Character Creation and Advancement
Below are the instructions on how to create a Character as well as basic rules for advancing the Character in levels. If you have never played a Pen and Paper game before you may wish to review the Getting Started page.
Below you will see instructions on how to edit the Character sheet manually. Instructions on manually editing a character sheet are boxed. For example:
Anything in this box-like format will be instructions for editing the Character sheet.
What you need
Great! You made it. Time to take the character from your imagination and put it to paper! A few things you will need first:
- Dice! You need to get a d20 Dice set. Here is a URL to help get you started Google Search for "d20 Dice Set"
- A Character Sheet. We have one for free here!
A Character Idea
Often overlooked, but also important is the simple idea of what you want to role play. If role-playing is new to you or just not your thing, you can roll play yourself or an "ideal" or "ridiculous" version of you.
There is no pressure to flesh out your character all at once. Some people love to talk about their character ideas: backstories, history, family history, and that one time when they ran into that one guy on that one planet and shins ensued. You can start your character off with as much or as little detail as you like provided the essential parts of the Character sheet get filled out.
It's nice to ask a few questions.
- What is your Character's alignment? Is he good or evil? More on this on the Alignment page.
- What is your Character's dream, big objective, or end game?
- What is your Character's name?
- What is your Character's sex?
You can go as deeply into these questions as you like. Or provide a simple answer and move on. Either is fine. But Alignment/Name/Sex are things that need to be recorded on your Character sheet for it to be complete.
Editing Character Sheet (Alignment/Name/Sex): At the top of the Character sheet to the right of the "Future Path" title is a series of blanks with the titles directly below each blank. Fill in the first few blanks now. "Character Name" "Alignment" and "Player Name" (That's your name in case you lose your sheet at a group event or something). There are also spaces for you to fill in "Sex", "Weight", and "Height".
If you feel stuck here that is okay. If you already know what Class you want to play as go ahead with the rest of the steps and come back to this one when you are done.
Choose A Species
Visit the Species page for a list of available playable Species. The GM may also have made up new species to play as and feel free to create your ideas just make sure to let the GM know if its ok to play alternative Species.
Species can affect the Character in two ways. They have Character Traits. These are things that are mostly just for RP and are about the Species appearance. The more import effect is in the Bonus Traits. These directly affect the Characters stats or provide special abilities only available too that Species.
Editing Character Sheet: You can write your Species choice on your character sheet below the 'Character Class and Levels' section which is directly below the 'Character Name' at the top right corner of the first page.
Species can also provide a Homeworld but this is just a suggestion. The Player can choose there Character's homeworld and even make one up.
Proficiency Levels
This goes over the default starting values of the Character's Proficiency Tree.
- Tech Proficiency
- While choosing a Species, you will notice that there is a 'Tech Level' Character Trait. This is the starting Tech Proficiency Level for a Character. It can be changed over time if the Player is willing to use there Ability Bonus on Tech Level instead of improving an Ability. But that comes later in the advancement section. For now, you will simply need to record your current level. To learn about how Tech Level effects a Character and how to utilize it go here. To learn what each Tech Level represents for characters and their civilizations go to here.
Editing Character Sheet: This is located on the first page near the top just below the 'SPEED' section and 'Character Descript and Background' box. There are 4 square boxes that are underlined. Fill in all the boxes under and before the Character's Tech Level provided by the Species. All other Proficiency levels are located further down the page in different sections close to what there associated with.
- Melee and Ranged Proficiency Levels
- By now you probably know if you want your character to be better at Range or Melee weapons. You can choose between 2 Levels in Ranged and 1 Level in Melee or 2 levels in Melee and 1 Level in Ranged as your starting weapon Proficiency levels. Feel free to change this while planning at your character. But make sure you have made up your mind by the time you are ready to play the game.
- Power Armor Levels
- This is always zero. Power armor requires a Feats to start putting levels into.
