For being a Human he gets Brawling. DF 3 means a Base Chance of 40% (Skilled). With an Attribute bonus based on STR + AGIL (34) giving him +10%. Rhys's bonus for his skill level is (3% x his skill level) so (3 x 0 = 0). Rhys has (40+10+0=50) 50% Brawling skill. Rhys's PSF is his attribute bonus plus his skill level bonus (+10 +0 = +10), so his PSF is +10%. From his father being a Bannerrette (Step 5)Rhys gets Basic Chivalric Training (Riding, Riding a Warhorse, Mounted Combat, Cavalry Lance, 2 Combat Skills, Wearing Armour and Courtly Manners) plus 3 other Combat Skills AND because his Intellect is over 12 he can read. Rhys gains 10 free skills at level 1, as long as 6 of them are from his Primary Vocation. If he Masters the Primary Vocational Skills then, instead of getting level 1 once Mastered he gains level 2. He chooses Chess, Courtly Love, Heraldry, Leadership, Battlefield Tactics, Stamina (which are all Primary Skills so Rhys will learn them at -1DF), Climbing, Swimming, Read/Write Latin and Read/Write Brythunic Celtic. Skills marked with a Y in the V? column are the skills Dave chooses, or are, for Rhys's Primary Vocational Skills. Courtly Manners is a Primary skill because All Noble skills are Primary Skills. Skills marked with a + in the V? column are one of the 10 free skills (see pg 1-37). Rhys has to choose 3 Combat (K) skills as Primary skills and Riding and Mounted Combat are also Knightly Vocational skills. Thus Rhys starts off with Level 1 and DF -1 in those skills. Skill name V? DF BC ATT SL PSF TSC Brawling 3 40 10 0 10 50 Accurate Counting NS Riding Y 2 50 8 1 11 61 Riding a Warhorse 5 20 8 0 8 28 Mounted Combat Y 4 30 10 1 13 43 Cavalry Lance 5 20 8 0 8 48 Slashing Swords Y 3 40 10 1 13 53 Shield Play (Heavy) Y 3 40 10 1 13 53 Wearing Light Armour NS 0 Courtly Manners Y 2 50 2 0 2 52 Knife and Dagger Fighting 3 40 10 0 10 50 Dodge Y 2 40 6 0 6 46 Fighting Staff 4 30 10 0 10 40 Reading 1 60 6 0 6 66 Chess + 2 50 2 1 5 55 Courtly Love + 2 50 2 1 5 55 Heraldry + 2 50 2 1 5 55 Leadership + 3 40 2 1 5 45 Battlefield Tactics + 4 30 6 1 9 39 Stamina + 2 50 8 1 11 61 Climbing + 3 40 8 1 11 51 Swimming + 3 40 8 1 11 51 Read/Write Latin + 3 40 6 1 9 49 Read/Write Brythunic Celtic + 1 60 6 1 9 69 DF - Difficulty Factor, BC = Base chance, ATT = Attribute Bonus, SL = Skill level PSF = ATT + 3*SL, TSC = Total Skill Chance (BC + PSF) In the list above, Dave puts Rhys's two Skills from Horoscope into Riding and Mounted Combat, in effect making them free Masteries. He puts his other five Masteries into Slashing Swords,Cavalry Lance, Dodge, Courtly Manners and Riding Warhorse. This gives each skill a total drop of DF2 and those skills now looks like this. Skill name DF BC ATT SL PSF TSC Riding 1 60 8 2 14 74 Riding a Warhorse 3 40 8 2 14 54 Mounted Combat 3 40 10 2 16 56 Cavalry Lance 3 40 8 2 14 54 Slashing Swords 2 50 10 2 16 66 Courtly Manners 1 60 2 2 8 68 Dodge 1 60 6 2 12 72 Now Dave gets to spend Rhys's 5,500 experience points. Since the amount of points spent buying skills determines the character's overall level and an amount over 5,000 equals level 2 it is likely that Rhys will start the game at level 2. By now Dave has decided that Rhys will probably travel from court to court, trying his hand at jousting and maybe dazzling the ladies. Or trying to. Skill name V? DF BC ATT SLs bought Final SL PSF TSC cost total cost Leadership Y 3 40% 2 1 2 8 48 500 500 Battlefield Tactics Y 4 30% 2 1 1 5 35 600 1100 Heraldry Y 2 50% 2 1 1 5 55 400 1500 Court Dancing 2 50% 8 2 2 14 64 800 2300 Climbing 3 40% 8 1 2 14 54 500 2800 Charm 4 30% 2 2 2 8 38 1200 4000 Intimidation 4 30% 8 2 2 14 44 1200 5200 He has spent 5,200 points and has 300 left to spend.
STEP 23 - Inheritance and Possessions (pgs 1-95 to 1-96)
Athough Rhys's Father is a Bannerette with a Social Status of 29, Rhys as an acknowledged bastard can only count of three-quarters of that (21) of that for his starting capital (21 * 30 = 630) of 630 pennies. As a credit to the family Rhys gets a little more, Dave rolls 2 so Rhys gains an extra 20% for a total of 792 pennies. He also has a weapon for each Mastered Weapon skill, so that's Lance and Sword. He also gets a set of clothes, a medium Warhorse and gear and a Helm, arming doublet and mail hauberk Dave has now to figure out how to spend Rhys's pennies and that'll be him, a finished character ready for play.

Proofreaders - Tim J W Simth, Guy Robinson.