Chef
The Chef is the baseline character in Chef RPG - the owner and head of the kitchen. They’re required in every game and represent the player’s restaurant.
Overview
Role: Generalist/Leader - The baseline character with no specialty bonuses
Required: Yes - At least one player must be the Chef
- Solo play: You are the Chef (plus hired NPC specialists)
- Group play: One player is the Chef, others play specialists
Narrative: It’s YOUR restaurant. You’re the head of the kitchen and responsible for the final dish.
Mechanical Identity: The Chef has no automatic bonuses, making them the baseline for comparison. While specialists get +2 automatic bonus in their specialty stat, the Chef distributes all points manually for flexibility.
Character Sheet
See Character Sheet Design for complete sheet structure. See Character Mechanics for resolution rules.
Identity Section
Character Name: [Choose your Chef’s name]
Role: Chef
Role Description: The head of the kitchen and restaurant owner. A generalist who coordinates the team and ensures the final dish is perfect.
Exploration Stats
The Chef gets 4 points to distribute across three exploration stats:
Foraging: [ ] (bonus modifier)
- Finding and identifying ingredients in the wild
- Knowing what’s edible and what’s valuable
Combat: [ ] (bonus modifier)
- Fighting creatures for protein
- Defending the party from threats
Social: [ ] (bonus modifier)
- Negotiating with merchants and NPCs
- Charming, bribing, or persuading
Point Allocation: Distribute your 4 points however you want.
Resolution: Roll d20 + stat bonus when facing exploration challenges.
Example Stat Distributions
Balanced Chef (Generalist)
- Foraging +1, Combat +1, Social +2
- Good at everything, excels at talking
Combat Chef (Protein Specialist)
- Foraging +1, Combat +3, Social +0
- Fights for rare meats, relies on team for socializing
Forager Chef (Ingredient Hunter)
- Foraging +3, Combat +1, Social +0
- Finds the best ingredients, avoids fights
Social Chef (Negotiator)
- Foraging +0, Combat +0, Social +4
- Talks their way through everything, buys ingredients
Cooking Stats
[TBD - Cooking mechanics not yet defined]
Specialty Bonus: None
- The Chef has no automatic cooking bonuses (unlike specialists who get +4 to specific actions)
- This makes the Chef the baseline - versatile but not exceptional in any one area
Individual Progression
Personal Reputation/Level: [ ]
- How skilled you are as a Chef
- Your personal progression as the restaurant owner
Personal Money/Wages: [ ]
- Your individual earnings
- Separate from the restaurant fund (see Restaurant Sheet Design)
Personal Equipment
Owned Gear/Tools:
- Chef’s knife
- Personal cooking tools
- [Add equipment purchased during progression]
How to Play the Chef
Your Role in the Party
Leader and Coordinator:
- In group play, you often guide the discussion about who should roll
- You’re the tie-breaker when the party can’t decide
- It’s your restaurant, so you have final say
Generalist Backup:
- You can attempt any challenge, even without bonuses
- When specialists aren’t available (solo) or present (group), you step up
- Your flexibility is your strength
The Final Word:
- During cooking, you coordinate the team’s efforts
- During reviews, you present the dish
- During progression, you decide restaurant upgrades
Strengths
✅ Flexibility - Distribute points to match your playstyle ✅ Always present - Required character means you’re always in the game ✅ Narrative authority - It’s your restaurant, your vision ✅ Solo-capable - Works perfectly in solo play with NPC crew
Weaknesses
❌ No automatic bonuses - Specialists get +2 in their stat, you don’t ❌ No cooking specialty - Specialists get +4 to specific cooking actions, you don’t ❌ Jack of all trades - You’re decent at everything but not exceptional
Tips for Playing
During Exploration:
- Consider your stat distribution when volunteering for challenges
- Let specialists handle their specialties when possible
- Step up when no one else can
During Cooking:
- Coordinate who does what (you’re the head chef)
- Handle tasks that don’t match specialist bonuses
- Keep an eye on the cooking clock
During Progression:
- Balance restaurant upgrades (help everyone) vs personal gear (help you)
- In solo play, consider which NPC specialists to hire first
- Your reputation unlocks better jobs - don’t neglect it
Chef in Different Modes
Solo Play (Chef + NPC Crew)
You are the Chef with hired NPC specialists who provide bonuses:
- You make all decisions
- NPCs provide their specialist bonuses during exploration and cooking
- You control the restaurant and all progression choices
Group Play (Chef + Player Specialists)
You are one player among several:
- Guide discussion but collaborate on decisions
- Your role is leader/coordinator, not dictator
- Share the spotlight - let specialists shine in their areas
Example Chef: Remy the Traveling Chef
Character Name: Remy Stat Distribution: Foraging +2, Combat +0, Social +2 Concept: A wandering chef who finds ingredients and charms clients, avoids fights
Personality: Friendly and enthusiastic about food, prefers talking to fighting
Play Pattern:
- Volunteers for foraging and social challenges
- Lets the Butcher handle combat encounters
- Coordinates cooking with excitement and energy
Equipment: Well-worn chef’s knife, ingredient notebook, lucky spatula