| Azothath |
This rather simple and detailed build provides an example PC that you can build or use for a PF1 game. It is pretty centric being PFS legal, 20 pt Abil buy, and 5th Lvl with 12000gp gear. If you just starting PF1 this PC provides you with a plan. Another example is the PF1 Pregen/Iconic Enora.
Jado Portabgar halforc Arcn 5.
NG Med hmnd halforc (m) age:22 ht:6’0” wt:180lb. (BMI 24)
Home: Skelt Nirmathas, Politic: practical, business, Worship: Eleutheria(CN) or Milani (CG).
Init: +2 Sns: drkvisn 60ft Prcp: +1
AC: 20(16), tch 12, fftd 18(14) (+4[frc] armr {mag armr}, +4 [frc] shld {shld}, +2 Dex).
HP: 27 (5d6 +5{FCB}) stay consc 1 rnd then if HP<0 unconscious. If HP<0 then heal (d8+3) then aegis destroyed.
Saves: Fort +2 Rflx +4 Will +5 scndry saves +1 {aegis}
Mov: Spd: 30 ft or Mount 50 ft. Space: 5ft, Ntrl Rch:5ft
Mle: mw falchion mrtl 2hnd +3 (2d4 S, c18+ ×2)dmg.
Mle: cFe cestus smpl lgt +2 (1d4 B|P, c19+ ×2)dmg.
Mle: obsd dagger smpl lgt +2 (1d4 P|S, c19+ ×2)dmg, {fragile} glassy, [2].
Rng: mw hvy crossbow 2hnd +6≤30 ft else +5 (1d10 +1≤30ft P, c19+ ×2)dmg, rng 120 ft. load & crnk full actn provk.
Rng: “ wGravBow +6≤30 ft else +5 (2d8 +1≤30ft P, c19+ ×2)dmg.
Bolt: cFe [4, stw 6], thstl[6, 4] bleed 1[poi] 1d6 rnd.
Rng: obsd dagger smpl lgt +5≤30ft else +4 (1d4 +1≤30ft P, c19+ ×2)dmg.
Bnd Obj(ᴮᶿ, BO), Page Spl Knw(ᴾˢᴷ), Pearl Power(ᴾᴾ), Runeston Power(ᴿᴾ), School(ᔥ)
Arcn Spells Prpd (CL 5; DC= SplLvl +5 {K:+1}; Conc(Int) +10, (Know: Spls/d)). Headband/Circlet(ᴴᴮ)
SCND(2: 4/d): Scorch R:K2, Mir Img:I2.
FRST(4+2: 6/d): Shld:A1, Mage Armr:C1, Ear-prc Scrm:K1 Fort 17, Grav Bow:T1, Shk Grsp:K1ᴾˢᴷ, Ill Calm:I1ᴾˢᴷ.
ZERO(6⋄will): Acd Splsh:C0, Det Mag:D0, R Frost:K0, Mend:T0, Mssg:T0, Arcn Mrk:U0.
ArcnPool[5, max 8]: Consm Spl(Su): [+(SplLvl)] mov actn convert Prp’d Spl to AP pts [2]/d. Dim Slide(Su): [-1] part of mov/wthdrw actn -5ft move & TP {no Provoke} up to 50ft in LoS 1/rnd. Potent(Su): [-1] +2 DC or CL rather than dflt +1. Qk Stdy(Su): [-1] Full actn rplc 1 Prp’d Spl w scribed Spl.
MetaMag: -. -1 MetaMag cost Ear-prc Scrm, Fireball.
Wand: Obsc Mist:C1⋄1 dur 10 rnd [50]. Infrnl Heal:C1⋄1 cast 1 rnd Fast Heal 1 dur 10 rnd [50]. Potn: Cure lgt wnd.
Skills(35): Acro +5(3), Apprᶜ +9(1), Bluff , Clmb , Crftᶜ (alch +13(5)), Diplo , Dis Dev , Dsgs , Esc Art , Flyᶜ +8(3), Hndl Anml , Heal , Intmd +5(1){+2}, Knowᶜ(Arcn +13(1)ᴴᴮ, Dngn +9(1), Engr +9(1), Geog +9(1), Hstr +9(1), Locl +9(1), Natr +9(1), Nobl +9(1), Plnr +9(1), Rlgn +9(1)), Lingᶜ +10(2), Prcp +1(1), Pfrm (prcsn bongo +3(1)), Profᶜ , Ride +3/5(1), Sns Mtv +1(1), SoH , Splcrftᶜ +12(5), Stlth +3(1), Srvl , Swim , UMDᶜ +6(1). ClsSkl(ᶜ), Ling(ᒻ).