- Armor Proficiency Levels
- This is two. It is always two unless a Species changes it.
- Item Use Proficiency Levels
- This has zero at level one.
Choose A Core Class
Core Classes are in the Core Class section. You can review your choices there. Core class represents a Characters starting point. Nobody starts out instantly a Soldier, Starfighter or Diplomat. It takes time to perfect one's abilities and understand your strengths and weaknesses. Your Core class is your foundation, and each one represents a Character's strong suits and best attributes.
The choices, in summary, are as follows:
Some Species may have custom Core Classes. Picking a Core Class helps define your Character's path and direction. However, this isn't a restriction. It just means it may be easy to go in a direction that focuses on Strength if you play as the Strength core class. However, it's not a requirement.
Editing Character Sheet: At the top right of the Character sheet is couple of different sections for writing down things such as Character and Player Name. There is also a section Titled: "Character Classes and Levels". Here you will put what Path you take and your level in it. For example: "Path of Strength - Lvl1"
Even though the Core Class does provide the Hit Die(HD), the Hit Points cannot be calculated until the Ability scores are written down. More on Ability scores in the next section. But first, if you want a review of what HD and HP means or how health is handled go here
Advance Classes
Advance Classes are a more specialized Class that better defines your Character. Think of it almost as a career choice. It adds more specific Talents and special abilities to your character. However, Advance Classes have requirements that are not met until your Character is also at level 2 to 4. Also, some Advance Classes are easier to get to than others depending on the Core Class/Path you take. It may be useful to review what Advance Class you want to be before picking a Core Class.
To review Advance classes visit the Advance Classes page.
Advantage Die
Advantage Die is a Die that gradually increases over a Characters levels. It is rolled alongside the d20 when using weapons or items your character is proficient with to aid in success. It represents an increased aptitude for certain abilities, skills and varies weapons and equipment as the Character levels up.
Each Core class has a single Ability and that it has an 'Affinity' with. Same goes for Advanced Classes. When performing Saving throws or Checks against an Ability that a Character has 'affinity' with grants an advantage that is added to the d20.
Editing Character Sheet: A Character's Advantage Die is provided in the Core Class Table. It can be recorded on the Character Sheet in the box next too 'Advantage Die' located near the top left side of the first page. Next to the Ability scores under the 'INITIATIVE' and 'HP' boxes.
Editing Character Sheet: Most Characters also have an affinity with a single Ability at level one. This is provided by their Core Class. On the Character sheet, the 6 Abilities are at the top left of the first page. They each have a little check box in the top left corner of each ability square. That box is used to record which abilities you have an affinity with. As you gain new Advance Classes, more checkboxes can be filled in as different classes provide additional Ability Affinities.
Speed
By default, a Character's speed during combat is 30ft or 6 squares. Each square is 5ft. Climbing and Swimming are both half that speed and Borrow is 5ft. A species may have a different speed or a Core Class. To learn more about movement speeds in combat go the Combat page.
Editing Character Sheet: Too the right of the first page of the Character Sheet there is the 'SPEED' section. There you can record your tactical movement speeds.
Ability Scores
| Ability Score | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 1 | –5 |
| 2–3 | –4 |
| 4–5 | –3 |
| 6–7 | –2 |
| 8–9 | –1 |
| 10–11 | 0 |
| 12–13 | 1 |
| 14–15 | 2 |
| 16–17 | 3 |
| 18–19 | 4 |
| 20–21 | 5 |
| 22–23 | 6 |
| 24–25 | 7 |
| Score | Points |
|---|---|
| 7 | –4 |
| 8 | –2 |
| 9 | –1 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 11 | 1 |
| 12 | 2 |
| 13 | 3 |
| 14 | 5 |
| 15 | 7 |
| 16 | 10 |
| 17 | 13 |
| 18 | 17 |
| Campaign Type | Points |
|---|---|
| Low Fantasy | 10 |
| Standard Fantasy | 15 |
| High Fantasy | 20 |
| Epic Fantasy | 25 |
The next step is the foundation of your Hero; their ability scores. These scores are explained in more detail here. They sum up a Character's generic abilities ranging from Strength to Charisma. They are also used to decide a wide variety of details and stats used in your character's actions throughout the game. The default way to get a Character's ability scores is to roll for them. Its good to already know what you want you Character to be like and what there Core Class is that way once you have rolled for your Ability scores you know which scores to add to what abilities.
