The Expanse Crew as starting characters in Uncharted Worlds
James Holden, Reluctant Commander
Advanced Starfaring Personality
Lazy Chiselled Restless
Mettle: +1 Cutting Edge (+1 Interface)
Physique: +1 Fame
Influence: +2 Inspiration
Expertise: 0 Weightless
Interface: 0 Workspace: Habitation
Naomi Nagata, Belter Engineer
Galactic Industrial Academic
Guarded Thin Focused
Mettle: +1 Weightless
Physique: -1 Technobabble
Influence: +1 Repair
Expertise: +2 Dismantle
Interface: +0 Workspace: Medical Bay
Amos Burton, Muscle and Mechanic
Brutal Industrial Starfarer
Suppressed Muscled Quick
Mettle: +2 Branded (+1 Physique)
Physique: +2 Construction
Influence: -1 Repair
Expertise: +1 Weightless
Interface: 0 Workspace: Manufactory
Alex Kamal, Veteran Martian Military Transport Pilot
Colonial Academic Starfarer
Prudent Distracted Tolerant
Mettle: +2 Resourcefull (+1 Expertise)
Physique: -1 Education
Influence: 0 Navigation
Expertise: +2 Weightless
Interface: +1 Workspace: Navigation Suite
Josephus Miller, Streetwise Detective
Crowded Academic Scoundrel
Dapper Aloof Compact
Mettle: +2 Affable (+1 Influence)
Physique: +1 Contacts
Influence: 0 Deduction
Expertise: 0 Sneak Attack
Interface: +1 Workspace: Facade
Rocinante
———–
Class 2 Gunship
Formerly the MCRN Tachi
Armament:
Point Defense Cannons
(Add Railgun and Torpedo Launchers to be true to the show)
Workspaces
Facade
Navigation Suite
Habitation
Medical Bay
Manufactory
📌
Nice post! I really like these kind of translations from fiction into game terms. Especially in a narrative game like Uncharted Worlds.
As the careers are rather abstract it is important to give concrete examples of how they interact with each other to form characters. For example, Naomi and Amos both share the industrial background, but in play they would surely fulfill different roles due to the respective secondary careers.
Yes, I’ve seen the importance of defining niches when two PCs share a career. In this case, I latched onto Technobabble from Academic as a major distinction — it allows Naomi to direct other people in technical tasks and also to substitute Expertise for Command rolls. She assumes a command role quite often in season one.
The process of respresenting these characters in UW was fun and challenging.
I had trouble placing Holden until I realized he could be a Personality. His passion is really what defines him.
Alex, the veteran of the Martian Navy, but who pilotted a lot of ho-hum routine missions was also a challenge. That made me want to keep his Mettle at +1. But, in the show we actually see him pilot some hot maneuvers — leaving the Donnager’s hangar for example — I decided that, while he may be uncertain of his ability, he’s got the Mettle to be a great pilot under pressure.
Amos’s background in the brothels of Baltimore led me to consider that a rough upbringing on an otherwise Advanced world might be better described as Brutal or Impoverished. The only inaccuracy I made was choosing Branded for the +1 Physique. The character doesn’t really have any marks from his past — unless those tatoos counts.
Miller was an interesting case because, in the show, he’s both a detective and a former Ceres street urchin and gang member. How to get both skill sets was a challenge.He’s really a badass with handguns in the last few episodes too.
“The character doesn’t really have any marks from his past — unless those tatoos counts.”
From the Branded skill, Brutal origin:
“You have a prominent, recognizable physical mark (scars, burns, tattoos, prison barcode, slave brand), as a testament to the hardships you’ve survived. “
And Amos does hint at a pretty brutal life, he’s hinted at being forced into a life as sex worker from a young age. Not 100% sure that’s where he got the tattoos too, but hey, I think you’re in the clear lore-wise.