Character Creation

Overview

This is an explanation on how to create a character for use within Thrakdrak. Important to know is that not all classes and races are unlocked and the character that you build has to be approved by the GM.

Overview of the various sites & programs the GMs allows to be used before final check:

• D20pfsrd.com -> Site containing all data on Pathfinder. If you see something you like, discuss with GM. Various links that are interesting:
  • Ability Scores and their effect on character
  • Character advancement and gold
• PCgen for generating a character
• Roll20.com -> Configuring your character sheet for online usage

PC gen

Supported Sources

Advanced sources to select after starting PCGEN. After selecting the rules below, please do save the rules to a custom ruleset (name=Thrakdrak?)

Advanced Class Guide
Advanced Class Origins
Advanced Player's Guide
Advanced Race Guide
Advanturer's Armory
Advanturer's Armory 2
Adventurer's Guide
Alchemy Manual
Animal Archive
Armor Master's Handbook
Bestiary
Bestiary 2 (Player Options Only)
Bestiary 3
Bestiary 4
Bestiary 5 (Player Options Only)
Bestiary 6 (Player Options Only)
Black Markets
Blood of Angels
Blood of Fiends
Blood of Shadows
Blood of the Beast
Blood of the Elements
Blood of the Moon
Blood of the Night
Champions of Balance
Champions of Corruption
Champions of Purity
Cohorts and Companions
Demon Hunter's Handbook
Dirty Tactics Toolbox 
Divine Anthology
Dragonslayer's Handbook
Dungeoneer's Handbook
Dwarves of Golarion
Elemental Master's Handbook
Evles of Golarion
Giant HUnter's Handbook
Gnomes of Golarion
Goblins of Golarion
Halflings of Golarion
Haunted Heroes Handbook
Heroes of the Streets
Heroes of the Wild
Humans of Golarion
Inner Sea World Guide
Knights of the Inner Sea
Kobolds of Golarion
Legacy of Dragons
Legacy of the First World
Magical Marketplace
Magic Tactics Toolbox
Melee Tactics Toolbox
Monster Codex (Player Options Only)
Monster Hunter's Handbook
Monster Summoner's Handbook
Mythic Adventures
Mythic Origins
Occult Adventures
Occult Origins
Orc of Golarion
Pathfinder RPG For Players
Pathfinder Unchained
Paths of the Righteous
Quests and campaigns
Ranged Tactics Toolbox
Spymaster's Handbook
The Harrow Handbook
Ultimate Campaign
Ultimate Combat
Ultimate Equipment
Ultimate Intrigue
Ultimate Magic
Ultimate Wilderness
Undead Slayer's Handbook
Weapon Master's Handbook

Add custom Homebrew Rules when creating character

Focused arcane subschools

It is possible to choose a variation of Arcane Subschools. PCGEN however does not properly handle this. You can go to Feats & abilites and in the bottom left corner click on focused arcane school. You can then select a sub school in the topleft section and add it to your character. The bottom left corner does not update accordingly and can be ignored.

Writing a background

Remember. A loner character makes it really hard for the DM. There needs to be a solid reason for the loner to join the party and it is up to the player to come up with ideas to stick with the party or break away (which means the player has to create an other character).

Tips from lit rpg reads

 Tip 1: Give your character a unique motivation

When you’re writing a D&D backstory, you need to think about what you want to achieve. Do you want to become a champion of the people, or perhaps a slayer of evil? Maybe you’re just interested in exploring the world and learning as much as you can. Or maybe, you’re just here for the gold and glory.

Whatever the case may be, you need to decide what you want your character’s motivation to be. Sure, you could just go with the default motivations that the Player’s Handbook sets out, but the interesting thing about D&D is that you can really go any direction you want. If you want your character to become a master of the arcane arts, then go for it. If you want to be the greatest treasure hunter in the world, then go for it. If you want to become a morally righteous champion of the people, then go for it. Whatever you want to be and whatever you want to accomplish, you need to decide what that is and then make sure that every action you take is in line with achieving that goal.

