Character Creation
Prerequisite: You must purchase an Operator's Pass before creating a character. Each character requires its own pass.
Your journey begins with a critical choice: which faction will you align with?
Choosing Your Faction
At character creation, you select one faction as your primary alignment. This choice creates your foundation and shapes your overall game experience.
What Your Primary Faction Determines
| Permanent Effects | Description |
|---|---|
| Starting Skill Bonuses | Each faction provides bonuses to specific skills during skill checks |
| Memory Machine Team | If you contribute to your faction's Memory Machine, you get certain bonuses |
| Some Gated Content | Certain options in missions are only offered to certain factions |
What You Can Still Do
| Flexible Elements | Description |
|---|---|
| Take missions from any faction | Echo neutrality allows cross-faction work |
| Build standing with all factions | Develop relationships regardless of primary alignment |
| Access faction content through reputation | Most content unlocks via standing, not primary faction |
| Work with any sub-faction in combat | Combat operations aren't faction-locked |
The Key Rule
Your primary faction is permanent, but Echo Collective neutrality means you operate across all faction boundaries. Some content gates by primary faction, while most gates by standing (buildable with any faction over time).
The Four Factions
Scions of Ogo
Homo Technologicus warriors forbidden from Centopoly space
Alignment: Anti-Centopoly
Strengths:
- Combat and tactical skills
- Physical enhancement understanding
- Martial discipline
Starting Skill Check Bonuses:
- +2 Basic Combat
- +1 Advanced Combat
- +1 Tactical Planning
Best for: Players who want to excel in combat operations and territorial warfare.
Prospectors
Ancient explorers with 9,000+ years of accumulated wealth
Alignment: Neutral
Strengths:
- Exploration and discovery
- Historical knowledge
- Resource acquisition
Starting Skill Check Bonuses:
- +2 Pattern Recognition
- +1 Memory Enhancement
- +1 Reticle Navigation
Best for: Players who want to explore, gather intelligence, and uncover secrets.
Technomages
Functionally immortal scholars pursuing "The Prime"
Alignment: Neutral
Strengths:
- Technology and systems
- Analysis and research
- Echo Interface mastery
Starting Skill Check Bonuses:
- +2 Echo Interface
- +1 Analytical Thinking
- +1 Bridge Tech
Best for: Players who want to master game systems and technological challenges.
Mercantile Alliance
Economic power, most Metric-integrated faction
Alignment: Pro-Centopoly
Strengths:
- Trade and economics
- Social influence
- Resource optimization
Starting Skill Check Bonuses:
- +2 Negotiation
- +1 Alliance Building
- +1 Faction Relations
Best for: Players who want to focus on economics, diplomacy, and social gameplay.
Multiple Characters
You can create multiple characters per wallet. Each character:
- Has independent progression and reputation
- Can join any of the four factions
- Maintains separate standings and inventories
- Allows you to experience different playstyles without losing progress
- Each character requires a separate Operator Pass
Avatar Selection & Rolling
After faction selection, you roll for your character avatar. Your avatar determines your starting capabilities through a rarity-based system.
Avatar Rarity Tiers
| Rarity | Availability | Starting Attributes | Skill Check Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | Most frequent | Standard range | None |
| Uncommon | Moderate | Improved range | +5% on checks |
| Rare | Infrequent | High range | +10% on checks |
| Legendary | Very rare | Maximum range | +15% on checks |
Higher-rarity avatars provide meaningful advantages:
- Better starting attributes across all domains
- Permanent skill check bonuses affecting missions, crafting, and other activities
- Visual distinction marking your operative's exceptional potential
The Rolling System
When you create a character, you roll for an avatar:
| Roll | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rolls 1-3 | Free |
| Rolls 4-20 | Escalating fee |
How it works:
- First roll — You receive a random avatar with its rarity determined by weighted probability
- Review your avatar — See the rarity tier and attribute preview
- Keep or re-roll — Accept this avatar or roll again for a chance at something better
- Maximum rolls — After a pre-determined number of attempts, you must lock your current avatar
Roll cost escalation:
- Rolls 1-3: Free
- Rolls 4+: Cost increases with each additional roll
- Exact pricing displayed before each paid roll
Locking Your Avatar
Once you're satisfied with your roll (or reach the 20-roll limit), you lock your avatar. This action is permanent for that character—choose carefully.
Before locking, consider:
- Is the rarity tier acceptable for your goals?
- Do the attribute bonuses align with your intended playstyle?
- Are you willing to pay for more rolls, or is this avatar good enough?
Trading Avatars
Avatars can be released and traded on the marketplace:
- Release your locked avatar to list it for sale
- Other players can purchase released avatars directly
- Rare and Legendary avatars command premium prices
- Some players roll specifically to trade high-rarity avatars
This creates an alternative path: if you don't roll the avatar you want, you may be able to purchase one from another player.
Strategic Considerations
Risk vs. Reward:
- Common avatars are functional—you can succeed with any rarity
- Higher rarities provide advantages but aren't required
- The skill check bonuses compound over thousands of checks throughout your career
- Rolling for trade value is a valid strategy
What rarity actually provides: Higher-rarity avatars are more powerful, but not godlike. A Legendary avatar gives you meaningful advantages—permanent skill check bonuses—but does not guarantee success in missions, crafting, or other activities. You still need to make good decisions, develop your skills, and play effectively. The bonuses improve your odds; they don't replace competence.
Your Attributes
Your avatar's rarity influences starting values across five skill domains:
| Domain | Skills |
|---|---|
| Intelligence | Pattern Recognition, Analytical Thinking, Memory Enhancement |
| Technology | Reticle Navigation, Echo Interface, Bridge Tech |
| Combat | Basic Combat, Advanced Combat, Tactical Planning |
| Social | Negotiation, Alliance Building, Faction Relations |
| Diplomacy | Political Strategy, Crisis Management |
Faction bonuses stack on top of your avatar's base attributes.
What Comes Next
After character creation:
- Onboarding — Learn how to navigate the Echo Hub
- Operative Evolution Center — Your hub for advancement and daily operations
- First Missions — Begin building your reputation
Your faction choice matters, but it's just the beginning. How you develop from here is up to you.
Changing Factions Later
Can you change factions? No. Your primary faction is permanent.
Can you work with other factions? Absolutely. The Echo Collective's neutrality means you can build relationships across faction lines.
Learn More
- Faction Deep Dives — Detailed faction information
- Skills & Skill Checks — How skills work
- Your First Steps — What to do after character creation