Referee Persona Story Cues

Story cues are random curiousities that flesh out the history, reactions and plans of referee personas. While primarily intended for referees' use, all players can utilize these tables to add random elements to their personas.

Role playing cues need to be massaged for each persona family. A feral alien that has no language will not harbour a strong opinion on philosophy. Robots will not have anxiety but may have malfunctions that make it appear so.

This section is an aid to creativity, not a replacement for creativity.

Improv

The necessary components of a character for improv comedy theatre provide a useful framework for RPG personas. Improv comedy characters are broken into three parts: Move, Sound, Want.

For more details jump to Triangle at Learnimprov.com.

Improv Character Triangle

move
- gait, posture, speed, gestures, shape
sound
- volume, speed, pitch, emotion, words
want
- desires, triggers, goals, beliefs, triggers, needs

History

The referee persona’s story is a skeleton to help the referee create a backstory. The past, present, future give the referee a skeleton to hang the story meat.

The referee persona’s story is a skeleton to help the referee create a backstory. Alien society and alien tool usage heavily influence the nature of the alien’s story. Cannon fodder flora and fauna will not have goals like reordering the universe. A creator species that lives 2 million years may have nothing to do but reorder the universe.++Insane

Origin

The origin history element is a geographic cue for the referee and players. Origin history helps determine if this persona is exotic or mundane. The details of the persona’s origin may fit into the current milieu or require the referee to extend her world.

Flora and fauna that have an origin of "off-planet" may have escaped from a visiting spaceship. A creator level alien that has an origin of "off-planet" may have a spaceship nearby.

Consider L33t Un1t. She is an expendable combot left behind on the planet after a distant interplanetary conflict. She has no command and control and wanders around the desert near the expedition’s home base.

**Persona Origin History Table**
Is she from away or far away?
Die Roll (1d100)	Origin
01	Off Planet
02-10	Very Far away
11-30	Far away
31-90	Nearby
91-95	At home
96-99	Knows expedition
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Origin

Present

The present history is mostly focused on how the referee persona is interacting with the expedition right now. The table is a mix of intentions and reasons for being present.

Let’s consider the expendable combat L33t Un1t again. She still misses the organizational elements of an organized military force. She would be happy to take direction from anyone with military training. L33t Un1t will work with the expedition if they offer this kind of direction to her.

**Persona Present History Table**
What is the referee persona’s frame of reference to the expedition. Friend or foe?
Die Roll (1d100)	Presence
01-03	Want’s to harm
02-10	Want’s to deceive
11-30	Curious and not trusting
31-90	Plain curious
75-84	Has fair business
85-95	Curious and trusting
96-99	Wants to Help
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Presence

Future

The future story element is usually an internal goal of the persona. The referee may drop hints about the persona’s future goals. If they are nefarious, the referee will likely keep the plans secret. It is also possible that the persona will not know what her future goal is.

Let’s consider the expendable combat L33t Un1t yet again. L33t Un1t desires nothing more than to find meaningful leadership. She will leave the expedition to follow any combot or military brass that will boss her around.

**Persona Future History Table**
May be internalized or externalized.
Die Roll (1d100)	Goal
01	Reorder the universe
02-10	Provide for family
11-30	Provide for self
31-90	Make it to tomorrow
91-95	Find meaning for self
96-99	Find love and understanding.
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Goal

Personality

Personality traits help guide the referee when the RP is making decisions. While it is fun to play up an RP’s personality, remember the pithy aphorism; less is more. The players should be guiding the story, not a strong-willed referee (persona).

Personalities do require some massaging based on family types. The main thrust of personalities is to assist anthro referee personas. Aliens with advanced societal strata, robots and all anthros can have personalities.

Even a feral aliens may express personality elements. A normally docile alien may flee in terror with the presentation of a book (bibliophobia) An alien that does not have language cannot express complex emotions.

The referee may choose from each of the particular tables if they have something in mind. If personality traits are being randomly generated then start on the Extroverted Personality Trait Table Rolling on this table determines the presence of introverted or irrational personality traits.

Personality Strength and Decisions

None - follows and contributes.
Introverted - has opinions but does not fight for them.
Extroverted - has strong opinions and behaviours.
Irrational - has beliefs and will make bad decisions.

Extroverted

Extroverted personality traits are immediately obvious to the players. These traits are not irrational, they are just obvious and strong. A diplomatic RP will not try to negotiate with a heavy combot. She will run away. A diplomatic RP may intercede between player persona arguments about loot distribution. The expedition can win over an extroverted personality trait with some convincing.

The initial personality roll is made on the Extroverted Personality Trait Table.