To get your scores, roll 4d6 (Four, six sided dice) remove the lowest roll and add the other 3. Do this 6 times so that you end up with 6 total scores. The numbers will range from 3 to 18. Re-roll the dice for any total below 7. If you want different rules for getting Ability scores please review the Alternate rules section below.
Editing Character Sheet (Ability Scores): Read the sections below for the different choices, and details on setting up your ability scores. The Ability Scores section of the Character sheet is on the first page near the top just below the "Future Path" title. It is a vertical column starting with STR and ending with CHA. Each Ability has a SCORE/Modifier/TEMP SCORE/TEMP Modifier. We will only need to fill out the SCORE for now.
Once you roll or buy up your ability scores (see alternate rules) you will want to record them on your Character Sheet. Your ability score may also be modified by Species you pick. But don't forget to add any ability score bonuses that a species may provide. And then once you figure out what your total score is you may want to record what your modifier is. Below is a table with the modifiers per ability score.
Editing Character Sheet (Ability Modifier): To the right is a table titled "Ability Score Modifiers". The math for this is also: "(ability/2) -5 [round result down]". Normally we wait to fill this out until you have picked your Species which is the next step. The reason for this is to avoid having to erase and rewrite the score.
Alternate Ability Score Rules
It is ultimately the choice of the GM to decide how Characters choose ability scores. So, this section is more for the GM to read than a player. If you want to be the GM or just want to roll up some Character sheets for fun, then by all means read ahead.
| Alternate Rules for rolling Ability scores. |
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There are two primary ways to decide Ability Scores. Of course, table top games and the d20 system have been around for a while and so naturally over time there have been lot of additional rules added. During gaming the GM may want to create a "High Fantasy" or "Low Fantasy" like setting. "High Fantasy" simply means the stats on average are going to be higher and there will be big epic battles with Characters that are sure to succeed. On the other hand, playing a "Low Fantasy" game you may have a less powerful character that is closer to the average Joe. Some people may argue that having a lower fantasy hero overcome greater odds is even more epic, but it all depends on the style the GM and Players want to play. The two different systems below accommodate for both "Low" and "High" fantasy play styles. Both are sure to be fun!
Both "Dice roll" and "Point Buy" have there advantages and disadvantages. Although this is more information then what a starting out player needs to know. This is more for a GM who is likely to request one over the other. Some people do not like the point buy because it is likely that characters will all look to much alike. If you are a Strong/Soldier Hero you know exactly where to spend your points for the most optimal build for that class and it is likely that all of Strong/Soldiers will look the same. On one hand this gives the Player the most control of there character and can avoid Players that may "Power Roll" super high scores. But on the other hand this removes a certain amount of individuality by creating a more "cookie cutter" character. The Dice Roll method puts a certain amount of chance into the creation of the Character. Sometimes working around unexpected bad ability scores can be interesting/fun and bring a challenging different aspect to roll playing. In the end its up for the GM to deiced. "Dice Roll" or "Point Buy". |
Calculating Health
Now that you have rolled up and recorded your Ability scores you can record your Character's Hit Points or HP. More a review on how Health is interrupted in Future Path go to the Health and Injury page.
The Core class informs the character a lot about how a Character is to advance including the "Hit Die". This defines how much HP a character gets per level. A Hit Die of d8 means you roll a d8 to determine your HP. At level 1 you take your maximum which means you just take whatever your highest possible number from the roll is. For a d8 that is 8, for a d6 its 6 and so on. However a character does get a modifier for there HP. And that is the Character's Constitution modifier.
