Character Book: And the Rest

We're nearly done with the work in progress on the Character Book of Nutshell. At this point, the major thing that remains undefined are the talents, which admittedly is a rather big thing!

Unfortunately, the rest of this post will necessarily be a little 'bitty' - quite a lot of small topics to cover, with no great overall theme. Still, hopefully each topic will be clear...

Character Creation

To create a new 1st level character, use the following process. In general, you should follow the steps in order, but this is not strictly required.

1. Generate Ability Scores.
2. Choose Race
3. Choose Class
4. Choose Skills - your class (and race) will determine how many Skill Proficiencies you can select.
5. Choose Talents
6. Determine starting funds, and Choose Equipment
7. Calculate starting hit points, defences, and the like; fill in character sheet

To create a character at higher than 1st level, the process is slightly modified, as follows:

1. Generate Ability Scores.
2. Choose Race
3. Choose Class
4. Choose Skills - your class (and race) will determine how many Skill Proficiencies you can select.
5. Choose Feats
6. Choose Talents
7. Determine starting funds, and Choose Equipment
8. Calculate starting hit points, defences, and the like; fill in character sheet

Character Advancement

When advancing your character in level, you should follow the process below. In general, you should follow the steps given in order, but this is not strictly required.

1. Increment your Base Bonus (even-numbered levels only)
2. Choose which Class to advance in
3. Choose a new Talent (odd-numbered levels only)
4. Choose a Feat (levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 only)
5. Calculate updated totals for hit points, defences and the like; fill in character sheet

Retraining

Any time your character rests between adventures, you may choose to retrain one or more of the following aspects. Note that you may choose to retain as few or as many of these aspects as you wish.

Note that each retraining option has some restrictions on when it can be applied. See the individual chapters for more information.

1. Classes. If you have more than one class, you may choose to reduce one of your classes by one level, and increase another by one instead.
2. Talents. You may remove one talent you know, and add any new talent for which you qualify.
3. Feats. You may remove one non-proficiency feat you know, and add any new feat for which you qualify.
4. Proficiencies. You may remove one proficiency feat you know, and add any new proficiency feat granted by your class, and for which you qualify.

Rebuilding Your Character

Subject to DM approval, you may rebuild your character entirely. The only things you cannot change are your character's ability scores and race; anything else can be re-assigned.

When rebuilding your character, you should try to retain the core concept of the character. In general, you should not have to rebuild your character more than once in a given campaign.

Starting Funds

At first level, you may choose one of two methods for determining your starting funds. Once you have decided, you cannot change your mind. The two methods are:

1. Roll 4d6, drop the lowest die result, total the rest, and multiply by 10. The result is in gp.
2. Take 120gp.

Putting the Numbers Together

The numeric elements of your character are calculated as follows:

Hit Points and Resilience

Each class gives you a number of hit points and a number of resilience. For each class, add your Con modifier to the number of hit points, and your Wis modifier to the number of resilience. Add any bonuses due to feats you have selected. Then multiply these totals by the number of levels you have in the class. Finally, if you have more than one class, add the totals for each class to generate grand totals for each.

Hit Point Advance

At 1st level, multiply the number of hit points and resilience you gain by 3. However, the extra points gained are a loan, not a bonus; you do not now gain any further hit points or resilience until your character reaches 4th level.

Attack Bonuses

Your basic melee attack bonus equals your Base Bonus (half your level) plus your Strength modifer. If you have the Weapon Finesse feat, your finesse attack bonus equals your Base Bonus plus your Dexterity modifer. If your class grants a bonus to melee attacks, add that to these totals.

Your basic missile attack bonus equals your Base Bonus plus your Dexterity modifer. If you have the Great Throw feat, your thrown missile attack bonus equals your Base Bonus plus your Strength modifier. If your class grants a bonus to missile attacks, add that to these totals.

Your basic spell attack bonus equals your Base Bonus plus your Charisma modifier. If you have the Deft Arcanist feat, your finesse spell attack bonus equals your Base Bonus plus your Intelligence modifier. If your class grants a bonus to spell attacks, add that to these totals.

Finally, for each weapon and/or spell you can use, note the appropriate attack bonus. If you do not have the required proficiency with the weapon or spell, apply a -4 penalty to your total. Conversely, if you have the appropriate Focus feat, add a +1 bonus to the total.

Skill Bonuses

For each skill, your total modifier equals your Base Bonus plus the modifier for the appopriate skill. If your race or class grants a bonus, add this to the total. If you do not have proficiency in the skill, apply a -4 penalty to the total; conversely, if you have the appropriate Skill Focus feat, add a +1 bonus to the total.

Magnitude Values

For each skill, your base magnitude is 1d6 plus the modifier for the related attribute. If your race applies a step bonus or penalty to the check, apply this now. Likewise, if you have the appropriate Skill Specialisation feat, or you have a masterwork tool, apply a step bonus to the roll. Finally, if you are wearing armour, apply the armour check penalty to affected magnitude checks.

For each weapon or spell you can use, note the appropriate damage dice, and apply the modifier from the appropriate attribute. If you have the appropriate Specialisation feat, apply a step bonus to the check; likewise, if you have a masterwork weapon, apply another one step bonus.

Defences

Your Fortitude defence equals 10 plus your Base Bonus, plus your Constitution modifier. If you have the appropriate Defence Focus feat, add a +1 bonus. Likewise, if your race or class grants a bonus to fortitude, add this to the total.

Your Reflex defense equals 10 plus your Base Bonus, plus your Dexterity modifier. If you have the appropriate Defence Focus feat, add a +1 bonus. Likewise, if your race or class grants a bonus to reflex, add this to the total.

Your Will defense equals 10 plus your Base Bonus, plus your Wisdom modifier. If you have the appropriate Defence Focus feat, add a +1 bonus. Likewise, if your race or class grants a bonus to will, add this to the total.

Your Combat Defense equals 10 plus your Base Bonus, plus your Intelligence modifier. If you have the appropriate Defence Focus feat, add a +1 bonus. Likewise, if your race or class grants a bonus to combat defense, add this to the total.

Your Alertness defense equals 10 plus your Perception skill modifier.

Your Social defense equals 10 plus your Insight skill modifier.

Your Armour Class equals 10 plus your Base Bonus. If your race grants a bonus to your armour class, add this to the total. Finally, your character may gain some bonuses from his feats, depending on equipment used. Check your feats, and add any bonuses that apply.

Initiative

Your initiative modifier equals your Reflex defence minus 10.

Encumbrance Thresholds

The full encumbrance rules are in the Equipment Book. However, the thresholds are determined using the character's Athletics magnitude check. For this determination, ignore any Armour Check Penalty that would normally apply.

1. Determine the maximum result that the character could possibly achieve on an Athletics magnitude check.
2. Add any modifiers to this total that apply due to your character's race.
3. Your character can carry a number of major items equal to the total thus determined without penalty.
4. If your character exceeds this threshold, he becomes Encumbered.
5. Your character can carry up to double this total, at which point he reaches his maximum load. A character who exceeds his maximum load cannot move.

For example, a human Fighter with a Str of 14 (+1), wearing chainmail armour (1 step penalty) can carry 7 major items without penalty (the ACP doesn't apply, so the magnitude of Athletics checks is 1d6+1, which has a maximum of 7). He can carry between 8 and 14 major items, but suffers the encumbered condition. If he carries 15 or more major items, he cannot move.