Making a Character

Steps to make a character. Note that the full Class and Race listings are found in other documents, linked in the discord channel #DragonTactics. The campaign is set in the world of Eberron, a dungeonpunk setting where magic has taken the place of the steam engine in industrialization.

1. Pick a Class
2. Pick a Race
3. Backgrounds Questionnaire
4. Point Buy Stats
5. Pick Class Features & Powers
6. Pick Noncombat Proficiencies (See other document)
7. Pick Feats and Flaws
8. Pick Equipment

Controllers

Controllers manipulate the battlefield, emphasizing area control and debilitating effects.

Druid: As a Primal Controller, Druids can shapeshift and summon natural allies.

Invoker: As a Divine Controller, Invokers make a direct covenant with their faith.

Necromancer: As a Shadow Controller, Necromancers drain the energy from their foes and summon undead allies.

Psion: As a Psionic Controller, Psions manipulate their opponent's minds and can fling objects.

Seeker: As a Primal Controller, Seekers use their bow and animal companion.

Wizard: As an Arcane Controller, Wizards control the building blocks of reality and can summon elemental allies.

Defenders

Defenders all have the ability to "Mark" foes, imposing a penalty on the enemy if they choose to attack the Defender's allies.

Battlemind: As a Psionic Defender, Battleminds fortify themselves using the power of their mind and their intense discipline.

Blood Knight: As a Shadow Defender, Blood Knights drain the life from their enemies.

Fighter: As a Martial Defender, Fighters make their way only with their skill at arms.

Paladin: As a Divine Defender, Paladins shield themselves with their faith and plate armor.

Swordmage: As an Arcane Defender, Swordmages use magic to enchant their equipment and hobble their foes.

Warden: As a Primal Defender, Wardens assume spirit forms and entangle their foes.

Leaders

Leaders have the ability to heal and support their allies.

Ardent: As a Psionic Leader, Ardents bolster the emotions of their allies.

Artificer: As an Arcane Leader, Artificers build contraptions and enchant their allies.

Bard: As an Arcane Leader, Bards play inspiring songs.

Cleric: As a Divine Leader, Clerics call upon holy magic and can wade into melee.

Shaman: As a Primal Leader, Shamans have a spirit companion to bolster their allies.

Warlord: As a Martial Leader, Warlords utilize their knowledge of the battlefield to leverage an advantage.

Witch Doctor: As a Shadow Leader, Witch Doctors call upon dark spirits.

Strikers

Strikers are all capable of significant damage, and can bring mobility and target selection.

Assassin: As a Shadow Striker, Assassins control the shadows and utilize poisons.

Avenger: As a Divine Striker, Avengers isolate enemies to eliminate.

Barbarian: As a Primal Striker, Barbarians fly into powerful rages.

Hexblade: As a Shadow Striker, Hexblades wade into combat with dark magic and their vestige weapon.

Monk: As a Psionic Striker, Monks use their intense discipline to nimbly deliver flurries of blows.

Ranger: As a Martial Striker, Rangers are trackers and hunters, using both bow and blade.

Rogue: As a Martial Striker, Rogues fight dirty with daggers and crossbows.

Sorcerer: As an Arcane Striker, Sorcerers use the magic inherent in their bloodlines to blast large areas.

Warlock: As an Arcane Striker, Warlocks make a pact with greater powers.

Common Races

The vast majority of Khorvaire's residents constitute the following races. These races also make up the Dragonmarked houses, the economic powerhouses of Khorvaire. While each of these races have an homeland, large quantities of each are assimilated into the cities and towns.

Dwarf: The homeland of the Dwarves is the Mror Holds to the northeast, where twelve Dwarven Clans rule as a council.

House Kundarak bears the Mark of Warding and runs the Warding Guild and Banking Guild.

Elf: The Aerani Elves worship the Undying Court, their preserved ancestors who rule the island continent of Aeranel. The warlike Tairnadel Elves ritually enact the lives of their ancestors and control the nation of Valenar.

House Thuranni and House Phiarlan share the Mark of Shadow. House Phiarlan has both the Carnival of Shadow and the Entertainers and Artisans Guild.

Gnome: Gnomes call the mountain nation of Zilargo their home. Their cheerful demeanor often conceals a complicated set of politics and schemes.

House Sivis bears the Mark of Scribing. It runs the Speakers Guild and Notaries Guild.

Halfling: The Halflings claim the Talenta Plains as their ancestral home, where nomadic tribes ride and herd dinosaurs in pastoral living.

House Jorasco, which bears the Mark of Healing, owns the Healers Guild. House Ghallanda, which bears the Mark of Hospitality, owns the Hostellers Guild.

Human: The most populous race of Khorvaire, Humans immigrated from Sarlona in ancient times with the mythic explorer Lhazaar. Humans bear the most marks.

