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Sometimes. It depends on how flexible the character class is.
In my experience, spell casters require less planning than physical combat types. I always have a rough idea of what I want to do, but the only PC's I have ever tried to fully plan out ahead of time have been Fighter types. And even those get modified as the game progresses.
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I usually build my characters 1-20 in Hero Lab, with each level as a separate HL file. And create multiple development forks when a character is about to advance so I can experiment with several paths before he or she levels up.
This is what I do too. The amount of folders I have containing files named lvl1.por, lvl2.por... is unreal. Used to do the same thing with e-tools too.
I generally do a rough outline up to level ten (assuming a level one character), but it is only an outline as the campaign progresses the character may turn out to be something completely different from what I originally thought of.
That's half the fun if you ask me.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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I usually see how the build will look at level 6. 6 is a good benchmark level. If you're solid at 6, you will probably also be solid at 9, 12, and 15.
It is a serious deterrent to me to play a character if it takes 5 levels for its "shtick" to kick in. Sohei archer, I'm looking at you.
Martial characters, which are more likely to be complicated tangles of multiclassing at different points, feats with all kinds of different prerequisites - BAB, Fighter Level, Feat Chains, etc. - get planned out in a lot of detail. The only exception is that I don't usually plot out every last skill point. (Although I do sometimes.) Casters, whose build you already know class-wise (Class 20) and whose feats are far less burdened with prerequistes on the whole, are sometimes are a little more up in the air, with typically a list of feats but not necessarily a schedule for them. I usually have a few spells/level picked out for spontaneous casters, but even when I do have all those slots filled, I end up tending to change that during the course of the adventure anyway.
I tend to plan to about level twelve; it's rare that by then that most of the interesting stuff isn't on a character, and I generally feel as though if there's vital stuff that's not on there by then then I'm probably trying to squeeze too much stuff onto there (or considering too much stuff "vital".) For stuff with nuttily high requirements like some of the critical feats, I will plan a little further out.
Yes I do, but only for level 1 to 10, since I have yet to play a character past level 7.
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yes I do , Mostly.
Like my most recent Character is
Half elf barbarian (WORKING TOWARD RAGE PROPHET)
currently lvl 1
Half elf for the two favored classes (barbarian/oracle)
St. 16
dx.12
cn. 14
in. 7
wi. 10
ch. 16
intimidate - 1 rank, +3 for class skill, +1 bully trait, +3 from half elf skill focus, +3 from strength (intimidating prowess feat), +3 from Charisma = 14
lvl 2 - intimidating glare rage power
lvl 3 - 1st lvl of oracle - battle mystery and lame curse( -10 move but can't be fatigued)
revelation - weapon mastery gives weapon focus
feat - dazzling display
It goes on from there but I got to get back to work and am sick of typing.