Lang: common(tldn), orc{racl}, vrsn{rgnl}, draconic, dwarven, elvenᴴᴮ, giant, goblin, sylvanᒻ, tian, thassalonianᒻ.
Ability: [10, 14 (+2), 10, 21/19 (+5), 10, 14 (+2)] ⇐ 20 pt =[10, 14, 10, 16+2+1+2, 10, 14], Race +2 Int, Lvl 4 +1 Int, HB adds +2 enhc Int.
BAB: +2 CMB +2 CMD 14
Race(halforc)ᴿ: Age:16-25, HT:55-78”, Wt:95-220. Abil: +2 one abil. Type:hmnd halforc. Sz: Med. Spd: 30’. Sns: darkvision 60ft. Intmd: +2 racl Intmd. Orc Blood: count as orc or human for race efcts. Orc Feroc: if HP<0 but not dead remain active 1 rnd 1/d then if HP <0 unconscious & dying. Wpn Famil: WPn Pfrc greataxes, falchions, and “orc” wpn as mrtl. Lang: start common, orc(racl), (rgnl){PFS}. can choose (Abyssal, Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, and Goblin). Alt: Shmn Aprntc: gain Endur, replc Intmd. Fey Mag: select favored trrn and if CHA≥11 in that trrn gain SLA(CHA, fey source) 3 ZERO 1 FRST CL=Lvl Drd a 1/d, rplc orc feroc. Sacrd Tatt: gain +1 luck on saves, rplc orc feroc. Toothy: gain bite (1d4 P), rplc orc feroc. City Raised: gain wpn prfc whip, longsword, and Knw(locl +2 racl)), rplc wpn famil.
Class: Arcanist. HP (d6), Skls(2+Int): Apprᶜ , Craft ()ᶜ , Flyᶜ , Knowᶜ , Lingᶜ , Profᶜ , Splcrftᶜ , UMDᶜ . Arcn Rsv@1: Arcn Pool [start (3 +⌊Arcn/2⌋), max (3 +Arcn)]. Arcn Explt@1: Dim Slide(Su). Spls Cast(Int): Known Prepared then Spontaneous Cast. Consm Spl(Su)@1 +(SplLvl): mov actn convert Prp’d Spl to AP pts {ZERO=0} (CHA)/d. Arcn Explt@3: Potent Magic(Su). Arcn Explt@5: Quick Study(Su). {Arcn 5 BAB +2 Svs 1,1,4, Spls SCND: Knw 2 @ 4/d, FRST: Knw 4 @ 3/d, ZERO: Knw 6 @ Will.}
Armr/Wpn Prfc: smpl wpns, grtaxe, falchion, “orc” as mrtl.
Traits(2): Mag Lng(Fireball:K3), Wyng Splhntr (Ear-prc Scrm:K1).
Feats(3): Point-blank Shot: Rng/Trwn +1 (+1) within 30 ft. Precise Shot: no -4 pntly for Rng/Trwn in cmbt. Spl Fcs Evokation(K): +1 DC. {options: Vrsn Tattoo(K): SLA light 3/d, +1 CL K, Wiz 3 Rch MetaMag: Rng [Tch, Cls, Med, Lng] +1 per category chg.}
Equip: mw falchion mrtl 2hnd (2d4 S, c18+ ×2)dmg, Hrd:10, HP:10, 8lb $375. cFe cestus smpl lgt (1d4 B|P, c19+ ×2)dmg, Hrd:10, HP:2, 1lb, $10. obsd dagger (1d4 P|S, c19+ ×2)dmg, {fragile} glassy, Hrd:5, HP:2, (2)0.75lb, (2)$1. mw hvy crosssbow (1d10 +1≤30ft P, c19+ ×2)dmg, rng 120 ft, Hrd:5, HP:5, 8lb $350. bolt: cold iron(cFe) [10] $2, thistle [10] $10. =$749
Aegis of Recov(BO) [neck] $1500. Headband INT +2 [hdbnd] $4000. Cloak Rst +1 [shldr] $1000. Page of Spell Knowledge: FRST: Shocking Grasp, Illusion of Calm (2)$1000, SCND: -.
