CARTILAGE character creation for ICRPG and 5e

Creating character matrices for other games using the framework I outlined here. Hope you enjoy, thanks for reading!

ICRPG: Warp Shell

	Basic	Weapon	Guns	Energy	Ultimate
S T R	DRONE “I’ve been breaking my back all my life. Let me give you the same pleasure.” LABOR AUGMENTATION: If you fail a roll, your next attempt is EASY.	DEVASTATOR “If you’re squeamish, look away NOW.” BLOOD SABRE: If you deal 4 or more damage on a hit, you can attack the same target again.	BLASTER “Stand back- this is a big’un!” BIG FRICKIN’ GUN: If you hit with a 15+, this weapon does ULTIMATE EFFORT.	IMPERIATRIX “The Imperium is dead, long live the Imperium!” IMPERIUM SIGNET: You can operate Imperium tech, and forces of darkness believe you to be one of them. Are you?	BASTION “The siege engine has arrived.” TITAN GAUNTLETS: When destroying objects, do ULTIMATE EFFORT.
D E X	PILOT “This is gonna be an interesting maneuver- hold on tight!” FALCON VISOR: All rolls to pilot or operate ships are EASY.	RONIN “Is the payment in order? Good, let’s grab a beer.” WEAPONS KIT: +2 to all WEAPON EFFORT.	SNIPER “Steady… aim… fire.” EMERALD BULLET: One shot. Invoke it before you roll attack. If you hit, it is destroyed. If you miss, there’s a 50-50 chance the bullet is destroyed.	BLIP “Keep up, slowpokes!” SPEED NODE: 3 times a day, you can teleport FAR, ripping through the continuum.	CYBER “Access granted..” MATRIX DRIVE: Upload yourself into a machine for ten minutes once per day.
C O N	ASTRONAUT “Touching down- hold the harness steady.” GRAV BOOTS: You can adhere yourself to any surface, and can never get knocked down or moved without you allowing it.	TITAN “Behind me, NOW.” IRONSKIN MODULE: Ignore DAMAGE less than 4.	SCABBER “Gather the scrap, before they come back!” SCAN MONOCLE: You have ADVANTAGE on rolls to loot or hunt for useful scrap, and you can roll twice and take your favored result when finding LOOT.	FRAGMENT “You may study magic, but it’s in my blood.” YOG FUSIONS: You know 2 Spells.	OUTSIDER “Recalibrating dimensional manifolds.” BOUNDARY SUIT: This interdimensional spacesuit allows you to grow as small as a cat or as large as a couch.
I N T	MECHANIC “Just have to make a quick patch.” LASER SPANNER: This cutting device makes all rolls to repair or break machines EASY.	NEON KNIGHT “Let’s light it up.” ELECTRIC FLASHBANG: Once a day, all who can see this flash and haven’t covered their eyes roll CON or go blind for d4 rounds.	MECHTINKER “Say hello to my not-so-little friend.” RUST BUCKET: A 3-CHUNK mech of your choice. You can augment it with more parts and CHUNKS you find.	PSYCHIC “Their minds are pitifully fragile.” PSYKER CRYSTAL: You can substitute your INT for STR.	MORPH “Genetics is just a suggestion.” MUTAGEN VIAL: 3 doses, roll CON to morph. On a success, you can morph how you please, on a failed roll, your morph is random.
W I S	ADHERENT “It is Zurin’s will.” MONK NANOS: Once a day, touch someone and heal them for ULTIMATE EFFORT.	HIDDEN “Stick to the edges and follow me.” CLOAK: +2 to ARMOR, all rolls to stay unnoticed are EASY.	HUNTER “Stand down’- they’re mine.” QUARRY CHIP: Once a day, pick a Quarry. You get a +4 to DAMAGE against your Quarry.. Your Quarry of choice cannot change until the current Quarry dies.	RUNESEEKER “I speak the cosmic tongue.” CREATION RUNE: Lean one RUNE of your choice. Scribe it and drop an HP of blood to invoke it. You may learn more RUNES in time.	GHOST “The dead don’t stay down ‘round these parts...” CORPSE.EXE: You don’t register as a living creature. If you yourself kill something, you can bring them back. They must follow your first command, but after that, they wish you dead.
C H A	CAPTAIN “My ship, my rules.” BADGE OF COMMAND: Say your name and roll CHA. On a success, they take pause, and perhaps even do as you instruct.	HIKER “Don’t mind me, just hitching a ride!” LIFEFORM SCANNER: You can tell if there are any ships in an orbital radius, and if there are any creatures in a stone’s throw.	SMUGGLER “Why, there’s no problem here, Imperator.” COUNTERFEIT BADGE: Rolls to lie to authority figures or hide things are EASY.	HARMONISER “Can you hear the music of the spheres?” SYMPATHETIC LUTE: When you play music, anyone who can hear you must roll WIS or feel as you want them to.	HEIR “The missing queen looking like me? A coincidence, I’m sure.” CELESTIAL DEED: You are set to inherit a planet. If you want to try and draw resources from it, roll INT to not get discovered as the heir, which is DESPERATELY against your current wishes. Why?

