Character Creation

Please carefully read the following character creation rules, as any violation of them will result in the need to re-build your character until it meets the requirements.

Repeated demonstration of inability to read and follow the rules on this wiki for creating or maintaining a character can result in being removed from the community.

Many of these sections will state that Rule of Fear utilizes the Pathfinder Society ruleset to determine legal source material for play. You should have already seen the page that shows the changes, and restrictions implemented for the allowed class features and archetypes in this campaign:

Campaign Character Rules

This page will focus on the remaining mechanics you will have to follow to properly build an acceptable character.

To ensure everything about your character is Pathfinder Society legal, in addition to the rules of this campaign, we ask that you use the official Pathfinder RPG database, Archives of Nethys. Using this resource will help ensure that you are choosing material that will most likely be available.

You can make sure that material is legal by noting the  symbol next to it, while on the Archives of Nethys database. If this symbol doesn't exist, than the material is not legal and unavailable. If the symbol exists, it is considered legal to use, unless otherwise stated on this wiki. If the symbol is red, then please check this wiki to verify its legitimacy.

## How to Get Started

The first step is to follow the directions on the Joining the Game page to get a character sheet made for you. You must do this, it's not optional. This campaign doesn't use Mythweavers or anything else, but Roll20. If you have already, please follow the Joining the Game page instructions.

## Character Approval

After your character has been created, it must be looked over and approved by a GM, to make sure no rules were missed. You may not participate in a campaign session until it has been approved.

When the character has been approved, the approving GM will put their GM name as well as the date of approval in the GM notes of your sheet.

## Backstory and Bio

While almost entirely up to you, there are a few points to consider when making your character. Do some searching on google and read up on Ustalav and its surrounding regions or you can read the Overview of Ustalav & Neighboring Regions page of this wiki. The more you can make your character a part of the setting, the more fun everyone will have. That being said, there are a few things everyone must abide by when making their backstory and bio:

* Your must describe a reason for your character being in Ustalav. Whether you we're born there, journeyed there to hunt down the undead, or wanted to explore the Shudderwood, each character will need a legitimate reason for being in The Nation That Was.

* You may not have any part of your backstory that would imply an ability to affect the setting. You can't claim to be the long lost brother of Prince Aduard Ordranti the 3rd, and the rightful heir to the throne, or any such thing. This setting is meant to be accessible and well-defined. Any backstories such as this would negatively impact the stability of the setting. Claiming to be of noble birth from a different part of the world is completely legitimate, just make sure the ties are vague enough not to cause issue.

* Your character may not have a backstory that places them as a member of any military, political, or secret organization residing within Ustalav.

## Ability Scores

Ability scores in Rule of Fear are determined with the point-buy system described in the Core Rulebook. All characters must be made using no more than 20 points.

As is allowed by this method, a character may choose to lower a particular ability score below the starting point of 10, however in Rule of Fear your character may have no more than two ability scores below 10. You are only allowed to dump one ability score in this campaign. The lowest an ability score can be **BEFORE** adding your racial bonus or penalty is 8. The highest an ability score can be **AFTER** adding your racial bonus or penalty is 18.

## Hit Points

At first level, your character takes the maximum hit points for your classes hit die (e.g., a d8 class gets 8 points.) Every level thereafter, your character takes half their hit die + 1 (e.g. a d8 class gets 5.)

## Alignment

Evil characters tend to disrupt the stability of any group. This will be even more so the case when we expect players who have just met to play a session with each other. Your character must be any non-evil alignment. Whether that means good or neutral, chaotic or lawful, is completely up to you. Evil is not allowed.

Please make sure to always follow your alignment. Players who continually roleplay against their alignment, may receive an alignment shift by a GM, which may impact their ability to play as their class or use its features or spells.

## Classes

**The following classes are available for everyone at 1st level:**

Alchemist, Barbarian (normal or Unchained), Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Inquisitor, Monk (normal or Unchained), Oracle, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue (normal or Unchained), Sorcerer, Vampire Hunter, Witch, and Wizard.

## Races

**The following races are available for everyone at 1st level:**

Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Half-Elf, Half-Orc, Halfling, and Human.

**The following races are available to GMs who purchase them via the RP system as a reward for running enough games:**

Aasimar, Changeling, Dhampir, Duskwalker, and Tiefling.

## Abilities, Feats, and Spells

Rule of Fear utilizes the Pathfinder Society ruleset to determine legal source material for play.

All Feats and Spells chosen must be Pathfinder Society legal, as well as abide by the rules of banned material for this campaign.

**Please remember that the following Feats are banned:**

Brew Potion, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, Craft Staff, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, Forge Ring, Leadership, Monstrous Companion, Psychic Sensitivity, Recruits, Scribe Scroll, and Squire. The Signature Skill feat is also only available to Unchained Rogues through their Rogue's Edge class ability.

Take note that due to the nature of the game style and concept, GMs cannot be involved all the time with all aspects of your progression. Due to this, Crafting feats are **NOT** allowed in Rule of Fear. The rules for all item purchasing can be found in the Experience and Loot page.

Because crafting isn't allowed, some classes may have their 'free' feats impacted, or due to campaign limitations, may have certain classes features altered. Please read the Campaign Character Rules page for information on substitutions.

## Archetypes

So long as you understand the rules for applying and archetype to your character you may us them. Rule of Fear only allows 1 archetype for each class your character has levels in. You are not allowed to stack archetypes from the same class. For a list of available archetypes, as well as changes to archetypes in this campaign, please see the Campaign Character Rules page of this wiki. Please make sure that you abide by all archetype changes this campaign has made. Failure to do so will result in you having to remake your character.

## Magus and Prestige Classes

Though this doesn't necessarily come into play at character creation, some people like to know what classes may be available to them down the line.

Rule of Fear allows GMS to be rewarded with access to additional classes as a reward for running sessions.

**The following classes are available to GMs who purchase them via the RP system as a reward for running enough games:**

Magus, and the following Prestige Classes: Arcane Archer, Arcane Trickster, Dragon Disciple, Duelist, Eldritch Knight, Loremaster, Mystic Theurge, Pathfinder Chronicler, and Shadow Dancer.

## Traits

Each character may select two traits from any of the Pathfinder Society legal material. They must be from different trait categories, and cannot be a Campaign Trait.

## Religion

The setting for this campaign is within the world of Golarion. Rule of Fear does not permit characters to follow deities or faiths from sources other than those of Pathfinder. As such, your character should follow a Golarion based deity. You can find a list of the Pathfinder deities and faiths on the Pathfinder wiki, here:

https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Deity

Normal restrictions apply (Don't worship a drow god as a halfling unless you have a good in-character reason). All characters must have the proper alignment to worship a specific deity or join a specific faith. You may only have one deity or faith as your main focus of worship, but are allowed to observe others.

Atheism is not allowed in this campaign. You don't have to worship a deity, but your character must acknowledge that they exist.

## Starting Wealth

All characters in Rule of Fear start with the average gold of their class.

## Equipment and Items

Rule of Fear has a very regulated system regarding available items.This will be covered in the Experience and Loot page in more detail. Your character will be audited to make sure you've only spent up to your average class gold at creation. Characters may not spend more than half their gold on a single item at character creation. With the exception of potions, oils, and scrolls, magic items are not allowed for purchase at character creation.

Did you read the above information? If you have, then please click the following link to continue with the character creation process:

Character Logs