C A B: streamlined character creation guide for the playtest


Creating a Character


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Hoping to stream-line the character creation process, especially for those new to the play test, I have created this simplified alternative outline to speed up the initial part of character creation.***

C: Concept Choose a class and race that you would like to play.

A: Ability Scores Choose an ability score array from the choices below:***

Human:
18 16 12 12 10 10
18 14 14 12 10 10

Non-humans have access to the following additional arrays:
18 16 14 12 10 8
18 16 14 10 10 10

Arrange the scores by putting your highest score in a key ability for your class.

Non-humans put their ability flaw in a score of 8 or 10. ***

Non-humans assign their boosted abilities to scores from the array higher than 10. (the key ability and boosted ability scores can't all be physical (Str, Dex, Con) or all be mental (Int, Wis, Cha)

Fill in the remaining ability scores as you wish:

* Dexterity for armor class and ranged spell attack bonus and reflex saves
* Charisma for resonance
* Constitution for hit points and fortitude saves
* Strength for melee attack and damage
* Wisdom for perception and will saves
* Intelligence for an extra language (at 14)

B: Background Consult the following chart to decide which backgrounds you may have using only your two highest scores. ******

Strength: Acrobat, Blacksmith, Gladiator, Laborer, Sailor, Warrior
Dexterity: Acrobat, Criminal, Entertainer, Hunter, Sailor, Scout, Street Urchin
Constitution: Acolyte, Barkeep, Farm Hand, Laborer, Nomad, Warrior
Intelligence: Blacksmith, Criminal, Merchant, Noble, Scholar, Street Urchin
Wisdom: Acolyte, Animal whisperer, Farmhand, Hunter, Nomad, Scholar, Scout
Charisma: Animal Whisperer, Barkeep, Entertainer, Gladiator, Merchant, Noble

Finally: Quick check that your build works using the standard build process

*** This doesn't include all available options. For example an ability flaw can be put in a score higher than 10. This is a simplified character creation guide if you want to do something more complex, you probably don't need this guide.

****** Backgrounds generally don't have any useful skills so don't worry to much about that part.


It's important to note that these do not cover all possible scores and the full process can give you more options, such as an Elf Barbarian with 14 Con or a low-dex Goblin Paladin.

Other than that, pretty good :)


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It's easier to work backwards.

Class, then Background and Ancestry, then free boosts.

And treat it like a grid:

https://s22.postimg.cc/8e4c172r5/attr.png

One mark per grid cell. Each grid cell increases your stat by 2 (except flaw, which reduces it by 2) unless the value is currently over 18 (5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level boosts).

Designer

Interesting simplified explanation; it needs to be a little more restrictive on those non-human ancestry ability scores if it's meant to map to characters you can create via the normal system: 2 out of your top 3 stats need to be from the ancestry's set boosts, and in the case of a tie for 3rd, pick one to be the 3rd.


Thanks for pointing that out Mark


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I completely agree that this "work backwards" approach makes character creation much easier. With that said, I'm of the opinion that these are completely viable spreads:

16 / 16 / 16 / 12 / 10 / 8 for non-humans
16 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10 / 10 for humans


Dasrak wrote:

I completely agree that this "work backwards" approach makes character creation much easier. With that said, I'm of the opinion that these are completely viable spreads:

16 / 16 / 16 / 12 / 10 / 8 for non-humans
16 / 16 / 14 / 12 / 10 / 10 for humans

In general, I wouldn't use them, but YMMV.


Snickersnax wrote:
In general, I wouldn't use them, but YMMV.

It depends on what levels you want to excel at. This spread would allow an Elf Wizard to have straight 18's in Str, Dex, and Int by 5th level, for instance, which is a nice boost for the build overall. This repeats again at 15th level where he now has 20's in Str, Dex, and Int and makes him a notch better for 15th-19th play. That's half your career in total that he has this edge, so it's very much a question of which levels you'd prefer to be advantaged at. For once-off games (like the playtest!) it will have literally zero downsides if you're in the right level range.

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