ICRPG: Ghost Mountain

	Basic	Weapon	Guns	Energy	Ultimate
S T R	MINER “Only real thing in this world is the stone below your soles.” TEMPERED PICK: You can mine without tiring, and as easily as digging through dirt.	WRESTLER “Crushing you… would be a pleasure.” BOXING GLOVES: When you roll a 15+ to hit, roll STR to knock someone over.	ARTILLERIST “I’ll lay down some cover fire.” MACHINE GUN: You can add your STR to attack rolls with this gun. In addition, if you get a 15+ to hit with it, attack again.	CHAMPION “Righteous fury rains upon you!” SILVER KNUCKLES: Your attacks do ENERGY  EFFORT.	DEMOLITIONIST “Sky high!” TNT CRATE: 5 doses of massive explosion in a small stick. Use it wisely!
D E X	SHOPKEEP “You gonna pay for that?” MERCHANT’S BAG: Once a day, procure something related to the wares you sell, or 10 coins.	OUTLAW “Run- it’s the sheriff!” SNAKESKIN MASK: Once a day, disguise yourself as anyone you’ve seen before. Your disguise is perfect, but it only lasts 10 minutes..	SNIPER “50 paces? Child’s play.” AMBER SCOPE: You can shoot at any range you can see without penalty.	SHADOW “Gone in a whisper...” SMOKE IN A BOTTLE: Make a CHA roll to turn into a cloud of black mist for d4 rounds.	SEER “3… 2… 1… now!” CRYSTAL TALISMAN: At dawn, roll a d20. Once in that day, you can sub in that roll for any other roll someone you see makes.
C O N	BARTENDER “Let me pour you out another, friend.” REJUVENATING VODKA: 6 doses. Roll CON. If you fail, heal BASIC EFFORT. If you succeed, heal all your health.	ROBBER  “Fork it up.” THICK COAT: +2 ARMOR, CON, and CHA are interchangeable for you.	HUNTER “I always catch my prey.” WOLFSNOUT: Choose a Quarry. You can unerringly sniff out their direction and distance from you. Your Quarry cannot change until the first one dies.	INHERITOR “It’s an heirloom...” ARCANE TOTEM: When you see someone cast a Spell, roll INT to have your totem store it for one later use.	DRUNK “No, officer, you am the disorderly!” COPPER FLAGON: Say the word, and any liquid will appear in it. You can’t summon more than 3 doses of one drink in a day.
I N T	DOCTOR “Hold still, this’ll only hurt for a bit.” BONESAW: Permanently reduce one bonus by 1 to fully heal someone.	PICKPOCKET “Let me lighten your load, buddy.” STICKY GLOVES: When you hit with an attack, you can forgo damage to steal something from your target.	WEAPONEER “Hold on, let me add a little something...” GUNSMITHY KIT: Spend a day working to make a volatile addition to a weapon. You can only have one going at a time.	MAGICIAN “This isn’t just any book!” GRIMOIRE: Learn 2 Spells of any type.	SCIENTIST “Stand back and plug your ears!” CHARRED TOOLBOX: Make a heart of INT effort to build a volatile tool, two hearts to make a robot. You can only have one active at a time.
W I S	PRIEST “The Lord guides me in times of trouble.” WORN SCRIPTURE: Learn 3 holy Spells.	MONK “Fists like lightning.” ANCIENT ROBES: You can attack twice in a turn.	SHERIFF “I am the law.” BRASS STAR: With a CHA roll, stop anyone in their tracks. You have a good reputation.	SAGE “The earth’s gifts are mine to use.” HARUSPICY BONES: Learn 3 occult Spells.	GAMBLER “I like my odds.” THINK DECK: You can draw instead of rolling (see ICRPG WORLDS). Once a day, name something. If you draw a face card, it comes to pass. A Joker, and the opposite happens.
C H A	SNAKE OILER “Now this one works, promise.” CHARLATAN’S BRIEFCASE: Once a day, you can take anything out of this briefcase. It is an illusion made of ash, and crumbles after a day.	GENERAL “To battle! YAAAH!” SABRE-CANE: Roll CHA on your turn to allow an ally to take another action.	DUELIST “I see my reputation precedes me!” OSTENTATIOUS CLOAK: You can add your CHA to your DEFENSE.	DIABOLIST “If you can’t beat ‘em...” SIGIL OF HELL: Learn 3 diabolical Spells.	MARIACHI “Hold on, this reminds me of a song...” ROSE GUITAR: Gain maximal benefits from every rest with minimum SUPPLY expenditure.

