Character Creation (RPG)
While campaigns in Acate are based in and around the Pathfinder system made by Paizo, many things have changed. For many of you, you may not be familiar with Pathfinder, so this change isn't nearly as drastic. However, if you are accustomed to Pathfinder or how magic works in other similar systems, you may need to pay close attention to these steps.
This guide exists to help players ease into playing in the world of Acate and isn't and end-all be-all when it comes to this. When questions arise, or you want to implement something different, please talk with your DM! Make sure to check out the other Primers to fully understand Acate as a whole.
Step One - Ability Scores
You first need to determine your starting Ability Scores (which I will likely also call 'stats'). You have the choice of rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest die rolled for each stat, or you can use the point buy system using this calculator. When you choose one of these options, tell your DM. You cannot choose one and later choose the other.When rolling for stats, roll 4d6 and then drop the lowest value rolled this way, and that then becomes the total for one of your stats. Repeat this action until you have six stats. You can allocate them now, or wait until you discern your class and race. Then, roll a d10 and tell your DM. This number is important for later.
/* This is their luck stat! Only players who roll get a luck stat. */
When using point buy, adjust your base stats using the 'Other' race until the 'Total Points' becomes exactly 20. These will be your starting stats for the game, so choose wisely!
Step Two - Species
Please read the Playable Species Primer very carefully! Many species you are used to in fantasy have changed, or are simply not available choices. You have to choose a Species, and if applicable, Ethnicity. Each species/ethnicity will have Ability Score modifiers, so add/subtract them to/from your current Scores. Each species/ethnicity also comes with Special Traits, which you need to add to your character sheet. If they come with choices to be made, make them now. Every Species knows Common. Very few Species/Ethnicities know additional languages or dialects, but if you get one, add it to your sheet.Step Three - Professions/Classes
Professions and Classes are the backbone of how your character plays in-game. Any class or sub-class regarding magic in any sense has changed significantly. Please read the Profession Primer to take a look at what classes might interest you!Characters for most campaigns start at level 1 in the class they choose. That class becomes a Favoured Class. When you level up a class that you have favoured, you get the choice of an additional Hit Point or Skill Point.
Skill Points
Once you do this, you can allocate Skill Points. Skills are typically out-of-combat abilities your character can perform. Some Skills are 'Trained Only', which means you cannot use the skill whatsoever unless you have at least one point allocated to them. (The suggestion is typically to at least put one point in each skill you have available which is Trained Only.)Each class gets a certain amount of skill points + their INT modifier each level, including first level. Points allocated to a skill cannot exceed the character's level, so at first, only one point can be allocated to any skill. Class Skills (as outlined by the class you choose) will give you a +3 bonus to them so long as you have at least one point invested in them.
Hit Points
On Acate, the default way of calculating hit points remains to take the maximum of your Hit Die (determined by Class) and add your CON modifier. This is the same for every level after first, adding onto the health point maximum prior.Step Four - Choose Feats
All characters start out with two feats. Humans get an additional feat (as per their Special Traits), and Fighters get an additional combat feat at first level. Feats can be found here. If you want a magic-based feat, talk with the DM about working something out. Consider looking at Damnation Feats, Story Feats, or Local Feats for added flavour!Traits and Drawbacks
Traits and Drawbacks are optional, but can make a character more interesting. Each character can take a Trait, so long as they also take a Drawback. If they take a Major Drawback, a character can choose two Traits to balance it out instead. A character can have as many Traits and Drawbacks as they wish, so long as they make sense. Traits are found here, while Drawbacks are found here and here. Major Drawbacks are found here.Step Five - Wealth and Equipment
Each Class has a starting wealth and suggested equipment. You can take either the suggested equipment or roll for gold and buy your own. Once you make your choice, tell your DM, as you cannot switch after you make your decision. Once you have decided on your starting equipment, determine your Armour Class (AC), saves, and initiative. Wealth is different depending on what side of the world you start on. If starting in the Ortheiad Kingdom, you will use the basic Platinum-Gold-Electrum-Silver-Copper system of money, as per Pathfinder. If you start in the Eurekan Empire, you will use the Round-Comb-Palm-Tile-Point system of currency. Please use the correct exchange rate as lain out in the Currency Primer.Step Six - Religion
Religion is incredibly important on Acate, perhaps even moreso than on other fantasy worlds. Read the Religion Primer if you are a Cleric or Paladin. While Clerics and Paladins absolutely have to choose a Religion to be a part of, atheists are nearly unheard of on Acate, and are highly shunned and seen as untrustworthy. People would rather believe in a smaller cult-religion than be entirely atheist. Please consider choosing a religion for your character to follow.Step Seven - Alignment
Alignment is the last major important step when creating a character for use in a campaign. Characters fall numerically on two scales: Lawful (1-3) - Neutral (4-6) - Chaotic (7-9) and Good (1-3) - Neutral (4-6) - Evil (7-9). Please describe your character's alignment using words and numbers (ex. Neutral Evil (5,7)). Definitions of Alignment can be found here.Did you come here looking to make an Original Character for a spin off or fan work, or wish to expand upon the idea of a campaign character? Try the Character Creation (generic) article instead!
While you might have some questions, I'll try to handle the main few when it comes to Character Creation.
Who am I allowed to be?
You're allowed to be an inhabitant of Acate, and that's about it. I would suggest picking one of the Species/Ethnicities and Professions/Classes written about in the primers linked here, but with enough convincing and believably, I am sure to accept many things.
Who are we?
You are working as a team to hunt down dangerous and illegal magic users for the Ortheian Government, as well as maybe solve some mysteries along the way.
Who are we fighting against?
Religious deviants (those who do not worship the five Major Deities) and magical miscreants. Personal alignments might make you want to take on other foes, but these two kinds of people you'll get paid to thwart.
What do we do?
Anything you want! As the DM, I will highly encourage cooperation and discourage in-fighting, but I won't prevent things from escalating. If someone becomes a repeat offender, though, problems may start arising. As characters, however, the choice is yours!
What books are allowed?
Keeping in mind that magic has been wholly changed and that the world is very different from Golarion, you can use anything from the official Paizo books after double checking with the DM. Homebrew is welcome, but is very subject to approval.
Where are sessions held?
Sessions are held in the Discord DM chat (once they start up).
Where are we starting?
You will be starting in the town of Anmenel within the Ortheian Kingdom.
When are sessions held?
They haven't started yet, but will likely be Wednesday Evenings.
When does the campaign take place in Acate's calendar?
The campaign starts in the early fall./* REMEMBER TO PUT A LEGIT TIME HERE */
Why are we fighting against renegade mages?
Renegade mages prove extremely dangerous to civilians as they do not know how to handle magic safely and/or properly, and are likely seeking out magic illegally to make crimes easier to commit. Not only that, but this is valuable experience that you desperately need to climb up the social ladder, and you're getting paid, remember?
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