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For anyone wanting to play in a play by post game on these boards this little guide provides details and templates to create a useful character on these forums that is helpful to both you as the player and your GM.
1) Go to the Join the Pathfinder Society and create your character now!
- If you are completely new and haven't created an account for the Paizo forums click on the "Create New Account", follow the steps there to setup a forum account.
- If you already have an account you'll either be directed straight to the page or to a login screen, if the login screen appears enter your details to login.
2) Once on the Pathfinder® Society™ / My Pathfinder Society page scroll down until you see the "Register New Character" button and click it.
3) You will be directed to the CHARACTER SETTINGS page. This is the main page where you will be putting in all your characters information.
- First fill out the Character Name. This is the name that will show up when you make posts as this character.
- Second select your faction that you wish to work for. More details on the factions can be found in the The Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play found here
- Finally select a portrait for your character by clicking on the "Change" button located to the left of Character Image:. This will take you to a new page with a filter and a number of images on it. To select a portrait for your character simply move your mouse over the image you want and click the "Select This Avatar" button. This will return you to your CHARACTER SETTINGS page.
Out of the remaining fields on this page there are only 4 which we need to really focus on putting information into. I would recommend filling out all the fields possible but these 4 fields are the most important because these are going to show information each time you post or house your primary stat information. These fields include the characters Gender, Race, Class/Level and Description.
Now certain people like to fill these out differently, but the following formatting is very common and in my opinon very useful.
1) Gender: This is of course your characters gender. The thing to keep in mind is that this field shows up first under your name everytime you post in a gameplay thread. I would recommend leaving this simply as Gender.
2) Race: Again, obviously, this is your characters race. However in the formatting here I would actually recommend adding a little more information. There are two additions I would make here.
- First add any further classifications for your race. For example if you are a tiefling of the Oni-Spawn racial heritage I would put Tiefling (Oni-Spawn)
- Finally to make things easier on the GM I would include your PFS # here. This is basically seperating out your character info from important stat info that will come later and as this is a Pathfinder Society character your PFS # is an important identifier.
- So for the final formatting it would go something like: Tiefling (Oni-Spawn) XXXXX-X |
3) Class/Level: This is going to be the most complicated of these first three and again can vary but here is my recommendation on formatting.
- First part is your actualy class and level. Here instead I would start out with your base class, followed by any archetypes, and then your level. If you multiclass I would simply duplicate this same formatting and putting it behind the first set. So for example Alchemist (Grenadier) 1, if you multiclassed into Rogue or something you would then be Alchemist (Grenadier) 1 / Rogue (Rake) 1
- Next is your pertinent quick stat information. I recommend a grouping of Armor Classes | Hit Points | Saves | Initiative | Perception
- So for the final formatting it would go something like: Alchemist (Grenadier) 1 | AC 17 T 13 FF 14 | HP 8/8 | F +2 R +5 W +2 | Init +5 | Perc +5
- You are welcome to include other skills at the end that you utilize often to make it easier for yourself or the GM.
I decided to break this one off into it's own big step as it is a bit more in depth. This is the place you want to put all of your relevant character information for easy reference. Some ideas of things to include here are your full stat block, your characters background information, a description of your appearance, a list of the scenarios the character has particiapated in, and/or other notes. At a minimum I would recommend having the stat block. All the other information is great and can be useful but the stat block is definitely the most important.
So how to format the stat block. The most common you see is a stat block export from Hero Labs. No of course not everyone uses Hero Labs, but the formatting is pretty solid. So to help out anyone that doesn't have Hero Labs I'll provide a couple of examples to help you out. First we'll start with a level 1 filled out stat block, second we'll put the actual template itself so you can copy it for your own use, finally we'll put up an advanced template that seperates things out for easier reading. This last tempalte is especially useful for higher level characters. To save space I will spoiler them.
To use the templates simple open up the spoiler. Copy out the text remove any leading spaces for things like [ b] [ i] [ spoiler] [ /spoiler]. Then you can fill it out, put it back up on the board and it should format it like the filled out version.