As they level up a player can choose between taking the average for the Hit Die + Conn Mod or rolling for it using the Hit Die and then adding the Conn Mod.
Editing Character Sheet (HP): The Hit Points section is located on the first page near the top left of the character sheet just below the 'Future Path' title letters. A player can record both there Hit Die and there current HP (Hit Points). The big empty box just below the Hit Points section labeled 'Wounds/Current HP' is a place to record the damage received during combat.
Passive Perception
All Characters have a Passive Perception. This is the Characters awareness of there surroundings. When a Character rolls for a Perception Skill check they are actively looking for something. However Passive Perception is simply a Characters alertness while doing there daily routine. Passive Perception is a 10 + Wisdom Modifier.
Editing Character Sheet: Passive Perception is recorded in the 'PASS. PERCEPTION' box just above the 'SKILLS' section and below the Ability Scores.
Skills
You will notice that on each Core Class section there are a 'Class Skills' and 'Skill Points at Each Additional Level' section. To learn more about skills and how to use them you can go to the Skills Basics page. To learn about each different skill you can go to the Skills page. Each class provides you with a pool of skills to choose as 'Class Skills.' These are your class skills. They will never change from level 1 onward. However, you may add ranks into these skills. Visit the Skills Basics page to learn more about how this affects your Character.
Editing Character Sheet (Class Skills Box): Too the left of the first page below the Ability Score section of the Character Sheet there is the Skills list. Notably the largest section of the sheet. The Skills list has multi columns starting with two checkboxes and then the Skill Name, Ranks, Ability Mod, Skill Die, Misc Mod. At this point, we care only for the first square checkbox. You can check these off as your class skills.
The amount of starting skill points your character gets is based on what your Core class is. There is a section labeled: 'Skill Points at Each Additional Level' that will tell you the number of skill points you get. If you are a level one Strong Hero (Path of Strength) then its '1 + Int modifier' minimum is one. If you are starting out as a level 10 hero, then you add up the skill points for all 10 levels and spend them at once.
Once you have identified what your Class Skills are you can spend your skill points. To add a rank in a class skill, you spend 1 point. To add a rank in a non-class skill, you spend 2 points. To add ranks in any skill, you first need to "train" it which requires spending 1 additional point. Class skills are already trained. The number of ranks you can have in a skill is limited by 1/2 your Character Level roundup.
Editing Character Sheet: Once a skill rank is earned you can record the Skill Rank under the 'Ranks' column of the 'SKILLS' section next to the name of the skill you ranked up. The sum of Skill Rank + Ability Modifier provides the Skill Die level. The Skill Die represents a die or dice that can be rolled with a d20 to perform the skill in the game. On the character sheet at the button below the 'SKILLS' section, there is an explanation of what die is used at what Rank. For example, Skil Die level of 1 is a 1d2. You can record the die under the 'Skill Die' column which is just right of the 'Ranks' column.
You can ignore the other empty columns of the 'SKILLS' section for now. We will get back to that in a later step.
Choose Feats and Talents
Talents and Feats are extraordinary abilities that can be either passive or active (Must be declared by the Player to the GM and the rest of group). Or in some cases, it can have aspects of both. You will need to read the descriptions located on the Feats page. Talents are based on Class and Talents are available for both Base and Advance Classes. Some Talents are based on a theme of sorts and are in "trees." Talent Trees are simply groups of Talents that are grouped under a specific theme and sometimes require Talents from the same Talent Tree. Ever Hero starts with at least one Talent at level one and must pick from the Core Class they choose. Most characters will not start out with any feats but gain them as they level up. They are exceptions based on what Species you pick.
Talents
Determine how many Talents your Character starts out with, (usually one) which is based on the class level. And pick one from that classes available Talents. You will see them listed below the Core Class or Advance Class table.
