Rule 16-03-10

Rule 16-03-10: Expansion of rule 14-11-1

Thus one free character can be rolled at start, however if rejected, a "real" character must be made, and if rejected, another free character may be made every time "full & real" character is made and rejected. The purpose of "zero" SPE characters are to generate "Special points" without spending any, and to give a contrast between ordinary characters and regular characters. Should the character do well the player can elect to make a linked character - a protgee/nephew (by spending 1 SPE) who gains 1/2 the characters Xp off stage (& optionally other benefits) and if the player succeed in matching the value of Xp when the 1 SPE was spent, the protege gets a bonus of double the  xp  of that value. 
        Example, an ordinary character earns 500 xp and gains some treasure. The character deceides to take on a protgee (undefined) costing 1 SPE and from now on 1/2 his xp goes to his protgee. 

The protege now has 0 xp. 

The main character adventures and earns 100 xp but only keeps half, so 50 xp goes to the protgee.  

Since the protegee was created at 500 xp, when the  main charager earns 1000 xp total, which 1/2 goes to the progtge both now have 500 xp. 

   However , the target of 500 xp triggers a bonuns, and the protgee gets double the target xp (in this case 1000 xp giving them a total of 1500 xp, which would actually be more than the current character.

      Any levels earned from xp are automatically trained, so the protegee can start with full levels.

    After the level is determined by this xp, if the protgee is of the same class they gain a 50% bonus xp on top of this value. So in this case a theif becomes 2nd level 1500 xp. Then they get another 750 xp on top of this. 

       The protegee can enter play any time after the mentor dies, or the bonus xp is achieved (and the mentor retires.)
        Note the mentee need not be the same class (but if they are, they gain a bonus 50% of xp after any levels are caculated, thus they can not start play with extra levels from this bonus) - the protgee relationship is merely one of support. 

As well, if the circumstance would make more sense for a new character to have nothing to do with the previous character then the benefits can be transfered to a "stranger" who had a different mentor (but with a 10% penalty of the bonus experience.)

         Alternatively, the old character can see his potential - you can spend 1 SPE to re-roll the ability scores under another system - and note the better scores (if better) as potential scores. Every level earned you can spend 1 (or 2) SPE to shift all ability scores by one (or 2) towards the potential.