Male Tiefling Alchemist (Grenadier) 1
CN Medium Outsider (native)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +3 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 8 (1d8)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +2
Resist fire 5
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Ranged Bomb +4 (1d6+4 Fire/x2) and
. . Light crossbow +3 (1d8/19-20/x2)
Special Attacks bomb 1d6+4 (5/day) (dc 14)
Spell-Like Abilities Darkness (1/day)
Alchemist (Grenadier) Spells Prepared (CL 1):
1 (2/day) Cure Light Wounds
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 19, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 13
Feats Martial Weapon Proficiency (Scimitar), Point Blank Shot, Throw Anything
Traits Indomitable Faith, Reactionary
Skills Acrobatics +0 (-4 jump), Bluff +1, Climb -3, Craft (alchemy) +8 (+9 to create alchemical items), Escape Artist +0, Fly +0, Knowledge (arcana) +8, Knowledge (nature) +8, Perception +5, Ride +0, Sleight of Hand +4, Spellcraft +8, Stealth +2, Survival +5, Swim -3, Use Magic Device +3; Racial Modifiers +2 Bluff, +2 Stealth, alchemy +1
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Goblin, Infernal, Orc
SQ mutagen (dc 14), prehensile tail
Other Gear Studded leather armor, Crossbow bolts (60), Light crossbow, Alchemy crafting kit, Backpack (10 @ 10.5 lbs), Belt pouch (1 @ 0 lbs), Flint and steel, Ink, black, Inkpen, Mess kit, Soap, Trail rations (5), Waterskin, 44 GP, 10 SP
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Special Abilities
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Alchemy +1 (Su) +1 to Craft (Alchemy) to create alchemical items, can Id potions by touch.
Bomb 1d6+4 (5/day) (DC 14) (Su) Thrown Splash Weapon deals 1d6+4 fire damage.
Damage Resistance, Fire (5) You have the specified Damage Resistance against Fire attacks.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Mutagen (DC 14) (Su) Mutagen adds +4 to a physical & -2 to a mental attribute, and +2 nat. armor for 10 min.
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Prehensile Tail Your tail can retrieve small objects on your person as a swift action.
Throw Anything Proficient with improvised ranged weapons. +1 to hit with thrown splash weapons.
[ b]Name[/b]
Gender Race Class (Archetype) 1
Alignment Size Type
[ b]Init [/b]+X; [ b]Senses [/b]vision type range; Perception +X
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[ b]Defense[/b]
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[ b]AC [/b]XX, touch XX, flat-footed XX (+X armor, +X Dex, +X natural)
[ b]hp [/b]X (XdX)
[ b]Fort [/b]+X, [ b]Ref [/b]+X, [ b]Will [/b]+X
[ b]Resist [/b]type X
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[ b]Offense[/b]
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[ b]Speed [/b]XX ft.
[ b]Ranged [/b]Weapon +X (XdX+X/x2)
[ b]Melee [/b]Weapon +X (XdX+X/x2)
[ b]Special Attacks [/b]Weapon XdX+X (X/time range) (dc XX)
[ b]Spell-Like Abilities [/b]Spell (X/time range)
[ b]Class (Archetype) Spells Prepared [/b](CL X):
Level (X/day) [ i]Spell Name[/i]
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[ b]Statistics[/b]
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[ b]Str [/b]XX, [ b]Dex [/b]XX, [ b]Con [/b]XX, [ b]Int [/b]XX, [ b]Wis [/b]XX, [ b]Cha [/b]XX
[ b]Base Atk [/b]+X; [ b]CMB [/b]+X; [ b]CMD [/b]XX
[ b]Feats [/b]Feat Name
[ b]Traits [/b]Trait Name, Trait Name
[ b]Skills [/b]Skill Name +X
[ b]Languages [/b]Language Name
[ b]SQ [/b]name (dc XX), name
[ b]Other Gear [/b]Geat Item Name, XX GP, XX SP, XX CP
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[ b]Special Abilities[/b]
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[ b]Ability Name (Type)[/b] Description
[ b]Name[/b]
Gender Race Class (Archetype) 1
Alignment Size Type
[ b]Init [/b]+X; [ b]Senses [/b]vision type range; Perception +X
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Defense
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[ b]AC [/b]XX, touch XX, flat-footed XX (+X armor, +X Dex, +X natural)
[ b]hp [/b]X (XdX)
[ b]Fort [/b]+X, [ b]Ref [/b]+X, [ b]Will [/b]+X
[ b]Resist [/b]type X
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[ b]Offense[/b]
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[ b]Base Atk [/b]+4; [ b]CMB [/b]+9; [ b]CMD [/b]20
[ b]Speed [/b]30 ft.
