The Dark Continent: Nyambe

Expanding Towards New Continents

Nyambe (or "Numidia", as it is known to a very few Théan explorers) is situated beyond the Island of Kanuba and to the southeast of it.   When the latter was discovered in 1665 by "Eisen and Avalon settlers," it is to Numidia they were going.  The existence of the continent has been known for a while in certain circles, particularly the Explorers' Society, although it remains a well-guarded secret.

[Based on the excellent book "Nyambe: African Adventures" by Chris Dolunt, published by Atlas Games.]

Return to top
 

Nyambe Character Creation

Building Character

A standard hero is created with 100 Hero Points.  The approximate order of character creation steps is:

1. Character concept: Answer the 21 questions from 7th Sea.
2. Decide whether your character is human or non-human.
3. If human, decide what ethnic group your character belongs to.  You can use the information supplied in Nyambe.
4. Decide what Nyamban nation (or region) your character hails from.  You can use the information supplied in Nyambe, as annotated in the Numidia section of this site.
5. Based on your hero's race, determine initial Traits.
6. Decide which Sorcery School your character attended, if any.
7. Decide which Fighting School your character attended, if any.
8. Decide which Virtue or Hubris your character has, if any.
9. Purchase Advantages, Backgrounds, and Languages for your character.
10. Purchase Skills and Knacks for your character.

(More to come soon.)

Return to top
 

Humans

Human characters are created in more or less the same way as standard 7th Sea characters, with a few exceptions.  First, Nyamban humans have no national trait, and so receive no free bonus to any characteristic.  However, the maximum value for all characteristics of Nyamban humans is 6, not 5.  In effect, Nyamban humans have the Legendary Trait Advantage for all their traits.  Also, the maximum starting value for traits for Nyamban humans is 4, not 3.

Return to top
 

Non-Humans

The rules are slightly different for the nonhuman races of Nyambe.  The default maximum for nonhuman characteristics is 5, as with Thean humans, and the maximum value that a trait can start at is 3.  However, each of the nonhuman races has  racial trait characteristics associated with it, in a manner similar to that of the various nations of Theah.  These racial trait characteristics may result in the modification of more than one characteristic for a given race.  In addition, racial trait characteristics affect the maximum value for a given trait, so that a trait which is modified by +1 also has its maximum raised by +1, and conversely a trait that is modified by -1 has its maximum value reduced by one.  The minimum value for a characteristic is still 1.  Thus an Agogwe would be able to begin play with a Finesse of 4, but could not begin play with a Brawn higher than 2.  The maximum value that an Agogwe could raise his or her Finesse to would be 6, but Brawn could never be higher than 4.  In addition, certain of the nonhuman races have certain advantages that they gain for free.

The nonhuman racial packages  are as follows:

• Agogwe:  +1 Finesse, -1 Brawn, Small, Claws, Burrowing
• Kitunusi:  +1 Resolve, -1 Brawn, Night Trained, Indomitable Will
• Ngoloko:  +1 Brawn, +1 Resolve, -1 Panache, -1 Wits, Night Trained, Large
• Unthlatu:  +1 Brawn, -1 Finesse, -1 Panache, Night Trained, Armored Skin
• Utuchekulu:  +1 Resolve, -1 Finesse, Night Trained, Tough
• Wakyambi:  +1 Panache, +1 Wits, -1 Brawn, -1 Resolve, Night Trained, Keen Senses, Prehensile Tail

Return to top
 

Languages

• Kordo: 1 point for Marak'ka, Mbanta, Utuchekulu and Wakyambi; 0 point for everyone else in Nyambe. 
• Daka-alif: 0 point for Marak'ka, NaBula, Shombe, Xon'mo, and Utuchekulu; 1 point for Azzazza, Agogwe, Kitunusi, Ngoloko, Unthlatu and Wakyambi; 2 points for everyone else in Nyambe. 
• Daka-dia: 2 points for Azzazza, 3 points for everyone else in Nyambe. 
• Daka-kara: 0 point for Mbanta, Zamara and Wakyambi; 1 point for Tembu, Agogwe, Kitunusi, Ngoloko, Unthlatu, and Utuchekulu; 2 points for everyone else in Nyambe. 
• Crescent: 1 point for NaBula and characters hailing from Boroko; 2 points for characters from Taumo-Boha; 3 points for everyone else in Nyambe.
• Cathayan: 1 point for Zamara; 2 points for characters hailing from Kaya vua Samaki; 3 points for everyone else in Nyambe.
• Daka-kosa: 0 point for N'goloko characters; 1 point for Kitunusi, Unthlatu and Wakyambi; 3 points for everyone else in Nyambe.
• Thean languages are all 2 points for human Nyamban characters and 3 points for non-humans.

Note that non-human characters must pay 2 hero points to acquire literacy in a language, rather than 1 like human heroes.

Cost of learning Nyamban languages for foreigners:

• For Crescent characters and for Théans who speak Crescent, Daka-alif is 1 point; other Nyamban languages are 3 points, except Daka-kosan which is 4 points. 
• For other Théans, all Nyamban languages are 3 points, except Daka-kosan and Daka-dia which cost 4. 
• For Cathayans, learning Daka-kara is 2 points; other Nyamban languages are 3 points, except Daka-kosan and Daka-dia which cost 4. 

Return to top