House Cannith bears the Mark of Making, with the Tinkers and Fabricators Guild. House Deneith bears the Mark of Sentinel and has the Blademarks and Defenders Guilds and the Sentinel Marshalls. House Orien bears the Mark of Passage and has Couriers Guild and Transportation Guild. House Vadalis bears the Mark of Handling and has the Handlers Guild.

Khoravar: Also known as Half-Elves, the Khoravar are a living representation of the integration of the historic integration of Elves and Humans. Now a true breeding race, the Khoravar have two unique Dragonmarks.

House Lyrander, which bears the Mark of Storm has both the Raincallers Guild and Windwrights Guild. House Medani, which bears the Mark of Detection, run the Warning Guild.

Orc: While reclusive to the Shadow Marches in the past, Orcs have seen a need to incorporate with broader Khorvaire.

House Tharashk bears the Mark of Finding and has the Finders Guild and the Liondrake's Roar.

Uncommon Races

These races are not as numerous as the Dragonmarked races and tend to be concentrated within their own communities. Furthermore, each of these races are generally treated as second class citizens in the Five Nations.

Ghaal'dar: Also known as Hobgoblins, the Ghaal'dar are the traditional organizers and soldiers of the Dar.

Golin'dar: Also known as Goblins, the Golin'dar are the most numerous of the Dar.

Guul'dar: Also known as Bugbears, the Guul'dar are the traditional brutes and enforcers of the Dar.

Warforged: Created during the Last War and accidentally imbued with Sentience, the Warforged are recently freed and unsure of their place in the world.

Rare Races

Communities of these races tend to be isolated, and while these races are not unknown in Khorvaire most townfolk have never met a member.

Changeling: Natural shapeshifters, Changelings are actually widespread in Khorvaire but tend to avoid making their presence known.

Eladrin: Trapped on the Material Plane since the Mourning, Eladrin share a common ancestry with Elves.

Kalashtar: Riedran dissidents empowered by rebellious spirits, Kalashtar are of one body and two minds.

Shifter: Historically confused for Lycanthropes, Shifters summon animalistic power when threatened.

Monstrous Races

The monstrous races are rarely seen within the five nations and are likely to be viewed with fear or suspicion.

Dragonborn: Once loyal servants and soldiers of Argonessen, Dragonborn inhabit the swamps of Q'barra

Drow: When the elves fled to Aeranel, some were left behind on Xen'drik. The elves who stayed were transformed into drow by the magic that permeates the continent.

Gnoll: Freed from the demon Yeenoghu, the Gnolls of the Znir Pact serve Droamm as mercenaries.

Goliath: Sometimes referred to as "Half-Giants", Goliaths live in the mountains of Droamm

Minotaur: Bloodthirsty but surprisingly intelligent, Minotaurs have begrudgingly accepted the new Droamm

Planetouched: Creatures born during planar convergences or inside a manifest zone can be transformed into planetouched, beings with a special connection to a particular plane or other supernatural force.

Thri-Kreen: Found in isolated tribes deep within the jungles of Xen'drik, Thri-Kreen are large insectoids

Backstory

3. What would you be willing to sacrifice for the good of the group?

Money? Fame? Your life? Which of your goals are you willing to put aside for the group?

4. Do you think with your head or act on your heart?

When you're pressed do you stop to consider the situation, or is time of the essence?

5. What freedoms can society sacrifice in the name of security?

With the Last War in the rearview mirror, the adjustment to peacetime and civilian life hasn't come easy. With the threat of a new war only answered by what amounts to a ceasefire, governments must face hard questions about the line between cooperation and holding strong against incursions. Where does your character draw the line for acceptable government action?

6. Do you want to be famous?

7. Class specific

8. What fuels the flames of your desire?

Think about the following types of bonds

• Friendship
• Family
• Rivalry
• Romance

9. What is one connection to another party member?

(Note: That party member cannot name you for this question)

10. What brings you into the events of the campaign?

(In future will have campaign pitch)

Sample Arrays

The following are sample arrays that could be constructed with the above point buy method.

Hi/Lo: 18, 14, 11, 10, 10, 8

Split: 16, 16, 12, 12, 10, 8

Spread: 16, 14, 14, 12, 11, 8

Acquisition

When you make a character, choose two powers from your class' source.

Arcane Cantrips

Divine Orisons

Alter Equipment

With some quick adjustments you reconfigure your loadout

At-Will Knack

Martial

• Action: Standard
• Range: Personal
• Effect: You always have the right tool for the job, and can exchange one item on your person for any other item on the mundane equipment list that is the same gold price or less and the same size or less. This is a permanent change to your carried equipment.

Create Distraction

You divert the attention of a target

At-Will Knack

Martial

• Action: Standard
• Range: Ranged 30'
• Target: An unoccupied space within range
• Effect: You improvise to distract any creature that can see or hear the target loaction, drawing their attention for up to 6 seconds. If the character using this power is not hidden, each affected creature will ignore further distractions In combat, each creature makes a saving throw. If they fail, they grant edge to the next attack against them while they are distracted.

