Step 5: Youth Event

Now that your character’s early life is outlined, we see what major event shakes things up.

Roll once on the Youth Event table and apply the results.

Then proceed to Step 6.

THE STORY:

This step introduces an incident or ongoing situation that shapes your early life. You can add more details to flesh the idea out or leave it vague and fill it in later.

Youth Event ❮d100❯

d100Result
00–19Gain +1 ego Flex and roll on the Story Event table.
20–21One of your parents is bilingual (or both). Gain an extra language (your choice or roll randomly).
22–23You leave home at an early age and forge your own path. Choose a new motivation (or roll for one).
24–25The quality of your childhood education is poor. −10 to one Know skill of your choice.
26–27You are glued to the mesh from an early age. Gain the Online Obsession trait.
28–29You lead your friends into all sorts of trouble. −10 c-rep but +10 g-rep.
30You are good with computers from a young age. +10 Interface skill.
31A childhood injury or disease limits your physical activities. You gain the Poor Coordination (Level 2) trait (EP2).
32You are kept at home and not allowed to play sports or with other kids. Reduce your REF by 5.
33You grow up in a maze-like urban area or a difficult rural area. Gain the Direction Sense trait (EP2).
34You grow up in an environment where carelessness can get you killed. Increase INT by 5.
35You have a falling out with your parents and cut ties. Gain the Stalwart (Level 2) trait (EP2).
36Your muse helps you out in some rough situations. Gain the Exceptional Muse trait.
37You skip too much school. You gain the Obtuseness (Level 2) trait (EP2).
38Constant torment from abusive siblings takes its toll. Reduce WIL by 5.
39Growing up isolated from others, you develop introvert tendencies. Reduce your SAV by 5.
40While your friends throw themselves into VR gaming worlds, you simply throw up. Gain the VR Vertigo trait (EP2).
41Your life is a struggle for survival, but you persevere. Gain the Hard Knocks trait.
42Raised in an environment of constant stimulus, you are forced to tune out. Gain the Obliviousness trait (EP2).
43You are extremely sheltered. Gain the Real World Naiveté trait (EP2) and skip Step 7 (go to Step 8: The Fall).
44Through no fault of your own, you inherit the Mental Disorder (Bipolar) trait (also on Disorders, EP2).
45You grow up in a melting-pot, polyglot culture. Gain the Hyper Linguistics (Level 2) trait (EP2).
46You party too hard. −10 to two separate skills of your choice.
47The people that raise you do not tolerate foolishness. Gain the Common Sense trait (EP2).
48A healthy amount of physical activities improves your abilities. Increase SOM by 5.
49You are put in charge of other children at a young age. Increase WIL by 5.
50You challenge your intellect by learning things online. Gain the Acumen (Level 2) trait (EP2).
51A misunderstood situation makes you the laughing stock of your peer group. Gain the Social Ineptitude trait.
52Shoplifting and stealing are either hobbies or a necessity. Increase REF by 5.
53You experiment with drugs, but it isn’t for you. Gain the Temptation Immunity trait.
54Exposure to death/violence alters your mind. Gain the Mental Disorder (Impulse Control) trait (also on Disorders, EP2).
55You focus on learning or socializing more than playtime or sports. Gain the Feebleness (Level 2) trait (EP2).
56A dysfunctional home life keeps you from doing well in school. Reduce your COG by 5.
57Being a bully has its advantages. Increase Provoke by 5 and gain the Intimidation specialization.
58A series of traumatic events leaves you disturbed. Gain the Mental Disorder (Insomnia) trait (also on Disorders, EP2).
59A strict environment stunts your creativity. Reduce INT by 5.
60You receive your first cortical stack at an early age — and luckily just in time. Roll on the Random Morph tables.
61Some threat or danger looms over your youth. You learn to watch for trouble. +10 Perceive skill.
62You have few friends and rarely socialize with other kids. You gain the Indifference (Level 2) trait (EP2).
63Your parents raise you with some unusual ideas. Gain the Implicit Bias trait.
64You cheat your way through school. −10 to one skill of your choice.
65You enjoy urban exploration and getting into off-limits areas. +10 Infiltrate skill.
66As a free-range kid, you learn how to get around on your own. +10 Survival skill.
67You spend too much time online, ignoring/escaping the real world. You gain the Poor Instincts (Level 2) trait (EP2).
68You either excel in your studies or fall under the care of a mentor who helps you learn. Increase COG by 5.
69A traumatic childhood warps your sense of self. Gain the Mental Disorder (Narcissitic Personality) trait (also on Disorders, EP2).
70Your parents are highly private and extremely strict. Gain the Poor Socialization trait.
71A personality quirk gains the attention of your peers, then becomes a noticeable part of your daily behavior. Gain the Identifiable Quirk trait.
72Your mesh access is restricted or unavailable, and you never pick up the skills. Gain the Mesh Naiveté trait.
73You either take track or learn to run from bullies. Gain the Fitness (Level 2) trait (EP2).
74You learn the hard way to trust your intuition. Gain the Good Instincts (Level 2) trait (EP2).
75A series of childhood injuries leaves you struggling to catch up physically. Reduce SOM by 5.
76You lose all of your close friends in a horribly awkward teen social situation. Gain the Uncooperative Tendencies trait.
77Tormented by bullies as a kid, you learn to stand up for yourself. +10 Melee skill.
78The strictness of your parents leaves you only one choice: to excel at lying. +10 Deceive skill.
79Your friends have rough childhoods, but you help them out. Gain the Empathy (Level 2) trait (EP2).
80You grow up around violence but learn to avoid it. Gain the Quickness (level 2) trait (EP2).
81After seeing friends and family ruined by drugs and vices, you resolve yourself against temptation. Gain the Resolve (level 2) trait (EP2).
82Your youth is stressful. Gain the Mental Disorder (Anxiety) trait (also on Disorders, EP2).
83You resleeve at an early age, but come to hate your new body. Gain the Morph Aversion trait and roll on the Random Morph tables.
84Adults are rarely up-to-speed on technological changes, and you use that to your advantage. Gain +10 Infosec skill.
85You are a juvenile delinquent and frequently get into trouble. −10 c-rep.
86Your family’s assets take a hit. Lose 1 level of the Resources trait. If you don’t have Resources, a relative is indentured.
87You are raised in dangerous conditions where you have to adapt or die. +10 Fray skill.
88You fall in with the wrong crowd. Replace one active skill with Melee (or Guns if you already have Melee) at the same value.
89Your mind is either unusually shaped (if AGI/uplift) or damaged when young. Gain the Anomalous Mind trait.
90You are raised in an abusive environment. Gain the Pain Tolerance (Level 1) trait (EP2).
91You take apart the family robots (or any you get your hands on). +10 Hardware: Electronics or Hardware: Robotics.
92You fall deep into some type of fandom. +10 Research skill and replace one Know skill field with one relevant to the fandom at an equivalent rating.
93In an effort to inhibit your deviant/criminal behavior, you are forcefully subjected to mind editing as a young adult. Gain the Restricted Behavior (Level 2) trait (EP2).
94You are orphaned and spend your early life in uncaring foster homes. Lose 1 ego Flex.
95You are a hardcore nerd. Replace one Active skill with a Know skill of your choice at an equivalent rating.
96Your family scores a windfall. Gain the Resource (Level 1) trait (EP2).
97You teach yourself to drive … years before you are allowed to. +10 Pilot: Ground but −10 c-rep.
98You are the most popular kid in school. Increase your SAV by 5.
99You are taught unusual things at a young age. Gain one Exotic Skill (EP2) of your choice at 30.