Building Characters

Build a character in order. Each step feeds the next.

1. 01

   Record identity, including the character name and level.

2. 02

   Select an alignment, race, and background.

3. 03

   Select an archetype and class.

4. 04

   Select stats with 15 points using the point-buy table.

5. 05

   Apply stat boosts from the archetype, race, background, and level.

6. 06

   Pick class skills and add extra skills for race and background.

7. 07

   Select saving throws and any additional class save choices.

8. 08

   Select class choices, then spells or powers if applicable.

9. 09

   Select starting equipment and perks.

10. 10

    Calculate health, defense, soak, initiative, proficiency modifier, speed, alertness, arete (if applicable), skill bonuses, and attack values.

Grayscale characters are recorded in a compact block. Each line groups related values for quick lookup at the table.

Below are the six statistics used throughout the system.

Might

Measures strength, aggressive energy, and raw physicality. Used to calculate attack and damage bonuses with standard melee and throwing weapons. Also used for maximum encumbrance and the athletics, intimidate, and wrangling skills. Characters add half of their might modifier (rounded up) to their passive soak score.

Agility

Measures coordination, reflexes, balance, etc. Calculates attack and damage bonuses with finesse and shooting weapons. Also calculates defense, initiative, reflex saves, and the acrobatics, stealth, and thievery skills.

Endurance

Measures physical fitness, pain tolerance, and breath control. Used to calculate health and fortitude saves.

Intellect

Measures memory, retention, and speed of thought. Used to calculate arete for wizards. Also calculates bonus languages and the arcana, history, investigate, medicine, nature, occult, tactics, and theology skills. All spellcasting characters can prepare additional spells equal to their intellect modifier.

Spirit

Measures inner strength, stubbornness, and piety. Calculates arete for clerics, druids, and rangers. Used for will saves, alertness, and the empathy, perception, and survival skills.

Charisma

Measures raw personality, social acumen, and the ability to get what you want. Calculates arete for bards, paladins, sorcerers, and potentially oracles and warlocks. Used for the diplomacy, perform, and subterfuge skills.

Health

At levels 1–3, add the maximum result of your class hit die each level. From 4th level onward, add the rounded-up average of the hit die each level. Add your Endurance modifier at every level. Certain perks and special abilities also add to health totals.

Defense

Base score is 10, plus bonuses for armor, agility modifiers, archetype abilities, or gear. Some archetypes can use their PROF modifier in lieu of armor for calculating defense, representing martial prowess.

Soak

Normally granted by armor or magic, though some archetypes have abilities that grant it.

Alertness

10 plus the character’s spirit modifier and any archetype bonuses or related perks. If the character is proficient in perception, they add their PROF to alertness as well.

Initiative

A bonus equal to the character’s agility modifier plus any other bonuses for archetype, perks, or special gear.

Speed

Typically 30, or 3 km/hr. Abilities that boost speed increase foot speed by 1 km/hr for every 10 points of movement.

Fortitude

PROF (if proficient) or ½ PROF (if unproficient) + endurance modifier + miscellaneous bonuses from archetypes, perks, or equipment.

Reflex

PROF (if proficient) or ½ PROF (if unproficient) + agility modifier + miscellaneous bonuses from archetypes, perks, or equipment.

Will

PROF (if proficient) or ½ PROF (if unproficient) + spirit modifier + miscellaneous bonuses from archetypes, perks, or equipment.

Each race provides the listed stat boosts and traits. Trait names open a glossary popover.

A background grants a stat boost and two skills (or toolsets, as listed).

Every character has three saving throws — Fortitude, Reflex, and Will. Based on your class, one is greater and two are lesser.