**Extroverted Personality Trait Table**
Introverted personality is the most likely.
Die Roll (1d100)	Personality	Description
01-77	None	Introverted
78	Aesthetic	Appreciating good taste and beauty.
79	Altruist	Concerned with welfare of others.
80	Barbarian	Crude and wild in taste and manner.
81	Coward	Avoids danger and pain.
82	Dressy	Extreme elegance of appearance.
83	Diplomat	Innate skills for communicating between parties.
84	Egoist	Devoted to self interest and advancement.
85	Fanatic	Excessive zeal for a cause.
86	Hedonist	Pleasure is the main pursuit.
87	Iconoclast	Hater of icons.
88	Liar	Prefers falsehood over truth.
89	Martyr	Quick to sacrifice self for cause.
90	Miser	Deprives all to hoard wealth.
91	Optimist	Habitually expects positive outcome.
92	Pessimist	Habitually expects bad outcome.
93	Pervert	Habitually turns from morally acceptable.
94	Ponderer	Continual excessive pondering.
95	Prankster	Endless tricks and pranks.
96	Sadist	Delights in cruelty.
97	Schemer	Constant plotter of everything.
98-99	Irrational	Irrational
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll	Personality	Description
Extroverted only? Roll 1d20 + 77

Introverted

Introverted personality traits are not immediately obvious to the players. The referee persona may have opinions based on the personality trait, but she will readily agree with the expedition. An introverted personality trait may influence a referee’s "behind the shield" decision.

**Introverted Personality Trait Table**
Subtle personality traits that influence the referee persona’s actions and choices.
Die Roll (1d100)	Introverted Trait
01	Aloof
02	Altruistic
03	Amoral
04	Arrogant
05	Barbaric/Foul
06	Callous
07	Capricious/Impulsive
08	Careless
09	Cautious
10	Cheerful
11	Compassionate
12	Contrary
13	Covetous
14	Cowardly/Craven
15	Curious
16	Deceitful
17	Diplomatic
18	Driven
19	Easy Going
20	Egotistical
21	Even-Tempered
22	Exacting
23	Fanatical
24	Fearless
25	Haughty
26	Forgiving
27	Friendly
28	Hedonistic
29	Hot Tempered
30	Humble/Retiring
31	Iconoclastic
32	Immoral
33	Imposing
34	Inquisitive
35	Insensitive
36	Irreverent
37	Jealous
38	Kindly
39	Loquacious
40	Lustful
41	Lusty
42	Malevolent/Mean
43	Mischievous
44	Miserly/Avaricious
45	Moody
46	Morose
47	Obsequious
48	Obsessive
49	Opinionated
50	Optimistic
51	Perverted
52	Pessimistic
53	Pious
54	Ponderous
55	Proud
56	Sadistic
57	Scheming
58	Scrupulous
59	Secretive
60	Sensitive
61	Slothful
62	Sober
63	Studious
64	Suspicious
65	Taciturn/Reclusive
66	Thrifty
67	Trusting
68	Truthful
69	Unforgiving
70	Vengeful
71	Violent
72	Wasteful
73-83	Mild Extroversion
84-93	Mild Irrationality
94-99	None
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Introverted Trait
Mild Extroversion: roll on Extroverted Personality Table, but play it softly.
Mild Irrationality: roll on Irrational Personality Table, but play it softly.

Irrational

Irrational personality traits are immediately obvious to the players and problematic. These traits impair the referee persona’s ability to make good decisions and appear as illnesses. However, these traits are not illnesses from the DSM. They are personality traits so strong that the RP may make the wrong decision.

Irrational personality traits were formerly called Insane Personality Traits

Extroverted and introverted personality traits will not put the persona in harm’s way. Irrational personality traits can put the whole expedition in harm’s way. These are the kind of traits that will override the better, often safer, decision.

The expedition can influence extroverted and introverted personality traits to do what is best for the expedition. Irrational personality traits are immune to the rational input of the expedition.

