We're using GURPS 3/4e (will go with the flow; my preference is 4e). 130 points plus up to 65 points of disadvantages.

I reserve the right to change the point cost of advantages or disadvantages that are made meaningless by the change in locale (wealth, status (but not reputation), most contacts / enemies etc) - any difference in points might be given back to the player to sort out or I might sort it out myself. Bear in mind that it may take longer to use points up on new advantages than suffer disadvantages! If anyone has specific, realistic ideas for how they want certain advantages / disadvantages to be replaced with others then have a chat with me.

Cybernetics are OK (check with me on the specifics before building your character around them) but need to be paid for in points not cash; any offensive cybernetics will be disabled (take at half point cost but they're useless unless you can re-enable them)

History need not be massive but should include a description of how the character came to receive a life sentence and the plea at the trial. For now, I'd prefer that you don't specify whether they are actually guilty of the crimes that they have committed - I'll ask if its relevant but it might be more interesting if that's left a mystery. Assume that the CR of 2047 is similar to today for working out what sort of crimes lead to life imprisonment.

Physical description: just the usual; doesn't have to be long.

I would like a fairly detailed personality type for your character. Here's why:

To my mind, one of the big reasons PBEMs die is that some players (and I include the GM in this) start posting less and less frequently. There might be good reasons for this to their mind, but this doesn't make a lot of difference to the other players who get frustrated when the game slows down.

If we find that someone has been slow to post (we'll say longer than four days to start off with), then another player can post for that character as long as they honour the personality description and send it via myself so I can check the post for any conflicts with non-public aspects of the character. If this happens frequently then we'll reduce the delay required between posts and if necessary start looking for a new player for the character.

Obviously to do this we need a little more information to go on than "Principled", "Aberrant" etc :-)

If someone knows that they're not going to be able to post for a while and remembers to tell me about it we may be able to write them out for a few sessions or failing that I can roleplay them using the personality description supplied and no hard feelings.
 

You might like to look here for help with your personality template.

Character points will be allocated for all the usual (good ideas, good roleplaying, good writing) and will be modified by the amount (perhaps more to the point the frequency) you post (whether or not its for your character or not!).


Each convict gets 10 CP worth of survival training before leaving. They are also given a shortlist of required skills and are expected to choose one for which to take responsibility.