Meridian 59 User's Guide
Your Character
Part of the magic of Meridian 59 is the power it gives you to create yourself anew as you enter its gates. This chapter takes you through the process of choosing your character's appearance and attributes, and shows how your persona can change as you spend time in Meridian 59.
Customizing Your Character
The first time you enter Meridian 59, you're greeted by a series of five windows -- Name, Appearance, Statistics, Spells, and Skills -- that lead you through the process of creating your character. Click the five tabs at the top of the Customize Your Character window to jump back and forth quickly between the windows, or use the Prev and Next buttons at bottom right to page forward and back.
 | Note: As you create your character, remember that none of the choices you make on these five screens is permanent until you click the OK button at the bottom of the Customize Your Character window. Once you click OK, however, your choices are irrevocable: the face, name, and attributes you have chosen will be set for the rest of your character's life! |
Name
Type the name of your new character in the text box that appears.Next, press Tab to move the cursor down to the Description window, and type in a short description of your character. It might include your orientation (good, or evil), your strengths (magic or combat), a bit about your personality and preferences, and your philosophy of life (briefly). You can change this description any time you wish while you're inside Meridian 59.
Appearance
The Appearancewindow offers six variables that you can manipulate to change your character's appearance. Drag the sliders and click the arrows in the right side of the window to move between the various options in each category. Play around with all of them until you find the right combination that gives you just the look you want.
- Gender -- Click the buttons to choose male or female. The choices are the same two you may already be familiar with.
- Color -- Move the slider bar to view the entire skin color range.
- Hair -- Click the forward and back arrows to view the entire hair color and style range.
- Eyes -- Click the forward and back arrows to move through the range of eye shapes available.
- Nose -- Click the forward and back arrows to move through the selection of noses.
- Mouth -- Click the forward and back arrows to choose a mouth and chin for your character.
Statistics
Adjust the slider bars at the bottom of the window to select your beginning attributes. This peculiar combination of six abilities determines who you are, how you meet danger, how easily you acquire specific skills and knowledge, and how you adapt to the world around you.
The six attributes that determine your character's behavior are:
- Might -- Your overall physical strength, including your power during combat
- Intellect -- Your ability to acquire new skills and spells
- Stamina -- Your endurance level, and ability to heal
- Agility -- Your quickness at evading danger
- Mysticism -- Your ability to acquire and use new spells and mana
- Aim -- Your attack accuracy
All new citizens begin with 25 out of 50 possible points in each of these six areas, as shown on the six slider bars. In addition, you have 50 extra points (shown on the slider at the bottom) to distribute as you will, thus fine-tuning your character's attributes.
Move the sliders until your new character's statistics are optimized for the kind of life you expect it to live. If you are creating a warrior, you might give up some of those mysticism points and put them toward stamina, aim, or might. If you would rather become a wizard, however, your mysticism, intellect, and agility will be crucial to your survival.
When you have spent your 50 extra points, and the slider bars are all set the way you'd like them, click Next to move on.
Spells
The list on the left of the Spells window offers a selection of low-level spells that the Temples routinely offer at low cost to new Meridian citizens. When you highlight a spell on this list, the spell's description and cost appear in the middle of the window.
- Click Add Spell to add a highlighted spell to your repertoire. It will move from the list on the left to the one on the right.
- To change your mind, highlight the unwanted spell in the right list, and click Remove Spell.
Skills
The list on the left of the Skills window offers a selection of inexpensive, low-level skills that are available to new Meridian citizens. When you highlight a skill on this list, the skill's description and cost appear in the middle of the window.
- Click Add Skill to add a highlighted skill to your repertoire. It will move from the list on the left to the one on the right.
- To change your mind, highlight the unwanted skill in the right list, and click Remove Skill.
When you are completely finished with all five screens, click the OK button at the bottom of window. Your new character is now ready to start life in Meridian 59. Remember: once you click OK, you can no longer change your character's appearance or attributes.
Congratulations! You are now standing inside the inn of your new hometown -- a full citizen of Meridian 59, ready to take to the streets, squares, forests, and deserts in search of good company, good combat, good ale, or whatever else may suit your fancy.