Peerless Memory

Nothing escapes you - your reflexes are too fast

At-Will Knack

Martial

• Action: Minor
• Range: Personal
• Effect: You recall an event that has happened to you, the directions to somewhere you've been, or how something looked in perfect detail.

Size Up

With a glance you gage an opponent's strength

At-Will Knack

Martial

• Action: Minor
• Range: Ranged 50' (Safe)
• Effect: You evaluate the target, learning its power level (Minion, Standard, Elite, Solo) and whether it is your superior or inferior in each of Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, and speed.

Druidcraft

A small collection of basic spells taught to young druids

At-Will Evocation

Primal

• Action: Minor
• Range: 30 ft.
• Effect: Choose one of the following
• • You create a tiny, harmless sensory effect that predicts what the weather will be at your location for the next 24 hours. The effect might manifest as a golden orb for clear skies, a cloud for rain, falling snowflakes for snow, and so on. This effect persists for 6 seconds.
• • You instantly make a flower blossom, a seed pod open, or a leaf bud bloom.
• • You create an instantaneous, harmless sensory effect, such as falling leaves, a puff of wind, the sound of a small animal, or the faint odor of skunk. The effect must fit in a 5-foot cube.
• • You instantly light or snuff out a candle, a torch, or a small campfire.

Dislocate Senses

You reach your mind out beyond your body

At-Will Talent

Psionic

• Action: Minor
• Range: Ranged 50'
• Target: An unoccupied space
• Effect: Until the start of your next turn, you see and hear as if you were standing in the target space

Minor Telekinesis

You focus and create a small spatial distortion that lets you move objects with a mere thought

At-Will Talent

Psionic

• Action: Minor
• Range: Ranged 25'
• Effect: You conjure a small psychic focus in range. The focus can lift, move, or manipulate an adjacent object weighing 5 pounds or less and carry it up to 25'. If you are holding the object when you use this power, the focus can move the object into a pack, a pouch, a sheath, or a similar container and simultaneously move any one object carried or worn anywhere on your body into your hand.
• As a move action, you can move the focus up to 25'. As a free action, you can cause the focus to drop an object it is holding, and as a minor action, you can cause the ficys to pick up or manipulate a different object.
• Sustain Minor You can sustain the focus indefinitely
• Special: You can only have one instance of this power active at a time

Minor Illusion

The world is not always as it seems

At-Will Talent

Area, Psionic

• Action: Minor
• Range: 5' cube within 20'
• Effect: You create a sound or an image of an object within range that lasts for up to 1 minute. The illusion also ends if you dismiss it as a minor action or use this power again.
• If you create a sound, its volume can range from a whisper to a scream. It can be your voice, someone else's voice, a lion's roar, a beating of drums, or any other sound you choose. The sound continues unabated throughout the duration, or you can make discrete sounds at different times before the power ends.
• The image can't create sound, light, smell, or any other sensory effect. Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it.
• If a creature uses a standard action to examine the sound or image, the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Investigation check against your competing Arcana check. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the illusion becomes faint to the creature.

Thought Projection

You open a telepathic pathway with the target

At-Will Talent

Psionic

• Action: Minor
• Range: Ranged 25'
• Target: One creature within range
• Effect: You speak to the target telepathically, sending them a message no more than 25 words. The target can give a single continuous response no more than 25 words.

Bend Shadows

The shadows themselves bend to your will

At-Will Trick

Shadow

• Action: Minor
• Range: 50'
• Target: One shadow
• Effect: You control the target shadow, and can change its shape, size, or cause it to disappear entirely. The shadow remains altered for up to 1 minute.

Detect Poison and Disease

The subtle hints of poison stand out to your refined senses

At-Will Trick

Area, Shadow

• Action: Minor
• Range: Cone 10'
• Effect: You sense the presence of any poisons or creatures bearing poisons or diseases within the area. If you are within 5' of the poison or disease vector you can tell what kind of poison or disease it is.

Minor Invisibility

You cloak yourself or a target invisible

At-Will Trick

Area, Shadow

• Action: Standard
• Range: 5' cube within 10'
• Target: Any number of objects or people in the area
• Effect: You turn each target invisible until the end of the next round as long as they remain mostly motionless. Moving or attacking breaks the invisbility only for the target performing the action
• Sustain Standard You can sustain the invisibility indefinitely

Umbral Manipulation

You've learned a grab bag of tricks

At-Will Trick

Shadow

• Action: Minor
• Range: Ranged 20'
• Target: Varies
• Effect: Choose one of the following
• • You create a nonmagical trinket or an illusory image that could fit in your hand. It lasts for 6 seconds.
• • You turn a small handheld object invisible for up to 6 seconds
• • You learn how close a dying creature is to death