Spring-loaded wrst shth (2) $10; Wand: Obsc Mist:C1⋄1 [50] $750, Wand: Infrnl Heal:C1⋄1 [50] $750.
Bandolier 8 pkt (2) $1; 1-2: Alch Fire Flsk(2) 2lb $40, 3-4: Acid Flsk(2) $20, 5-6: -, 7: Potn: Cure 1d8 $50. 8-16: -. =$10121
Spl comp pouch $0. Advr outfit $0. mw backback 2cuft stowage +1 Str for Encum, 4lb $50 on back; 50ft silk rope $10, piton (5) $0.5, bullseye lantern $12, lamp oil (4) $0.4, crowbar $2, merchants scale $2, splbook $0, ink pen $1, ink $8, mess kit 1lb $0.2, trail ratn 4 d $2, canteen ½ gal wtr +4lb 2lb $1. Foci: minishovel $10, mw Thvs Tools $100. =$199.10
“Passarkhob” adv horse (black percheron) cmbt trained Quadruped (hooves) MIBS[armor, belt (saddle), chest, eyes, feet (horseshoes), head, headband, neck, shoulders] Grsp:No, trick(atk, come, defend, down, guard, heel) $300, Military saddle +2 crcm stay in saddle, uncons 75% stay in saddle wt:30lb $20. bit & bridle wt:1lb $2. Saddlebags(SB) weatherproof 2*20# stowage 8lb $4. Dandy brush 2lb $0.2. sack hold 1cuft/60lb 0.5lb (2)$0.1. Ale gal (2)8lb (2)$0.2. (2) bear trap type:mech, Prcp:15, Tggr:loc, Reset:manl, +10 (2d6+3)dmg mov/2 and none if anchrd, Dis Dev 20, Esc Art 22, Str Chk 26, (2)10lb (2)$2gp. =$330.80
Spellbook #1 (74/200)pg.
ZERO(21): Rst:A0, Acd Splsh:C0, Det Mag:D0, Det Poi:D0, Grasp:D0, Rd Mag:D0, Danc Lgt:K0, Flare:K0, Lgt:K0, R Frost:K0, Sprk:K0, Ghst Snd:I0, Hntd Aspct:I0, Vacu Vssl:I0, Mag Hand:T0, Mend:T0, Mssg:T0, Open/Cls:T0, Scrv Chnt:T0, Arcn Mark:U0, Prstdg:U0. FRST(23): Shld:A1, Arcn Pkt:C1, Infrnl Heal:C1, Mag Armr:C1, Comp Lang:D1, Hgtn Aware:D1, Ear-prc Scrm:K1, Mag Mssl:K1, Shk Grsp:K1, Snoball:K1, Ill Calm:I1, Vansh:I1, Brk:T1, Coin Shot:T1, Crftr Frtn:T1, Enlg Per:T1, Expd Rtrt:T1, Grav Bow:T1, Hide Wpn:T1, Lbrtn Cmmd:T1, Mag Wpn:T1, Rdc Per:T1, Tch Sea:T1. SCND(15): Rst Enrg:A2, Creat Pit:C2, Gltrdust:C2, AZ Fcs:D2, See Invis:D2, Cont Flm:K2, Flry Snoball:K2, Plfr Hnd:K2, Scorch R:K2, Blur:I2, Invis:I2, Mir Img:I2, Spctrl Hnd:N2, Air Step:T2, C Dex:T2. =paid $570.
Cash: 30.10gp of 12000gp.
| Northern Spotted Owl |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Maybe I'm the only one, but I find these characters too hard to read and think through. Here are a couple of quick examples. I'm sure each is quick to clear up, but there are just too many for me to want to sort out what is going on at a large scale.
+4 [frc] shld {shld}, -- I'm not sure what "frc" stands for. Force?
Pfrm (prcsn bongo +3(1)), -- I can't even make a guess at "prcsn", and maybe bongo refers to performing on bongo drums.
