Hunter: The Reckoning plunges players into a world where ordinary people become hunters—reluctant or fanatical warriors against the supernatural. Unlike other World of Darkness games, hunters are not vampires, werewolves, or mages; they are regular humans who have been "imbued" with supernatural insight, granting them the ability to see monsters for what they truly are.

Creating a hunter is about crafting a believable, compelling human being who has been thrust into a nightmare. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of character creation in Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition, covering everything from concept to mechanics.

Step 1: Choose Your Hunter's Concept

Before diving into stats, think about who your hunter is. What was their life like before the supernatural intruded? What drives them now?

Key Questions to Consider:

• Who were you before the hunt? (e.g., a cop, a doctor, a conspiracy theorist, a college student)
• What was your first encounter with the supernatural? (Did you witness a vampire feeding? Did a werewolf slaughter someone you loved?)
• How do you react to the truth? (Denial? Vengeance? Religious fervor? Cold pragmatism?)
• What’s your moral code? (Do you kill monsters on sight? Do you try to save the humans they manipulate?)

Your answers will shape your hunter’s personality, beliefs, and motivations.

Step 2: Select Your Creed (Hunter Type)

Hunters in Hunter: The Reckoning belong to different Creeds, which define their supernatural abilities and worldview. Each Creed represents a different way of responding to the horrors they face.

The Five Core Creeds:

• Entrepreneurial Hunters take on their quarry through utilizing connections and vast resources.
• Faithful Hunters operate their unwavering belief in their religion, which grants them power.
• Inquisitive Hunters use cunning to study their prey and then find ways to counter them.
• Martial Hunters use firepower and combat prowess to best beasts.
• Underground Hunters dare to go where no one else is willing to and do what others fear to seek their prey.

Step 3: Assign Attributes

Attributes represent the character's innate abilities, with 1 being worse than the normal person, 2 being average, and up to 5 meaning you have almost no equal. The Attributes are divided into three categories: Physical, Social, and Mental.

• Physical (Strength, Dexterity, Stamina)
• Social (Charisma, Manipulation, Composure)
• Mental (Intelligence, Wits, Resolve)

When building the sheet, the player will place one attribute at 1 dot, four attributes at 2 dots, three attributes at 3 dots, and one final attribute at 4 dots, with this being the Hunter's best trait.

Step 4: Choose Skills

Similar to Attributes, Skills are defined as follows: No dots means they have no knowledge or formal training, one means that they have basic knowledge, two is general knowledge, three is a professional Skill level, four means they've specialized in this, and five is one of the best in the world.

The distribution of Skills is a choice between three different options.

• Jack of All Trades: One Skill at 3 dots, eight Skills at 2 dots, and ten Skills at 1 dot.
• Balanced: Three Skills at 3 dots, five Skills at 2 dots, and seven Skills at 1 dot.
• Specialist: One Skill at 4 dots, three Skills at 3 dots, three Skills at 2 dots, and three Skills at 1 dot.

Recommended Skills for Different Playstyles:

• Combat Monster: Firearms, Brawl, Athletics
• Face of the Group: Persuasion, Subterfuge, Empathy
• Investigator: Investigation, Occult, Awareness

Step 5: Pick Your Edges (Supernatural Powers)

Edges represent an array of unique options relevant to their creed that make a Hunter specialized. For example, the Martial may help their group gain access to more weapons; Entrepreneurial provides easy access to resources or contacts that would normally be difficult to obtain, etc.  Edges do not have a rating; instead, players purchase additional Perks. Each Perk enhances the Edge in some way, adding to or changing its effect.

Select between 2 Edges and 1 Perk or 1 Edge and 2 Perks.

Example Edges:

Arsenal

Either borrowed from an old contact or put together in a garage, the Hunter has access to a wide variety of weapons that are generally not available to the public. This includes not only firearms but also melee weapons; however, this does not include explosives such as bombs, mines, or other munitions. These weapons are still mundane and are only available for a short period of time, either having to be returned to the contact, undergo severe maintenance, or break down due to their nature of being jerry-rigged.

Drone Jockey

The Hunter has a drone that surpasses those that are commercially available. They are also able to control it expertly and repair it on their own. The type of drone varies, either as a tool for surveillance or for combat.

Sense the Unnatural

While holding an object of focus, the Hunter is able to detect the nearby presence of supernatural creatures. However, this ability does not determine who or what the creature is.

Step 6: Chronicle Tenets and Touchstones

In Hunter: The Reckoning, Chronicle Tenets, and Touchstones are key mechanics that reinforce personal horror, moral struggle, and narrative depth in your chronicle.

Chronicle Tenets

Chronicle Tenets are the shared moral principles that define what the story considers sinful or reprehensible—actions that risk a vampire’s Humanity. These are agreed upon by the players and Storyteller, shaping the ethical boundaries of the game.

• Violating a Tenet risks moral choices more personal and story-driven.
• Example Tenets:
  
  • "Do not kill without just cause."
  • "Protect the innocent from supernatural horrors."
  • "Never betray a sworn ally."

Touchstones

Touchstones are individuals who anchor a Hunter’s fading Humanity, representing their last meaningful connections to a normal life. Oftentimes, this is the very reason the Hunter chose this path.

• Purpose: They provide roleplaying depth and a constant reminder of what the Hunter once was. Losing or harming a Touchstone can have severe emotional consequences.
• Example Touchstones:
  
  • A former lover who still cares for the Hunter.
  • A sibling is unaware of the Hunter’s true career.
  • A childhood friend has now turned into a supernatural being.

Chronicle Tenets and Touchstones make morality a dynamic, narrative-driven element rather than a static score. They force Hunters to confront the cost of their actions, ensuring that even the most powerful Hunters must grapple with their dwindling emotional stability.

Step 7: Advantages and Flaws

In Hunter: The Reckoning, character creation involves balancing Advantages with Flaws. These elements add depth to a character, reinforcing personal horror and storytelling opportunities.

Advantages/Merits offer benefits to specific aspects of a character in the form of resources, contacts, or even physical attraction that can help a character in specific situations. On the other end of the spectrum, flaws represent hindrances that your character may have, such as enemies. 

Typically, there are 7 dots allotted to merits and 2 for flaws. Each merit and flaw will have a specific cost to them. 

Similar to your Creed, you will get background merits and flaws as well. 

Conclusion: Ready for the Hunt

Creating a hunter is about balancing humanity and horror. You’re not a superhero—you’re a fragile, desperate human fighting things beyond comprehension such as vampires and  werewolves. But that’s what makes Hunter: The Reckoning so compelling.

Now that your character is ready, gather your trusted allies, load your weapons, and step into the night. The monsters are real. And they should be afraid of you.

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DeAngelo is an award-nominated professional Game Master, writer, and game designer with over 15 years of experience bringing tabletop RPG adventures to life. Recognized by Wizards of the Coast, Renegade Games, and more, he combines dynamic storytelling with immersive gameplay to create unforgettable experiences for players. DeAngelo can be found on StartPlaying, which specializes in crafting tales of cosmic horror, vampires, and epic fantasy.