Nathaniel ‘NASCAR’ Roma is the second character I rolled dice for using the Life Path system introduced in T2K 4th Edition. I had already set my mind on starting a solo campaign in the War World III that never was, and decided that a group of four characters would be large enough to fit well in the game’s mechanics, and at the same time small enough to be manageable.
With LED in mind as my only fully fleshed-out character, I wanted NASCAR to take a different path. After rolling Street Kid for his childhood turn, I went for a tough background and career choices dictated less by ideals, and more by the necessity of making ends meet. A poor academic performance paired with an aptitude for manual skills, thick-skinned and street-smart, I imagined NASCAR as prone to get in trouble, especially at a young age.
I wanted someone who had lost his family early in life, therefore eager to get a new one, even in the crime underworld. He would soon realize how much one can count on such a family after a job went wrong and a prison sentence. Still looking for a place he can belong; he is given a second chance when he is offered to serve in the US Army, a choice that would eventually land him in Europe.
His time spent in war-torn countries worn his mind, but steels his spirit. As his division is decimated by the vast array of dangers provided by modern war, he is shifted from one crumbling front to the next, assigned to missions of dubious utility, and forced to first-hand witness the rapid decay of civilization.
With the army apparently holding up as the only institution capable of organizing large groups of people, he strengthens his bond with men and women in uniform, and remains loyal to his unit, especially when it is reduced to a few trusted companions.
Below is NASCAR’s creation process in graphic form. Like with LED, his story is summed up in black, while his attributes, skills, specialties, and everything else directly linked to the game’s mechanics is in blue.
NASCAR serves as a protector for the rest of the group. Having been a bruiser first, and trained soldier later, he is the most reliable element the group has when in a (fire)fight. Tough and well-equipped, he already proved himself capable of handling everything from AT weapons to knifes; and of course his LMG usually plays a key role in every skirmish.
NASCAR can appear as the most stereotyped member of my group, or at least that was one of my initial thoughts when starting the campaign. It took me a few sessions to find a distinct voice for him, mostly achieved by leveraging his sense of humor, the use of slang, a more matter-of-fact approach, and his willingness to do what needs to be done for his squad.
AS it’s true for every character, NASCAR is in slow but continuous evolution; yet at his core I’ll try to keep him true to how I originally envisioned him.