Occult spells: Spells of the Canuska and druidic or wiccan traditions, nature/earth magic. I can make a Spell list if you really need it, but it’s all there in CORE, you just need to compile it.

5e: Choose either of your two highest scores and your HD (left off the d12 because that applies to only one class and barbarians are nerds) to find your Background. Choose two of the four provided Skills. You get a tool and language of your choice on top of the features provided.

	d6	d8	d10
S T R	ATHLETE SKILLS: Athletics, Acrobatics, Insight, Performance EQUIPMENT: A silver medal, a token from a vanquished opponent, a letter of admiration from a local lord, and 5s in earnings FEATURE: You can learn of, and find work in, any athletic arena or fight club, legal or illegal, with a day of hunting.	LABORER SKILLS: Athletics, Survival, Stealth, Sleight of Hand EQUIPMENT: A tool of labor, a flimsy wheelbarrow, a small flask of alcohol, and 2s from a poor payday FEATURE: You can flawlessly blend into any crowd as long as you specifically are not actively being hunted.	SOLDIER SKILLS: Athletics, Acrobatics, Intimidation, Survival EQUIPMENT: A talisman from a fallen enemy, a dented chestplate from a deceased comrade, a small medal, and 5s of dwindling recompense FEATURE: You have soldier buddies you can call upon to help you out in nearly every port of call. While they may be old and retired, at least they work for warm mugs of ale- and favors repaid.
D E X	VAGABOND SKILLS: Acrobatics, Stealth, Survival, Sleight of Hand EQUIPMENT: A mouse companion, a piece of valuable jewelry (5s), a half-written letter home, and 5s of savings FEATURE: You know how to secure fast passage between any two locations, even if it’s dangerous or illegal.	CRIMINAL SKILLS: Deception, Intimidation, Stealth, Survival EQUIPMENT: Gear for your sting of choice, a crowbar, a dark cloak, 5s of dwindling slush funds FEATURE: You have a network of criminal connections you can call on in any city. They always cash in the favors they’re owed.	BRIGAND SKILLS: Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Stealth EQUIPMENT: A bloodstained cudgel, a rakish cap, a mean horse, and 10s in stolen goods FEATURE: Generally, people will leave you alone and ignore small misdeeds, save that one guard you wronged, who is hell-bent on hunting you down.
C O N	REFUGEE SKILLS: Medicine, Perception, Survival, Stealth EQUIPMENT: A trinket from your home, an inaccurate map, 3 day’s rations, and 5s of savings FEATURE: There are pockets of your peoples everywhere, if one knows where to look. You can call upon them for all sorts of services, and they expect you to reciprocate this kindness.	ASCETIC SKILLS: Arcana, Medicine, Religion, Survival EQUIPMENT: A walking stick, a ring of worn prayer beads, a worn book of observations, and 2s of savings FEATURE: You have found some secret truth of the world. Whether you share it, or if it is significant to anyone else, is up to you.	OUTDOORSPERSON SKILLS: Athletics, Nature, Perception, Survival EQUIPMENT: A ghillie suit, a talisman of an animal, a bear trap, and 2s of collected scrap FEATURE: You can never get lost in your home wilds. In addition, you can forage enough to feed yourself and two companions.