**Irrational Personality Traits Table**
Overwhelming personality traits that are flaw like in nature.
Die Roll (1d100)	Irrationality	Description
01-03	Amnesia	Loss of memories.
04-06	Anxiety	Abnormal sense of apprehension.
07-09	Hypochondria	Imaginary physical ailments.
10-12	Hysteria	Unmanageable emotional excitability.
13-15	Melancholia	Severe sadness and gloom.
16-18	Paranoia	Delusions of persecution and irrational suspicion.
19-21	Confabulation	Cannot tell the truth even to her benefit.
22-24	Religiosity	All events relate to supernatural powers
Manias		Consumed by..
25-26	Dipsomania	Uncontrollable desire for beverages.
27-28	Jornemania	Conviction of safety at journey’s end.
29-30	Kleptomania	Compulsion to steal without economic gain.
31-32	Mechanomania	Technology is the all saving supreme solution.
33-34	Megalomania	Infantile feelings of supremacy.
35-36	Monomania	Fixation on singular object or goal.
37-38	Pyromania	Irresistible impulse to start fires.
Phobias		Fear of..
39-41	Acrophobia	Heights.
42-45	Agoraphobia	Open Spaces.
46-48	Aichmophobia	Sharp things.
49-51	Ailurophobia	Cats and small furry things.
52-54	Anthrophobia	Humanoids.
55-57	Astrophobia	Outer Space.
58-60	Bibliophobia	Books.
61-62	Claustrophobia	Close spaces.
63	Compuphobia	Computers.
64-66	Ergophobia	Work.
67-69	Gonnephobia	Guns.
70-72	Hydrophobia	Water, liquids.
73-74	Linonophobia	Rope, string.
75	Necrophobia	Death.
76-78	Mysophobia	Dirt.
79-81	Nictophobia	Darkness. Night.
82-84	Opthalmophobia	Being stared at.
85-87	Phobophobia	Fear.
88-89	Practicophobia	Vocations. Professions.
90	Robophobia	Robots.
91-93	Technophobia	Technology.
94-96	Xenophobia	Strangers.
97-99	Zoophobia	Animals. Aliens.
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Irrationality	Description

Appearances

Appearances are flexible presentations that the referee persona may have. The referee persona can change their appearance, but they cannot change their shape. For example, a gigantic pig headed alien may wear a top hat and look well groomed. Later the same gigantic pig headed alien may be wearing a mumu and look dishevelled.

There are really no family limits to appearances. A robot may cover itself in accents that resemble wet coast rain jacket. Aliens with advanced societal strata will certainly have clothing and hygiene presentations. Even flora and fauna may cover themselves with elements that make it appear they are dressing up. However, in general, flora and fauna do not put on appearances.

Dressing

Dressing is appearance only. Dressing does not represent the culture, gender, occupation or personality of the referee persona. A persona’s dress may be a uniform that she always wears, or just be a fleeting moment of fashion. Dressings can be mixed and matched. For example, the shoes may be punk rock, but the hairdo renaissance. The term dressing is used in place of clothing to reflect how different families can wear things.

**Persona Clothing Appearance Table**
Clothing is appearance and does reflect culture.
Die Roll (1d100)	Clothing
Geographic	Style
01	Arctic
02-03	Africa - Eastern (Lamba)
04-05	Africa - Central (Tugh)
06-07	Africa - Northern (Jellabiya)
08-09	Africa - South (Pano)
10-11	Asia - Central (Chapan)
12-13	Asia - Island (Sokutai)
14-15	Asia - Continent (Hanbok)
16-17	Asia - Southeast (Kraben)
18-19	Europe - Central (Kroje)
20-21	Europe - North (Kilt)
22-23	Caribbean (Junkanoo)
24-25	America - North (Poncho)
26-27	Oceania - (Aloha)
Historic
28-30	Lumberjack
31-35	Wild West
36-40	Egyptian - Ancient
41-42	Roman - Toga
43-47	Renaissance - Royalty
48-49	Renaissance - Merchant
50-51	Renaissance - Peasant
52-53	1800s - Aristocrat
54-55	1800s - Pauper
56-57	Medieval - Nobility
58-59	Medieval - Serf
60-61	1930s
62-63	1940s
64-65	1950s
66-67	1960s hippy
68-69	1970s
Fashionista
70-71	Rocker
72-73	Mod
74-75	Punk
76-77	Yoga Spandex
78-82	Wet Coast Raincoat
82-83	Pilgrim
84-85	Trucker Hat
86-87	Military
88-89	Farmer
89-81	Monk
90-91	Power Tie with Suit
92-93	Coveralls
94-95	Sports Team
96-97	Goth
98-99	Extreme Angularity
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Clothing
Traditional	Style

Hygiene

Hygiene is a general habit that the persona exhibits. Hygiene does not influence Charisma, social standing or task rolls.

Hygiene may vary with the scenario, but the RP tends to ebb back to the hygiene description. A habitually immaculate RP that fell in the mud would look like someone who fell in the mud. The immaculate RP would clean herself off sooner and better than the filthy RP. A habitually filthy spie would not arrive un-groomed at an aristocratic function.

