Returning Challenger – Michael Beckett

Hey folks, I’m Michael, and this’ll be my third year in the 30 Characters Challenge. Last two years have been a blast, so I’m looking forward to the next 30 days. ^^

So in previous years, I’ve done nanomachine monster trainers and historical figures as RPG classes. It’s all been mostly RPG-inspired stuff, with a look heavily inspired by video games. This year, though, I’m going to be designing a series of characters based around something else I’m interested in; the paranormal.

For me, the most interesting thing about ghost stories isn’t the idea of whether spooks are real or not, but rather how people react to the idea. Some people just react with fear, while others become intensely curious. Some people use ghosts as a shield, protecting themselves from a fear of death, while some take the opportunity to dive head-first into concepts of mortality.

So this year, my 30 characters will be inhabitants of a dying city. Hit by a massive flood, the local government has rebuilt, but people refuse to return. The few people who remain report the walking dead, a biblical plague of every shade imaginable. The question is no longer whether ghosts exist or not, it’s how the people who can’t leave the city adapt to survive in a town full of restless spirits.

Category: 2013