Noob questions, please help?

[eliwood98]

I am sorry, but I have a few noob questions, for a few concepts I do not understand.

First, how exactly does one level up? Like what is the process for what goes up or not?

Second, how are Ability score modifiers determined? Are they only the bonus provided by racial or class mods? Or, is it derived from your ability score?

[karkon]

eliwood98 wrote:

I am sorry, but I have a few noob questions, for a few concepts I do not understand.

First, how exactly does one level up? Like what is the process for what goes up or not?

Second, how are Ability score modifiers determined? Are they only the bonus provided by racial or class mods? Or, is it derived from your ability score?

Ability score modifiers are determined by your ability score. A 10 to 11 gives no bonus or penalty. Every even number gives an additional +1. So 12 is +1 and 18 is +4 and so on. Now at character creation the ability bonuses for race are added to the base score so a 12 becomes a 14 and the bonus increases by 1.

Leveling up is a bit more difficult to describe but here goes. First pick what your next class level will be in. For simplicity's sake let us assume that you are not multi classing. You write the class abilities from the next level on your character sheet. You improve any base attack bonus or save if they increase on the leveling chart. Roll for hit points and add the Con bonus to the roll. Be sure to add any things that your character is entitled too such as two spells for a wizard or additional spells known for sorcerors and bards.

I think that covers it.

[Muttoneer]

1. The Mechanics of Levelling
When you level up you basically look at the class chart, raise your BAB and saves, as well as spells per day and spells known(if applicable) to the ones indicated for the new level. In addition you gain any new special abilities listed on the chart for that level.

Other than that, it's just rolling a hit die (to which you add your con modifier) and giving yourself the appropriate amount of skill points (listed under class skills)

In addition there are certain bonuses, like feats and ability score modifiers that accrue based on character level and not class level. On every odd numbered character level you gain a feat, and on every fourth level (4, 8, etc.) you gain one abilitity score point, which you can use to raise any ability score.

2. Ability score modifiers
The ability score modifier is a bonus equal to the ability score minus 10, then divided by 2. So, for example an ability score of 12 gets you a bonus of +1 [ (12-10)/2 = 1 ]

The racial modifiers to abilities are to the ability score itself (the 12 in this example, rather than the +1).

Hope that helps.

EDIT: On (non)preview, karkon has it.