Monster Commute – a Traffic Novel

The MC-RPG is an ongoing project which I blog about from time to time. It is based upon the Fudge RPG, and has no current release date. I’m working on it!

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Gifts Directory

Gifts are what set you character apart from all of the other masses of MONSTRU. Here is a list of talents to help you define your unique character. Other gifts are certainly possible; talk to your GM about your idea for a gift. If it’s really great, share it with the rest of us at www.monstercommute.com/library. Gifts are completely independent from Potentials, and do not have a trait levels.

For every Gift that a character takes they must also take a Fault.

Authority Secret – You know something about the AUTHORITY that is not common knowledge. While you can’t really leak it to the press (that they control), the information might be of use to you, the Factory Rebellion, or a CREATU spy. Talk to your GM about this gift, and she’ll tell you what your secret might be. (Or it may be revealed later, in play.)

Company Secret - You have some inside information, or a trade secret, of one of the big companies of MONSTRU. Maybe it’s a secret ingredient of MUZZ, or perhaps it’s an upcoming product for the Clown Bite chain. In any case, the company is very anxious to get the information back.. in any way possible. That said, the information could be worth a lot of money to the right person. It’s up to you to figure out how your character stumbled upon this juicy secret.

Cold Resistance – You are unaffected by freezing temperatures, icy winds, and frost, and can survive the elements in relative comfort. However, you would not survive being submerged into liquid nitrogen.

Contact, Factory Rebellion - You have the name of a member of the illegal and secret organization, the Factory Rebellion. They might be able to help you at some future point, or provide useful information, if they’re still alive.

Cool Head – You don’t stress out under pressure, and not much excites you these days. You’re excluded from any stress penalties in most cases. (Or you receive a bonus to your results.)

Danger Sense – You get some odd feeling (tingly toes, gears, nose, fingers) when you’re in a super dangerous situation. While it is not absolutely perfect, it has saved your skin on many occasions.

Eld Hoard – You know the location of an ancient forgotten treasure. It could be a pile of old war bonds, a cache of valuable antiques, or a chest full of old coins. One thing is certain: there is a good reason that it hasn’t been discovered up til now.

Fast Talker – You can talk your way out of just about any situation, as you were born with a gilded, salesman’s tongue. A roll may still be necessary as it is a opposed action.

Feaster - You can consume a massive meal, and not require any other nourishment for weeks or even months at a time. You either digest really slowly, or your metabolism isn’t even detectable. Note, you can still die of thirst, as you still require occasional water.

Fire Resistance – Extreme heat, such as fire and flame bombs, does not hurt you. However, if you were to wade into the lava of a volcano, or stand at ground zero of a Pathos bomb, you’d be turned to ash like everything else. Your belongings do not inherit your fire resistance.

Hard Labor - You’re used to doing hard work for endless hours every day, such as digging ditches, hauling stones, or breaking coal. You have a tough back and lots of calluses, and are a model slave/worker. You can get a lot of work done in a short time, and you have no penalty for spending your days in such difficult situations. (Other characters might not fare so well.)

Healthy – You rarely get sick, and you typically have shiny hair, healthy claws, and richly colored horns. Mechans have shiny gears, a rustless undercarriage, and a glistening paint job. The Bloodless have smooth, tight skin, glistening fangs, and/or translucent wings. Basically, you’re blessed with good health, and you heal a bit faster.

Iron Jaw – You’re tough, and you can take a punch like a bronze donkey

Majik Arts – You’re one of the rare, gifted monsters able to practice the illegal art of Majik. (This gift is required to access any of the Majik spell-skills.) All character races, even Mechans, are able to have this gift.

Make Up Your Own – Got a better idea for a Gift? Make up your own! Just make sure that it doesn’t overpower the game and that it is in the same vein as these other Gifts. Work with your GM to make sure that it works.

Never Forgets a Face - Similar to “Photographic Memory” except that you can tie names to faces in a remarkable way. Once you meet someone and shake their hand, you’ll remember them for life.

Pain Resistance – Sure it hurts, but you can handle it. No penalty for injury, torture, or other physical pain. It just doesn’t hurt that much.

Photographic Memory – You’re able to memorize and regurgitate information at an astounding pace. After reading a book (or listening to the radio or a lecture), you can recite important or useful passages at a moments notice.

Rasputinism - You can drink mass amounts of wine, Muzz, or goblin moonshine, and get as drunk as a pickle. However, at a moment’s notice, you can shake off the inebriation, and be perfectly ready for action. Named after Grigory Rasputin, who allegedly had this talent.

Regenerate – Your amazing blood allows you to heal in 1/2 the time of anyone else. You can even reattach lost limbs and have them heal perfectly. (Monsters only.)

Road Kill Belly – You can eat anything, and not get sick. It may not taste good to you at all, but you know that if you eat that fur coat, you’ll have another evening without a rumbling belly. Not available to Mechans. (This is a common Troll gift.)

Shift Up! – You have the ability to go into a superstate for a brief amount of time, where you become an upgraded version of yourself. (Think Dr. Jekll / Mr. Hyde) If you’re a Mechan, you transform into a bigger, more physically powerful state. If you’re a Monster, you’re claws/horns enlarge, and you get a lot beefier. If you’re Bloodless, you become more wicked, your eyes glow brightly, and you become taller. All attacks are at +1 while Shifted Up, and the state usually lasts for one melee. Limited to one Shift per day.

Tastes Bad – You taste bad to monsters. That means that creatures like Zombies, Feratu, and Griggs won’t eat you, though they still might attempt to kill you. (If you’re lucky, they’ll try to spit you out.)

Unfulfilled Destiny – You’re the subject of some obscure prophecy, predicted to do something great. (At least somebody thinks so.) Expect some folks will want to help you fulfill it, while others are positioned to oppose you. The destiny itself may be counter or aside to your own goals or plans. (He shall plant a mighty forest of trees, to bring the land back to the Wilds. She shall bring the green people to freedom! He shall hold a feast for kings, and they shall eat of peace from that day forward.)

War Plans – You know about some yet unfulfilled plan that is supposed happen in the War. It might be a CREATU attack strategy or it could be a new AUTHORITY secret weapon. Choose something, and make it interesting. Know that spies would love to get this information, and the government would do anything to get it back.

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