Degree of Detail

A “dense” character template
includes many traits. It defines a par-
ticular role precisely . . . so precisely
that it can rob a PC of individuality. A
“sparse” template makes a few sugges-
tions, perhaps only a skill or two. It
makes the resulting PC easier to cus-
tomize, but leaves inexperienced play-
ers wondering, “What’s my role?” The
secret is to strike a balance between
the two: don’t try to give the template
every trait that might fit – just focus on
the traits that define the role!