× XO HARBORCHARACTER PORTRAITS / STUDY 02

FAMILIAR FACES. NEW MOMENTS.

Everyone has
a part to play.

Seven characters, seen through the life of Harbor.
And a first glimpse of someone new.

Open the printable study ↗Meet a Harbor resident ↓

89 × 146 mm portrait cards · Fronts and named role backs · Study for review

THE ORIGINAL SEVEN

A role that travels with you.

Choose the contribution that feels right today. You might recognise yourself in several characters, or see a familiar person in one. Each encounter gives those perspectives a new purpose.

AN INVITATION, OPEN TO YOUR INTERPRETATION

What would you bring to the story?

These characters offer ways to take part. You decide what you recognise in them. One person can draw on several roles as the situation changes; the encounter sets the actions for the role you play.

The Star encourages and helps others be seen. You decide who shines in your story. These are playful perspectives, not personality scores or ranks.

Sage hood, brass ear lenses, round wooden face and message bottle.
XO HARBOR / CHARACTER01

The Messenger

CONNECTTide mail

“A message only matters when it reaches someone.”

Carry a clue or invitation between people.

Explore the role

What helps this role

Someone willing to listen and respond.

Your invitation

Who could you connect through this message?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who brings people into a conversation and makes sure the message reaches them.

Encounter idea

A sealed message has reached the wrong quay. Ask the Cartographer where it belongs, then deliver it together.

A proposed role direction, not an implemented online action.

Sailor hat with brass wheel, teal scarf and broad parchment map.
XO HARBOR / CHARACTER02

The Cartographer

FIND A WAYMapping the tides

“The best route leaves room for someone else.”

Turn observations into a practical route the group can follow.

Explore the role

What helps this role

A fresh observation and a reason to travel.

Your invitation

What could be our next practical step?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who sees connections, explores options and helps a group find a way forward.

Encounter idea

Two routes cross the harbor. Compare the Observer's sighting with the tide marks before choosing a passage.

A proposed role direction, not an implemented online action.

Five-point wooden star, orange cheeks, teal scarf and small booted body.
XO HARBOR / CHARACTER03

The Star

ENCOURAGEFirst light

“One small sign can bring us back together.”

Encourage others and help their contributions be seen.

Explore the role

What helps this role

A contribution to recognise, and someone to encourage.

Your invitation

Whose contribution could you help others see?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who uses earned recognition to encourage others and help their work be seen. You decide who represents the Star for you; a small gesture of encouragement can matter too.

Encounter idea

The crew notices the new signal. Invite the Maker to show how it was built, and recognise everyone who helped welcome the boat.

A proposed role direction, not an implemented online action.

Natural wood face, brass-rimmed dome, indigo scarf and telescope.
XO HARBOR / CHARACTER04

The Observer

NOTICEHorizon watch

“Wait. There is something just beyond the mist.”

Notice details, question assumptions and share what you find.

Explore the role

What helps this role

Someone who can turn an observation into a next step.

Your invitation

What might we be overlooking?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who asks a useful question, checks the evidence and helps others look again.

Encounter idea

A shape appears beyond the pier. Describe it to the Cartographer before the group decides where to go.

A proposed role direction, not an implemented online action.

Lighthouse crown, hollow wooden nose, teal cape and warm hand lantern.
XO HARBOR / CHARACTER05

The Lantern Bearer

GUIDEThe last lantern

“There is room beside this light.”

Guide, reassure and make room for someone to join.

Explore the role

What helps this role

A direction to follow and a signal everyone understands.

Your invitation

Who could use a little guidance or reassurance?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who makes a new place or task feel approachable and helps another person take part.

Encounter idea

A traveller waits across a dark quay. Ask the Observer for a clear route and mark it with light.

A proposed role direction, not an implemented online action.

Round brass spectacles, stitched knit cap and cylindrical leather tool carrier.
XO HARBOR / CHARACTER06

The Maker

MAKE & REPAIRThe workshop window

“Pass me the little brass pin. There. Now we can begin.”

Turn available parts into something the group can use.

Explore the role

What helps this role

The missing piece, and a shared reason to build.

Your invitation

What could we make useful together?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who prototypes, repairs or turns a shared idea into something people can use.

Current pilot

In the current two-player pilot, trade a split lens for a brass pin, finish the housing and ring the welcome bell.

Playable as one of the two pilot roles.

One turquoise eye, wooden clock face and deeply weathered stitched cloak.
XO HARBOR / CHARACTER07

The Timekeeper

COORDINATEThe bell hour

“Some moments need more than one pair of hands.”

Bring contributions together and carry lessons forward.

Explore the role

What helps this role

A practical idea, and someone to help make it work.

Your invitation

What is worth carrying into the next encounter?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who coordinates the moment, remembers what a group has learned and helps that knowledge travel onward.

Current pilot

In the current two-player pilot, offer a brass pin, receive the lens and housing, then set the two-light signal.

Playable as one of the two pilot roles.

HARBOR RESIDENT / NEW CONCEPT

There are more
lives here.

Meet the Net Mender.

A different person with a familiar instinct: repair what is useful and show someone else how. New residents can bring their own faces, stories and encounters into Harbor.

First concept for review. The seven established characters keep their identities.

Rust watch cap, silver carved curls, patched green apron and netting shuttle.
XO HARBOR / RESIDENT CONCEPTR01

The Net Mender

MEND & TEACHA stitch before the tide

“Hold this loop. I'll show you the next knot.”

Restore something useful and share the skill with another person.

Explore the role

What helps this role

A helping hand and a piece worth keeping.

Your invitation

What skill could you pass on while helping?

Beyond Harbor

Someone who restores what is useful and shares the craft along the way.

Encounter idea

A torn net delays a crossing. A player holds the cord while the Net Mender explains the knot; agree the outcome together.

A proposed role direction, not an implemented online action.

CHARACTER · PORTRAIT · RESIDENT

A growing cast, with a clear thread.

The same character

A changed pose, repaired coat or evening on the quay can be a new portrait of someone you already know.

A different person

A new face and life story deserve their own identity. Different Harbor residents may share a craft or role.

A shared encounter

A World Card opens the situation. Roles suggest contributions; you bring your interpretation. Together, the players agree and follow the encounter’s rules.

Everyone can play. Physical collectibles and cards are optional ways to carry the world with you.

About this study

Eight newly generated portraits. The seven core designs use their established character references. The Net Mender is a new concept. AI-assisted artwork with manually authored card typography and role text.

The online pilot still uses Timekeeper and Maker as its two active roles, with a third guest for the call. These new portrait designs do not change your current room, game progress or call.

Home-print proof only: A4 at 100%, with A4 selected in printer settings. Measure the 50 mm line first. No supplier bleed, NFC or raised-detail layers are included.

ONE CONSISTENT CARD LANGUAGE

A role, not a paywall.

The front identifies the character and scene, the contribution verb and edition reference. The back explains the ability, who can help and a question for your own interpretation. Resources, costs and outcomes belong to a versioned encounter sheet.

Timekeeper and Maker are playable in the current demo. The other roles and the Net Mender remain proposals for playtesting. Visual variants do not automatically create stronger abilities or rarer game powers.

A character design ID identifies the art and role. A physical serial, when implemented, would identify one particular card or object. “Object keeper” means the person caring for it; “Timekeeper” is a character.