Casting Shadows

The fourth day of #RPGaDay2026 gives us the prompt Charm. This week’s responses are all under the influence of the weekly filter of Intellect. The daily filter sticking its nose in on this Tuesday is Grace. I will endeavor not to turn this post into one about our Doberman Pinscher rescue of the same name, but there will probably be a picture. No apologies. She embodies her name even though arthritis is starting to slow her down, is incredibly charismatic, and is one of the smartest dogs it has ever been my pleasure to know. Ok. There will definitely be…. there already is a picture.

Anyway, Grace wants to know who else is sitting in that circle around the fire that we joined in on yesterday. It’s surprisingly easy to answer her question. I find freeform and conceptually-based chargen methods like those in Vagabonds of Dyfed ideal for just spinning up an entire person in conversation or as the result of a need for description.

For yesterday’s character, it is quite easy to know why he would want to be there and why others would want him to be there. Is that as true of some clever person defined in some significant way by grace and charm? Let’s find out.

The game provides a more than adequate list of common tags to use for the traits specific to chargen, but as can so very often be forgotten or overlooked, such lists are suggestions most of the time. Not every game spells out that you are not bound to the lists provided, but things like whatever cut&paste ‘golden rule’ is present do sort of vaguely point at it. Basically, unless such lists are specifically mechanized in the system and no indication of how to ascertain the value one should ascribe to a new entry is mentioned or is obvious, then there is no reason to avoid substitutions in, additions to, or entire rewrites of said lists.

So, in this case, we could actually just take Charm as the ‘Approach to Conflict’ step which first begins to help us figure out who the character we want to make is as a person. How do they deal with friction in their lives? They are charming. How do they get into and out of trouble? Charm. What are arguments like with them? Polite, we like them all the way through, and any regret we might feel for overstepping might sting that little bit more – not to mention that when they are wholly in the wrong the disappointment burns all the hotter.

What is the concept to which we would apply this rubric of charm? What leaps at me from the Techniques page is the listing for Devoted. I think it might be very interesting and rich ground for Interaction within the group if among the Arcanists, Adepts, and martial characters there were some sort of priest…. a very calm and charming priest with a different take on the ruin they have been sent to explore and its history. As someone for whom charm is to be touchstone, why not then take the devotion Bolster, which allows them to provide the chance to roll a Bonus die after an encouraging pep talk? I think that gives them a great opportunity for passive understanding of the site through regional and theological lore they would have through their occupation, and an active role in working toward success in this dangerous place. What do you think?

Tomorrow is Wednesday, August 5th and our prompt is Burden. Suitably for that prompt, in that way that suggests that someone probably planned it, Wednesday is that day of the week that understands just what Odin put himself and others through and rightfully assigns an allotment of woe to those born on that day. Our weekly filter of intellect will continue to influence how that response plays out as well. What a combination!

Don’t forget, #RPGaDAY2026 is as flexible as you are. You might be interested in approaching it through the lens of character, like I have been, through portraits like David has been, or through so many other different ideas popping up across the Internet. If a prompt fails to spark an idea, check out the alternate questions to see what that shakes loose in your mind. If you haven’t seen the alternate questions, take a look below.

Anyway, see you tomorrow!

Alternate Questions!