Editing Character Sheet (Talents): Located on the bottom half of the second page of the Character Sheet underneath the panel for "Techniques". Here you can record both Talents and Feats that your character gains overtime.
Feats
Determine how many feats your character receives, based on his class and level, and select them from those presented in Feats.
Editing Character Sheet (Feats): Located on the bottom half of the second page of the Character Sheet underneath the section for "Techniques" and slightly to the right is the "Feats and Talents" section. Here you can record both Talents and Feats that your character gains overtime.
Determining Wealth and Getting Equipment
Wealth and Money are explained on the Wealth page.
Determining Wealth
In order to determine the starting wealth of a Character, you first should pick a Profession linked here. You do not need to pick a Profession to have a starting wealth if you do not want too. You can start with $4,000 with wealth per level to spend. Or you can start with 0 but have roughly $4,000 worth of equipment. Or you can roll for starting well.
1d20 + Profession Skill + Wisdom.
Starting Wealth: Total * 250
- Note
- If you do not pick a Profession you will not have a credit score. Which means that your character will have to live off whatever possible Wealth may come through the adventures had in the game. This may play well with some character types but not all. The Profession and Credit system are used so that players could role-play their characters that have jobs/occupations and be able to acquire expensive items such as spaceships or other vehicles/really big expensive things without completely relying on Wealth through adventuring.
You can also negotiate with the GM on this. Perhaps you want a character that has had to take a lot of loans out in order to get a ship. So you want to start out with a character already owning an expensive piece of equipment put little spare cash. The important part is to make sure the Player communicates his/her items/Bonus Wealth/Credit score to the GM and not own things well beyond there Credit score would allow for there level. At least not with GM consent and likely a good story to explain why.
More about using and spending wealth on the Wealth page.
Editing Character Sheet (Wealth): On the second page at the bottom left hand corner is the "Wealth" panel. In this box is "WEALTH in $" and "CREDIT SCORE".
Getting Equipment
One can acquire Weapons on the Weapons page. Armor on the Armor page and for extra equipment go to the General Equipment page.
Starter Packs are designed to help Heros speed up to adventuring instead of doing 'epic shopping' as they are bundles of general equipment items. However, these items do not include Armor or a Weapon.
Determining, Initiative, Attack Values, Defense Values
Initiative
Your initiative shows your Characters quick ability to react and how often they will attempt to react. Using a bit a luck with a d20 check a person with a high initiative is more likely to go before another Player or opponents in combat rounds. You can read up more about how initiative is involved in game play in the Combat page.
Editing Character Sheet (Initiative): Your Initiative is located below the "HP", "Wounds/Current HP", "Non-lethal Damage" sections. Your Initiative is normally your Dexterity and Wisdom Modifier.
Attack / Defense Values
Oops! I haven't re-written this section for the new rules yet! Eks! Better get on that sooner or later.
Finial Description and Personalities
One of the most exciting parts of making a Character is helping to describe it and breath life into it. Some people would argu that you need to do this first before making the character at all. Even though this is probably a better approach it isn't very "noob" friendly. In other words, new players to Table Top games probably dont think as much about that aspect or do not know how far fetch to imagine the character without first playing in the universe and seeing how it all fits together.
Once people get into a genre or style of Table Top they probably find it easier to make back stories. So for that reason I have left this step for the very end.
So why bother writing this down on a character sheet? There are no rules for this right? Well there are Traits and Difficulties. Which help add more personality as well as better describe to a Player how to roll play the Character. Forcing a Player to pretend they are afraid of something or pretend to be a kleptomaniac.
Editing Character Sheet (Description/Personalities): On the 3rd page of the Character sheet is a section dedicated too the description of your character and any personality traits or difficulties. Also there is a section for writing a brief back story.
