Making a Character!

Welcome to Astaerian, the Sea of Stars! This is either your first view of what creating a character is like on our server as a new player, or you are a current or returning player looking to understand our system a bit more before you dive into RP. There are several things that are important for you to know before joining the server and making a character. We hope this information helps clear up some questions.

## What can my character be?

If you have not done so, please read Character Rules and Guidelines. That page has all the information on what your character can be. This page is meant to guide you through the basics of what it takes to mechanically create a character on the server.

When you first get in game you are taken to the Soulforge. Use Shift+M to open IQoL and finish your character customization. There are also various item thespians to that you may further customize the look of your character.

## Creating a Character Sheet

Open your character sheet by using **Shift+R** to access the Roleplay menu from Roleplay Redux. This will be the basis of everything you use In-Character to interact with other players and anything IC, essentially.

Here you will see that you get a total of **25 Attribute**, **90 Skill** and **12 Perk** points each. All of these are vital to be spent in a way that you think best represents your character and grants them the abilities that you think they should have in order to operate properly.

*Please spend these points carefully.*

## Understanding How Essences Work

Please, please, please: **Browse our essences and select one of them first and foremost.**

This is extremely important.

You can navigate to the category by pressing here: **Click Here**

And before you get to making your sheet, let's start by covering...

## Stats

There are 7 stats that play important roles in combat. All of these are relevant for each character:

* **HP (Health/Hit Points)** - Character 'Life'. When this hits 0, you are knocked out at the very least, with serious injuries if you are brought back.
	+ Every 1 point in Constitution attribute grants 4 HP
* **Armor Class (AC)** - This determines whether or not a majority of attacks will hit you. Most any attack will roll against this.
	+ Every 2 points in Constitution attribute grants 1 Armor Class
* **Melee Attack Bonus (MAB)** - This applies to any attack that is melee. This stat will roll against your target's Armor Class.
	+ Every 1 point in Strength attribute grants 1 Melee Attack Bonus
* **Ranged Attack Bonus (RAB)** - This applies to any attack that is ranged. This stat will roll against your target's Armor Class.
	+ Every 1 point in Dexterity attribute grants 1 Ranged Attack Bonus
* **Damage Reduction (DR)** - This lowers the amount of damage each attack that lands on your character does by the number stated.
	+ Every 5 points in Constitution attribute grants 1 Damage Reduction
* **Resilience** - Whenever your character has a Negative Combat Condition placed on them (excluding Taunts), this stat represents the number of turns your character is immune to another Negative Combat Condition. This prevents endless stun-locks.
	+ Every 10 points in Constitution attribute grants 1 Resilience
* **Movement Speed (MS)** - This determines the number of tiles your character can move in one Movement Action. Double this number for max tiles moved in a Double Movement turn.
	+ Default is 2 tiles. This is only adjusted by buffs and de-buffs from abilities.

## Basic Mechanics

We **highly advise** you look at the wiki page of the essence you are working with as you start to craft it. As you are looking, you should keep these things in mind:

* **Accuracy:** Which Attack Bonus will be directly responsible for at least a majority of the abilities *actually hitting* their target if against an enemy?
	+ ex. A Major Strength Essence ability rolls Melee Attack Bonus against enemy Armor Class a majority of the time; Major Intelligence is most likely Ranged Attack Bonus. Build these accordingly
* **Damage Attribute:** This is always an attribute. This will be what is added onto your damage or healing dice roll from your abilities.
	+ ex. Ability for a Major Strength Essence ability for may do 1d8 + Strength HP damage, since their Roll Stat is Strength
* Since our system is freeform, levels matter more and each six levels you will get a bonus that all players universally get for leveling.
* Without classes, you are free to take whatever Runes you want that will better shape the character you want and how you want them to fight. Look at the **Equipment** page to see these if you want to plan further.

## Spend Perk Points

There are six kinds of perks depending on how you look at it. These are them in a gist:

1. **Major Essence** - This perk will unlock the 4 styles corresponding to the Major Essence Attribute. It also gives your Star Sign buff ability.
2. **Major Essence Style** - The meat of your most powerful abilities lie here. After choosing a Major Essence, you choose one of the 4 styles it has to offer. Each style plays differently, so please take a close look at them here: **Essences**
3. **Minor Essence** - This will give you a little taste with weaker abilities derived from all of the major styles the Attribute that it is focused on possesses. i.e. Minor Charisma gives a taste of supportive abilities, Minor Dexterity is more evasive/fast/ranged abilities.
4. **Stat/Save Bonuses** - These perks give bonuses to Armor Class, Damage Reduction, Attack Bonuses and Saving Throws. Investment for next perk level increases dramatically with each tier.
5. **Characteristic Perk** - This perk will change the balance of the spread of a lot of your abilities, but also unlock a skill that will give special opportunities for RP actions during events corresponding to the nature of the skill and the attribute it is derived from.
6. **Iconic Ability** - At the very end, you get to choose one Iconic Ability from the list. Please reference **Iconic Abilities.**

## Attributes and Skills

Assign attribute points to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma.

**Click Here** for further information about the various attributes and skills (WIP)

Assign skill points to further tailor your character. Be sure to read the description when you mouse over them, there will be information on how each one will affect your character.

\*\*Special Note - The Skin Dancing skill is required if your character is a shapeshifter.\*\*

## Finalizing Sheet

A finished character sheet for a new character will look something similar to this:

## Leaving the Soulforge

Once you have joined the Discord, filled out your Consent Sheet, made an RP Redux character sheet, and made a clan, you will be able to contact a staff member either via ticket system on Discord, in-game chat, or #admin-help channel in order to receive the OK to play on the server and get your tags!

As always, if you have any questions or need further information about character creation please contact server staff to assist.