Player Characters (PCs) for One Hundred and Two Lightyears Away Pen and Paper Adventures are created using an adapted D&D 5e ruleset — streamlined for a gritty sci-fi western setting. This system emphasizes survival, negotiation, faction politics, and the moral complexity of life on VOI 700 D rather than high fantasy magic.

Dungeon Masters can either:

• allow players to build custom characters using the guidelines below, or
• use predefined Player Characters, optimized for fast onboarding and balanced party play in both the Beta Age and Gamma Age.

All predefined characters come with a full sheet (stats, skills, flaws, equipment, tactical actions, and personality cues).

Characters in the 102 universe may belong to:

• ExoHumans — the displaced descendants of Earth
• Native Tribes — only playable with DM approval; mechanically stronger, narratively restricted
• Zonko — *never* playable; powerful NPC species

In official adventures, Player Characters are ExoHuman by default.

Use one of the following methods:

• Standard Array: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8
• Point Buy: 27 points
• Predefined PC Stats (recommended for beginners)

Abilities follow D&D 5e: STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA

Technology skills, weapon handling, survival checks, and social actions rely on these stats.

The 102 system replaces fantasy classes with frontier roles:

• Scout (mobility, tracking, survival)
• Operative (stealth, infiltration, social engineering)
• Vanguard (melee combat, leadership, protection)
• Sharpshooter (ranged combat, precision, overwatch)
• Technician (devices, hacking, repairs, jury-rigging)
• Medic (stabilization, diagnosis, improvised treatment)

Roles determine:

• core skill proficiencies
• saving throws
• starting equipment
• special maneuvers / tactical actions

Backgrounds reflect the social, political, or frontier context of VOI 700 D. Examples include:

• Firetown Settler
• Dark Side Smuggler
• Frontier Linguist
• Peace Treaty Clerk
• Guarding Trooper

Backgrounds provide:

• two skill proficiencies
• tools / devices
• one narrative trait or flaw
• one “Signature Move” (non-combat or minor combat boost)

Skills follow D&D conventions but include sci-fi additions:

• Investigation (tech & devices)
• Survival (e.g. Dark Side, Desert Side)
• Mechanics (Gamma Age only)
• Social Insight (enhanced version of Insight)

Languages include:

• ExoEnglish
• Shang Telu
• Native Dialects of Shang Telu (e.g. Honga Dialect)

Instead of medieval items, characters begin with sci-fi western gear:

• industrial knives, improvised pistols (non-lethal), or tools
• patched jackets, heat vests, goggles
• portable lamps/lanterns, ration kits
• comm devices, frost-proof satchels

Torque rifles, Smart Matter relics, and high-tech Zonko gear appear only as loot or DM rewards.

Each role gains tactical abilities such as:

• Charm Feint
• Calm Directive
• Rapid Scan
• Steady Aim
• Overclock Toolset
• Push to Cover

These behave like “spells” mechanically but are grounded in social, physical, or technological actions.

Below is the official roster of predefined PCs available for download. Each comes with a full character sheet (PDF), balanced stats, backstory, traits, flaws, equipment, and tactical features.

Dungeon Masters may add or remove characters depending on party size.

Adventures set during the Beta Age focus on frontier chaos, colonial tensions, and early encounters with Native Tribes.

Available Beta Age PCs:

Gamma Age characters operate in a more political, regulated environment. Their backgrounds often tie into:

• Federal Confederation
• Allotment system
• Guarding Troopers
• black markets
• social surveillance under GAIA

Available Gamma Age PCs:

• *No Gamma Age Player Characters available yet.*

(Placeholders will automatically update as character sheets are added.)

• The Beta Age
• The Gamma Age
• Pen & Paper Overview
• Scene Template
• Sandbox Adventures Section