Character Creation Thread

[SlowwHand]

Can I just say I want to be a Ranger?
And what to heavy up on in the way of skills or whatever?
Or is that skirting responsibilities?

[Solver]

Skills determine how well you can do certain stuff..

[SlowwHand]

Right. I got that part. Like if I focus first on dexterity or intelligence or whatever parts?

[Solver]

First you get your attributes, int, dex, and the others. They determine stuff like how much you carry, can you read, and how fast, modify chance to dodge a rock Ming throws at you etc.

Skills, then, help you do some more specific stuff - like Sneak skill to move stealthily, Pick Lock skill to, uhh, open locks, diplomacy to persuade people, etc. Each skill has a governing attribute, and also depends on that attribute - e.g., a Gather Information skill depends on Charisma, so if your Charisma is 8, you ain't going to be great with that skill even if you pick it.

[SlowwHand]

Ok. I'm going to look into this, without trying to digest what you experienced players are saying here.

[Kramerman]

Originally posted by Solver
Well Kramerman, in no time might be a lit of too reassuring .

naah, it didnt take me long... but then again, the do call him 'sloww'

[Solver]

Sloww, this will be my first real game, so I'm explaining this plainly, because I can't really make a hard explanation .

[Hot Mustard]

I had fun making my Sorcerer and couldn't put my books down, so I went ahead and make the tripping Fighter I mentioned. I'll decide which to play based on what we see people come up with, and let someone else play the other one.

I haven't given this character a FR region and languages yet.
==========
NAME: Ript
RACE: Human
GENDER: Male
CLASS: Fighter
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Neutral
LVL: 1

REGION: ?

SPEED: 20ft

ATTRIBUTES:

Attribute: Stat (point cost) [modifier]

STR: 16 (10)[+3]
DEX: 14 (6) [+2]
CON: 14 (6) [+2]
INT: 14 (6) [+2]
WIS: 10 (2) [ 0]
CHA: 10 (2) [ 0]

HP: 12 (d10 + 2 Con)
AC: 16 (10 base + 2 Dex + 4 Armour)
INIT: +2 (DEX)

FORT: +4 (2 base, +2 con)
REF: +2 (0 base, +2 dex)
WILL: 0 (0 base, 0 wis)

FEATS: Expertise, Improved Trip, Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Chain, Spiked)

SKILLS:

Climb - 4 (4 ranks)
Jump - 4 (4 ranks)

Listen - 2 (4 ranks, crossclass)
Spot - 2 (4 ranks, crossclass)
Search - 2 (4 ranks, crossclass)


These skill scores do not include the ability modifiers. (i.e. Climb is 7 after Str bonus)

LANGUAGE:
Racial: Common
Regional: ?
Bonus: Elven, Dwarven

ATTACKS: Melee +4 (+1 base, +3 Str)
WEAPONS: Chain, spiked (2d4, x2); Greatsword (2d6, 19-20/x2)

EQUIPMENT:
Explorer's Outfit (free) (8 lbs)
Chain, Spiked (25 gp) (15 lbs)
Scalemail (50 gp) (30 lbs)
Greatsword (50 gp) (15 lbs)
Flint and Steel (1 gp)
2 Torches (2 cp) (2 lbs)
2 Cure Light Wounds Potion (50 gp)
Acid flask (10 gp) (1 lb)

2 gp, 9 sp, 8 cp

Total cost/weight: 237 gp, 2 cp / 73 lbs

Carrying Capacities:
Normal - 76 lbs
Medium - 153 lbs
Heavy - 230 lbs
==========

[Hot Mustard]

Originally posted by Solver
OK, I do have some stuff here, but I need some help, too. Sketch thus far:

Name: Dolor
Race: Elf
Class: Wizard (need help with specialization)

Stats, apparently

Stength: 13 (5 points used)
Dex: 10 + 2 racial (2 points)
Con: 10 - 2 racial (2 poins)
Int: 18 (16 pts)
Wis: 13 (5 points)
Cha: 10 (2 points)

Can someone please check if I got these correctly, with my race?


I also now need help to determine my HP and the rest.

Questions: should I alter it to give the Wizard a higher Wis ability? As for feat, I will chose one, I guess I'll also get around with skills somehow.

Okay, lessee...

In general, go with even numbers for attributes. The even numbers are the break points for modifiers:
8,9 -1
10,11 0
12,13 +1
14,15 +2
16,17 +3
18 +4

So unless you're trying to hit a specific number for feat (like Expertize requiring Int 13), stick with even numbers.

I'm wondering why you're raising Str above average for a Wizard. Typically, a Wizard's 2nd and 3rd highest stats are for Con (more hitpoints), or dexterity (better Armour Class).

With your stats as is, your HP would be 4. A wizard's hit die is 4 (commonly stated as "d4"), and you have no Con bonus to add.

Your Init is your dexterity modifier, which is +1. Fortitude is 0 (no Con bonus), Reflex is +1 (dex bonus), and Will is +3 (+2 base for Wizard, +1 Wis bonus).

Decide if you want to modify your attributes, and then we'll move onto Skills, Spells, etc.

[Solver]

Got it dejon, thanks, just thought that without Strength I may be unable to carry stuff or something. After another look at it, I came up with.

Str: 8 (0) [-1]
Dex: 16 (6) [+3]
Con: 12 (6) [+1]
Int: 18 (16) [+4]
Wis: 12 (4) [+1]
Cha: 8 (0) [-1]

Question is, though, now if 8 Str is acceptable, or maybe 10 should do it, dunno. But this does somewhat sound better to me now.

[FrustratedPoet]

OK I'm obviously going to need the 3rd Edition rulebooks to make any sense of this.

Being a spellcaster or Rogue sounds terribly complicated, so I'll try and be some kind of melee character. Just bashing things with my sword sounds simple enough for me to handle.

[Solver]

FP, for the record, the book is over 700 pages in length . But yes, you need to at least read the beggining to start understanding something... and then, you need to browse through feats to select what you want, etc.

Want me to mail them?

[Hot Mustard]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Can I just say I want to be a Ranger?
And what to heavy up on in the way of skills or whatever?
Or is that skirting responsibilities?

I'll come to your rescue, Sloww!

First, are you sure you want to play a Ranger? The reason I ask it that the Ranger class is easily the least-often chosen in 3rd Edition. Some of the upcoming tweaks in 3.5 are trying to address that problem.

The first thing many people think when looking at a Ranger is - multiple attacks - cool! The thing is, there are limiting aspects - you can't wear certain armours, and double-headed weapons are exempt (Many people immediately think they'll use a double sword, which is exempt.)

Next, if you're hoping to create an Archer-extradinaire, it will take quite some time. Rangers do not get all the bonus feats that a fighter does, so it will take them much longer to acquire the feats you'll want (Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Precise Shot, etc).

Okay, those warning aside, I think Rangers are cool, and are very versatile once they reach mid-levels. They can scout like Rogues, but are better in combat. They have second best skill selection after Rogues. And in any campaign likely to face certain foes, their favored enemy bonuses will come in handy.

A Ranger's primary attribute is Dexterity, followed by wisdom and strength.

If you want to proceed with a Ranger, I'll help you build one.

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by Solver
Want me to mail them?

Yes please.

frustratedpoet AT apolyton DOT net

Nice to see that there are many people willing to help the newbies.

[Solver]

Ah, FP, you were also given a Poly addy ?

And sent that, 3.2 MB, though. I hope you have a fine connection.