[ b]Melee [/b]
Weapon 1 +X (XdX+X/x2)
[ b]Ranged [/b]
Weapon 2 +X (XdX+X/x2)
[ b]Special Attacks [/b]
[ b]Spell-Like Abilities [/b]
[ spoiler=Spells Known (CL X)]
Level (X/day)
[ i]Spell Name 1
Spell Name 2[/i]
Level (X/day)
[ i]Spell Name 1
Spell Name 2[/i][ /spoiler]
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Statistics
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[ spoiler=Abilities]
[ b]Str [/b]XX
[ b]Dex [/b]XX
[ b]Con [/b]XX
[ b]Int [/b]XX
[ b]Wis [/b]XX
[ b]Cha [/b]XX[ /spoiler]
[ spoiler=Feats]
Feat 1
Feat 2[ /spoiler]
[ spoiler=Traits]
Trait 1
Trait 2[ /spoiler]
[ spoiler=Skills]
Skill 1
Skill 2[ /spoiler]
[ spoiler=Languages]
Language 1
Language 2[ /spoiler]
SQ bloodlines (draconic [gold dragon [fire]])
[ spoiler=Equipment]
[ b]Combat Gear[/b]
Equipment 1
[ b]Other Gear[/b]
Equipment 2
[ b]Coin[/b]
683 GP, 3 SP
[ /spoiler]
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[ b]TRACKED RESOURCES[/b]
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Tracked Resource 1
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[ b]Special Abilities[/b]
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[ b]Ability Name (Type)[/b] Description
So that is the majority of everything. Like I mentioned you can put other things in the description field if you want like your characters background, his appearance, notes whatever. These are generally done in there own spoilers at the end of the stat block.
Once you are finished the final step is you click the "Submit Changes" button at the bottom of the page. Now you have your character. To post as that character on the forums you simply go to make a post and at the bottom of the post screen is a drop down for "Post As" Here you select the character you want to post as and you are set!
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Nice Dakcenturi!
The PFS number is something a GM only needs once, so it is less useful than the other things you mentioned. When I fill out a chronicle, I have time to click on everyone's name to find their number, but AC or perception I will have to find dozens of times.
Also, for each new game, ask the GM what they want displayed and if they have preference on how. Someday it might be standardized even. Maybe it should be its own thread, but if GMs post their preferences for what is in those lines it would be helpful.
This would be an excellent sticky thread. :)
Something new we discovered was for the GM to put relevant links into the gender block (see the map?) always handy.
I also recommend breaking up some of that information with the bbc code tags (see the how to format your text spoiler tag below :)
For example your line: Alchemist (Grenadier) 1 | AC 17 T 13 FF 14 | HP 8/8 | | Init +5 | Perc +5
(using one of everything is just as confusing as coding everything to one BBCtag), I just used multiples to illustrate the point. :)
EDIT: those other fields only show up in the PBP threads, but here is a link to my example. :)
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Dakcenturi, thanks for putting this up. I don't think many new players realize how useful a basic character sheet under their alias is to GMs.
I would suggest a couple more things that I find useful in a player's alias.
1. PFS Character information. Example:
PFS#: ????-1
XP: 2
PP: 4 (2 spent)
Fame: 4
2. A log of Scenarios played with xp, prestige, and gold earned. Example:
First Steps Part 1 1xp/2pp/417gp (+10gp day job)
First Steps Part 2 1xp/2pp/419gp (+10gp day job)
3. A list of tracked resources. Example:
Starting Gold: 150
Scenario Total: 856
Starting Purchases:
backpack 2gp
leather armor 10gp
longsword 15gp
heavy wooden shield 7gp
bottle of Absalom's finest wine 50gp
First Steps Part 1 Accounting:
SELL leather armor +5gp
chain shirt 100gp
chalk 1cp
trail rations 5sp
bribes 10gp
Total Expenditures: 189gp 5sp 1cp
Current Wealth: 816gp 4sp 9cp
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For example your line: Alchemist (Grenadier) 1 | AC 17 T 13 FF 14 | HP 8/8 | | Init +5 | Perc +5
(using one of everything is just as confusing as coding everything to one BBCtag), I just used multiples to illustrate the point. :)
EDIT: those other fields only show up in the PBP threads, but here is a link to my example. :)
Something else more recent that I have begun to do is to also include you most common Attack at the end. I also, as DM find it very helpful to include Alignment, Gender/Race/Class & Level, and with Perception any extra senses.
So more like:
, , F+2, R+5, W+2 (+2 v Charm, Compulsions, & Evil), Init +5, Perc +5 (Darkvision), LN Male Dwarf Alchemist (Grenadier) 1 ,
It's important to remember that almost everyone is going to do it differently, but the goal is to be able to show a lot of relevant info at a quick glance. The more you can differentiate the various pieces, and include the more common things you or the DM might forget, (like a Dwarf's bonus related to Stone), the smoother and quicker games can run.
Likewise with the character sheet, everyone is going to do it differently, and that info is mostly for you. The easier it is to navigate, and the better it explains what bonus or ability is coming from what, where to find this, or how many times a day that works and for how much, the quicker and smoother things go for everyone.
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Cast raise thread
Venture-Captain, Minnesota
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We are looking at trying to put together a consolidated guide to PbP. Thanks for finding this guide, though. I will have to contact the author at some point.
The more that we have base material to work from, the easier creating the guide will be.
Hmm