Advanced PC creation options

[Oni]

It's always fun to create a unique character for yourself to lead your mercenary company, choosing your background always gives your character a unique flavour... but other than some optional dialogue during the campaign and which skill points you start with, what does it actually do?

Character creation should have more options, ones that affect gameplay and not just flavour text. Such as after the usual choices (ancestral origin, how you became a mercenary, etc) you get a "Character Trait" screen that gives you "points", say 5 for ease of reference, and these let you buy Traits that flesh out your PC.

Some examples could be:

Inspirational = When you're on the field, Lance Resolve gains are doubled. (Cost 3 points).

Ancestral Relic = Instead of a Blackjack, your Ancestral Battlemech is actually a Star League era remnant. (Cost 3 points for a Medium, 4 points for a Heavy, 5 points for an Assault).

Etc.

 

[Prussian Havoc]

I like your ideas here.

Something on this order would take an already immersive PC Creation Experience to the next level... and maybe a level or two beyond that! : )

 

[DarkSpade]

I'd like to see more events related to your background too. So far I've only seen one and it was specifically for the one where your parents were dead..

 

[Donvale]

Character quirks in general need to be given more in game effect for all pilots.
Then you could just make them something generic you own character could gain and lose as well.
For starting quirks the best solution might be to pair them together (one positive, one negative).
You don't need events for your commander specifically, you could actually make commander quirks change based on their decisions involving other pilots, for example allowing your leaving mechwarrior to keep the transfer fee might gain you a supportive, loyal or generous trait with accompanying effects.