Advancement
Character Advancement is based on experience gained by Players achieving goals, beating monsters, solving problems, etc... The GM usually assigns experience at the end of each game and can even give out bonuses for game play, roll play and/or epic moments. Below is a chart that details the experience a Player much have to reach the next level. There is 3 columns for XP. Labeled Slow, Medium, and Fast. These represent the speed at which the GM wants the Player Characters to progress.
Alternatively the GM and simply declare a Character or characters leveled up as a reward for getting pass a certain point in the story.
| Character Level | Experience Point Total | Feats Talents* |
Ability Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow | Medium | Fast | |||
| 1st | — | — | — | Talent | — |
| 2nd | 3,000 | 2,000 | 1,300 | — | — |
| 3rd | 7,500 | 5,000 | 3,300 | Feat | — |
| 4th | 14,000 | 9,000 | 6,000 | — | 1st |
| 5th | 23,000 | 15,000 | 10,000 | - | — |
| 6th | 35,000 | 23,000 | 15,000 | Talent | — |
| 7th | 53,000 | 35,000 | 23,000 | - | — |
| 8th | 77,000 | 51,000 | 34,000 | — | 2nd |
| 9th | 115,000 | 75,000 | 50,000 | Feat | — |
| 10th | 160,000 | 105,000 | 71,000 | — | — |
| 11th | 235,000 | 155,000 | 105,000 | - | — |
| 12th | 330,000 | 220,000 | 145,000 | Talent | 3rd |
| 13th | 475,000 | 315,000 | 210,000 | - | — |
| 14th | 665,000 | 445,000 | 295,000 | — | — |
| 15th | 955,000 | 635,000 | 425,000 | Feat | — |
| 16th | 1,350,000 | 890,000 | 600,000 | — | 4th |
| 17th | 1,900,000 | 1,300,000 | 850,000 | - | — |
| 18th | 2,700,000 | 1,800,000 | 1,200,000 | Talent | — |
| 19th | 3,850,000 | 2,550,000 | 1,700,000 | - | — |
| 20th | 5,350,000 | 3,600,000 | 2,400,000 | — | 5th |
| *The Talents and Feats are for Core Classes Only and do not show other Talents/Feats gained by other means | |||||
At each level a Character gets a variety of improvements and new things to choose from. The following is a complete list of all possible things a character can get. Skill points, Hit Dice/HP, ability score bonus, feat, talent, special ability, species bonus.
Your Core Class is the first thing you should check. The Core class lets you know how many skill points you get at each level, how much HP and if you get any Core Class Talents or Feats. (Although Advance Classes also provide talents and bonus feats.)
The number of skill points should either be 1 + Int mod or 2 + Int mod. This should be the same number of skill points that you got to spend at level 1.
There are multi ways to add HP and your GM usually will state which type which will probably be inspired by either its a Low,Regular,High Fantasy setting.
- Low: You roll for your HP at each level. Using the "Hit Die" and then you add your CON modifier for the total amount you get to add to your HP.
- Regular: You can choose to roll and simply take that or take 1/2 + 1 + Con Mod. For example a 1d8 hit die would be 8/2 + 1 or 5 + Con Mod.
- High: You automatically take your maximum roll using the "Hit Die". For example if your hit die is d6 you get 6 + Con Modifier for the total amount you add to your HP.
If you get a Talent you have to select a talent associated with your Core Class.
If you get a Feat you must select from the Feats page and follow all the prerequisites.
If you get an Ability score bonus then that means that you can add a +1 to any Ability score of your choice. This is a permanent change to the Character's ability score and may also effect the modifier.
If you get a specially ability usually it is just automatically added.
Editing Character Sheet (Advancement): All the above things have there place on the character sheet. As they where described in the sections above regarding Character Creation. Make sure to add all this too your Character sheet. A common moto among GM's is: "If it isn't on your sheet... it isn't on your Character".
Remember that you can also choose Advance Classes when they become available. There are 4 different types of Class Types. Core Class, Advance Class, Prestige Class, ArchType. More of this in the Advance Classes