I N T	ACADEMIC SKILLS: Arcana, History, Investigation, Religion EQUIPMENT: A small book collection, ink and quill, 5 candles, and 5s of writing commissions FEATURE: Choose a hyperfocused specialization (“Fungi of the Drow”, or “Ancient North Dwarven Architecture”, ect.). You know all there is to be known about it.	CRAFTSPERSON SKILLS: History, Insight, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand EQUIPMENT: A set of fine tools, your latest half-finished piece, a puzzling upcoming commission, and 5s from your last sale FEATURE: At a glance, you can learn the approximate price of anything. In addition, you have a good reputation with clients and merchants, and can easily find work through your network of crafter’s guilds.	MERCHANT SKILLS: Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Persuasion EQUIPMENT: A small bag of wares, ledgers of purchases and sales, a small cart, and 10s for trade FEATURE: You know where you can buy anything, and if it is unable to be bought, who you can talk to to try and find it.
W I S	ACOLYTE SKILLS: History, Insight, Persuasion, Religion EQUIPMENT: An ornate and annotated book of scripture, a simple set of monk robes, a holy symbol, and 5s of offerings FEATURE: You can identify what god/deity/religion something follows on sight. In addition, you have a good reputation within your church.	POLITICIAN SKILLS: Deception, Investigation, Performance, Persuasion EQUIPMENT: An ostentatious outfit, a list of constituents, an opulent gift from a supporter, and 10s of campaign funds FEATURE: You occupy a minor political position. That allows you to secure audience with nobles and live comfortably, but gets you political enemies and the occasional obligation.	MERCENARY SKILLS: Insight, Perception, Survival, Stealth EQUIPMENT: Simple weapon, disguise kit, notebook of crossed-out names, 10s from your last gig FEATURE: You can pick up a gig or learn the general whereabouts of notable criminals if you spend a day with an ear to the streets..
C H A	CELEBRITY SKILLS: Deception, Intimidation, Performance, Stealth EQUIPMENT: Your “signature look”, a stack of predone autographs, a makeup kit, and 10s FEATURE: Small establishments, humbled by your presence, will give you and your “entourage” free room, and small luxuries often open themselves to you. However, your reputation is easily besmirched...	PERFORMER SKILLS: Acrobatics, Deception, Performance, Sleight of Hand EQUIPMENT: A glitzy outfit, the equipment you need from your act, a token from an admirer, and 10s in busking-money FEATURE: You can gain your CHA in coins and learn the juicy local gossip if you spend a day performing.	FOLK HERO SKILLS: Athletics, Intimidation, Performance, Survival EQUIPMENT: Basic iron cookware, a token of gratitude from the person you saved, a broken spearhead, and 5s FEATURE: The hoi polloi love you, and you can never be besmirched lower than neutral in the eyes of the public.

The next planned iteration is a system suggested to me on the OSR Discord about pairing highest stat with lowest stat, so get ready for that coming down the pipeline. Thanks for reading, and happy gaming.