My basic way uses a scrap piece of paper with a section each for attributes, skills and traits. The skills section needs to be larger than the others.
It goes as:
get 5000 points (if you're going standard)
subtract 850 from the 5000, add the base stuff. (100 to each attribute, 2 languages at 20 and 10 to perception.)
choose affiliation and subtract it's cost
add all the attribute, skills and traits from said affiliation (choose your languages, one should be english)
Choose life path one
subtract it's cost
add all attributes, skills and traits.
Choose life path two, same steps as one
choose life path 3, same as one
choose skill fields.
add 30 to each skill in the field choice
subtract 24 for each skill. (they say subtract 30 and rebate 6. I just multiply the total number of skills gain by the fields by 24 and subtract that.)
choose life path 4, same as step one.
You can choose more than one stage 4.
Add up the age and adjust points if needed for this (you can use the optional points for being a over 21, and if you're over 25 you get attribute adjustments - its in the GM section under advancing players).
Round all skills, attributes and traits to the nearest full level. Use the remaining points by adding to attributes, increasing skills you already have, adding new skills and new traits. Add more negative traits if you need more points.
It's a lot of repetition, but not really all that hard.
It's a lot of repetition, but not really all that hard.
it's a lot of.... Ok, that's enough. ;)
Hope that helps!
- Shane