This system uses a standard points buying mechanism to create your character with a scaling system so that higher values are more costly to acquire. This is the standard system for creating characters in Courts of Conflict but it is not the only one that could be used.
1. ST should set the Status level of the game. See later for possible balances to a mixed-Status game.
2. Detail your character’s concept and background and discuss with the ST how best to achieve this vision.
3. Assign (12 + Status) points amongst the three Facilities each of which starts at 1; you may purchase upto value 4 on a 1-for-1 basis, each successive level costs double points (e.g. 2pts for 5, 4pts for 6 and 8pts for 7). NOTE: For a “lower power” game, the ST may choose to impose a cap on Facility values and/or reduce the points to (10 + Status); for a “higher power” game, perhaps increase available points to (14 + Status) or reduce the purchase costs for values above 4.
4. Assign 6 points to Abilities on a 1-for-1 basis but no Ability may be higher than 2 without appropriate background justification and ST approval. Purchasing level 3 of an Ability at character creation costs 2pts (i.e. 4pts to go from 0 to 3).
5. Assign (Status ×3) points to Resources (Equipment, Commodities and/or Allies); the ST will be the final arbiter on what is realistic for your character to be starting with. NOTE: You may not start with an Enemy unless your ST allows it; if so they will tell you whether or not you receive any bonus or refunded points for doing so.
6. Select 3 Talents from the agreed/available list for your setting; your ST may decide that some Talents are worth two or more points and should be purchased accordingly.
Once you have done these, you can calculate your Defences and Wealth as well as any other scores that may derive from these.
As an alternative, the ST may decide that they will determine what Abilities, Resources and Talents your character will have based upon the description and background you provide. Naturally this puts a lot more onus and work on the ST but one advantage is that they can know well in advance what the group is like and ensure they are balanced (or not) as appropriate for the game. It thus behooves the player to ensure they present the ST with a well thought out character concept which covers all the bases for how they would like to be presented.