Set a Cabal Objective

The first thing players and the GM do is to agree the type of challenge they want to face, and the specific objective they want to pursue initially. They’ll set out a path with the key milestones they expect to hit as they go after it.

This is the single most important part of the character phase.

Set the Stage

The stage is the framework of the campaign: “a loose collection of seeds for the GM to play with and the players to use as a wish list.”

Start collecting seeds to bring to the first session, at which the group will begin selecting and arranging them into the broken world they want to fix.

Gauge the Tone

While Unknown Armies can handle many types of horror, it’s probably not a good idea to throw it all into the same game.

Consider the tone and style of game you do and don’t want early. These mark the boundaries and shape the landscape that will be explored during world-building.

Establish Boundaries and Limits

Unknown Armies is a horror game that can go to dark and uncomfortable places. It should absolutely test the limits of your characters, but it certainly shouldn’t push your buttons as players.  

Take time to establish the boundaries, limits and safety mechanisms of your game.

Guide to Character and Cabal Creation

Character creation is closely wrapped up with world-building in Unknown Armies 3. The group (or cabal), its objectives, and the places and people in the world they are most closely connected to are established collaboratively in an initial character phase.  

Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up a game with a coherent party of broken characters.