I think there's a ton of useful info in these posts, but it's just a bit too dense for me to pull it out. Now maybe if I was building an arcanist and looking through the feat choices at each level it would all be obvious. Or if I'd ever even played an arcanist. :)
I hope this is all more useful to others than it is to me.
| Azothath |
I do use a lot of abbreviations to shorten the bomb of text 8^|. It is phonetic with deleted vowels - so try to say it/sound it out and the word should become apparent. I often use the whole word in the body (reverse technical writing) as I want the top part BRIEF for scanning and running. The Game lexicon is a subset of english words. I will take the accurate stylistic hit in stride. IF this were for publication - absolutely yes - it would not require translation.
Spells... what can I say - again brevity. Wand: Obsc Mist:C1⋄1 [50] $750 translates to a wand of obscuring mist, a spell level 1 conjuration at first caster level with 50 changes that costs 750 gp. Notice 30 characters vs 108 characters! I use ⋄ for @ for html interpreters (hello roll20).
think of it as a finely crafted fusion bomb rather than your standard 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in dextrin bomb.
I posted this one as a touchstone for a basic Arcanist. I use them in my chats.
An important take-away is the choices as there is a lot going on. Preplanning is a big part of PF1 character design. I tend to take mechanically beneficial choices with a few touches of style/color. Performance(percussion bongos)) would be an example of the latter for race/origin/background. I expect questions about bloodline options.
Belafon
|
As someone who has routinely skipped over your posts for years, I'll agree with Northern Spotted Owl. You may be "saving space" but you're massively increasing the cognitive load on anyone trying to parse them. We have to figure out your abbreviations, then convert them to game terms, then determine how (and if) that relates to the topic at hand.
You would be better off using full words, more line breaks, and (if you want to save space) nested or sequential spoilers.
Just write "gp" instead of "$."
You put abbreviations like "K1" in front of spells. Maybe it means "evocation level 1?" Even if it does; not everyone is going to figure that out, some people will be reading it for the first time, and no one is going to pull out their "Azothath glossary" every time there is a post like this.
Your writing style is fine for your own reference. I certainly scratch notes to myself that are indecipherable to anyone else. It's just not helpful in group discussions.
| Azothath |
--- PAIZO STANDARD FORMAT ---
Jado escaped Belkzen for Skelt and with tian tutelage and dwarven ways pursues arcane knowledge as only arcanists can.
Jado Portabgar
Male halforc arcanist 5
NG Medium humanoid (halforc)
Init +2; Senses darkvision Perception +1
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DEFENSE
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AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+4 armr, +2 Dex, +4 shld)
hp 27 (5d6+5)
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +5
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OFFENSE
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk falchion +3 (2d4/18-20)
Melee cold iron cestus +2 (1d4/19-20)
Melee obsidian dagger +2 (1d4/19-20)
Ranged mwk heavy crossbow +7 (1d10+1/19–20)
Ranged obsidian dagger +6 (1d4+1/19–20)
Special Attacks arcane reservoir (5/day, max 8), consume spells, dimensional slide, potent magic, quick study
Arcanist Spells Prepared (CL 5th; concentration +10)
2nd (4/day)—mirror image, scorching ray
1st (6/day)— ear-piercing scream (DC 17), gravity bow, illusion of calm, mage armor, shield, shocking grasp
0 (at will)—acid splash, arcane mark, detect magic, ray of frost (DC 16), mending, message
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STATISTICS
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Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 21, Wis 10, Cha 14
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats Point-blank Shot, Precise Shot, Spell Focus (evocation)
Skills Acrobatics +5, Appraise +9, Craft (alchemy) +13, Fly +8, Intimidate +5, Knowledge (arcana) +13, Knowledge (all others) +9, Linguistics +10, Perception +1, Performance (percussion bongo) +3, Ride +3, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft, +12, Stealth +3, Use Magic Device +6; Armor Check Penalty –0
Traits magical lineage (fireball), wayang spellhunter (ear-piercing scream)
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan, Thassalonian, Tian, Varasian
SQ arcane exploits (dimensional slide, potent magic, quick study), darkvision, intimidating, orc blood, orc ferocity, weapon familiarity