**Persona Hygiene Appearance Table**
Attention to self care.
Die Roll (1d100)	Hygiene
01-05	Filthy
06-15	Dirty
16-35	Dishevelled
36-65	Non-Descript
66-85	Clean
86-95	Well Groomed
96-99	Immaculate
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Hygiene

Gender

Gender represents appearance only. Gender does not represent genetics, sexuality, reproduction, or employment. The politics of gender are up to the referee and players.

**Persona Gender Appearance Table**
Gender is an appearance and nothing else.
Die Roll (1d100)	Appearance
01-42	Feminine
43-84	Masculine
85-99	Neither
00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll	Appearance

Colour

If some colour is needed to spice things up.

**Colour Table**
Colour your world.
Simple		Fancy
(1d12)	Colour	(1d100)	Colour
1	Black	01-04	Black
		5	Carbon
		6	Charcoal
		7	Midnight
		8	Oil
2	Blue	9-12	Blue
		13	Blueberry
		14	Cyan
		15	Cobalt
		16	Denim
		17	Navy
		18	Robin
		19	Sapphire
3	Brown	20-22	Brown
		23	Coffee
		24	Oak
		25	Mocha
		26	Taupe
4	Gray	27-29	Gray
		30	Fog
		6-10	Granite
		31	Silver
		32	Slate
		33	Smokey
5	Green	34-36	Green
		37	Apple
		38	Avocado
		39	Emerald
		40	Forest
		41	Jungle
		42	Lime
		43	Olive
		44	Sage
		45	Seaweed
6	Orange	46-48	Orange
		49	Gold
		50	Dijon
		51	Spice
7	Pink	52-54	Pink
		55	Blush
		56	Daisy
		57	Violet
		58	Watermelon
8	Purple	59-61	Purple
		62	Eggplant
		63	Grape
		64	Indigo
		65	Magenta
		66	Maroon
		67	Plum
		68	Violet
9	Red	69-72	Red
		73	Burgundy
		74	Cherry
		75	Scarlet
		76	Lava
		77	Ruby
		78	Violet
10	White	79-81	White
		82	Milk
		83	Shell
		84	Vanilla
11	Yellow	85-87	Yellow
		88	Corn
		89	Goldenrod
		90	Macaroni
		91	Manilla
		92	Mustard
		93	Peach
12	Choose	94-00	Ref’s Own Table
(1d12)	Colour	(1d100)	Colour
Simple		Fancy

**Colour Affect Table**
Optional roll to change how the colour appears.
Die Roll (1d20)	Affect
1	Bright
2	Clear
3	Dark
4	Dirty
5	Drab
6	Dull
7	Florescent
8	Grizzly
9	Iridescent
10	Light
11	Metallic
12	Muted
13	Normal
14	Punchy
15	Ruddy
16	Shimmering
17	Shiny
18	Sparkly
19	Transparent
20	Choose
Die Roll (1d20)	Affect

**Colour Pattern Table**
Roll a more colours (and affects).
Roll below to see how the colours interact.
Die Roll (1d20)	Pattern
1	Accents
2	Bolts
3	Cammo
4	Digicam
5	Diamonds
6	Dots
7	Hexagons
8	Ovals
9	Patchy
10	Plaid
11	Polka Dots
12	Poke A Dots
13	Splashes
14	Splotches
15	Spots
16	Squares
17	Squiggles
18	Stripes
19	Tartan
20	Triangles
Die Roll (1d20)	Pattern

Beliefs

Beliefs are purely cerebral elements of the referee persona. They are not nearly as entrenched as personality or hygiene. Referee personas may talk the talk about a belief, but how devout they are is variable. RP beliefs are what the persona would like to be rather than what they are.

The robot RP can have beliefs similar to an anthro persona. The robot may be randomly expressing these beliefs due to the damage that gave her consciousness. The robot may intentionally express these beliefs because they were programmed in by the fabricator type or corporation.

By definition alien flora and fauna do not have beliefs.

**Belief Complexity Table**
How much does she believe? Add INT.
Die Roll (1d100)	Beliefs
01-12	Religion Only
13-24	Religion and Politics
25-36	Religion and Philosophy
37-48	Religion, Politics and Philosophy
49-60	Politics only
60-72	Politics and Philosophy
73-84	Philosophy only
85-00	None
Die Roll (1d100)	Beliefs

Religion

The list here describes the structure of the religion and does not list existing human faiths. The referee and her milieu determine the nomenclature, structure, hypocrisy, and corruption of the religion.

