Character Creation Tips

A massive threat is emerging in Varisia and mustering its forces. Only a group of cagey adventurers can put an end to this evil, and they’d better be prepared for what they face. The following tips can help when designing characters for Rise of the Runelords. While none of this is required, characters who have skills in these areas may find themselves particularly suited to this campaign.

Regional Languages

In addition to the bonus language options listed under your ancestry, you may pick Varisian or Shoanti as one of your bonus languages.

Heroism

While characters do not have to be pure and without corruption, those who are not in some way heroic may find it difficult to maintain their motivation in this campaign.

Ancient Lost Cultures

Since the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path reveals an ancient threat reemerging into the world, characters skilled in Varisian History Lore, Arcana, and Society are best suited to putting the pieces together. Access to powerful magic at higher levels could be the key to survival, not just for the PCs, but also the entire world!

Dangerous Denizens

Rise of the Runelords brings player characters face to face with hundreds of monstrous threats. A prepared character should be suited to challenge monstrous humanoids, giants, magical beasts, and undead, and even greater threats at higher levels, such as evil outsiders and dragons.

Explorers

As the campaign moves throughout the frontier of Varisia, the player characters encounter lost ruins. Characters with skill sets appropriate for adventuring in dungeons and crumbling ruins can give the party an edge. Dungeon Lore and racial low-light vision or darkvison would be helpful in those dank and dark places. Since many of these locations have been warded and secured by their builders, a character who can bypass some of those protections just might help the party live to fight another day.

Giant Hunters

Rumors of giants mobilizing in the wilds of Varisia are spreading, and the people of this frontier land need saviors. Player characters ready to take on threats like this are well suited to this Adventure Path.

Into the WIlds

While some parts of this Adventure Path delve deep into ruins, much of the action is on the surface. Since Varisia is an untamed frontier, characters who are good at dealing with natural threats and excel at finding their way in forests and mountains with Forest Lore, Mountain Lore, Nature, and Survival would be assets to an adventuring party. Plenty of opportunity for overland travel abounds as well, so mounts could prove useful in getting characters to the doorstep of adventure, but might be difficult to deal with once the adventure moves below ground.