Combat Gear acid (2), alchemist’s fire (2), cold iron bolt (10), cold iron dagger, mwk falchion, mwk heavy crossbow, obsidian dagger (2), thistle bolt (10); Other Gear spell component pouch, aegis of recovery, cloak of resistance +2, headband of vast intelligence +2, page of spell knowledge (illusion of calm, shocking grasp), potion of cure light, wand of infernal healing (50 charges), wand of obscuring mist (50 charges), 50 ft silk rope, mwk backpack, bandoleer (2), bullseye lantern, canteen, crowbar, ink, ink pen, lamp oil (4), merchant’s scale, mess kit, minature shovel, piton (5), mwk thieves tools, spring-loaded wrist sheath (2), trail rations (4), spellbook (contains all 0th-level spells; all prepared 1st-level spells plus arcane pocket, break, coin shot, comprehend languages. crafter’s fortune, enlarge person, expeditious retreat, heighten awareness, hide weapon, infernal healing, liberating command, magic missile, magic weapon, reduce person, snowball, touch of the sea, and vanish; all prepared 2nd-level spells plus air step, aram zey’s focus, blur, cat’s grace, continual flame, create pit, flurry of snowballs, glitterdust, invisibility, pilfering hand, resist energy, see invisibility, spectral hand), Mount combat trained war horse, ale gal (2), bear trap (2), bit and bridle, dandy brush, military saddle, sack (2), saddlebags, 30 gp, 1 sp
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Arcane Reservoir Each day, {PC} starts with 5 points in their reservoir, though they can fill it up to a maximum of 8 using consume spells. They can spend one point on a spell to increase the DC or caster level by 2.
Consume Spells {PC} can spend a move action to expend a spell slot and gain a number of points to their arcane reservoir equal to the spell’s level.
Dimensional Slide {PC} can spend 1 reservoir point during a move or withdraw action to step through a dimensional rift, essentially spending 5 feet of movement to move dimensionally up to 50 feet away. The dimensional movement doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity, though the rest of the move provokes as normal.
Quick Study As a full-round action, {PC} can spend one reservoir point to study their spellbook and swap one of their prepared spells for any other spell in their spellbook of equal level.
Jago casts mage armor when adventuring and shield before combat which are included in his above armor class.
After finding the lumber and mining city he apprenticed for a kind wayang master who taught him the many ways of magic. He started adventuring in the mines taking care of the sporadic aberrations from the deeps and an occasional beast the lumberjacks could not handle. He’s steady, diligent, and no longer fears being a weaker member in an orc band. He participates in monthly social veneration for Eleutheria and Milani tithing a gold to the groups for injured workers and ex-slaves.
| Azothath |
Common issues are wand/scroll caster levels. PFS usually uses minimal but most Home Games do not and some items on chronicles are at higher caster levels. This is a perennial problem solved using my simple but clear notation.
What spells do Spell Focus and Varisian Tattoo apply to? It's not obvious. Again, my notation solves the problem clearly and efficiently.
Item damage type, range increment, Hardness, hit points, weight, cost are all plain using my notation, no need to stop the game and look things up, just check the inventory. Prices use $ to distinguish it from cash on hand so a text search can find your book or adjusted prices. My contrary nature finds it humorous when people gripe about it as it's done for a reason. Using pp, gp, sp, cp is simply flavorful extravagance that adds nothing as coin conversion cost has never been used in a game I was in, organized or home.
Skills and languages need to appear higher in the presentation as they are used in skill challenges, social challenges, and such.
Special attacks/qualities are a catch-all of mixed usefulness. It's more helpful for monster rules.
I really don't mind abbreviations for spell names. At that point we are into the weeds of things. Sure it's a bit complicated but they are obvious contractions that I've worked out over the years and work with my spell lists.
= = = = =
I do agree that I put in too much detail for common use in my original post (and similar ones). The posts contain specific concrete learning examples and good documentation examples so players can to figure out how things are built and how to do it.
I don't use the highly detailed text posts in play nor do I expect others to use them in play. I have a PC sheet and an inventory tabulated list (*.odt) which use some of the above details.
| Northern Spotted Owl |
I think that the real value would be for you to focus on the exact details you mention there.
- What are the key feats
- Spells
- Gear
- Other
And how do those fit together into tactics & options?
Then add a full character sheet as a follow-up post for those who want to dig into all the details.
Make of that what you will. Cheers.