**Persona Religion Belief Table**
Broad stroke describing religious belief.
Die Roll (1d100)	Religious Belief
01-10	Anonymous writings.
11-20	Charismatic leader.
21-30	Icon object or creature.
31-40	Universal conjoining force.
41-50	Many creators.
51-60	Holy martyrs.
61-70	Messiah.
71-80	One creator.
81-90	One creator plus hierarchy.
91-00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Religious Belief

Political

The list here describes the structure of the politics and does not list existing human parties. The referee and her milieu determine the nomenclature, structure, hypocrisy, and corruption of the political system.

**Persona Political Beliefs Table**
This table lends a broad stroke to the Persona’s political belief.
Die Roll (1d100)	Belief	Description
01-05	Anarchism	Organization is evil.
06-10	Aristocracy	Governed by the 'best' people. Small privileged class.
11-15	Bananarchy	Peaceful non-regulated existence amongst tropical fruits.
16-20	Bureaucracy	Administration by complexity. Efficiencies are condemned.
21-25	Capitalism	Money and biz is king. Laissez Faire.
26-30	Communism	Classless society. Common ownership.
31-35	Democracy	Random selection of most popular person.
36-40	Despotism	Rule and control by singular person.
41-45	Egalitarianism	Belief in equality of all.
46-50	Environmentalism	Protect environment above all.
51-55	Fascism	All power to one party and Charismatic leader.
56-60	Feudalism	Numerous lords and indebted vassal.
61-65	Imperialism	Power through colonial acquisitions.
66-70	Ma/Pa triarchy	Inheritance of power via gender lines
71-75	Militarism	Exaltation of military virtues and ideals.
76-80	Monarchy	One person inherits throne of power for life.
81-85	Technocracy	Governed by technicians, scientists and computers.
86-90	Theocracy	Governed by immediate divine guidance.
91-95	Totalitarianism	State controls all activities of people.
96-00	Ismism	Ref’s own table.
Die Roll (1d100)	Political Belief	Description

Philosophical

Some are real. Some are silly. All are mental exercises in futility.

**Persona Philosophical Belief Table**
You think therefore you are. If you think too much…
Die Roll (1d100)	Philosophy
01-05	Atomism
06-10	Cynicism
11-15	Deism
16-20	Enthalpism
21-25	Excessivism
26-30	Existentialism
31-35	Hedonism
36-40	Idealism
41-45	Ismism
46-50	Materialism
51-55	Mechanism
56-60	Metaphysicism
61-65	Monetarianism
66-70	Pantheism
71-75	Pragmatism
76-80	Rationalism
81-85	Realism
86-90	Stoicism
91-95	Technocracy
96-00	Ref’s Own Table
Die Roll (1d100)	Philosophy

Labanations

Labanations are an extremely abridged list of descriptive movements based on Laban Movement Analysis. Laban Movement Analysis is many times more complex than the list below. The original goal of the work as to create a language for choreography that equalled a musical score. Laban Movement Analysis is used within theatre arts to characterize both speech and movement. This heavily abridged version can be applied to the move and sound of a persona. The goal for using this analysis to allow for distinct persona sounds and movements that are rooted in mundane terran cultural accents and stereotypes.

**Abridged Laban Movements Table**
Can describe the sound or move of the persona.
Die Roll (1d8)	Labanation	Wate	Time	Space
1	Press	Heavy	Slow	Direct
	Firm, sturdy, pull, squeeze, massive, deliberate, powerful
2	Flick	Light	Fast	Indirect
	Quiver, sparkle, crisp, flutter, whisk, twitch, leap, ripple
3	Punch	Heavy	Fast	Direct
	Vigorous, spurt, peirce, impact, thrust, lunge, jolt, stamp, jump, clap
4	Float	Light	Slow	Indirect
	Stir, gentle, undulate, buoyant, vaporous, hover, caress, legato, soft
5	Wring	Heavy	Slow	Indirect
	Convoluted, twisted, knotted, writhe, screw, gnarled, tortuous
6	Dab	Light	Fast	Direct
	Dart, shoot, spritely, tap, patter, staccato, agitated, disjointed
7	Slash	Heavy	Fast	Indirect
	Hit, whip, beat, swipe, throw, fling, splash, sprawl, rip, tear, scatter
8	Glide	Light	Slow	Direct
	Smooth, calm, soothing, stroking, straight, legato, linger
Die Roll (1d8)	Labanation	Wate	Time	Space

Each Labanation has a wate, speed and intention.

Wate: Heavy or light. A heavy movement may be thudding. A heavy sound may be deep or loud. A light movement may be delicate or gentle. A light sound may be quiet.
Time: Fast or Slow. Same with movements or sounds.
Space: Direct or Indirect. Direct is focused on a target and not unclear in action. Indirect is unfocused and may be glancing or unclear.