Making an Adventurer

A 2014 character is the sum of three big choices plus six numbers. The sheet does every derived calculation; you make the decisions.

Choose a race

Your race grants ability score increases, size, speed, and inborn traits — darkvision, resilience, a talent for hiding. Nine races from the SRD live in the Races folder, several with their classic subrace built in: the Dwarf here is the Hill Dwarf, the Elf is the High Elf. @Missing file keeps it simple: +1 to everything. @Missing file gets +2 Charisma and chooses two other +1s. In this edition, ability scores come from race — never from background.

Choose a class

Your class is your profession and your engine: hit die, saving throw proficiencies, armor and weapon training, and a feature list that unfolds level by level, all read straight off the class file. All twelve classes are here, each with its SRD subclass — and note the 2014 timing: a Cleric like @Missing file picks a Divine Domain at level 1, a Wizard chooses a school at 2, most others declare at 3.

Choose a background

Where you came from: two skills, sometimes tools or languages, a pack of starting gear, and a feature — a standing social fact like the Acolyte's welcome in temples of their faith. Four SRD backgrounds live in the Backgrounds folder; @Missing file is the worked example.

Roll the six abilities

Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma — roll 4d6 drop the lowest, six times, and assign; or take the standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8). Enter them as base scores and the sheet applies your racial increases, computes every modifier, and caps totals at 20. @Missing file explains what each ability governs.

Then let the sheet work

Hit points, Armor Class, saves, skills, spell slots, attack bonuses — all computed from your choices. At levels 4, 8, 12, 16, and 19 your class grants an Ability Score Improvement, tradeable for a feat like @Missing file.

Or study a finished one

@Missing file is a complete level 5 Human Life Domain Cleric — pyramid to rooftop. Open her sheet next to this chapter and every rule in it points at something you can see.