 Tip 2: Come up with a backstory that shows development

The last thing you want to do is have a backstory that doesn’t show any development. Not only does it make your character boring, but it also makes you look like you don’t really know D&D very well. It’s kind of like an actor who plays the same character in every movie. Sure, they can get away with it once or twice, but sooner or later people will start to get tired of seeing the same character again and again. All the focus will be on the character’s backstory, their motivations, and how they got to where they are. You don’t want to make your character a static character, the one who never changes at all. You want to show growth and allow your character to change over time.

 Tip 3: Come up with a backstory that shows the world

With a rich backstory, you need to think about the influences the world has had on your character. Sure, it’s not like you need to include every single detail, but at the very least, you need to make sure your character takes part in a few major events. Think of it as the most important turning points of your character’s life. These turning points provide the backdrop that you use to show how the world has shaped your character. Basically, if your character doesn’t have an interesting backstory, then they’re likely to feel out of place and not have any real character depth. At least, not until they start making their own decisions and shaping the world.

 Tip 4: Do Not Make Your Character Backstory Too Long

This is easy for some and hard for others. While a book-length character backstory might be fun, you don’t need something this long. In fact, all you really really need to do is write down around a hundred words or so. But, with characters, the length and depth of the backstory isn’t as important as its quality. You might not have to write a lengthy backstory, but you do have to be creative. This is especially important if you’re planning on role-playing with the character. You need something that makes your character seem like they’re actually alive.

 Tip 5: Write in First Person, Past Tense

The reason for writing your D&D backstory in the first person, past tense is to make it seem like it’s already happened. This prevents you from having to write out every movement and every action as though it was actually happening. Past tense is also used for the same reason. As you write out your character’s backstory, the reader will be able to assume that it already happened and that this is just the narrator going over the details.

 Tip 6: Make Your Character’s Backstory Believable

This is something you need to do regardless of what you decide to write. Even if you’re writing about a character with a unique backstory, it’s going to need to be believable. You don’t want to make the player feel like your character’s backstory is forced or out of place. After all, the aim of a character’s backstory is to bring them to life and to make them feel like a real person.

Using AI:

You can use ChatGPT to create a background. Fill in the following variables in the sentence below or think of your own sentence!

Write a dnd backstory for $CHARACTER NAME, a $RACE ($SPECIALISATION) $CLASS, $MOTIVATION $DISRUPTINGOCCURANCE $GOAL

For example: Write a dnd backstory for Alton, a male conjuration wizard who likes to read books in the magic tower of his master. One day his master mysteriously disappeared and Alton wants to find his master.

Alton was born to a family of wizards who were known for their expertise in the art of conjuration. His parents were both skilled in summoning creatures from other planes of existence and taught him everything they knew. From a young age, Alton was fascinated by the magical world and spent hours reading spell books and experimenting with his own conjurations.

As he grew older, Alton's love for magic only intensified. He was always searching for more knowledge and wanted to become the most powerful conjurer in the land. One day, he caught the attention of a powerful conjurer who recognized his talent and took him in as an apprentice.

Alton was overjoyed at the opportunity to learn from the master and was eager to prove himself worthy. He spent most of his time in the magic tower, reading and practicing conjurations. The tower was his sanctuary, and he felt at home among the ancient tomes and magical artifacts.

Under the tutelage of his master, Alton quickly became a skilled conjurer. He learned how to summon powerful creatures from other planes, create magical constructs, and even how to teleport himself and others.

However, one day, Alton's master mysteriously disappeared. No one knew where he had gone, and Alton was left without a mentor. He searched the magic tower for any clues, but found nothing. He was devastated, and felt lost without his master's guidance.

Determined to find his master, Alton set out on a journey to uncover the truth behind his disappearance. He traveled far and wide, seeking out other conjurers and wizards for any information that could lead him to his master.